Opening Blow

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Kido Butai Strikes Midway

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From the after-action report of 2nd Lt William Brooks of VMF-221 at Midway, 4 June 1942

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Midway Strikes Back

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ENS Albert K. Earnest's Grumman TBF-1 (BuNo 00380) on 7 June 1942. This aircraft was the lone survivor of the six sent out to attack the Japanese carriers on 4 June. Earnest would earn two Navy Crosses for this action- one for his determined attack and the other for bringing the TBF home so it could be evaluated after its first combat appearance.

USMC

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The Sacrifice of US Torpedo Squadrons

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A TBD from the ill-fated Torpedo Eight begins its take off run off Hornet. This plane was the twelfth of fifteen TBD's (probably ENS W. R. Evans, Jr., A-V(N) USNR and R. E. Bibb, Jr., ARM3c in T-4, BuNo 0321) launched by VT-8 on the morning of 4 June.

Photo courtesy Mark Horan

Click on the image for a larger view

The last of Torpedo Eight's TBDs, T-16 (BuNo 1506), flown by LCDR John C. Waldron with Horace Franklin Dobbs, CRMP, in the rear seat, taking off Hornet on 4 June 1942. Notice the unstowed twin .30 cal.

Photo courtesy Mark Horan

Click on the image for a larger view

Enterprise attack on the morning of June 4.

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Pearl Harbor Avenged

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Hiryu's Counterattacks

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Yorktown is struck by a torpedo from LT Hashimoto's second chutai on the afternoon of 4 June. Note the heavy antiaircraft fire put up by Yorktown and her consorts.

National Archives & Records Administration

Yorktown listing and without power after being hit by two torpedoes on 4 June. Note the two F4F-4 "Wildcats" lashed to her flight deck aft of the island.

National Archives & Records Administration

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End of Kido Butai

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An aerial view of Hiryu, taken by a plane from Hosho on 5 June, shows the extent of the damage wrought by SBDs from Bombing Three, Bombing Six and Scouting Six. Notice the total destruction of the forward third of her flight deck and her forward elevator, blasted from its well, leaning against the bridge.

Naval Historical Center

Another view of Hiryu. Notice the lack of damage to her flight deck aft of the forward elevator well. Also, note the position of the midship elevator, as well as the aft elevator lowered into the hanger deck.

Naval Historical Center

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NOTES:

Times given in the contents are approximate and should be used as a general guide only. Specific times for events will appear within the text.

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