Battle of Midway 65th Anniversary

Battle of Midway Veterans Honored

SAN DIEGO: Grateful civilians and service members applauded the heroism and sacrifice of World War II Navy and Marine Corps veterans during a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Midway, held aboard the USS Midway Museum on June 2.

Regarded as one of the pivotal battles of the war in the Pacific, the Battle of Midway saw U.S. forces sink four Japanese carriers at the cost of only two U.S. ships, the carrier Yorktown (CV 5) and the destroyer Hammann (DD 412).

The loss of the carriers stung the Japanese, but the sacrifice of her most experienced carrier pilots crippled the Japanese war machine.

"Instead of knocking on the door of the continental United States, they were put on the strategic defensive," said Commander, Naval Air Forces, Vice Adm. James Zortman.

But the victory did not come without a price. U.S. torpedo planes participating in the attack suffered grievous losses while drawing Japanese fighters down from their patrol altitudes, allowing SBD Dauntless dive bombers to score numerous hits on the Japanese carriers.

"Incredible sacrifices were made at Midway beginning on June 4th, 1942, and they continued for three days," said retired Rear Adm. John P. McLaughlin, president and chief operating officer of the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum.

"The aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, the destroyer USS Hammann, 147 aircraft, and 307 men were all lost during this battle, which ended up being the turning point of World War II."

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Battle of Midway