Just wanted to remember the heros at Midway. Maybe the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign. The Battle of Midway
Thanks for posting. It completely slipped my mind. Despite the great victory, it is important to remember that American victory in the Pacific was far from a "shoe in". Japan still outnumbered the Americans in capital ships, and had superior logistics. American troops still had not won a victory against the Japanese. Likewise, Midway showed that the Americans had the edge in a carrier battle, but the surface fleet (battleships, crusiers, destroyers) still had not won a major battle. It would not be until Guadalcanal (several months later) that these elements proved themselves. Japanese Losses at Midway: Carrier Akagi: Carrier Hiryu: View attachment 16654 Carrier Kaga: View attachment 16655 Carrier Soryu: View attachment 16656 Cruiser Mikuma: View attachment 16657 The Japanese lost nearly 250 aircraft, and more importantly, a large number of irreplaceable veteran pilots and flight crew. Over 3000 Japanese killed sailors and airmen were killed. American Losses at Midway: Carrier Yorktown: Destroyer Hammann: The Americans lost about 150 aircraft, and suffered (relatively) light casualties of about 300 killed.
The famous USS Yorktown. CV-5 1937-1942 The turnaround from The Battle Of The Coral Sea and her determination to return to the fight at Midway, showed the world America was ready for war. In my opinion, If you could give a ship a MOH, this is the one. USN Ships--USS Yorktown (CV-5), 1937-1942 http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g310000/g312008.jpg http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g310000/g312028.jpg http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g310000/g312056.jpg
Not to take anything away from the men of the Yorktown or the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, but Yorktown remained capable of steaming and operating aircraft after the hit on May 8. She steamed home 4000 miles and could if necessary have gone straight into battle. A complete repair of things like hull plates dished in by near misses would have taken 90 days, but Nimitz, knowing exactly when and where the Japanese carriers would appear off Midway, could give the yard a certain amount of time to accomplish as much as they could. The 48 hours also allowed for reshuffling Yorktown's air group, replacing many of the hard-worked but combat-experienced pilots with squadrons from Air Group 3 which had been on shore since Saratoga was torpedoed in Janaury.
A good reminder, Steve. I've read numerous accounts of Midway, and I'm always impressed with what the Americans did.
Thanks for posting this...Prez Obama sent Australia a Letter (a couple of weeks ago but i couldnt post it due to me spending time in a cell with a very Juggy funk to it...) that stated the importance of this battle and the battle of the Coral Sea...especially to Australia. A loss for the US...but one of the greatest wins ever for young Australia...ill take the time again to thank those brave Sailors of the United States
Along with the rememberences... a new Yorktown site was launched today: CV-5 Yorktown | U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-5)
MIDWAY MOMENTS Radio transmissions from U.S. aviators at Midway.... "Entering dive. Our objective is the rear ship. Step on it! Are we going to attack or not?" "THEY'RE ALL BURNING!" "THAT scared the hell out of me! I thought we weren't going to pull out!" "Your bomb really hit them on the fantail! Boy! Thats swell!" "These Japs are easy as shooting ducks in a rain barrel!" "GEE! I wish I had just one more bomb! "Tojo, you son of a bitch, send out the rest and we'll get those too." This from Lieutenant Robin M.Lindsey, a Landing Signals Officer on the U.S.S. Enterprise..... "I knew the Hornet planes were just about out of gas, and I could'nt see any reason for not landing them and taking a chance...I brought about six more in before they screamed down and said "Thats all, knock it off brother." I disobeyed orders and continued landing planes even when No.2 elevator was down...I heard later that finally the air officer just said,"Leave the kid alone.....he's hot." Joke from PBY 'Catalina' pilots of the period..."Sighted enemy carriers. Please notify next of kin." AND From Admiral Frank "Jack" Fletcher, a man having an exceptionally bad day, this comment as he was being winched off his sinking carrier.... "I am too OLD for this ****!"
This from Lieutenant Robin M.Lindsey, a Landing Signals Officer on the U.S.S. Enterprise..... "I knew the Hornet planes were just about out of gas, and I could'nt see any reson for not landing them and taking a chance...I brought about six more in before they screamed down and said "Thats all, knock it off brother." I disobeyed orders and continued landing planes even when No.2 elevator was down...I heard later that finally the air officer just said,"Leave the kid alone.....he's hot." Great quote and story, but it's from the battle of Santa Cruz, October 26, 1942. Hornet was crippled and eventually lost, so Enterprise, the only other American carrier present, had to land as many of her planes as possible. She eventually had about 100 planes on board and her deck was too crowded for further flight operations, one reason Kincaid decided to disengage. Enterprise did land a number of Yorktown's planes at Midway; Yorktown SBDs comprised about half of the afternoon strike that crippled Hiryu. Sadly, losses from combat and fuel exhaustion, and the landing of one of Hornet's SBD squadrons on Midway, left that ship with more than enough room to land her remaining aircraft.
Thanks Carronade! Just as an aside. I believe the power to run the Yorktowm's superfast reconstruction gang blacked out nearly half of the island's citizens. The appearance of 'Yorktown' was probably THE major surprise of the battle for the Japanese. They were sure they had knocked her for six at Coral Sea!
