Tuhia tētahi tohutoro mō tēnei wāhanga - I te marama o Mei 1942, ka tohua a Bellinger hei Kaihauturu, i ngā waka rererangi tirotiro, i te Pacific Fleet i raro i a Admiral Chester Nimitz. I āwhina ia ki te whakamahere i te Midway
I tonoa ia e Nimitz ki Washington, D.C. i te Hōngongoi o te tau 1942 ki te tuku i tana mahere whakariterite mo te rererangi Naval i te Moananui a Kiwa ki a Admiral Ernest J. King, te Tumuaki o nga Mahi Naval. I a ia i reira, i haere a Bellinger ki te tirotiro tinana i te Whare Hauora o Bethesda, i kitea he mate ngakau ngawari tana. I mutu tana mahi whawhai, ā, i whakahaua ia ki tētahi mahi iti ake te taumaha.