Who commanded the Hiryu at Midway?

Battle of Midway-Events of 4 June 1942 (afternoon) Hiryu’s commander, Rear Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi, was not a man to be deterred by the disaster that had befallen the other three Japanese carriers of the First Carrier Striking Force.

How many pilots survived Midway?

One TBF and two B-26s crash-landed on Midway afterward, and only six of the TBDs made it back to the carriers; only three of the aircraft were flyable. Of the 99 men in the 42 torpedo planes that were lost, only three survived the battle.

Who started the battle of Midway?

As a knockout blow, the Imperial Japanese Navy, led by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, plotted a large-scale attack on the strategically important U.S. naval and air base on Midway Atoll, two tiny islands in the central Pacific.

Who commanded the Enterprise Task Force during the Battle for Midway?

Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher
Two days later, Task Force SEVENTEEN (TF 17) under the command of Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, formed around USS Yorktown (CV-5), sailed from Pearl to join TF 16 northeast of Midway. When TF 17 and TF 16 joined about 350 miles northeast of Midway on 2 June, Fletcher became officer in tactical command.

Who Sank the Akagi?

The sinking of the Akagi was unique in that it was only struck once, most likely the devastating result of a 1,000-pound bomb dropped by Lieutenant Dick Best, who was serving as commander of VB-6.

How many American pilots died at Midway?

Aircraft Casualties included 320 Japanese planes and 150 U.S. planes. Human Casualties included approximately 3,000 sailors and airmen killed. A total of 317 United States sailors, airmen, and marines killed.

Is Midway still a military base?

As part of the Base Realignment and Closure process, the Navy facility on Midway has been operationally closed since September 10, 1993, although the Navy assumed responsibility for cleaning up environmental contamination.

What sank the Akagi?

On the morning of the 5th a Japanese DD torpedoed and sank the Akagi. The Kaga, Soryu and Hiryu were sunk due to damage inflicted by dive bombers. No other damage was sustained from air attack by ships in the striking force except possible damage to one battleship’s superstructure.

How many Japanese died at Midway?

At the Battle of Midway, Japan lost four carriers, a cruiser, and 292 aircraft, and suffered 2,500 casualties.

Does anyone still live on Midway Island?

When Midway was a naval facility, it often housed more than 5,000 residents. Today, roughly 40 refuge staff members, contractors and volunteers live there at any given time. More about the landscape, geology and history of Midway Atoll.