Six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese forces achieved a series of victories and captured resource-rich territories in Indonesia. However, the U.S. aircraft carriers, a major threat to the Japanese fleet in the Pacific, were still operational. In the Japanese view, destroying the remains of the Pacific Fleet would demoralize the Americans and finally bring them to the negotiation table.
Beginning on June 4, 1942, Japan launched an attack towards the Midway, a small, tiny atoll located about 1,300 miles northwest of Hawaii. Midway was the site of a strategically important U.S. airbase, an objective that the Americans wouldn't relinquish without a fight. A simultaneous attack by the Japanese army on the Aleutians was a diversionary tactic in support of the Japanese fleet's engagement at Midway. As the U.S. ships left the safety of the naval base at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, four Japanese aircraft carriers were "hiding" out of range of radar near Midway. As the attack began, they launched torpedo and dive bombers, accompanied by Zero fighter escorts, against Midway and the unsuspecting fleet.
The history of Midway can be traced far back into the geological past. An estimated 70 million years ago, lava erupted from fissures on the seafloor. As the Pacific Plate moved further to the northwest, the future Midway site was carried over the central Hawaiian hot spot, a spot of hot material in Earth's mantle rising up and causing partial melting, feeding volcanism on the surface. During this time, the Midway volcano gained 90% or more of its total volume over the course of 1 to 2 million years.
The Pacific Plate continued to move to the northwest carrying Midway off of the hot spot, cutting the supply of magma off. Once the Midway volcano ceased activity some 27 to 29 million years ago, marine currents slowly started to wear down the mountain and the volcanic island began to sink into the sea. At the same time, corals started to grow over its top. Over time, the corals eventually created a carbonate platform at least 1,600 feet thick. Erosion by waves created a broad, flat surface, an ideal terrain for an airfield.
An American reconnaissance aircraft spotted the Japanese fleet and the Americans were able to get their fighters stationed on Midway airborne. However, the planes were old Buffalo and Wildcat fighters, no match for the more agile Japanese Zeros. Midway base launched four successive attacks against the Japanese fleet. In the ensuing battle over Midway, the Americans suffered heavy losses. However, the U.S. Navy had set a trap in the sea. Spying on Japanese communications, U.S. intelligence warned of a possible imminent attack of an undisclosed target in the Pacific. By sending out a false message that the U.S. base on the Midway Atoll was short of fresh water (on an atoll, composed of very permeable limestone, fresh water is indeed a rare commodity) and listening to Japanese communications mentioning this apparent new detail, intelligence was able to identify the real target of the Japanese fleet.
Three American aircraft carriers flanked the Japanese fleet, now vulnerable, as most planes were still engaged in dogfights above Midway. On June 6, the Japanese ended the planned invasion of Midway, retreating with their surviving fleet. Altogether, the Japanese lost four aircraft carriers, a cruiser and nearly 300 planes. Japanese casualties numbered approximately 2,500, including hundreds of veteran pilots. The Americans lost one aircraft carrier, one destroyer, 145 planes and 307 soldiers. The Japanese fleet never fully recovered from the loss. The victory at Midway energized the U.S. military and American public. Thanks to the U.S. industrial strength, the U.S. Navy was able to quickly replace the lost ships and airplanes. The battle of Midway would be the first step to defeating Imperial Japan.
