Turning the tide of war

All Hands, June, 2006

Early in World War II, a strong Japanese thrust in the central Pacific to occupy Midway Island was led by a four-carrier mobile force, supported by heavy units of the Japanese 1st Fleet, and covered by a diversionary carrier raid on Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska in May 1942.

The Japanese attack on Midway was met by a greatly outnumbered U.S, carrier force composed of Task Force 17, commanded by Rear Adm. Frank J. Fletcher, with Hornet or town (CV 5) and Task Force 16, commanded by Rear Adm. Raymond A. Spruance with USS Hornet (CV 8) and USS Enterprise (CV 6).

Early in the morning of June 4, 1942, the Japanese sent in their torpedo (horizontal and dive) bombers against targets on Midway. Hornet, or town and Enterprise launched strikes as the Japanese carriers were preparing their planes below deck for a second strike on Midway.

Hornet's dive bombers missed contact, but 15 planes comprising her Torpedo Squadron 8 found the enemy and pressed home their attacks. They were met by overwhelming fighter opposition about eight miles from the three enemy carriers and were followed all the way in and shot down one by one.

Ensign George H. Gay, a Reservist and the only surviving pilot, reached the surface as his plane sank. He hid under a rubber seat cushion to avoid being strafed and witnessed the greatest carrier battle in history as he floated nearby.

Of 41 torpedo planes launched by the American carriers, only six returned. Their sacrifices drew enemy fighters away from dive bombers of Enterprise and or town. which then ,sank three of the four Japanese carriers (A agi, aga and oryu) with an assist from the submarine USS autilus (SS 168). The fourth Japanese carrier, Hiryu, was sunk the following day.

On June 6, 1942, or town was attacked by Japanese Vals and eros. Intense anti-aircraft fire greeted these planes as they approached or town but three Val dive bombers scored hits, each sending a bomb into the carrier. One bomb blew a 10-foot hole in the flight deck and started fires. The second pierced the flight deck and exploded in the lower part of the smokestack. A third ripped through the No. 1 elevator and exploded on the fourth deck. Within an hour. the crews had the fires sufficiently contained and were refueling aircraft.

Fueling had just begun when the ship's radar picked up more attackers. In minutes, Japanese torpedo planes struck. Although the ship was maneuvering radically, two torpedos tore into her port side and she went dead in the water, listing to port. Without power, the list worsened and all hands were ordered to abandon ship.

When the ship stubbornly remained afloat, a salvage party was organized to save or town. Power was supplied by USS Hammann (DD 412).

Just as it looked like or town could be saved, a Japanese submarine fired four torpedoes at the carrier and her assisting destroyer. One torpedo hit Hammann directly amidship and broke her back. She jackknifed and went down rapidly. Two torpedoes hit the carrier, and moments after Hammann's stern slid beneath the waves, her depth charges exploded, killing men in the water and further damaging or town.

Although the carrier stayed afloat throughout the night of June 6. men on the ships nearby noted her port list increasing rapidly. At 7:01 am. June 7, the valiant flattop rolled over on her port side and sank in 3, 000 fathoms of water, her battle flags still flying.

Midway was one of the decisive battles of history and had far-reaching and enduring influence the Pacific War. The island of Midway was saved as an important base for operations into the western Pacific. Likewise saved was Hawaii. Of greatest importance. however, was the crippling of Japan's carrier strength, a severe blow from which the Japanese navy never fully recovered. Midway became known as the turning point of the war in the Pacific.