Battle Of Midway

The fight for the Pacific

BATTLE OF MIDWAY, a decisive naval battle of World War II that demonstrated
that bombers from aircraft carriers, properly utilized, could defeat a superior
surface force. This victory by the United States over Japan in June 1942
ended the Japanese advance in the Pacific Ocean.

Having
achieved its
initial military
goals by early
1942, the
Japanese
decided to take
more Pacific
outposts--
including
Midway Island

in order to
establish an outer
defense line. The
Japanese fleet,
under Adm.
Yamamoto
Isoroku, also
hoped to draw
the remaining U.
S. aircraft carriers
into battle.

The Japanese planned to attack the Island of Midway,
expanding their hold on the Central Pacific. American
intelligence intercepted Japanese plans and knew of the
impending Japanese attack. The Americans sent their
entire carrier force, including the recently damaged
"Yorktown," to intercept the Japanese force. The
Americans succeeded in sinking four Japanese carriers,
loosing only the "Yorktown." This was the turning point in
the Pacific War.

Yamamoto erred in dividing
his force of more than 160
vessels. The U.S.
commander, Adm. Chester
Nimitz, with 76 ships
available, including the
carriers Hornet, Enterprise,
and Yorktown, was stronger
than the Japanese thought.
Searches by U.S. aircraft
established the position of
the Japanese fleet

Early on June 4,
Vice Admiral
Nagumo, in
command of the
Japanese carriers,
launched 108
planes for an
attack on Midway,
240 miles (386 km)
to the southeast.
American fighters
sent to intercept
them were
outmaneuvered by
Japanese fighters.
Bombs damaged
Midway, but the
runways were not
put out of action.

Two other waves of more than 40 bombers were sent to
find the Japanese, and did, but they scored no hits, and all
but a few were shot down. But the maneuvers of the
Japanese carriers had kept their bombers from taking off,
and their fighter planes were out of position because of
their fight with the attackers. At 10:26, 37 U.S. bombers
struck with devastating effect.

The Agaki took direct hits, was
abandoned, and sank, and the Kaga and
Soryu were also destroyed.