Learn Our History Today: On June 4, 1942, during World War II, Japanese bombers and torpedo planes launched an attack on the strategic American held island of Midway. American aircraft from Midway immediately took off and engaged the Japanese planes. 17 of the 26 American planes flown to oppose the incoming Japanese were lost. Following this, American dive bombers from the USS Enterprise, USS Hornet, and USS Yorktown attacked the Japanese fleet, disabling three Japanese carriers, although almost all of the planes were shot down. Later in the day, Japanese planes launched an attack on the USS Yorktown, damaging it to the point that it had to be abandoned. The final part of the battle occurred two days later, when American planes attacked and sank another Japanese carrier. In all, the Japanese lost 4 aircraft carriers, 248 aircraft and more than 3,000 killed. The Americans lost only one carrier, the USS Yorktown. In addition, they lost 150 aircraft and more than 300 killed. The Battle of Midway had been one of the most crucial and decisive battles of the Pacific theater. It destroyed the previous notion that Japan’s Navy, which was larger and stronger than the United States, was invincible. From this point on, Japanese naval strength in the Pacific never again seriously threatened the U.S. again.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 23:56:38 +0000
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