4-6 June 1942
The Battle of Midway
In order to eliminate the threat of the American aircraft carriers once and for all, Admiral Yamamoto ordered the dispatch of two separate striking forces, one charged with attacking the Aleutian Islands, the other with capturing the U.S. base at Midway. At this point the U.S. Navy still had considerably fewer ships than did the Japanese, but the Americans had one important advantage—they had by this time broken Japan’s naval code, so they knew the attacks were coming. Admiral Chester Nimitz, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, chose to ignore the Aleutians, and instead ordered all available forces to intercept the Japanese fleet bound for Midway.

The Japanese reached Midway on June 4, and launched an air strike against the island. However, before they could carry out a second attack, U.S. aircraft from the carriers Enterprise, Hornet, and Yorktown descended on the Japanese fleet. The engagement continued throughout the next day, and by the time Yamamoto ordered a withdrawal on the 6 th no fewer than four Japanese aircraft carriers had been destroyed, along with a cruiser, over 300 aircraft and 5,000 men. The American fleet did not escape unharmed; it lost the carrier Yorktown, as well as a destroyer, 150 aircraft, and 300 men. However, the battle of Midway was a decisive victory for the U.S. Navy, breaking the back of Japan’s carrier force.

Histories:
Battle of Midway
Drawing the Battle Line in the Pacific
Decision at Midway
The Battle of Midway
Doolittle Raid and Midway

Campaign Maps:
Approach to Midway, 1942
Battle of Midway, 1942
Battles of Coral Sea and Midway

Documents:
TF 16 Action Report

Photographs:
Japanese carrier circling to avoid attack by United States airmen at Midway, as seen from a B-17 American bomber
The Perilous Fight (PBS): Doolittle Raid and Midway
Battle of Midway

Personal Accounts:
Rutgers Oral History Archives of World War II: Interview with William Godfrey, Jr.
Rutgers Oral History Archives of World War II: Interview with Frederick Wesch III
Oral History: Battle of Midway

Video:
The Perilous Fight (PBS): Doolittle Raid and Midway