World War II sea power required airpower. At Midway, the US sent four Japanese carriers to the bottom of the Pacific. The Battle of

Midway By Barrett Tillman

90 AIR FORCE Magazine / January 2011 idway Island” is a and the larger Shokaku damaged. The air versus Grumman Wildcats and Naka- misnomer. Scene of group of her sister carrier, Zuikaku, was jima B5Ns (later Kates) versus Douglas the American naval mauled, and would be unable to deploy TBD-1Devastator aircraft. The victory in June 1942, anytime soon. opposing dive-bombers—Douglas SBD “MidwayM is actually two islands some Adm. , Dauntlesses and Vals—were 3,800 miles west of and 2,500 of the , predicted Japan both proven ship killers. east of . But its near-center position would run rampant for six months, but Nimitz crammed every available air- in the Pacific Ocean was less important subsequently nothing was certain. There- craft onto Midway, America’s first fully than its proximity to : Mid- fore, he knew seizing Midway would joint operation of the war. Thirty-two way is 1,300 miles northwest of Oahu. threaten Oahu, forcing Nimitz into battle. PBY Catalina patrol aircraft operated The strategic stage for Midway was Fortunately for the US, American code mostly from Midway’s seaplane base set long before World War II. For more breakers identified occasional plums of on Sand Island, while Marine, Navy, and than 30 years, American and Japanese intelligence and began piecing together Army units used all the ramp space on planners envisioned a decisive fleet enemy intentions. They handed Nimitz Midway’s Eastern Island. The Marine air engagement in mid-Pacific, a scenario the priceless advantage of advance notice group flew a mixed squadron of SBD and with as the major players. of Operation MI, Japan’s plan to occupy Vought SB2U Vindicator scout-bombers, But aviation worked a stunning change. Midway. while the fighters mainly were Brewster The Japanese carrier striking force F2A Buffalos with Wildcats. (Kido Butai) that ravaged Pearl Harbor in Catalinas and B-17s The Navy debuted six TBF Avenger 1941 was unlike anything the world had In all, Japan deployed more than torpedo airplanes alongside the Army’s ever seen. Vice Adm. Chuichi Nagumo’s 120 vessels in five task forces. They B-26 Marauder torpedo bombers. six flattops put 350 aircraft over Pearl included Yamamoto’s powerful “main The Army Air Forces’ main contribu- Harbor, announcing with convincing body” trailing well astern of Kido Butai tion was significant, comprising 19 B- violence that sea power now included with 17 ships, none of which played a 17Es from the 5th and 11th Bomb Groups. airpower. Successive operations through- role in the battle—nor did the invasion The ungainly, long-legged Catalinas out the Pacific only reinforced Tokyo’s and support forces with scores of vessels, made first contact with the enemy. On military prowess. plus . the morning of June 3, they sighted lead Meanwhile, the US Navy was forced Nagumo deployed four veteran flat- elements of the Japanese force more than to rely upon its few carriers. At the tops, Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, and Hiryu, 450 miles out. Late that afternoon, Lt. start of the war, America possessed just with 15 escorting battleships, , Col. Walter C. Sweeney Jr. was over the seven fleet carriers—fast ships capable and . The Battle of the Coral enemy with nine B-17s. He sent a contact of more than 35 mph, embarking 70 or Sea had reduced the forces that Kido report, then led a high-altitude bombing more aircraft. Butai could commit to Midway, but the attack that predictably failed. Initially, Adm. Chester W. Nimitz’s overall Japanese advantage appeared Hitting moving ships from 20,000 feet Pacific Fleet owned three flattops, USS insurmountable. was a huge challenge that the Army fli- Lexington (CV-2), Saratoga (CV-3), Tokyo’s dispersion lessened the odds ers seldom trained to do. Nevertheless, and Enterprise (CV-6). The need for faced by the US at any specific point of the Flying Fortresses made their first another flight was undeniable, so contact, but the odds were still long. contribution to the battle. Enterprise’s older sister, Yorktown (CV- Nimitz’s two task forces totaled three Early on the fourth, three PBYs at- 5), hastened to the Pacific. carriers with 23 escorts. They departed tacked the enemy transport force and The next months were spent in hit- in late May, Yorktown still bearing Coral torpedoed an oiler. The ship and the and-run carrier raids from the Gilbert and Sea bomb damage. attackers survived, knowing they faced , to , to New (Simultaneous with the Midway at- a full day of battle. More Catalinas and Guinea, and the Solomons. More signifi- tack in early June was Tokyo’s operation the B-17s rose before dawn, flying long- cantly, in mid-April the newly arrived against the American-owned Aleutian range searches to re-establish contact. USS Hornet (CV-8) launched Lt. Col. Islands. Some accounts still describe Nagumo’s air plan began with a Jimmy Doolittle’s B-25s against Tokyo. the Aleutians as a strategic diversion, 108-airplane attack. The formation was The Imperial Navy was at once embar- but it was a serious effort intended to seen by airborne Americans who sent a rassed and outraged. America’s carriers succeed on its own. Occupation of Attu warning: “Many planes heading Mid- had to be destroyed. and Kiska was expected to secure Japan’s way.” Then, in early May, something com- northern flank and draw off American Beginning around 6 a.m., Midway pletely unprecedented occurred. The assets from elsewhere. The Alaskan of- began scrambling everything: 25 Ma- two-day Battle of the Coral Sea pitted fensive included two carriers that would rine fighters; 10 Army-Navy torpedo Lexington and Yorktown against three be sorely missed at Midway.) airplanes; and 28 Leatherneck scout- Japanese flattops in a carrier versus car- Despite the huge disparity in ships, bombers. The pilots of Marine Fighting rier engagement. For the first time ever, the Americans were far better matched Squadron 221, led by Maj. Floyd B. neither fleet sighted the other, the battle in what mattered most: airpower. With Parks, barely managed to engage the being conducted wholly by aircraft. Lex­ 225 carrier aircraft and 125 more on raiders. Committed piecemeal, caught ington was lost and Yorktown damaged, Midway, Nimitz’s assets matched Yama- at an altitude disadvantage by superior while a small Japanese carrier was sunk moto’s 248 tailhook aircraft and 16 aircraft flown by experienced pilots, the recon floatplanes. Another daunting suffered terribly. Left (top): Yorktown during the and (bottom) on fire. It was problem: At the time, Japanese designs In a few minutes, nearly all the Buf- torpedoed and attacked by Japanese invariably outperformed their American falos were shot down, with Parks and dive-bombers. counterparts, especially Zero fighters most of his pilots killed. For decades AIR FORCE Magazine / February 2011 91 Left: An aerial photo of the two islands comprising Midway. Eastern Island is in the foreground, Sand Island in the back. Below: Dauntless aircraft from USS Hornet approach the burning Japanese Mikuma during the battle.

thereafter, the Buffalo was considered a attacking Hiryu, while the Vindicators his two SBD squadrons for nearly an “death trap”—but under those conditions, fared no better. Unable to close on the hour before being ordered to “proceed on a full squadron of Wildcats would likely carriers, they went after battleships, mission assigned.” He led 30 Dauntlesses have fared little better. losing four airplanes to no avail. toward the expected interception point, The Japanese lost a dozen airplanes Shortly, Sweeney was back with 14 separate from his torpedo squadron. to the defenders—mostly to anti-aircraft B-17s attacking in small formations Meanwhile, Hornet’s squadrons fol- fire—but did a thorough wrecking job on that fountained the sea around enemy lowed their enormously unpopular air Midway. They destroyed , the carriers but scratched no paint. As if that group commander, Cmdr. Stanhope C. power plant, fuel stores, and ordnance weren’t frustrating enough, the Ring, who led them on what has been facilities. As the strike leader departed Nautilus drew a bead on the carrier Kaga called a “flight to nowhere” heading he signaled, “There is need for a second and scored a hit—with a dud torpedo. almost due west. attack.” Back at the strike group, Na- By that time, Japanese scouts were Torpedo Eight skipper Lt. Cmdr. John gumo ordered another bombing mission aloft. A cruiser floatplane radioed alarm- C. Waldron finally broke off to port, readied. ing news: An American force was “ac- knowing that Kido Butai had to be to Meanwhile, Midway’s hodgepodge companied by what appears to be a the southwest. The SBDs continued to strike group neared the Japanese force. carrier.” the extent of their fuel before returning One of the Avenger pilots was to Hornet or diverting to Midway, while Albert K. Earnest, who described a run- A Flight to Nowhere the inept fighter group skipper ran 10 ning battle over the last 15 miles. Fast, Nagumo now realized that he faced a aircraft out of fuel with two pilots lost. slashing Zeros knocked down five TBFs, serious threat at sea and ordered bombs on Waldron found the enemy, and about leaving Earnest to press his attack with his Kates to be exchanged for torpedoes, 9:30 a.m. led his 15 Devastators into Kido a dead gunner and wounded radioman. costing precious time. Butai. An unescorted daylight torpedo at- He recalled, “My elevator wires were Of the two American units, Rear Adm. tack on an alerted fleet could only go one shot away. I released my torpedo at the Raymond A. Spruance’s Task Force 16 way: Some 40 Zeros awaited the attackers nearest ship, a , as I thought was first off the mark. Replacing the ailing and quickly destroyed the squadron. All I was out of control, but regained control Vice Adm. William F. Halsey, Spruance the TBDs were shot down with one pilot with the elevator tab.” He returned his had Enterprise and Hornet begin launch- surviving; no ships were hit. riddled airplane to make a one-wheel ing their air groups when the range closed Next appeared Enterprise’s Torpedo landing at Midway. to launch distance. Meanwhile, Rear Six. It suffered nearly as much as Tor- An AAF contribution came from Adm. Frank Jack Fletcher, in overall pedo Eight. Lt. Cmdr. Eugene E. Lindsey Capt. James F. Collins Jr.’s flight of four command from Yorktown’s Task Force was killed at the head of his group of 14 speedy B-26 Marauders. They pressed 17, waited to recover his scouts before Devastators, only four of which returned. their attacks to the limit. One B-26 nearly proceeding southwesterly. In the pivotal All the while, McClusky’s SBDs crashed on the flagship Akagi’s flight carrier battle, neither American searched. Reaching the briefed contact deck, and ultimately only Collins’ and was an aviator. point, he found empty sea and continued Lt. James P. Muri’s Marauders returned. Due to staff problems, “The Big E” several miles beyond. Shrewdly reckon- Next came the Marine bombers. Only and Hornet failed to coordinate their ing that Nagumo had to be northerly, partly trained, VMSB-241 was limited efforts, and both launches dragged out. McClusky began a box search. In fact, to glide-bombing attacks rather than Enterprise’s air group commander, Lt. the Japanese had turned off their south- steep dives. Eight Dauntlesses were lost Cmdr. C. Wade McClusky, circled with east course to avoid successive attacks. 92 AIR FORCE Magazine / February 2011 Burning fuel, the Dauntlesses continued Yorktown and left her adrift. Lt. Cmdr. However, a Japanese sub the hunt. John S. Thach’s Wildcats exacted a heavy thought otherwise. The 1,400-ton I-168 The third and last American torpedo price for the success, but neither side was penetrated Yorktown’s protective screen squadron was Yorktown’s Torpedo Three. ready to quit. and fired a devastating salvo. Torpedoes Launched later than the other units, Lt. Meanwhile, a Yorktown scout found ripped the bottom out of the Cmdr. Lance E. Massey arrived just as Hiryu and provided her position. The Hammann, secured alongside Yorktown, the smoke was clearing from the previ- remaining Yorktown and Enterprise SBDs and inflicted mortal damage on “Old ous interception. The squadron’s dozen integrated and prepared to finish off Yorky.” She lingered until the morning Devastators were all lost, but they kept Hiryu, but not before Hiryu’s Nakajimas of the seventh, and with her sinking, the the pressure on Nagumo. attacked and put two torpedoes into York­ Battle of Midway finally ended. Then the sky rained Dauntlesses. town, forcing her abandonment. Shortly The Midway scoreboard showed a In an unintentionally coordinated at- thereafter, the Dauntlesses were back, decisive American win. Four Japanese tack, Enterprise’s SBDs arrived over the wrecking Hiryu and depriving Nagumo carriers and a cruiser were destroyed, target just as Yorktown’s dive-bombers of his final . with some 3,000 enemy killed, includ- appeared. McClusky had taken a head- ing irreplaceable aircrew. For the US, ing from a Japanese destroyer harrying Sweet, Sweet Revenge principal losses included one carrier the submarine Nautilus, and struck gold. Stunned at the reversal, Yamamoto and destroyer, with 307 aircrew and In the next few minutes, the Big E’s realized that without air cover, he would sailors killed. squadrons experienced an aerial traffic lose more ships. For decades after the war, conventional jam as the scouts and most of the bombers Operation MI was called off, yet the wisdom held that Midway averted a went for Kaga. McClusky’s pilots ham- battle continued for two days. greater Japanese triumph in the Pacific. mered her 36,000 tons into shambles. Spruance assumed overall command Two standard references were Walter The Bombing Squadron Six skipper, from the displaced Fletcher and au- Lord’s Incredible Victory (1967) and Lt. Richard H. Best, was left with only thorized search-strikes to pummel the Gordon W. Prange’s Miracle at Midway two wingmen, but he destroyed Akagi retreating enemy. Still, very little came (1982), which typified the battle’s public with a perfect center hit. As they pulled easily. On the fifth, three squadrons of image. out amid the flak, Enterprise’s fliers SBDs found a lone Japanese destroyer Over time, though, a more measured saw a third carrier burning: Soryu was that evaded every bomb and shot down assessment has arisen. A Japanese vic- victim of Lt. Cmdr. Maxwell F. Leslie’s a Dauntless to boot. tory at Midway never had the potential Yorktown SBD dive-bombers. During the night, two Japanese to end the war on terms favorable to In a matter of minutes, the battle had cruisers collided, leaving them limping Tokyo. Loss of two or even all three US completely reversed course. westward. They were soon discovered carriers would have delayed the Central Enterprise lost about half her Daunt- and pounced upon by Enterprise and Pacific offensive, but not thwarted it. lesses on the mission. The Yorktowners Hornet dive-bombers which sank Mi­ American resolve was unshakable fol- initially got off lightly. However, the kuma and clobbered Mogami. By the lowing Pearl Harbor, and public opinion surviving Japanese carrier, Hiryu, quickly afternoon of June 6, it appeared the demanded a reckoning. V-J Day might launched dive-bombers that crippled battle was over. have been delayed, but perhaps only one year. In any case, Midway remains a source of intense pride for its participants. None expressed it better than SBD pilot Best, who had dropped the bomb that sank Akagi. “Midway was revenge, sweet revenge for Pearl Harbor,” said Best. “The Italians say that revenge is a dish best served cold, and after Pearl Harbor, it was six months cold.” The battle may not have marked an indisputable turning point in the war, but it had enormous strategic importance. Midway was Japan’s last major offensive of the war; afterward it ceded the strategic initiative to the . Only two months later, US marines landed at Gua- dalcanal, beginning a six-month battle of attrition that ensured Japan could not win and America could not lose. n

Barrett Tillman is a professional author and speaker who has flown a variety of historic aircraft and has received six writing awards for history and litera- A Japanese burns after dive-bomber attacks. Four Japanese aircraft ture. This is his first article for Air Force carriers were destroyed at Midway, and some 3,000 Japanese were killed. Magazine.

AIR FORCE Magazine / February 2011 93