The Battle of Midway – Sinking of the IJN Akagi, Kaga and Sōryū
The Battle of Midway: A Turning Point in the Pacific Theater
Introduction
On June 4, 1942, the skies over Midway Atoll were filled with tension as the Japanese fleet prepared to launch a second wave of attacks. This day would mark a pivotal moment in the Pacific Theater of World War II, as the United States Navy faced off against the Imperial Japanese Navy in a battle that would change the course of the war. As the Japanese forces attempted to regroup after their initial assault, a series of events unfolded that would lead to their catastrophic defeat.
Morning Chaos in the Japanese Fleet
At 9:00 a.m., as the last Japanese planes from the Midway strike returned to their carriers, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto’s fleet was in disarray. Orders to rearm for a second strike on Midway collided with alarming reports of U.S. carriers nearby. The chaos intensified as Admiral Nagumo, commanding the Japanese fleet, altered course to the northeast, unaware of the impending threat posed by American torpedo bombers from the USS Hornet.
The night before, the Japanese bombing raid on Dutch Harbor had signaled the start of a full-scale offensive. The early morning assault on Midway had already destroyed critical infrastructure, including the power station and hangars, resulting in the loss of at least ten American fighter aircraft. With the threat of a Japanese amphibious invasion looming, the Midway garrison braced for another devastating air assault.
The American Response
In retaliation, American forces launched several waves of strikes against Nagumo’s carriers, but the results were disappointing. The U.S. losses were disproportionately high, with 19 aircraft downed without inflicting significant damage on the enemy. However, the tide began to turn when a reconnaissance plane from Midway Island reported the location of Nagumo’s fleet at 5:34 a.m. Rear Admiral Raymond Spruance, commanding the U.S. task forces, recognized the opportunity to strike while the Japanese carriers were vulnerable.
At 7:45 a.m., Spruance ordered the aircraft from the USS Enterprise and USS Hornet to head toward the enemy. This decision marked a critical juncture in the battle. Rather than coordinating a unified attack, Spruance opted for a piecemeal approach, believing that striking first would be more advantageous. As a result, 67 dive bombers, 29 torpedo bombers, and 20 Wildcats took to the skies.
The First Torpedo Attacks
As the U.S. aircraft approached, the Japanese fleet was busy rearming and refueling. At 9:25 a.m., 15 obsolete Douglas TBD Devastators from Hornet, commanded by Commander John Waldron, launched an attack on Nagumo’s carriers. The squadron faced overwhelming resistance from Japanese Zero fighters and anti-aircraft fire. Despite the odds, Waldron pressed on, determined to strike at the nearest target, the Soryu.
The ensuing chaos saw Waldron’s aircraft shot down one by one. In a harrowing display of bravery, Ensign George Gay managed to release his torpedo before his plane was overwhelmed by enemy fire. He was the sole survivor of Waldron’s squadron, floating in the Pacific amidst the wreckage of his comrades’ aircraft. Although the torpedo bombers failed to hit their targets, their attack served a critical purpose: they drew Japanese fighters away from altitude, leaving the skies open for the incoming dive bombers.
The Dive Bombers Strike
As the torpedo bombers fell victim to the relentless Japanese defenses, Commander Eugene Lindsey led 14 Devastators from the USS Enterprise in another attack at 9:30 a.m. Unfortunately, Lindsey’s group met a similar fate, with 10 planes destroyed and no hits recorded. The remaining four torpedo bombers survived, possibly due to the distraction caused by the earlier attacks.
Meanwhile, at 10:00 a.m., Lieutenant Commander Lance Massey led 12 Devastators from the USS Yorktown into the fray. Their target was now in sight: the Japanese carriers. Despite fierce dogfights with Japanese Zeros, Massey’s squadron was determined to inflict as much damage as possible. However, their attack ultimately resulted in the loss of 10 planes, further depleting the already thinned ranks of American aviation.
A Fortuitous Discovery
While the initial strikes were ongoing, Commander Max McClusky, leading the Enterprise Air Group, pressed on despite failing to locate the enemy carriers. With fuel running low, McClusky made the bold decision to continue searching. His persistence paid off at 9:55 a.m. when he spotted the wake of a Japanese destroyer, the Arashi, which had just completed a depth charge attack on the American submarine USS Nautilus.
Following the destroyer, McClusky soon located the Japanese carriers, and Lieutenant Commander Maxwell F. Leslie, leading Yorktown’s bombing squadron, also made visual contact. The two groups of American bombers found themselves in the same airspace, witnessing the aftermath of the earlier torpedo attacks as they approached the Japanese fleet.
The Decisive Dive Bombing Attack
By 10:30 a.m., a total of 41 American torpedo planes had launched attacks on Nagumo’s fleet, but only six had survived. The chaotic and uncoordinated nature of the attacks had disrupted the Japanese rearming process, buying crucial time for the high-altitude dive bombers to position themselves undetected.
As the zeros were engaged and running low on fuel and ammunition, the American dive bombers sprang into action. A total of 37 Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers from the Enterprise and 17 from the Yorktown began their dives toward the Kaga. Initially, the plan was to split the squadrons to hit both Kaga and Akagi simultaneously. However, a communication error led all the bombers to focus on Kaga.
As the dive bombers descended, chaos erupted on the Japanese carriers. The first bomb narrowly missed, splashing into the water beside the ship. However, the second bomb, dropped by Lieutenant Richard Best, struck the amidships elevator, triggering massive explosions that engulfed the carrier in flames. The third bomb hit the port side, feeding the inferno that consumed Kaga.
Meanwhile, McClusky’s dive bombers targeted Akagi, wreaking havoc with their steep dives. A 1,000-pound bomb struck Akagi’s flight deck, igniting aircraft and fuel. The destruction was catastrophic, with multiple bombs hitting the carrier and overwhelming its crew.
The Aftermath of the Bombing
Within minutes, three of Japan’s frontline carriers—Akagi, Kaga, and Soryu—were fatally crippled. The once-mighty fleet was reduced to burning hulks, and Admiral Nagumo’s strike force was effectively neutralized. As the dive bombers pulled away, the scene aboard the Japanese vessels was one of utter devastation.
With communications in disarray and the fleet in chaos, Nagumo abandoned his flagship, Akagi, for the cruiser Nagara. The crew aboard Kaga and Soryu struggled to contain the fires and damage, but their efforts were hampered by inadequate equipment. By the evening of June 4, the Japanese carriers were lost, with thousands of crew members perishing in the flames.
Conclusion
The Battle of Midway was a turning point in the Pacific Theater, demonstrating the effectiveness of American naval aviation and the importance of strategic decision-making. The loss of three Japanese carriers significantly weakened their naval capabilities and shifted the momentum of the war in favor of the United States. The bravery and tenacity of the American pilots, despite overwhelming odds, played a crucial role in this historic victory, marking the beginning of a new phase in the fight against Imperial Japan.
