US NAVY
PACIFIC—Battle of Midway opens as PBYs attack
Occupation Force northwest of Midway; one PBY (VP 24) torpedoes fleet tanker Akebono
Maru.
Carrier
bombers and attack planes, supported by fighters, from Japanese carriers Akagi,
Kaga, Soryu, and Hiryu bomb Midway Island installations. Although
defending USMC F2As and F4Fs (VMF 221) suffer disastrous losses, damage to
facilities on Midway is comparatively slight. Motor torpedo boat PT-25 is
damaged by strafing, Midway lagoon.
Japanese
carrier fighters and antiaircraft fire annihilates the USMC SBDs and SB2Us
(VMSB 241), Navy TBFs (VT 8 detachment), and USAAF torpedo-carrying B-26s sent
out to attack the Japanese carriers. USAAF B-17s likewise bomb the Japanese
carrier force without success.
TBDs (VT
8, VT 6, VT 3) from American carrier striking force (Rear Admiral Frank Jack
Fletcher, officer in tactical command) from Hornet (CV-8), Enterprise
(CV-6), and Yorktown (CV-5) attack the enemy carriers. Although
mauled by the defending combat air patrol (only VT 3 has fighter cover) and
antiaircraft fire, they draw off the former and leave the skies open for SBDs
from Enterprise and Yorktown. SBDs from Enterprise (VB 6,
VS 6) bomb and sink carrier Kaga (30°20'N, 179°17'W) and bomb Akagi (Vice
Admiral Nagumo's flagship); SBDs from Yorktown (VB 3) bomb and sink
carrier Soryu (30°38'N, 179°13'W). Submarine Nautilus (SS-168)
torpedoes carrier Kaga but her "fish” do not explode. The one
carrier that escapes destruction that morning, Hiryu, launches dive
bombers that bomb and temporarily disable Yorktown, forcing Rear Admiral
Fletcher to transfer his flag to heavy cruiser Astoria (CA-34) and turn
over tactical command to Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spruance. Before SBDs from Enterprise
(VS 6, joined by VB 3 which is unable to operate from the immobilized Yorktown)
can inflict mortal damage upon Hiryu, though, the Japanese carrier
launches torpedo planes that stop Yorktown a second time and force her
abandonment. Ultimately, destruction of his carrier force compels Admiral
Yamamoto to abandon Midway invasion plans, and the Japanese Fleet retires
westward. Japanese destroyers rescue U.S. naval aviators: Arashi picks
up a TBD pilot (VT 3); Makigumo picks up an SBD crew (VS 6). After
interrogation, all three Americans are subsequently murdered. One TBD pilot (VT
8), however, escapes detection and recovery by the enemy. He is rescued
subsequently by a PBY.
British
submarine HMS Trusty sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Toyohashi
Maru in Strait of Malacca, 07°14'N,98°06'E.
ATLANTIC—Swiss steamship Saentis rescues 18
survivors from U.S. freighter West Notus, attacked by German submarine U-404on
1 June.
Destroyer Tarbell
(DD-142) rescues 30 survivors of U.S. tanker M.F. Elliott, sunk by
German submarine U-502 on 3June (see 8 June).
CARIBBEAN—U.S. freighter Velma Lykes is torpedoed
and sunk by German submarine U-158 south of the Yucatan Channel,21°21'N,
86°36'W; the rapidity with which the ship sinks prevents lifeboats from being
launched. Of the ship's 28 man merchant complement, 15 perish; the four man
Armed Guard survives intact (see 6 and 10 June).
US ARMY AIR FORCE
ARMY AIR FORCES—Schedule, with tables of composition and
strength, indicating total of 3,649 airplanes, is set up for AAF-in UK.
TENTH AF—2 Heavy Bombers bomb Rangoon, but are attacked by
10 fighters. 1 Heavy Bomber is shot down and the other badly damaged. This raid
ends 2 months of harassing strikes against Rangoon; soon all Heavy Bombers are
grounded by monsoon.
SEVENTH AF—Battle of Midway. 4 B‑26’s, in conjunction with
Navy torpedo bombers, attack carrier; 2 of the Medium Bombers are shot down. In
further morning action 14 B‑17’s attack a TF approaching Midway at a distance
of 145 mi; they claim several hits on carriers and 2 Zeros shot down. In late
afternoon 2 B‑17’s attack carrier force at 31-40N 179-10W, claiming hits on a
battleship and a carrier and 3 airplanes shot down. 4 other B‑17’s claim a hit
on heavy cruiser 185 mi from Midway. 6 B‑17’s, en route to Midway from Hawaii,
bomb ships 170 miles from Midway, claiming hits on a burning carrier, the
Hiryu, hit earlier in the battle, and a destroyer, which is claimed sunk.
ELEVENTH AF—A carrier-borne force strikes again as 11 bombers,
10 fighters, and 8 torpedo bombers attack Dutch Harbor in several waves. 2 P‑40’s
intercept 4 bombers just before noon over Umnak Pass and shoot down 3. During the
afternoon P‑40’s intercept 9 fighters. A dogfight claims one enemy aircraft and
one P‑40, the Eleventh’s first combat casualty. AA fire claims another Japanese
bomber. During the afternoon 2 B‑17’s and 5 B‑26’s attack the carrier force,
and 3 more B‑26’s strike the cruiser Takao. No hits are scored. 1 B‑24 and 1 B‑25
fail to return.
US ARMY
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS—Japanese
planes from carriers again attack Dutch Harbor, Unalaska Island., damaging fuel
installations and a station ship. Attempts of PBY’s, B–17’s, and B–26’s to
locate and attack the carriers are largely ineffective because of poor
visibility, and Japanese retire southward with light losses confined to
aircraft. Subsequent efforts to find the enemy TF are futile.
MIDWAY—Japanese are decisively defeated in main Battle of
Midway. Enemy carrier planes (about 80 bombers and 50 fighters) strike in
force, damaging installations but leaving runways intact. Midway-based planes
oppose the attack and take heavy toll of enemy planes, then, together with aircraft
from the 3 U.S. carriers in the vicinity, attack enemy shipping. Japanese
carriers Kaga, Akagi, and Soryu are hit. Kaga sinks
at once; the damaged Soryu later; Japanese scuttle the Akagi.
Japanese carrier Hiryu scores damaging hits on USS Yorktown,
which is abandoned and taken under tow. The Hiryu is in turn badly
damaged by planes from Enterprise and Hornet and is scuttled at
dawn of 5th. Plane losses are heavy on both sides.
LIBYA—British Eighth Army opens counterattack with infantry
after nightfall in effort to reduce enemy salient in center of line.
US MARINE CORPS
Japanese are decisively defeated in main Battle of Midway.
