Re-Run.-.AF Is Short Of Fresh Water.-.

On this date sixty nine years ago, approximately one thousand three hundred miles northwest of Hawaii, three American aircraft carriers steamed in the vicinity of Midway Atoll.

Farther to the west steamed four Japanese carriers that launched aircraft to bomb and strafe Sand and Eastern Islands of Midway Atoll. The Japanese carriers were in advance of a fleet of ships and the intention was to assault, seize and occupy Midway Atoll and to draw the American Fleet out to defend Midway. It was hoped to destroy the US Pacific Fleet.

The make-up of the Japanese Forces and their plans were known to the US Navy as Japanese radio messages had been intercepted and decoded. The exact target was not revealed but was referred to as “AF”.

Those who intercepted and decoded the Japanese radio traffic believed the target was Midway. It was arranged that a message would be transmitted from Midway to Pearl Harbor that problems were being experienced with the desalinization plant on Midway. A couple of days after that message was transmitted a Japanese radio transmission was intercepted and de-coded. “AF is short of fresh water.”

Midway was the target.

As the Japanese fleets neared they were found by search aircraft from Midway. They were attacked by aircraft from Midway and B-17s from Hawaii. No damage was inflicted on the attackers.

Aircraft from the Japanese carriers attacked Midway and caused damage.

Aircraft were launched from the three American Carriers. A Japanese search plane sighted the US Carrier USS Yorktown.

Torpedo planes from the American Carriers attacked the Japanese carriers without success.

The Japanese fighter planes which were airborne to protect the fleet were drawn down low to deal with the torpedo planes which were decimated.

Before they could regain altitude the US Navy dive bombers arrived.

In an approximate five minute time span three of the Japanese carriers were turned into flaming wrecks which sank the same day. The fourth Japanese carrier wasn’t hit. Planes from the IJN Hiryu found, attacked and badly damaged and immobilized the USS Yorktown.

Emergency repairs were made to the Yorktown and her boilers were re-lit and she was gotten underway. A second attack from the Hiryu again stopped the Yorktown and she was abandoned. However the Hiryu was found and bombed and she sank on June 5 1942.

A partial crew re-boarded the Yorktown and attempted repairs. However a Japanese submarine put two torpedoes into the Yorktown and also into a destroyer assisting.

The destroyer sank almost immediately but the Yorktown remained afloat until the morning of June 7th.

Further attack of Midway was cancelled. Japanese Naval Aviation never recovered after the loss of four carriers, aircraft and pilots. American Naval Aviation flourished.

Japan lost the war on June 4, 1942 but did not realize it.

Japan was not able to train pilots as fast or as well as the United States.

The Enola Gay at the Air & Space Museum annex at Dulles and Bocks Car at the Air Forced Museum in Dayton speak volumes but June 4, 1942 was the turning point in the war in the Pacific.

Midway Atoll by Google Earth