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 what the losses meant for Japan, the battle of Midway was considered the turning point of the Pacific War. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, was designed to hinder the entire American Pacific fleet, it was an attempt by the Japanese to stop any American interference in the affairs of the Japanese empire. The Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor was immensely successful mainly because they had the element of surprise; they destroyed four battleships, nearly 200 aircraft, and the American death toll was over 2,000 people.1 The Japanese made a critical error in that they did not destroy American Aircraft carriers and fuel depots, leaving the American fleet with a marginal ability to retaliate. The Americans used that ability to its fullest extent in the months leading up to the Battle of Midway by deploying task forces to cause as much damage as possible without losing assets. The Doolittle raid in April 1942 was a prime example of such deployments. It consisted of American B-24 bombers who bombed Tokyo and other Japanese cities. There was some infrastructure damage in Tokyo, but the bombing acted as more as a catalyst for the Japanese, speeding up their plans to attack. The first Japanese objective was the“…seizure of Midway itself as an advance air base….The second [objective]…was to draw out the United States Pacific Fleet’s remaining strength so that it could be engaged and destroyed in decisive battle.”2 (Fuchida and Okumiya, p. 105) To Japan, America stood in the way of Japanese plans to acquire land, namely the Pacific islands. Japanese wanted to win a decisive victory that would force America to sign a peace treaty with them. The next major action was the Battle of Coral Reef in early May. American fleets accompanied by an Australian fleet sent forces down to Coral Reef to prevent the further encroachment of the Japanese. The American fleet lost the USS Lexington and the USS Yorktown was severely damaged, the Japanese lost a light carrier the battle. “The Battle of the Coral Sea…had shocked the American Navy with what it
…show more content…
“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