Fourth Annual Battle of Midway Remembrance Day Battle of Midway Commemoration Committee Arizona Capitol Museum Historic Senate Chamber June 5, 2015

The Story of Midway: A Brief History of the Turning Point of the Pacific War Fourth Annual Battle of Midway Remembrance Day Battle of Midway Commemoration Committee Arizona Capitol Museum Historic Senate Chamber June 5, 2015 Herb Zinn Military Historian 2015 Herbert I. Zinn, All Rights Reserved

The Story of Midway Midway is the story of Midway is the story of Japans gross miscalculation Overconfidence borne of victory disease Rigid adherence to obsolete doctrine Inherent technological and operational shortcomings Unrelenting bravery against seemingly overwhelming odds Lost opportunity Bad timing A dose of pure chance and luckgood and bad

Midways Relevance to Arizona First major payback for Pearl Harbor First major payback for Pearl Harbor Sinking of four of the six Pearl Harbor Raiders Sinking of four of the six Pearl Harbor Raiders Loss of Life aboard U.S.S. Arizona (BB-39) Loss of Life aboard U.S.S. Arizona (BB-39) Of the 2,403 dead at Pearl Harbor, 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors and marines assigned to the U.S.S. Arizona were killed. 2012 - 10% of the U. S. Navy comes from Arizona 2012 - 10% of the U. S. Navy comes from Arizona Midway Vets: Midway Vets: Ensign John C. Butler (1921 1942) Radioman 1C Henry Hight (1924-2014)

The Pacific Battlefield - 1942

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto Isoroku Yamamoto (1884 1943)

The Pacific Battlefield - 1942

April 18, 1942 Doolittle Tokyo Raid Doolittles Avenging Strike By Robert Bailey

Midway Atoll Source: The Midway Roundtable; www.midway42.org

A Battle of Intelligence, Lost Opportunity and Poor Communication

Opposing Forces/Equipment Japan Japan Overwhelming superiority in surface ships. 11 BBs, 12 CAs, 47 DDs and assorted auxiliaries 11 BBs, 12 CAs, 47 DDs and assorted auxiliaries 15 submarines 15 submarines Four fleet carriers fielding 225 fighters, bombers and torpedo aircraft. Should have been 6 but for Coral Sea battle Should have been 6 but for Coral Sea battle Additional 2 light carriers fielding 32 added aircraft. In general, Japanese aircraft superior to their then American counterparts, excepting dive bombers. Veteran aircrew Excellent torpedo technology; armor-piercing bombs Poor search capability 10 search aircraft on CAs Tone and Chikuma

Forces/Equipment United States United States Three fleet carriers fielding 233 fighters, bombers and torpedo aircraft Midway garrison fielding total of additional 95 Navy, Marine and AAF fighters, bombers and torpedo aircraft Plus 31 PBY amphibious patrol aircraft 3 times the Japanese resources 3 times the Japanese resources Untried, inexperienced aircrew Unreliable torpedo design; obsolete torpedo bombers; no armor-piercing ordnance Eight CAs, 15 DDs

Admiral Chester William Nimitz Nimitz(1885-1966)

Nimitzs Ace-in-the-Hole: Station HYPO Captain Joseph John Rochefort (1917-1976) Captain Wilfred J. Jasper Holmes (1900-1986)

The Opposing Carrier Commanders Nagumo 1 st Kido Butai Spruance TF 16 FletcherTF17

The Battle 3 June Preliminary skirmishes Preliminary skirmishes 0843 hrs PBYs spot Minesweeper Group 0925 hrs PBYs spot Transport Group 1225 hrs B-17s dispatched to attack transports; No hits or losses 0130 hrs (4 June) PBYs make night torpedo attack on Transport Group; tanker Akebono Maru hit

The Battle 4 June 0430 hrs 0430 hrs 108 plane strike launches against Midway 108 plane strike launches against Midway Reserves readied in hangars to strike American carriers if/when discovered Reserves readied in hangars to strike American carriers if/when discovered

Insufficient Reconnaissance

The Battle 4 June Kaga Akagi Soryu Hiryu Kido Butai @ 0430 hrs Appr. 8,000 meters (26,246.72 ft) between carriers

The Battle 4 June 0530 hrs. 0530 hrs. PBY Strawberry 5 sights Japanese carriers PBY Strawberry 5 sights Japanese carriers 0552 hrs PBY spots incoming attack 0552 hrs PBY spots incoming attack 0600 - Midway starts launching aircraft 0600 - Midway starts launching aircraft B-17s already airborne at 200 miles west of Midway

The Battle 4 June 0620 hrs through 0630 hrs. 0620 hrs through 0630 hrs. Japanese strike force breaks through Midway air defenses and attacks island installations Japanese strike force breaks through Midway air defenses and attacks island installations 0705 hrs Tomonaga advises second strike needed 0705 hrs Tomonaga advises second strike needed 0715 hrs. Nagumo orders reserves readied to attack Midway contravening Yamamotos orders 0715 hrs. Nagumo orders reserves readied to attack Midway contravening Yamamotos orders Lt. Tomonaga Joichi

The Battle 4 June 0710 hrs (just before Nagumo orders rearming of second Midway strike) 0710 hrs (just before Nagumo orders rearming of second Midway strike) Four B-26s attack Akagi and six TBFs attack Hiryu from the SE with no hits Four B-26s attack Akagi and six TBFs attack Hiryu from the SE with no hits Carrier formations broken up; CAP scattered Carrier formations broken up; CAP scattered An Omen by Jack Fellows (Susie Q, Lt. James Muri) Shot Across the Bow by Roy Grinnell (Susie Q, Lt. James Muri) Only One Survived by Craig Kodera

The Battle 4 June What is Nagumo thinking? What is Nagumo thinking? Air attacks by land-based aircraft had begun No reports of USN fleet from subs, Operation K or search aircraft No intel from Yamamoto Thats why he contravened Yamamotos orders Thats why he contravened Yamamotos orders

The Battle 4 June 0705 hrs. (at about time Tomonaga calls for second strike) 0705 hrs. (at about time Tomonaga calls for second strike) Enterprise and Hornet launch 116 plane strike against Japanese carriers Enterprise and Hornet launch 116 plane strike against Japanese carriers Uncoordinated. Uncoordinated. Hornet strike embarks on flight to nowhere Hornet strike embarks on flight to nowhere Best on Deck By James Dietz Requiem for Torpedo 8 By Gil Cohen

The Flight to Nowhere Capt. Marc Mitscher, Stanhope Ring (Hornet Air Group Commander) and John Waldron, Skipper, Torpedo 8 Capt. Marc Mitscher, Stanhope Ring (Hornet Air Group Commander) and John Waldron, Skipper, Torpedo 8 Waldron goes in alone with his 15 Devastators. Waldron goes in alone with his 15 Devastators. 44 Hornet SBDs and F4Fs miss the battle entirely. 44 Hornet SBDs and F4Fs miss the battle entirely.

Sidebar The Flight to Nowhere

The Battle 4 June 0728 hrs. 0728 hrs. CA Tone Scout #4 indirectly reports U.S. Ships CA Tone Scout #4 indirectly reports U.S. Ships Chikumas Scout 1 should have spotted the Americans but for cloud cover 0745 hrs. (or 0800?) Nagumo reverses himself and orders reserve readied to attack ships instead of Midway 0745 hrs. (or 0800?) Nagumo reverses himself and orders reserve readied to attack ships instead of Midway How many Kates had already switched to bombs? Zeros becoming preoccupied with US attackers Conflict in record Crews became overwhelmed

The Battle 4 June Nautilus Nautilus 0755 hrs spots Japanese fleet Attacks BB Kirishima but no hits 1359 1405 hrs attacks burning Kaga -- but no hits Arashi Arashi Depth charges Nautilus until 0955. Heads north at high speed to rejoin Kido Butai McCluskys VB-6 follows Arashi track and finds Kido Butai

The Battle 4 June 0800 hrs. (at about the time Nagumo is ordering rearming for strike against ships) 0800 hrs. (at about the time Nagumo is ordering rearming for strike against ships) 16 Marine SBDs from VMSB-241 (Henderson) attack Hiryu from the east 16 Marine SBDs from VMSB-241 (Henderson) attack Hiryu from the east No hits No hits Carrier formation further dispersed Carrier formation further dispersed Continuing deteriorating effect on CAP Continuing deteriorating effect on CAP Maj. Lofton Henderson

The Battle 4 June 0820 hrs. 0820 hrs. 14 B-17s (Sweeney) attack Akagi, Soryu and Hiryu at high altitude from the NW; 20,000 feet 14 B-17s (Sweeney) attack Akagi, Soryu and Hiryu at high altitude from the NW; 20,000 feet No hits No hits But continuing displacement of fleet and CAP But continuing displacement of fleet and CAP Hiryu dodging B-17 salvo

The Battle 4 June 0805 -- Midway strike aircraft return for landing 0805 -- Midway strike aircraft return for landing 0823 -- 11 Marine Vindicators from VMSB- 241 attack BB Haruna 0823 -- 11 Marine Vindicators from VMSB- 241 attack BB Haruna No hits; 3 A/C lost No hits; 3 A/C lost 0830 hrs Tone 4 -- Confirmation of American carrier 0830 hrs Tone 4 -- Confirmation of American carrier 0905 hrs Yorktown launches strike after recovering scouts 0905 hrs Yorktown launches strike after recovering scouts "Haruna 1934" by Shizuo Fukui Kure Maritime Museum

The Battle 4 June 0920 hrs. -- Waldron leads VT-8 in attack on Soryu from the NE 0920 hrs. -- Waldron leads VT-8 in attack on Soryu from the NE All 15 bombers lost; only Ens. Gay survives attack All 15 bombers lost; only Ens. Gay survives attack Further deterioration of Japanese carrier operations Further deterioration of Japanese carrier operations Against the Odds by Mark Stewart Ensign Gay and his gunner/radioman, ARM3c George Arthur Field

The Battle 4 June Sole-Survivor by William Reynolds (Ens. Gay attacks Soryu)

The Battle 4 June Hiryu Akagi Kaga Soryu VT-8 Kido Butai Track During VT-8 Attack @ 0920 hrs

The Battle 4 June 0805 hrs to 0918 hrs. Recovery of Tomonagas Midway strike. 0805 hrs to 0918 hrs. Recovery of Tomonagas Midway strike. Strike against U.S carriers planned for 1030 hrs. Strike against U.S carriers planned for 1030 hrs. Crucial moment of the battle Crucial moment of the battle Could Nagumo have ordered earlier strike on the American carriers? Great mystery; but logistically doubtful Nagumo opted for massive coordinated blow Thought USN farther away than it actually was American carrier strikes, however, already en route to Kido Butai 175 miles away American carrier strikes, however, already en route to Kido Butai 175 miles away

The Battle 4 June 0940 hrs to 1000 hrs 0940 hrs to 1000 hrs VT-6 (LCDR Lindsey) from Enterprise attacks Kaga from the south VT-6 (LCDR Lindsey) from Enterprise attacks Kaga from the south 10 lost 10 lost No hits No hits Go in and Get a Hit by Jim Griffiths LCDR Eugene Lindsey

The Battle 4 June Hiryu Soryu Akagi Kaga VT-6 Ely Lindsey Kido Butai Track During VT-6 Attack @ 0940 1000 hrs

The Battle 4 June 1002 1003 hrs Yorktown and Enterprise SBDs sight Kido Butai 1002 1003 hrs Yorktown and Enterprise SBDs sight Kido Butai VB-3 (LCDR Leslie) from Yorktown goes after Soryu VB-3 (LCDR Leslie) from Yorktown goes after Soryu VB-6 (LCDR McClusky) from Enterprise goes after Kaga VB-6 (LCDR McClusky) from Enterprise goes after Kaga Turning Point by Robert Rasmussen

The Battle 4 June Soryu Hiryu Akagi Kaga Kido Butai Track @ 1000 hrs

The Battle 4 June 1010-1030 Yorktowns VT-3 (LCDR Massey) and escorts attack Hiryu from the southeast. 1010-1030 Yorktowns VT-3 (LCDR Massey) and escorts attack Hiryu from the southeast. No hits; only 2 TBDs survive No hits; only 2 TBDs survive Further compromise of Zero CAP effectiveness Further compromise of Zero CAP effectiveness Tom Cheek at Midway by John Greaves MACH Tom Cheek Ens. Wesley Osmus LCDR Lance Massey, VT-3

The Battle 4 June First Hit at Midway by Paul Rendel

The Battle 4 June Soryu Hiryu Akagi Kaga Kido Butai Track @ 1010 hrs just before the fateful attack VT-3(Massey) VB-3(Leslie) VB-6/VS-6(McClusky) Best Query: Had Hornets 37 SBDs from VB- 8/VS-8 been on scene, would Hiryu have survived to counterattack Yorktown?

The Battle 4 June 1022 hrs Enterprise VB-6/VS-6 SBDs (McClusky) attack Kaga; 5 hits 1022 hrs Enterprise VB-6/VS-6 SBDs (McClusky) attack Kaga; 5 hits 1025 hrs Yorktowns VB-3 (Leslie) hits Soryu; three hits 1025 hrs Yorktowns VB-3 (Leslie) hits Soryu; three hits 1026 hrs -- Dick Best and element hit Akagi 1026 hrs -- Dick Best and element hit Akagi 1 hit and 1 near miss cripple her McCluskyBestLeslie

Myth The American dive bombers fell upon the Japanese carriers with deckloads of aircraft waiting to be launched. The American dive bombers fell upon the Japanese carriers with deckloads of aircraft waiting to be launched. Midway The Turning Point by Stan Stokes

The Battle 4 June Midway The Attack on Soryu by Anthony Saunders (Leslies VB-3)

The Battle 4 June Pawn Takes Castle by Tom Freeman (Best, VB-6 3-plane element)

The Battle 4 June Battle of Midway by Bill Shanefelt (Akagi)(Best, VB-6 3-plane element)

The Battle 4 June Famous Four Minutes by R. G. Smith (Akagi)(Best, VB-6 3-plane element)

The Battle 4 June Attack on the Akagi by R. G. Smith (Best, VB-6 3-plane element)

The Battle 4 June The Turning Point by R.G. Smith (Best, VB-6 3-plane element)

The Battle 4 June Damage to Kaga sinks at 1925 hrs Damage to Kaga sinks at 1925 hrs Source: The Battle of Midway Roundtable -- http://www.midway42.org/TheBattle/IJNCarrierDamage.aspx

The Battle 4 June Damage to Akagi sinks 5 June at 0520 hrs Damage to Akagi sinks 5 June at 0520 hrs Source: The Battle of Midway Roundtable -- http://www.midway42.org/TheBattle/IJNCarrierDamage.aspx

The Battle 4 June Damage to Soryu sinks at 1913 hrs. Damage to Soryu sinks at 1913 hrs. Source: The Battle of Midway Roundtable -- http://www.midway42.org/TheBattle/IJNCarrierDamage.aspx

The Battle 4 June 1050 hrs Hiryu launches Val dive bombers. 1050 hrs Hiryu launches Val dive bombers. 1209 hrs Vals attack Yorktown 1209 hrs Vals attack Yorktown Yorktown hit 3 times and one near miss astern; one knocks out uptakes and boilers. Yorktown loses headway Yorktown hit 3 times and one near miss astern; one knocks out uptakes and boilers. Yorktown loses headway Damage control restores power and puts out fires Damage control restores power and puts out fires VA Yamaguchi Tamon

The Battle 4 June Source: The Battle of Midway Roundtable -- http://www.midway42.org/TheBattle/YorktownDamage.aspx

The Battle 4 June 1331 hrs Hiryu launches Kate torpedo bombers 1331 hrs Hiryu launches Kate torpedo bombers 1443 hrs Yorktown hit by two torpedoes 1443 hrs Yorktown hit by two torpedoes Battle of Midway - Japanese Aircraft By Brian Sanders

The Battle 4 June Source: The Battle of Midway Roundtable --Source: The Battle of Midway Roundtable -- http://www.midway42.org/TheBattle/YorktownDamage.aspx

The Battle 4 June 1705 hrs Enterprise and Yorktown SBDs score four hits on Hiryu 1705 hrs Enterprise and Yorktown SBDs score four hits on Hiryu Yorktown Replies By Jack Fellows

The Battle 4 June Damage to Hiryu sinks 0820 hrs, 5 June Damage to Hiryu sinks 0820 hrs, 5 June Source: The Battle of Midway Roundtable -- http://www.midway42.org/TheBattle/IJNCarrierDamage.aspx

The Battle 5 - 6 June 0230 hrs - CAs Mogami and Mikuma collide retiring from Midway. 0230 hrs - CAs Mogami and Mikuma collide retiring from Midway. 5 June 0840 hrs and 6 June 0945 hrs - SBD attacks severely damage both cruisers 5 June 0840 hrs and 6 June 0945 hrs - SBD attacks severely damage both cruisers Mikuma sinks Mikuma sinks

The Battle 5 June 0255 hrs 0255 hrs Yamamoto cancels Midway Operation Yamamoto cancels Midway Operation Fleet returns home Fleet returns home Crews secreted Crews secreted

Myth The Midway battle broke the back of Japanese naval aviation. The Midway battle broke the back of Japanese naval aviation.

The Battle 5 June 1636 -1845 hrs Destroyer Tanikaze sent to sink Hiryu if still afloat Destroyer Tanikaze sent to sink Hiryu if still afloat Attacked by 43 SBDs from Hornet and Enterprise, and 18 B- 17s -- none of which scored a hit Attacked by 43 SBDs from Hornet and Enterprise, and 18 B- 17s -- none of which scored a hit One SBD shot down, 5 destroyer crew killed One SBD shot down, 5 destroyer crew killed

The Battle 6 - 7 June Yorktown and DD Hammann torpedoed and sunk by I-168 Yorktown and DD Hammann torpedoed and sunk by I-168

The Battle 7 June Source: The Battle of Midway Roundtable --Source: The Battle of Midway Roundtable -- http://www.midway42.org/TheBattle/YorktownDamage.aspx

Final Tally US 1 carrier sunk 1 destroyer sunk ~150 aircraft destroyed 307 killed 1 carrier sunk 1 destroyer sunk ~150 aircraft destroyed 307 killed Japan 4 carriers sunk 1 heavy cruiser sunk 1 heavy cruiser damaged 248 aircraft destroyed* 3,057 killed 4 carriers sunk 1 heavy cruiser sunk 1 heavy cruiser damaged 248 aircraft destroyed* 3,057 killed * Includes 11 th Air Fleet fighters carried aboard Kido Butai destined for Midway service Hiryu Survivors

Factors Contributing to Defeat Overconfidence (Victory Disease) Overconfidence (Victory Disease)

Factors Contributing to Defeat 'Last Moments of Admiral Yamaguchi' painting by Kita Renzo, 1942; Captain Tomeo Kaku, with mustache, is next to Yamaguchi in the painting; SourceNational Archives and Records Administration 'Last Moments of Admiral Yamaguchi' painting by Kita Renzo, 1942; Captain Tomeo Kaku, with mustache, is next to Yamaguchi in the painting; Source: National Archives and Records Administration Cultural Considerations Cultural Considerations

Factors Contributing to Defeat Poor battle tactics/failure to heed lessons from prior operations (Indian Ocean, Mar. - April 1942) Poor battle tactics/failure to heed lessons from prior operations (Indian Ocean, Mar. - April 1942)

Factors Contributing to Defeat Underestimating American carrier and naval aviation capability (Coral Sea) Underestimating American carrier and naval aviation capability (Coral Sea) Coral Sea by Robert Benney Battle of the Coral Sea by Robert Bailey Scratch One Flattop by Stan Stokes

Factors Contributing to Defeat Shokaku Zuikaku

Inherent flaws in IJN carrier design and ops. Inherent flaws in IJN carrier design and ops. No armor deck Poor hangar deck ventilation Little to no isolation of av. gas supply and lines Bombs and torpedoes not returned to magazines

Factors Contributing to Defeat Insufficient damage control Insufficient damage control Source: http://www.collectorsquest.com/collectible/21393/aircraft-carrier-akagi

Factors Contributing to Defeat Feeble early warning capabilities Feeble early warning capabilities No radar Depended on picket alerts CVL Nagara

Factors Contributing to Defeat Short-legged CAP Short-legged CAP Insufficient ammo loads Lack of appreciation for ruggedness of American aircraft Frequency of need to refuel and rearm Jiro Horikoshi Jiro Horikoshi

Factors Contributing to Defeat Poor communication capability Poor communication capability Japanese aircraft did not carry radios Yamamoto and IJN high command failed to keep Nagumo informed E.g., increased USN carrier radio traffic never passed on to Nagumo E.g., increased USN carrier radio traffic never passed on to Nagumo Zero by Alex Hamilton

Conclusions Americans badly needed a decisive victory over a seemingly undefeatable enemy. Americans badly needed a decisive victory over a seemingly undefeatable enemy. Contributes to early literature and analysis However, Midway and even Coral Sea demonstrates inherent Japanese weaknesses that were finally unveiled when the IJN came up against an opponent that was prepared to meet it on roughly equal footing. However, Midway and even Coral Sea demonstrates inherent Japanese weaknesses that were finally unveiled when the IJN came up against an opponent that was prepared to meet it on roughly equal footing. The very aircraft carriers the Japanese failed to destroy at Pearl Harbor were their undoing at Midway. The very aircraft carriers the Japanese failed to destroy at Pearl Harbor were their undoing at Midway.

Conclusion

In Memoriam Ensign John C. Butler (1921 1942) Bombing Squadron 3 U.S.S. Yorktown CV-5

Documents

Fourth Annual Battle of Midway Remembrance Day Battle of Midway Commemoration Committee Arizona Capitol Museum Historic Senate Chamber June 5, 2015