In the high-stakes arena of World War II, the Battle of Midway stands as a pivotal clash that would redefine the course of naval warfare and alter the balance of power in the Pacific. As the sun rose on June 4, 1942, the stage was set for a confrontation that would see bravery, strategy, and sheer determination collide in a dramatic struggle for supremacy. With Admiral Fletcher at the helm, a fleet brimming with hope and resolve prepared to face an enemy that had previously seemed invincible. But before we begin, be sure to like and subscribe to our channel to support our community.
Admiral Fletcher sent up an airstrike of 87 planes and informed Lexington that Admiral Fitch would take over tactical command due to his greater experience with carrier operations. At the same time, he communicated with General MacArthur’s headquarters, providing details about the enemy’s striking forces, including their position, course, and speed. He requested that bombers be sent out to join in the attack. Yorktown’s 39-plane strike took off at 9:15 AM. About an hour and fifteen minutes later, the Shokaku and Zuikaku were spotted moving southeast, about eight miles apart, each protected by two heavy cruisers and destroyers. While the Americans spent valuable time organizing their attack in thick clouds, the Shokaku took advantage of the situation to launch more fighter planes, while the Zuikaku moved into a nearby squall of tropical rain for cover. Lieutenant Commander Joe Taylor led his torpedo squadron into action with Wildcat fighters providing protection. These fighters faced strong resistance from eighteen Zeros amid heavy flak as they flew in low over the Shokaku’s port side. The American pilots, making their first attack on a well-defended enemy fleet carrier, struggled to coordinate their torpedo and dive-bomber assaults effectively. They did not have the same numbers that had helped them achieve an easy victory against the light carrier Shoho just a day before. Many torpedoes splashed into the ocean too far from their target, and the bombing runs were poorly aimed. Only two bombs hit their mark, igniting a fuel fire on the carrier’s flight deck. The attack lost momentum when the Lexington’s air group arrived more than ten minutes later and had trouble locating the enemy ships under heavy cloud cover. Only fifteen bombers managed to find a target, and they were poorly defended by just six Wildcat fighters. The Zeros quickly disrupted their efforts, shooting down three American planes. The torpedo attack was also unsuccessful, as noted in a Japanese report that criticized their slow torpedoes and long range. The Americans could have turned back at that point. Only one dive-bomber managed to score a hit. However, Lieutenant Taylor optimistically reported after the first strike that there was a massive fire on the port side of the carrier from the waterline to the flight deck. When last seen about fifteen minutes after the attack, fires were still burning fiercely. It is believed that this carrier was so badly damaged that it eventually sank. The Lexington group thought they had attacked the Zuikaku and reported that their carrier was sinking quickly.
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