Battle Of Midway

[thedrifter]

Many Americans' awareness of significant World War II dates starts with
Dec. 7, 1941 (Pearl Harbor), and ends with June 6, 1944
(D-Day). But without the stunning U.S. victory in the Battle of Midway
on June 4, 5 and 6, 1942, the bad guys might have won the
"The Big One" - or at least would have forced the good guys' ultimate
triumph in humanity's bloodiest war to be much bloodier.
When that battle began 60 years ago today, the United States was
still reeling from a series of disheartening defeats. Though
the Doolittle Raid of bombers over Tokyo on April 18, 1942, had provided
a timely American morale boost, Imperial Japan remained
on the offensive in the Pacific.
The next three days dramatically changed that dynamic for the rest
of the war and changed naval combat forever. The mighty
warships engaged in the Battle of Midway found themselves superceded,
and frequently destroyed, by the rise of air power.
Outnumbered and outgunned by a vast Japanese armada, U.S. forces
somehow decisively prevailed. The Japanese lost four
aircraft carriers and more than 300 planes at Midway. More importantly,
they lost the strategic initiative.
The United States suffered serious losses at Midway, too, including
the sinking of the original USS Aircraft Carrier Yorktown,
eventually replaced by a ship of the same name. Also known as "The
Fighting Lady," the second Yorktown distinguished herself
later in the war and beyond, and now rests at Patriots Point.
As a result of American courage, determination, skill, insight and,
by the victors' own admission, luck, we won at Midway. As a
result, the world is a much better place.
A dwindling number of the Americans who re-directed history onto a
positive path at Midway are still alive six decades later. Like
their contemporaries who helped achieve our indispensable World War II
victory, they deserve their "Greatest Generation" label, and
our everlasting gratitude.


Sempers,

Roger

[Timothy R. Kuhr]

Not one got through, not one turned back, and only one pilot survived.

[Leobold]

The main problem Drifter is that most think that those are the ONLY two significant dates in WWII history. Such is the level of school ciricullum (man, did I jack that up).

[Keith_Hixson]

Was going on at this time. It showed the Japanese that Americans could be a military force to be reckoned with. It took a lot of energy and time for the Japanese to take Wake.

Keith

[StoneDogDave]

It was Yamamoto who forewarned the emperor that he could not expect more than 6 months of success against the United States following The Pearl Harbor attack. It was almost 6 months to the day at Midway!
As for school history... most kids are lucky if they even get to hear about any campaigns in WWII. I know I didn't. Our High School project was to give a presentation on WWII. Luckily I grew up in the Philippines and was exposed to history and WWII early on.
I knew more about WWII as a child than most adults.

[Seascamp]

Reading the IJN mail was a major factor at Midway, no doubt. But I think there was an act of providence or luck or call it whatever that caught the IJN Carriers with their decks full of torpedoes, bombs and fuel. As well, the IJN fighters that were supposed to be doing CAP above the Carriers had dropped down to get after the USN torpedo planes so the USN Dauntless dive bombers went in un opposed and the rest is history. A loss at Midway would have caused the USN to pull back to Pearl or perhaps even the West Coast and begin from there. In a pivotal turn of events at the same time the Navy Yards in the US had gotten spooled up and were beginning to produce ships at an astounding pace. The IJN couldn?t replace it?s losses, had prepared for a short war so Midway was far more decisive than the US recognized at the time. Imperial Japan only trained 1000 IJN pilots, figuring that would be more than enough but a big chunk of those were lost at Midway and that further aggravated a loosing situation. So I?d say that the USN Victory at Midway was owning to cracking the IJN code, being at the right place at the right time with the right weaponry and lucky as all heck. For the USN at Midway was surely outnumbered, out planed and out gunned and could have gotten mauled real bad if it weren?t for those USN Dauntless dive bombers finding open and uncontested air right over the IJN Carriers. A few minutes either way and the USN dive bombers would have run right into a swarm of IJN Mitsubishi Zeros and I'm sure the story would have come out differently. Timing is everything sometimes.

Fair seas, Bill

[Andy]

Many years ago I was in a War-gamers club. (kept me out of the bars occationally.) There was a game put out called Midway. It was impossible for the Americans to win. If you can look at battles like car accidents then Midway would be a bolt of lightening hitting a tree, knocking it down and hitting a moving car. It almost begs to be classified as an Act of God.
Well, it's only my opinion.

Stay healthy,
Andy

[chilidog]

Andy, you were a war-gamer?!? I wouldn't have thought that of you. I'm sure that you are familiar with Panzer Blitz and Panzer Leader. Did you ever see one called "General Quarters?" It is WWII naval combat with minitures.


chilidog

[Andy]

Panzer Leader yes, General Quarters no. The only naval game I found that I liked was something like Wooden Ships and Iron Men. Ships of the Line and all that. There was also a game called Muskett and Pike I got hooked on.

There were four of us really into it for a while, a professor at Westfield State College, and insurance dude and one of my cousins. We'd meet twice a month to "game". I prefered poker but games were ok. Have you ever played Trivial Pursuit for money? When you have a winner, everyone missing a wedge, pays $5.00 per wedge. It's best done while drinking.

Stay healthy,
Andy

[chilidog]

Andy,
I never got into word games; my wife is too good at them (pun intended). Sparring with her is a trivial pursuit.

My high school history teacher got us into strategy board games. I got into several WWII game systems, then on to a series of games on the GBACW system. That's the "Great Battles of the American Civil War." Strategy board games helped me understand a lot more of what happened in history.


chilidog

[Andy]

There is a board game called Gettysburg. Just setting up can take hours. We only went through the whole fight once but it really did give you a feel for what happened. Looking at what really occurred, it seems Ewell, Sickles and a few others should have been hung, shot and then put on trial. That game got me to read a few books on Longstreet. Came away with the opinion that Longstreet was no Patton, he was a Bradley.

Stay healthy,
Andy

[chilidog]

Andy,
I have that game. It is one of many games made on that "GBACW" system that I was talking about, but we are on the wrong board to talk about Civil War games.

chilidog

[jigdog]

drifter
could not have discribed the sugnificance of midway and better. I lost my Dad in o1 and he served on the big E from 41-43 i am very proud of him and his generation. i was drafted in 70 served till 74 . I just sent off my nephew with the 6th marine eng.support last week will most likly end up in the gulf. Praying for safe return and victory.

[Packo]

We certainly are twin sons of different mothers. Scares me sometimes.

I was also into wargaming for awhile. Afrika Corps, D-Day, and Midway were my favorites.

As for Midway.........you are correct that it is almost impossible to win for the Americans. I did once, but only through luck. Finding them first and literally catching my oponent with his planes on the deck. Now, he was not a very good oponent, but I did it non-the less.

Won D-Day through Normandy once and believe it or not, it was the use of my Paratroopers that saved the day. Tried to hit at Calis once. Got destroyed. One guy beat me once, when I was the German, by going through southern france....did the "Champage Campaign". I was pissed cause I didn't defend it thinking he would try a head to head thing. I was dumber than Hitler on that one.

Also played Anzio once in Maine with my buddy there. He said he was the king and had never been beaten as the German. I beat him with almost no casualties. He had been in the Navy.

Packo