Contents

Part Two:
The Battles for Midway and the Aleutians

JAPANESE STRATEGY

1. Hattori, Vol. 11, 131, recorded that Admiral Yamamoto had initially issued an order on 5 November 1941, directing that Midway be captured during the second phase of the war.

2. Morison, Vol. Ill, 58; Willmott, 116.

3. Willmott, 116.

4. Morison, Vol. 111, 59; Fuchida, 66-71, 76; Willmott, 8-9, 16, 33. Willmott records passage of the Naval Expansion Act in June 1940; Morison records the Two-Ocean Navy Act in July 1940. The first bill authorized an expansion of 11 percent. The second bill authorized a 70 percent increase. Rear Admiral Julius Augustus Furer, USN (ret), Administration of the Navy Department in WWII (Washington, 1959), 57.

5. Fuchida, 71.

6. Hattori, Vol. 11, 132.

7. Hattori, Vol. 11, 133.

8. Fuchida, 48; Hattori, Vol. 11, 133

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JAPANESE PREPARATIONS

9. Fuchida, 78-84.

10. Fuchida, 91-3; Morison, Vol. IV, 169-75.

11. Fuchida, 72, 95.

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COMINT REFLECTIONS OF JAPANESE PREPARATIONS FOR MIDWAY AND THE ALEUTIANS

12. SRMN012/L and H, 2, 4, and 5 March 1942, RG457, NA.

13. SRMN012/H and L, RG457 NA, 11 March 1942.

14. Dyer, 255.

15. SRH272, RG457, NA.

16. Com 14 14070OZ, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA and SRMN0 1 2/L, RG457, NA, each 14 May 1942.

17. HC IV W.3.25, 15 May 1942, letter from Redman to Murphy.

18. CINCPAC 130131Z, CINCPAC message files, RG38, NA.

19. Fuchida, 120.

20. SRHO12, 4 March, and SRNMO123, 0126, 23 March 1942. All RG457, NA.

21. SRNM0473/B, 17 April 1942; SRMN005; and SRNM0697, 24 April 42. All RG457, NA.

22. SRH 180 and SRH207, both RG457, NA.

23. Letter of 23 April 1942 to War Plans, HC IV W 111.25.

24. SRNM 0643, 0668, and 0673; and SRNS 1517 (all of 27 April 1942), and all RG457, NA.

25. SRMN0 I 2/L, 27 April 1942, RG457, NA.

26. SRNS 1517, 1 May 1942, RG457, NA; Com 14 011108Z, May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

27. SRH0 12, 2 May 1942, RG457, NA.

28. Morison, IV, 88.

29. SRHO12 and SRNSI517, 4 May 1942, RG457, NA.

30. SRMN012/H, SRH272/H, 8 May 1942, both RG457, NA.

31. SRNS 1517, 9 May 1942, RG457, NA.

32. SRMN012/L, SRH272/H, 9 May 1942; RG457, NA.

33. COMINCH 121945Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

34. SRNS1 517, 13 May 1942, RG457, NA.

35. SRMN005,OP-20G message dated 15 May; SRMN012/H, messages translated and published 14-20 May. All RG457, NA. See also OPNAV 151745Z, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

36. SRMN012/H, SRNS1517, 13 May 1942, RG457, NA.

37. COMINCH 141627 May, found in Nimitz Command Summary entry for this date. HC IV W 112.2.

38. SRMN0 1 2/L, 14 May 1942, RG457, NA.

39. 140639, May Nimitz Command Summary.

40. Morison, Vol. IV, 80; COMINCH 141527Z, May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

41. Prange, 46-47.

42. Potter, 79-80; and Layton interview, 221-24 and 231-32.

43. COMGENHAWDEPT to CINCPAC 25193OZ May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

44. Potter, 101.

45. Nimitz Command Summary, 16 May 1942, compared to COMINCH 141527Z May 1943 in the same document. For evidence of how closely Hawaii and Melbourne agreed on the Japanese threat to Midway, see also 121945Z May 1942, Nimitz Command summary, HCIVWII.2.2. See also SRMN012/H and SRNS 1517, both 13 May, and SRMN012/L 15 May 1942, all RG457, NA.

46. COMINCH to CINCPAC, 15213OZ May 1942, Nimitz Command Summary, Book 1, HCIVWII.2.2.

47. Ibid.

48. Morison, Vol. IV, 80.

49. CINCPAC 160307Z to CTF16, CINCPAC Message file, RG38, NA.

50. Nimitz Command Summary, 16 May 1942, HC IV W 11.2.2.

51. Ibid.

52. CINCPAC 160325Z May 1942, Nimitz Command Summary, Book 1,HCIVWII.2.2 and CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

53. COMINCH to CINCPAC, 172220Z May 1942, Nimitz Command Summary, Book 1, HCIVWII.2.2.

54. COMINCH 172221 Z May 1942, Nimitz Command Summary, Book 1, HCIVWII.2.2.

55. SRNS1 517, 18 May 1942, RG457, NA.

56. Com 14 18190OZ May; Com 14 to COMB 020934Z June 1942; all CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA; SRH 272, 18 May 1942, and SRNS1 617, 18 May 1942; both RG457, NA.

57. CINCPAC 180403Z, 180357Z and 182145Z May 1942, respectively; Nimitz Command Summary, Book 1, HCIVWII.2.2 and CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA. CTF 16 was originally ordered to return to Hawaii after Halsey was sighted by Admiral Inouye's patrols. CINCPAC 150023Z May to All TF Cmdrs Pac, and Com 14 152316Z to COMB reflect Japanese reactions; CINCPAC to CTF16 160307Z May 1942. All messages are in the CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

58. Radio Intelligence Passed Outside OP-20-G, HC IV W.3.25; and SRMN005, RG457, NA.

59. 15 May 1942 memo for Commander Murphy from Commander John R. Redman, Chief OP- 20-G, HC IV W.3.25.

60. Such a confrontation can be inferred from the 20 May 1942 letter to OP-20-GI signed by Commander G. W. Daisley in SRMN005, RG457, NA.

61. Ibid.

62. Lord, 21; Morison, Vol. IV, 167-168; both address this issue, and the various alternative identities are seen in the formal and informal correspondence in HCIVWIII.2.25 and SRMN005, RG457, NA.

63. Layton, 421-422.

64. Belconnen to COMB 212245Z May, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA; SRNS 1517, 22 May 1942. RG 457, NA. The quoted extract can be found in HC IV W VII.19. Another version of this text will also be seen in SRHO12, Vol. I and SRMN005, RG457, NA.

65. Com 14 to COMB 220732Z, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA; See also Layton, 421-22; and Reminiscences, HCIV W X.1, in which Rochefort noted that Hypo was very impatient with those who would not accept the definition of AF as Midway, particularly when they had the same information.

Admiral Turner was relieved as Chief of War Plans on or about 25 May 1942. He was later given command of an amphibious force that subsequently assaulted Guadalcanal. His relief on the eve of a great naval battle is difficult to explain in a positive context, particularly in light of his tense relationships with the Navy's Communications Directorate and others and his apparent isolation from Admiral King. There is some confusion over when his relief actually occurred. His biographer, Dyer (263) said 25 May, but SRMN005 (RG457, NA), a collection of papers related to Midway, contains a situation report signed by Turner dated 29 May. Larrabee (201) indicated reasons outside the navy for his dismissal. According to Larrabee, he was removed at the insistence of General George C. Marshall, COS U.S. Army. In March 1942, according to Larrabee, General Marshall convinced the president that Turner, as a member of the Joint Planning Staff, was too difficult to work with. Larrabee (190) also asserted that in 1942 King shifted Pacific war planning functions to Nimitz after Turner was relieved.

66. Com 14 to COMB 190346Z; Belconnen to COMB 190840Z; COM 14 to COMB 190948Z; Belconnen to COME 19161OZ; all May 1942 and all in CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA; SRH272, 18 May 42; SRMN012/H, 20 May 42; SRMN0 12/H&L, 21 May 1942; and SRNS 1517, 21 May 1942, all RG457, NA; and CINCPAC OPPlan 29-42, 20 May 1942,"Survey of Opposing Strengths," HCIVWVII. 18.

67. CINCPAC to CTG2.1, 222345Z May 1942; CINCPAC 230235Z, May 1942; both in CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA; Morison, Vol. IV, 166 and 170; Willmott, 327; Lundstrom, 175. For Nimitz' estimates and the influence of COMINT, see Com 14 231922Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA; SRMN012/L 24 May 1942, RG457, NA; Nimitz' Command Summary 23 May 1942, HCIVWII.2.2; SRHO12, 23 May 1942, RG457, NA; CINCPAC Bulletin #74, 280067Z May 1942; CINCPAC to CTF8, 280245Z May 1942 and 282153Z May 1942, all in CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA. For Theobald's treatment of COMINT, see CTF8 "Estimate of the Situation," paragraph 14, found in U.S. Navy War College Study of Midway, HCIV W VII 6.

68. SRNS 1517, 21 May 1942, RG457, NA.

69. Negat predicted the impending departure of this fleet's two battleship divisions, 1 and 2, from Kure in a message on the 21st, but the significance of this information was not emphasized. OPNAV 211639Z to CINCPAC and COMSWPACFOR, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA; Hoyt (286) discusses the role of Yamamoto and the Main Body during this campaign, as do Morison and Fuchida.

70. CINCPAC 220135Z, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

71. CINCPAC 220219Z, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

72. COMSOWESPAC 230725Z May 1942, CINCPAC message f file, RG38, NA.

73. Com 14 220338Z May 1942 to COMB, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

74. COMSOWESPAC 240549Z, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

75. COMINCH to Spenavo London, 181255Z May 1942, info COMSOWESPACFOR and CINCPAC, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

76. Potter, 88; Willmott, 342.

77. Instructions for the Tangier can be found in 280333Z, May 1942 CINCPAC to the Tangier and COMSOWESPAC, CINCPAC message file.

78. Fuchida, 130-33.

79. SRNS 1517, 24 May 1942, RG457, NA.

80. SRH0 12, 24 May 1942, RG457, NA; Com 14 to COMB 252126Z May 42, CINCPAC message file.

81. CINCPAC to CTFs 4, 9, 17, 16, 022319Z June 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

82. The date of the discovery can be inferred in Potter (82) when he described a meeting on 25 May between Nimitz and Rochefort to which the latter arrived late and in a disheveled condition ostensibly because he was waiting for the cipher solution. This is probably the same meeting Layton places on the 26th. In Com 14 to COMB, 272118Z and 272158Z May 1942, the solution was shared with other COMB addressees (CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA). It would have been unusual for one center to withhold important information for two days.

83. Layton, 427-28; Com 14 to COMB 272058Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

84. Potter, 82, 83, 87.

85. SRNS 1517, 25 May 1942, RG457, NA.

86. CINCPAC to COMINCH 270209Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

87. CTF7 to Gudgeon, 260015Z, May 1942; CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

88. CINCPAC 260345Z, CINCPAC message file.

89. Com 14 to COMB 262244Z May 42, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

90. Lundstrom, 171.

91. Morison, Vol. IV, 81.

92. OPNAV to COMB 262240Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.; See also Belconnen to COMB 280428Z, May 1942, in same file.

93. SRMNO 1 2H, 27 May 1942, RG457, NA.

94. Com 14 28004OZ, May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

95. Com 14 to COMB 28202OZ May 1942; OPNAV to COMB 28165OZ May 42, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

96. SRNS 1517,28 May 1942 RG457, NA; Com 14 to COMB 282009Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA; and SRHO12, RG457, NA, same day.

97. Com 14 282132Z, May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

98. CINCPAC Bulletin 74, 280057Z May 42, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

99. See CINCPAC to CTF8 280245Z and 282153Z May42, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

100. Morison, Vol. IV, 170; and CTF 8 Estimate of the Situation, pare. 14, USNWC.

101. Deployment of forces from Morison, Vol. IV, 170; arrival of Theobald in Alaska from Nimitz Command Summary, HCIVWII.2.2, May 22 when he departed from Hawaii.

102. OPNAV to COMB 292045Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

103. OPNAV to COMB 290415Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

104. Com 14 to COMB 290214Z, 290216Z and 291142Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA. Corregidor ended operation on 6 May 1942.

105. Com 14 to COMB, 292008Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

106. Bulletin Number 75, CINCPAC 290231Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

107. CINCPAC to COMINCH 290419Z May 1942 and CINCPAC to all TFs 291409Z May 1942, both CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

108. Com 14 to COMB 292226Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

109. Com 14 to COMB 292234Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

110. CINCPAC to CTF8 292029Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

111. CINCPAC 282151Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

112. 282123Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

113. 291621Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

114. COMNORWESSEAFRON to CTF8 311429Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

115. 292002Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

116. Fuchida, 119.

117. Ibid., 122.

118. Ibid., 119.

119. lbid., 123-24.

120. Ibid., 119-120; Deployment of TF 17 under Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, was ordered for 1830 local time 30 May 1942 in CINCPAC 290205Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

121. CINCPAC OpOrder 29-42, 27 May 1942, gave the Japanese rendezvous point at 27N, 170E. See also CINCPAC to CTF 16, 300227Z May 1942; and CINCPAC Bulletin Number 76 sent to all TF Cmdrs, etc., 300241Z May 1942, all CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

122. Belconnen to COMB 30044OZ May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

123. Operations Plan 29-42 published on 2 June. CINCPAC to CTFs 4, 9, 17, 16, 022319Z, June 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

124. OPNAV to COMB 302025Z, May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

125. Com 14 to COMB 310545Z, May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

126. Com 14 to COMB 310934Z, May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

127. Com 14 to COMB 312154Z, May 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

128. COMALSEC to CINCPAC, CTF8 02213OZ, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

129. CINCPAC to CTFs, etc., 020347Z, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

130. Dutch Harbor to CTF 8, 02143OZ June 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

131. Com 14 to COMB 020024Z June 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

132. Com 14 to COMB 020024Z June 1942 and Belconnen 020335Z, 020426Z and 02063OZ June 1942, all CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

133. Ibid.

134. Ibid.

135. Morison, Vol. IV, see map after p. 94.

136. OPNAV to CINCPAC, etc., 022231Z June 42, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

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THE BATTLES BEGIN

137. CINCPAC to All CTFs, 031637Z; CINCPAC to Midway, information to all CTFs 031855Z, repeated 031927Z; COMNOWESTSEAFRON to CINCPAC, COMINCH 031941Z; NAS Dutch Harbor to CTF8, Com Alaskan Sector, Casco 032215Z and to CTF8, 04003OZ; all June 42, all CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

138. Midway to CINCPAC, 032135Z, June 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

139. CINCPAC to CTFs, info COMINCH and COMGENHAWDEPT 032153Z, June 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

140. CINCPAC to CTFs, info COMINCH, 032207Z and 040017Z June 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

141. CINCPAC 0401OIZ June 1942, CINCPAC message rile, RG38, NA. Daylight in Hawaii in June occurs roughly between 170OZ and 050OZ. Allowing for Daylight Saving Time, i.e., War Time, there would have been a twelve- instead of an eleven-hour difference between GMT and the time at Midway and an eleven-hour difference in Hawaii.

142. Com 14 to COMB 030046Z June 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

143. Ibid. See also CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA, 030047Z June 1942.

144. CINCPAC to Midway, CTFs 4, 7, 9, 16, 17 030325Z, June 1942, CINCPAC message file and CTF 7 to TF 7 030619Z June 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

145. CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA, 040801Z June 1942 [032301W June 1942].

146. OPNAV/COMINCH to COMB Adees, 04200OZ June 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

147. CINCPAC to all CTFs 041035Z, June 1942, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

148. CINCPAC 041809Z June 1942/0609 on Midway, 0709 in Hawaii, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA, An 1804Z sighting report gave the distance from Midway as 180 miles. CINCPAC message file RG38, NA, 041857Z June 1942.

149. CINCPAC to COMWESTSEAFRON, COMNORWESTSEAFRON, COMGENHAWDEPT 041857Z June 42, CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

150. Fuchida, 86; Willmott, 343; and Morison, Vol. IV, 84.

151. SRMN012/H, 4 June 1942, RG457, NA.

152. Com 14 to COMB 042136Z June 1942; CINCPAC to TFs 11, 16, 17, 042349Z; Com 14 to COMB 042358Z; Com 14 to NAVAIRSTA Midway 050059Z [041459HWT]; and CINCPAC to CTF 16, CTF 17, 050233Z [041733HWT] all June 1942 and all CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

153. See, for example, CINCPAC to Midway 042340Z [1440HWT]; CINCPAC to all CTFs 050045Z [041545HWT], all June 1942 and all CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

154. See CTF 16 to CINCPAC 050204Z June 1942 [1604 MWT, 4 June 19421; CINCPAC to Midway 050335Z June 1942 [1835 HWT, 4 June 19421 and; CINCPAC to all CTFs COMGENHAWDEPT, COMINCH, and COMSOUPAC 050355Z June 1942 [1855HWT, 4 June 19421, all in CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA.

155. SRMN012/H, 6 June 1942, RG4579, NA.

156. SRNS1517, 6 June 1942, RG457, NA.

157. CINCPAC message file, RG38, NA, 051915Z [061015W] June 1942.

158. Morison, Vol. IV, 178-79.

159. Morison, Vol. IV, 179, describes how Admiral Nimitz was kept abreast of developments by these reports.

160. SRMN012/H 6 June 1942, RG457, NA.

161. Willmott, 508.

162. CINCPAC War Diary, 6 June 1942, ONI Review, May 1947.

163. Buell, 146-47.

164. SRNS1517/RI, 7 June 1942, RG457, NA.

165. SRMN012/H 7 June 1942, RG457, NA.

166. SRMN012/L, 7 June 1942, RG457, NA.

167. CINCPAC War Diary, 7 June 1942, ONI Review, May 1947; and Willmott, 510.

168. SRNS1 517/Rl, 8 June 1942; SRMNO I 12/H, 8 June 1942, both RG457, NA.

169. SRMN012/L, 8 June 1942, RG457, NA.

170. SRMNO1 2/H, 8 June 1942, RG457, NA.

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CONCLUSIONS

171. Potter.

172. Fabian interview, NSA Oral History, OH 09-8.3

173. SRH 289, RG457, NA.

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EPILOGUE

174. CINCPAC170335Z May 1942, CINCPAC message file.

175. CINCPAC to COMINCH 032043Z June 1942, CINCPAC message file.

176. HC IV W 11.2.2 CINCPAC's message of 311221 May contained his final appreciation of the Japanese order of battle prior to the Battle of Midway.

177. Ibid.

178. SRHO 12, Vol. II and accretion to Vol. II, RG457, NA.

179. HCIV W VII.2.

180. Ibid.

181. Ibid.

182. HC IV W VII.2. Hereafter, Mitchell report. (U)

183. Ibid.

184. Ibid.

185. Mitchell report.

186. Potter, 82, 103, and SRH0 12, Vol. II and accretion to Vol. 11, show several points of view concerning the situation on the Barnett. This characterization of the role of Commander Seligman is also based on the eyewitness account of Rear Admiral Robert E. Dixon. As CO of the Lexington's Scout-Bomber Squadron Lieutenant Commander Dixon told the FBI on 8 or 9 June 1942 that he had witnessed Johnston taking extensive notes from CINCPAC's 31 May 1942 message. Robert Mason, Eyewitness, U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, June 1982,40-45.)

187. HCIV W VII.2.

188. New York Daily Mirror, 7 July 1942, and Mitchell report.

189. HC. IV W VII.2.

190. Mason, Eyewitness.

191. SRH0 12, Vol. 11, Chapter V, 286, and Appendix, 392, RG457, NA.

192. Ibid.

193. SRH0 12 Vol. 11 RG457, NA.

194. Whaley-Eaton American Letter, 12/26/42. These quotations are also in SRHO12 Vol. II, Chap. V, 288-91. The Whaley-Eaton American Letter was a business-oriented newsletter published by a company founded in 1918 by Huntington Whaley. Dallas Magazine, March 1986, NEXUS Database.

195. John Colville, Fringes of Power. 10 Downing Street Diaries 1939-1955, New York: W.W. Norton and Co., 1985.

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Reproduction of this portion of "A Priceless Advantage" on this Midway Internet site (http://www.CENTURYinter.net/midway/), does not constitute endorsement of this site or its content by the National Security Agency or the United States Government.

Acknowledgements:

The people of this Nation and its Allies give their gratitude and deep appreciation to the National Security Agency and its cryptologic counterparts in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps for their eternal vigilance and giving this country a priceless advantage in both peace and war.

I would like to thank several people for their efforts to get this work published on my web site.

First, I would like to thank Bill Price for his hard work in sending me the body of this text, its footnotes and bibliography. Bill also started the process that lead to permission from NSA to have this text displayed here.

I would also like to thank Mr. Dave Hatch of the National Security Agency's Center for Cryptologic History and the Director of the National Security Agency, Lieutenant General Kenneth A. Minihan, USAF, for granting permission to publish A Priceless Advantage.

Finally I would like to thank the author, Frederick D. Parker.

Thank you very much! - Chris Hawkinson, April 1998

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