• 3-7 June 1942: Just a mere six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Japanese combined fleet sought to capture the island of Midway and destroy the US Pacific Fleet. On 4 June, Japanese aircraft attacked and severely damaged the US base on Midway. Unknown to the Japanese though the US carrier forces were just east of the island and had spotted the Japanese fleet. TBD Devastator torpedo bombers and SBD Dauntless dive bombers attacked and ultimately sank three of four Japanese carriers. Later that same day the fourth Japanese carrier was spotted and set ablaze and would eventually sink. In total, the Japanese lost 3,057 men, four carriers, one cruiser and hundreds of aircraft. The US would lose 362 men, one carrier (USS Yorktown), one destroyer and 144 aircraft. Although years of fighting remained, the US victory at Midway was a turning point in the Pacific, stopping the Japanese expansion in the region.

FLY NAVY!