70 years ago today

[Little-Acorn]

On June 4-6, 1942, American naval forces in the Battle of Midway destroyed Japan's four front-line aircraft carriers and other ships, resulting in the Japanese reverting to a defensive role for the rest of the Pacific war, never to make another offensive attack; and starting the long road to their eventual defeat in 1945.

Two major factors led to the American victory:

1.) Decryption of secret Japanese radio codes that enabled the Americans to find out details of the oncoming Japanese attack;
2.) Incredible courage of the pilots of American torpedo bombers on June 4, who found themselves attacking front-line Japanese ships defended by highly-trained, experienced pilots flying vastly superior Zero fighters. The American torpedo bombers nonetheless pressed home their attacks, and were virtally wiped out while scoring NO torpedo hits on the ships... but served to draw the Japanese fighters down to low altitude and allowing higher-altitude dive bombers unopposed access to the Japanese carriers, sinking three and getting the fourth one a day later. Due to problems during launch and ensuing radio silence, the torpedo bomber pilots could not have known of the timely approach of the American dive bombers, which makes their selfless sacrifice even more amazingly heroic.

Six Japanese carriers had attacked Pearl harbor to draw America into the war. Two of them were damage a few months later in the Battle of the Coral Sea, ands so were not included in the Midway attack. Of the four carriers America had (fortunately not in port on Dec. 7, 1941), one (Lexington) was sunk in the Coral Sea battle and another (Yorktown) damaged. Unlike the Japanese, the Americans patched the Yorktown together to enable it to fight at Midway, where it was eventually sunk after delivering air strikes on the four Japanese carriers.

Damage control on the Yorktown, decryption of the secret Japanese radio codes, and above all the incredible courage and sacrifice of the American torpedo bombers from the carriers Yorktown, Hornet, and Enterprise turned the tide of the battle. The Japanese called off their invasion of Midway, and their forces never recovered from the loss of their four front-line carriers and all their squadrons of seasoned, experienced fighter and bomber aircraft and crews.

[aboutime]

Many say that battle near Midway, and the infamous Turkey Shoot was the turning point for the U.S. in the war with Japan.
Thanks for bringing that to the attention of those who may not have such a grasp, if any at all, on our History.
By the way. It makes me feel older...when I think how all of that took place Five years before I took my first breath.
It also reminds me how. If we fail to remember History. We are doomed to repeat it.

[Little-Acorn]

Many say that battle near Midway, and the infamous Turkey Shoot was the turning point for the U.S. in the war with Japan.
The Marianas Turkey Shoot took place more than two years later, when Japan was on the run after frantically building more aircraft carriers and trying to train pilots. But their pilots were mostly inexperienced by then and easy prey (though a few good ones were still left and were still dangerous), and their aircraft development had badly lagged, to the point where the feared Zero of the Battle of Midway was now almost completely outclassed by newer American fighters such as the Hellcat and Corsair. Japan lost three more aircraft carriers and more then 600 planes in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, while the Americans (who by then had far more and better planes and ships) lost no ships and comparatively few planes. It was basically Japan's last gasp in the carrier wars in the Pacific.


Thanks for bringing that to the attention of those who may not have such a grasp, if any at all, on our History.
By the way. It makes me feel older...when I think how all of that took place Five years before I took my first breath.
It also reminds me how. If we fail to remember History. We are doomed to repeat it.
It is hard for us to grasp today, just what guts and fortitude the men who fought that war (on all sides even) had, and what incredible sacrifices so many of them made. The Battle of Midway gives sterling examples... though certainly not the only examples.

[aboutime]

The Marianas Turkey Shoot took place more than two years later, when Japan was on the run after frantically building more aircraft carriers and trying to train pilots. But their pilots were mostly inexperienced and easy prey (though a few good ones were still left and were still dangerous), and their aircraft development had badly lagged, to the point where the feared Zero of the Battle of Midway was now almost completely outclassed by newer American fighters such as the Hellcat and Corsair. Japan lost three more aircraft carriers and more then 600 planes in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, while the Americans (who by then had far more and better planes and ships) lost no ships and comparatively few planes. It was basically Japan's last gasp in the carrier wars in the Pacific.


It is hard for us to grasp today, just what guts and fortitude the men who fought that war (on all sides even) had, and what incredible sacrifices so many of them made. The Battle of Midway gives sterling examples... though certainly not the only examples.


Goes to show me, and others. Just how much History we need to learn. Sorry about the mixup.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

The Marianas Turkey Shoot took place more than two years later, when Japan was on the run after frantically building more aircraft carriers and trying to train pilots. But their pilots were mostly inexperienced by then and easy prey (though a few good ones were still left and were still dangerous), and their aircraft development had badly lagged, to the point where the feared Zero of the Battle of Midway was now almost completely outclassed by newer American fighters such as the Hellcat and Corsair. Japan lost three more aircraft carriers and more then 600 planes in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, while the Americans (who by then had far more and better planes and ships) lost no ships and comparatively few planes. It was basically Japan's last gasp in the carrier wars in the Pacific.


It is hard for us to grasp today, just what guts and fortitude the men who fought that war (on all sides even) had, and what incredible sacrifices so many of them made. The Battle of Midway gives sterling examples... though certainly not the only examples.

Those heroes of WW2 were indeed a different breed. We can never properly thank them enough.
We were indeed in a bad position at the start of the war but American courage and sacrifice quickly changed that..
Still it was a bad spell for a while but after we gained the upper hand Japan's fate was sealed..
The breaking of both the German and the Japanese codes were greatly responsible for saving the lives of tens of thousands of our military men.
Never doubt that we have such men today in our military. Tooooo bad politicians in the last few wars we have fought hampered our men so!--:salute:--Tyr

[ConHog]

My late grandfather was on a fire fighter rescue ship that arrived on scene shortly after the Battle of Midway. He oft told tales of the water being red for miles ; and of course sharks everywhere.

Those guys had some courage.