June 1942 (4)

Midway Atoll airfield; Sand Island is in the background.

The Japanese First Carrier Strike Force, under VAdmiral Chuichi Nagumo, included the vessels: Akagi, Kaga, Hityu and Soryu.  The fleet was sailing toward US Task Force 17, under RAdmiral Fletcher, and RAdmiral Spruance’s TF-16.  A lone PBY Catalina caught sight of the enemy at 0430 hours, 4 June 1942.  The Japanese carriers launched 108 planes to attack Midway Island and its installations; 7 scout aircraft flew off to locate the US fleet.

 

Vought SB2U Vindicator taking off from Midway. The 3rd Marine Sq. of MAG 22 were made up of obsolete Brewster Buffalos and Vindicators. During the decisive battle of 3-6 June, all Marine aircraft proved ineffective or were destroyed.

The first US aircraft to lift off were 19 B-17s that tried in vain to hit the targets at 10,000′.  Later, 4 new PBYs were ordered to load torpedoes for a low pass, but this only caused damage to a tanker.  At 21oo hours, on the the Yorktown, Lt. Dick Crowell told his flight crews, “The fate of the US now rests in the hands of 240 pilots.”

At 0545 hours, the PBY flown by Lt. William Chase radioed: “MANY ENEMY PLANES HEADING MIDWAY BEARING 320 DEGREES DISTANT 150 MILES.”  Twenty miles ahead of Chase, Lt. Howard Ady saw what he would describe as the curtain rise on the ‘Biggest Show on Earth’ — Nagumo’s striking force.  He then turned back in the cloud cover and radioed the intelligence.

On Midway, the PBYs took off, 6 Navy Avenger torpedo planes and then 4 Army B-26 Marauder bombers.  The second wave followed with 16 Marine Dauntless dive bombers, the Army B-17 Fortresses and 11 Marine Vindicator torpedo bombers.  The Marine ground troops manned their stations as the 27 Wildcat fighters and Marine Buffaloes ascended to 12,000′.

Seaplane hangar on Sand Island in flames.

Japanese Lt. Tomonaga led his Kates in and hit a seaplane hangar, oil tanks and set the hospital on fire on Sand Island.  On Eastern Island, the powerhouse and Marine CP (Command Post) were hit.  They were not as successful as they originally hoped and Tomonaga radioed the Akagi at 0650 hours: ‘SECOND ATTACK NECESSARY.’  Ten minutes later, 6 US Avengers attacked the Akagi, but only one aircraft would return.  The 4 B-26 bombers, manned with inexperienced men, also failed.  Adm. Nagumo changed his course.

Adm. Spruance ordered TF-16 to begin take-off at 0700 hours from the Hornet and Enterprise.  They were spotted by an enemy scout plane: Nagumo was stunned by the report and ordered the 3 other carriers to keep their torpedoes and go after the US fleet 200 miles away.  The commanders on both sides of the war were in a rough situation – land, sea and air space all had to be covered.

USMC field message from Maj. James S. O’Halloran: Battery E, 3rd antiaircraft Group, 3rd Defense Batt. reporting at 1600 hrs. on 4 June: “Three enemy planes seen shot down from this position – one by fire of this battery. Fourth plane seen trailing heavy smoke toward south, losing altitude fast. 262 rounds H>E> expended, no casualties. Everything now in readiness for further assaults.

On the advice of Commander Genda, Nagumo ordered his planes down to change their payloads again.  His flight officer said, “Here we go again.  This is getting to be like a quick-change contest.” (He was given ½ hour to complete the job.)  Amid the chaos, Nagumo overlooked a message that arrived from his scout plane, ‘TEN ENEMY[U.S.] TORPEDO PLANES HEADING TOWARD YOU.’ (There were actually 15).

To Be Continued…..

Click on images to enlarge.

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Bill Mauldin’s Military Humor – 

“Gee, I didn’t realize how rough you boys lived on th’ ground.”

“You might hafta catch a boat. One of them kids ya chased off th’ field wuz the pilot.”

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Farewell Salutes – 

Henry Ayon – El Paso, TX; US Army Air Corps, WWII, pilot

Arnold Bell – No. Haven, CT & FL; US Coast Guard, WWII, PTO

William Clement – New Plymouth; NZ; RNZ Army # 35804, WWII, 25th Battalion

Wayne Dodson – Milwaukee, WI; US Army Air Corps, WWII

Thomas Hazell Jr. – Arlington, MA; US Army, Korea,

Gloria Hoffman – Boynton Bch., FL; civilian employee Pentagon, Signal Corps, WWII, Miss USA War Bond Queen

Barbara Miller – St. Paul, MN; American Red Cross, WWII

Leonard Nimoy – Los Angeles, CA; US Army, Sgt., (beloved actor)

Noble Powell – Eugene, OR; US Navy, WWII, PTO

Frank Slatinshek – Alexandria, VA; US Navy, WWII, PTO, Korea

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