Zoe Murphy's List: Battle Of Midway

". . .The atmosphere was very impersonal. . . Admiral Nimitz [would ask] me a question, and I would look over there and I would see four stars, and I would answer his question to the very best of my ability. . . he has the responsibility; along with this responsibility is this horrible thing of making a decision, which people not familiar with military operations never seem to understand. This is an awesome power to give somebody. . . he had bought what we had told him, very fortunately for this country."

--- Captain Joseph J. Rochefort, USN ---

The Battle of Midway followed closely on the heels of the Japanese attack on Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The devastating losses to the Japanese fleet at Midway ended the threat to the Aleutian Islands, the Alaskan mainland, and perhaps the west coast of the US.

Azzole, Peter J. "CRYPTOLOG - AFTERTHOUGHTS; The Battle of Midway." U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association. Web. 28 Feb. 2011. .

Japanese Combined Fleet commander Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto moved on Midway in an effort to draw out and destroy the U.S.

Yamamoto's intended surprise was thwarted by superior American communications intelligence, which deduced his scheme well before battle was joined. This allowed Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the U.S. Pacific Fleet commander, to establish an ambush by having his carriers ready and waiting for the Japanese. On 4 June 1942, in the second of the Pacific War's great carrier battles, the trap was sprung.

The perserverance, sacrifice and skill of U.S. Navy aviators, plus a great deal of good luck on the American side, cost Japan four irreplaceable fleet carriers, while only one of the three U.S. carriers present was lost.

"Battle of Midway." Naval History and Heritage Command. Web. 28 Feb. 2011. .

The Battle of Midway

By early 1942 the Japanese were beginning to plan an invasion on the U.S.-held island of MIdway.

Japanese were worried that their main land would soon be in range of U.S air craft carriers coming from Hawaii.

With B-25 raid on Tokyo the Japanese were convinced they were in danger.

They needed to being American carriers into battle and destroy them once and for all.

Planning for invasion=Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto.

The plan was to split into two part. Operation AL and Operation ML

AL= a trick to lure the U.S. forces to the north away from MIdway, then the J. force would attack Aleutian Island in Alaska.

MI=was invasion of Midway. 4 J. aircraft carries were to launch air strikes against Midway to destroy the U.S. Then attack when US is defending the island.

Invasion took place on June 4 1942.

The J. battleship fleet was called the Main Body and they lied in wait for the Americans. Also, J. planes+subs woudl place themselves bettween Midway and Hawaii to warn the K fleet of approching U.S. carriers.

Yamamoto was confisent that Americans had no idea that midway was about to be invaded.

but no..

All along Americans knew that Japanese planned to invade midway.

Team under commander Joseph Rochefort had cracked the code. The admiral sent more men and aircraft to midway.

White, Steve. Battle of Midway : the Destruction of the Japanese Fleet. New York: Rosen Central, 2007. Print.