Discover the Battle of Midway (June 1942), the key confrontation of the Second World War between the United States and Japan, with a focus on the aircraft involved.
The Battle of Midway, which took place from June 4 to 7, 1942, is considered one of the most decisive confrontations in the Pacific theater during the Second World War. This aeronaval engagement between American and Japanese forces turned the tide of the war in the region.
The historical context
The year 1942 marked a critical phase in the Pacific theater of the Second World War. Following the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Japan had rapidly seized several key territories, including the Philippines, Malaya, Singapore and Burma. These initial successes were aimed at establishing a zone of control that would prevent the United States and its allies from retaliating effectively. However, despite these victories, the Imperial Japanese Navy failed to destroy the American aircraft carriers during the attack on Pearl Harbor, leaving them to play a central role in future battles.
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet, devised a bold plan to consolidate Japanese dominance in the Pacific. His aim was to lure American aircraft carriers into a trap by attacking Midway Atoll. This small island, some 4,000 kilometers west of San Francisco, served as a strategic outpost for the American fleet. Its capture would have given the Japanese an additional base from which to threaten Hawaii and counter any American counter-offensive.
However, one of the decisive points in this battle was the US intelligence advantage. Since April 1942, American cryptanalysts, led by Lieutenant-Commander Joseph Rochefort, had been partially deciphering the Japanese naval code (designated JN-25). They discovered that the target designated “AF” in the Japanese messages corresponded to Midway atoll. To confirm this hypothesis, the Americans sent an uncoded message from Midway reporting a shortage of fresh water. Shortly afterwards, an intercepted Japanese message reported that “AF” was short of fresh water, confirming their plan.
Aware of the imminence of the attack, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet, ordered a massive mobilization. U.S. aircraft carriers were positioned east of Midway, out of range of Japanese reconnaissance, to set up an ambush. This anticipation enabled the American forces to counter-attack with meticulous preparation, despite their numerical inferiority.
The forces involved
The Battle of Midway involved impressive forces on both sides, although the balance of power was initially tilted in favor of the Japanese.
On the Japanese side:
The Japanese fleet mobilized four of the most powerful aircraft carriers of the time, all of which had played a key role in the attack on Pearl Harbor:
- Akagi and Kaga: heavy carriers, capable of carrying around 70-80 aircraft each.
- Soryu and Hiryu: Faster, with slightly less capacity, carrying between 60 and 70 aircraft each.
These ships were accompanied by a large fleet of battleships, cruisers and destroyers. The Japanese fleet also included over 200 embarked aircraft, mainly Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters, Aichi D3A dive bombers and Nakajima B5N torpedo boats. Their aim was to neutralize American naval air forces and destroy Midway installations.
On the American side:
The Americans lined up three aircraft carriers:
- USS Enterprise and USS Hornet: modern aircraft carriers capable of carrying up to 90 aircraft.
- USS Yorktown: Seriously damaged during the Battle of the Coral Sea, she was repaired in just three days to take part in Midway. Although in poor condition, it added some 50 aircraft to the American fleet.
The aircraft carriers were accompanied by cruisers, destroyers and submarines for protection. In all, the US Navy mobilized some 360 aircraft, including Grumman F4F Wildcat fighters, Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers and Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo boats. Ground forces based on Midway were also equipped with B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers and Martin B-26 Marauder torpedo bombers.
Despite a clear numerical inferiority, the Americans compensated for their disadvantage with strategic preparation and knowledge of Japanese movements. This asymmetry marked one of the most important strategic turning points of the Second World War.
Aircraft involved
US Navy :
- Grumman F4F Wildcat: The US Navy’s main fighter at the start of the conflict, the F4F Wildcat was robust and well-armed, with a top speed of around 512 km/h and a standard armament of six 12.7 mm machine guns.
- Douglas SBD Dauntless: A dive-bomber renowned for its accuracy, the SBD Dauntless played a crucial role in inflicting significant damage on Japanese aircraft carriers. It could carry a 454 kg bomb and reached a maximum speed of 410 km/h.
- Grumman TBF Avenger: Introduced shortly before the battle, the Avenger was a modern torpedo boat, capable of carrying a Mark 13 torpedo or up to 907 kg of bombs, with a top speed of 436 km/h.
Imperial Japanese Navy :
- Mitsubishi A6M Zero: Japan’s iconic fighter, the Zero was extremely maneuverable and had a top speed of 533 km/h. However, its lack of armor made it vulnerable to enemy fire.
- Aichi D3A “Val ” : A dive bomber used for precise attacks, the D3A could carry a 250 kg bomb and reached a maximum speed of 389 km/h.
- Nakajima B5N “Kate ” : Versatile torpedo boat, the B5N could carry a torpedo or bombs, with a maximum speed of 378 km/h.
A detailed account of the Battle of Midway
Preamble and first maneuvers
At dawn on June 4, 1942, the Japanese fleet deployed a first assault wave of 108 aircraft, including Aichi D3A dive bombers, Nakajima B5N torpedo boats and Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters. Their main mission was to neutralize the air and naval installations on Midway Atoll. American aircraft based on the island, notably the Brewster F2A Buffalo and Grumman F4F Wildcat fighters, put up fierce resistance. However, they were greatly outclassed by the Japanese fighters, and American losses were heavy.
The bombing caused moderate damage to the island, but the airstrips and essential infrastructure remained operational. This unsatisfactory result forced the Japanese to plan a second wave of attacks, requiring a reorganization of their aircraft.
The American counter-attack
While the Japanese rearmed their aircraft on the carriers Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, and Hiryu, American forces launched a counterattack. Thanks to advance intelligence, the American carriers USS Enterprise, USS Hornet, and USS Yorktown were already in position to attack. The first assault waves were made up of Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo boats, which suffered catastrophic losses. Out of 41 aircraft engaged, only 6 returned, the others having been shot down by Zero fighters and Japanese anti-aircraft fire.
Despite these initial failures, the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers took over. Thanks to effective coordination and fortuitous timing, they found the Japanese carriers in a vulnerable position, their decks cluttered with aircraft in the process of rearming and refueling. Between 10.20 and 10.25, in less than five minutes, the dive-bombers inflicted devastating blows:
- Akagi: Hit by a single 450 kg bomb which caused massive explosions on the flight deck, dooming the ship.
- Kaga: Suffered four direct hits, causing uncontrollable fires.
- Soryu: Hit by three bombs, she was quickly abandoned by her crew.
These strikes totally disrupted the Japanese fleet, putting three of their four main carriers out of action.
Japanese response and final counter-attack
The Hiryu, Japan’s last operational aircraft carrier, retaliated with two waves of air attacks. The first wave severely damaged the USS Yorktown, which at the time appeared to be an intact carrier (an American ruse to conceal the damage caused earlier). The crew temporarily managed to stabilize the ship, but a second wave of Japanese aircraft finished her off. The Yorktown was finally torpedoed and sunk by the Japanese submarine I-168 on June 7, 1942.
Meanwhile, American bombers identified the position of the Hiryu. The USS Enterprise’s SBD Dauntless attacked and severely damaged the ship, causing her total destruction. The Hiryu was abandoned by its crew and later sank.
The conclusion of hostilities
By the end of the fighting, the Japanese navy had lost four aircraft carriers, some 250 embarked aircraft and experienced crews, an irrecoverable blow to their offensive capability. American losses included the USS Yorktown, a destroyer, and 150 aircraft.
The Battle of Midway marked a turning point in the Pacific conflict. The Japanese, who had previously dictated the pace of the offensive, were forced to go on the defensive. This victory enabled the United States to maintain its strategic superiority in the Pacific and to take the initiative in subsequent campaigns, notably at Guadalcanal.
Consequences and strategic impact
The destruction of four Japanese aircraft carriers dealt a severe blow to the Imperial Navy, reducing its offensive capability and marking the beginning of American naval superiority in the Pacific. The victory also boosted Allied morale and enabled the Allies to go on the offensive in the region, notably with the Guadalcanal and Solomon Islands campaigns.
Analysis of the factors behind the American victory
Several elements contributed to the American victory at Midway:
- Intelligence: Deciphering Japanese communications enabled the U.S. to prepare an effective defense and position its forces optimally.
- Tactics: The decision to launch coordinated attacks, despite the high risks involved, enabled the Japanese forces to be taken by surprise.
- Technology: Although some American aircraft were inferior to the Japanese in terms of performance, their robustness and improved combat tactics compensated for these disadvantages.
Lessons learned from the battle : The Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway highlighted the crucial importance of intelligence, strategic preparation and tactical flexibility in modern conflict. It also demonstrated that numerical superiority does not guarantee victory, especially against a well-informed and determined opponent.
The Battle of Midway remains an emblematic example of how the combination of intelligence, courage and strategy can turn the tide of a conflict. It also underlines the importance of innovation and adaptation at critical moments in military history.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.