SEVENTY TWO YEARS AGO TODAY (4 JUNE 1942): Forces under the command of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz engaged the Imperial Japanese Fleet in the Battle of Midway, the turning point of the World War II Pacific campaign. Nimitzs eloquent letter of instruction for Op Plan 29-42 said it best: In carrying out the task assigned in Operation Plan 29-42 you will be governed by the principle of calculated risk, which you shall interpret to mean the avoidance of exposure of your force to attack by superior enemy forces without good prospect of inflicting, as a result of such exposure, greater damage to the enemy. As we were taught in USN Cryptologic Technician school, it was our Navys breaking of the Japanese JN-25 code which revealed that the US base on Midway Island (objective AF) was to be the target of a Japanese attack. This enabled American forces to prepare for defense and counterstrike, sinking five Japanese aircraft carriers in the process. I am proud that our Naval Cryptologic ancestors made this historic victory possible, and am also thrilled to bring you this post from Charleston, SC, home of the carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10), The Fighting Lady. Thank you, Battle of Midway veterans!
Posted on: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 10:01:35 +0000
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