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N0KFQ > TODAY 07.06.11 17:36l 95 Lines 4858 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 8640_KB0WSA
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Subj: Today in History - Jun 7
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Sent: 110607/1526Z 8640@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.0.4
Jun 7, 1942:
Battle of Midway ends
On June 7, 1942, the Battle of Midway--one of the most decisive
U.S. victories in its war against Japan--comes to an end. In the
four-day sea and air battle, the outnumbered U.S. Pacific Fleet
succeeded in destroying four Japanese aircraft carriers with the
loss of only one of its own, the Yorktown, thus reversing the
tide against the previously invincible Japanese navy.
In six months of offensives, the Japanese had triumphed in lands
throughout the Pacific, including Malaysia, Singapore, the Dutch
East Indies, the Philippines, and numerous island groups. The
United States, however, was a growing threat, and Japanese
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto sought to destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet
before it was large enough to outmatch his own. A thousand miles
northwest of Honolulu, the strategic island of Midway became the
focus of his scheme to smash U.S. resistance to Japan's imperial
designs. Yamamoto's plan consisted of a feint toward Alaska
followed by an invasion of Midway by a Japanese strike force.
When the U.S. Pacific Fleet arrived at Midway to respond to the
invasion, it would be destroyed by the superior Japanese fleet
waiting unseen to the west. If successful, the plan would
eliminate the U.S. Pacific Fleet and provide a forward outpost
from which the Japanese could eliminate any future American
threat in the Central Pacific.
Unfortunately for the Japanese, U.S. intelligence broke the
Japanese naval code, and the Americans anticipated the surprise
attack. Three heavy aircraft carriers of the U.S. Pacific Fleet
were mustered to challenge the four heavy Japanese carriers
steaming toward Midway. In early June, U.S. command correctly
recognized a Japanese movement against Alaska's Aleutian Islands
as a diversionary tactic and kept its forces massed around
Midway. On June 3, the Japanese occupation force was spotted
steaming toward the island, and B-17 Flying Fortresses were sent
out from Midway to bomb the strike force but failed to inflict
damage. Early in the morning on June 4, a PBY Catalina flying
boat torpedoed a Japanese tanker transport, striking the first
blow of the Battle of Midway.
Later that morning, an advance Japanese squadron numbering more
than 100 bombers and Zero fighters took off from the Japanese
carriers to bomb Midway. Twenty-six Wildcat fighters were sent up
to intercept the Japanese force and suffered heavy losses in
their heroic defense of Midway's air base. Soon after, bombers
and torpedo planes based on Midway took off to attack the
Japanese carriers but failed to inflict serious damage. The first
phase of the battle was over by 7:00 a.m.
In the meantime, 200 miles to the northeast, two U.S. attack
fleets caught the Japanese force entirely by surprise. Beginning
around 9:30 a.m., torpedo bombers from the three U.S. carriers
descended on the Japanese carriers. Although nearly wiped out,
they drew off enemy fighters, and U.S. dive bombers penetrated,
catching the Japanese carriers while their decks were cluttered
with aircraft and fuel. The dive-bombers quickly destroyed three
of the heavy Japanese carriers and one heavy cruiser. The only
Japanese carrier that initially escaped destruction, the Hiryu,
loosed all its aircraft against the American task force and
managed to seriously damage the U.S. carrier Yorktown, forcing
its abandonment. At about 5:00 p.m., dive-bombers from the U.S.
carrier Enterprise returned the favor, mortally damaging the
Hiryu. It was scuttled the next morning.
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto still had numerous warships at his
command, but without his carriers and aircraft he was forced to
abandon his Midway invasion plans and begin a westward retreat.
On June 5, a U.S. task force pursued his fleet, but bad weather
saved it from further destruction. On June 6, the skies cleared,
and U.S. aircraft resumed their assault, sinking a cruiser and
damaging several other warships. After the planes returned to
their carriers, the Americans broke off from the pursuit.
Meanwhile, a Japanese submarine torpedoed and fatally wounded the
Yorktown, which was in the process of being salvaged. It finally
rolled over and sank at dawn on June 7, bringing an end to the
battle.
At the Battle of Midway, Japan lost four carriers, a cruiser, and
292 aircraft, and suffered 2,500 casualties. The U.S. lost the
Yorktown, the destroyer USS Hammann, 145 aircraft, and suffered
307 casualties. Japan's losses hobbled its naval might--bringing
Japanese and American sea power to approximate parity--and marked
the turning point in the Pacific theater of World War II. In
August 1942, the great U.S. counteroffensive began at Guadalcanal
and did not cease until Japan's surrender three years later.
73, K.O. n0kfq
Another old retired guy
N0KFQ@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: n0kfq@centurytel.net
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