The Island of Midway is located in Pacific Ocean, approximately 1,300 miles from Honolulu, Hawaii. Strategically, the island became a valuable asset to obtain during the Pacific War because of its location, as a half way point from Hawaii to Japan. Increased tensions between Japan and the United States came to a climax December 7, 1941; the day Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Six months later, the United States engaged the Japanese Imperial fleet in the Battle of Midway. The analysis of the events leading up to the Battle of Midway, the Battle itself, and its Aftermath, all represent just how influential Midway was in the Pacific War. By explaining some of the decisions and discoveries made by the American and Japanese forces, along with showing
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“The battle of Midway can be understood by two inextricably connected events: the destruction of an entire American air arm [the Torpedo bomber massacre] by Japanese fighter pilots which moments later led directly to the demise of Japan’s own carriers.”(Hanson, p.342) The American forces stationed at Midway consisted of B-17s bombers attacking the Japanese invasion fleet, which unfortunately failed to score a single hit on the Japanese fleet. Once positive confirmation of the Japanese aircraft carrier’s position was made, the American task forces scrambled fighters to attack the Japanese carriers. Meanwhile, Japanese forces also received positive confirmation of the American location and changed their course, causing the American squadrons to miss the Japanese fleet. LT. John C. Waldron led his TBD Devastators on their valiant mission, “out of the eighty-two men who headed for the Japanese carriers in the TBDs, only thirteen survived.” (Hanson, p. 342) Unintentionally the annihilation of the Devastators led to the demise of the Japanese by creating a diversion leaving the skies open for the Dauntless Dive Bombers. Three Japanese aircraft carriers were lost in the first day alone. Japan’s losses totaled, “…four carriers, one cruiser, 2,500 men and 322 aircraft;” on the other hand, American losses totaled, “347 lives, a carrier, a destroyer, and 147 aircraft.”(Layton, p. 448) The exposed wooden flight decks, along with the Japanese Zeros refueling which causing further explosions, added to the general destruction of the Japanese Aircraft
“The battle of Midway can be understood by two inextricably connected events: the destruction of an entire American air arm [the Torpedo bomber massacre] by Japanese fighter pilots which moments later led directly to the demise of Japan’s own carriers.”(Hanson, p.342) The American forces stationed at Midway consisted of B-17s bombers attacking the Japanese invasion fleet, which unfortunately failed to score a single hit on the Japanese fleet. Once positive confirmation of the Japanese aircraft carrier’s position was made, the American task forces scrambled fighters to attack the Japanese carriers. Meanwhile, Japanese forces also received positive confirmation of the American location and changed their course, causing the American squadrons to miss the Japanese fleet. LT. John C. Waldron led his TBD Devastators on their valiant mission, “out of the eighty-two men who headed for the Japanese carriers in the TBDs, only thirteen survived.” (Hanson, p. 342) Unintentionally the annihilation of the Devastators led to the demise of the Japanese by creating a diversion leaving the skies open for the Dauntless Dive Bombers. Three Japanese aircraft carriers were lost in the first day alone. Japan’s losses totaled, “…four carriers, one cruiser, 2,500 men and 322 aircraft;” on the other hand, American losses totaled, “347 lives, a carrier, a destroyer, and 147 aircraft.”(Layton, p. 448) The exposed wooden flight decks, along with the Japanese Zeros refueling which causing further explosions, added to the general destruction of the Japanese Aircraft