Sunday, June 04, 2006
4 June 1942: Midway
On this day in 1942 the Imperial Japanese Navy lost four of its six fleet aircraft carriers along with their entire air groups. The Battle of Midway is considered one of the most decisive battles in world history. The sinking of the Akagi, Kaga, Soryu and Hiryu made the counter-offensive at Guadalcanal possible. The Marine landings on Guadalcanal caused the Japanese to shift their priorities to that island away from the New Guinea theater. That decision, in turn, enabled MacArthur to launch his offensive in Papua.
At Midway the US Navy lost the carrier Yorktown. The other two American carriers Enterprise and Hornet were not even scratched. The Hornet was sunk during the Guadalcanal campaign at the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on October, 26 1942. The Enterprise, which didn't seem to miss any battle in the Pacific, survived the war.
Sadly, The Big E did not survive the Truman and Eisenhower administrations. If you can believe it, she was scrapped in July 1958.
Update, 6/5: Doug White at Poinography has informed me that the Yorktown has been found. Doug informed me that he was part of the University of Hawaii team that found the vessel in 16500 feet of water.
At Midway the US Navy lost the carrier Yorktown. The other two American carriers Enterprise and Hornet were not even scratched. The Hornet was sunk during the Guadalcanal campaign at the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on October, 26 1942. The Enterprise, which didn't seem to miss any battle in the Pacific, survived the war.
Sadly, The Big E did not survive the Truman and Eisenhower administrations. If you can believe it, she was scrapped in July 1958.
Update, 6/5: Doug White at Poinography has informed me that the Yorktown has been found. Doug informed me that he was part of the University of Hawaii team that found the vessel in 16500 feet of water.
# posted by Grant Jones @ 1:38 PM 
