The attack location and time were confirmed when the American base at Midway sent out a false message that it was short of fresh water. Station Hypo where the cryptanalysts were based in Hawaii was able to also give the date June 4 or 5 and the order of battle of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Early on the morning of June 4, aircraft from four Japanese aircraft carriers attacked and severely damaged the US base on Midway. Unbeknownst to the Japanese, the US carrier forces were just to the east of the island and ready for battle.
After their initial attacks, the Japanese aircraft headed back to their carriers to rearm and refuel. While the aircraft were returning, the Japanese navy became aware of the presence of US naval forces in the area.
Oil tanks on Sand Island spew fire and smoke after being hit by a Japanese attack early on June 4, The Japanese carriers Akagi, Kaga, and Soryu were hit, set ablaze, and abandoned.
Hiryu, the only surviving Japanese carrier, responded with two waves of attacks—both times bombing the USS Yorktown, leaving it severely damaged but still afloat.
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Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives. Daniel Martinez, the chief historian at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, helps us look back on this historical day and reveals how the 70th anniversary of the attack will be commemorated.
Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. Skip to content. Photograph courtesy U. Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google Classroom. Background Info Vocabulary. Before dawn the next day, more Bs left Midway for a second attack on the Japanese invasion force, also unsuccessful.
After inflicting severe damage to the U. Shortly after that, just as his pilots informed Nagumo that another airstrike against the base would be necessary, U. As Nagumo was rearming Japanese planes for a second air attack, a Japanese scout plane spotted portions of the U.
Nagumo switched tactics, ordering planes that were still armed to prepare to attack the U. Meanwhile, a wave of U. Devastator torpedo bombers from the U. Unescorted by fighter planes, nearly all of them were shot down by Japanese Zero fighters.
But about an hour later, as the Japanese refueled and rearmed their planes, another wave of U. Though major combat in the Battle of Midway was over by the evening of June 4, U. The destroyer USS Hammann provided cover for the disabled carrier Yorktown during salvage operations, but a Japanese submarine arrived on June 6 and launched four torpedoes that struck both U. The Hammann sank in minutes; the Yorktown eventually capsized and sank the following day.
On June 6, Yamamoto ordered his ships to retreat, ending the Battle of Midway. In all, Japan had lost as many as 3, men including more than of their most experienced pilots , nearly aircraft, one heavy cruiser and four aircraft carriers in the battle, while the Americans lost the Yorktown and Hammann , along with around aircraft and approximately servicemen.
As a result of the U. The battle injected U. The Battle of Midway, U. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us!
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