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Battle Begins
9;04am American reconnaissance plane sites Japanese invasion fleet 500 miles west of Midway. The plane was fired upon but not hit. -
American Planes Engage Approaching Japanese Fleet
12:30pm American B-17 bombers from Midway strike at the invading Japanese fleet Later that evening a group of Catalina seaplanes leave from Midway and score the only successful torpedo attack by the Americans hitting the Japanese tanked Akebono Maru. -
Americans Launch Planes to Attack Japanese Ships
7:00am The planes would most likely not have enough fuel to return, but Admiral Fletcher sends planes to attack Japanese ships. -
Japanese Vice Admiral Nagumo’s Decision to Again Attack Midway
7:15am Nagamo is told by pilots that no American naval presence was in the area. Therefore, he ordered his planes to be fit with bombs to again attack Midway. At 7:28 am, however, he discovers that there are ten American ships sited. Instead of immediately engaging the American ships, he decides to still attack Midway and then attack the American ships. This is seen as a major strategic mistake of the Japanese. -
First Wave of American Torpedo Bombers Disaster
9:20am All 15 of the American Douglas Devastator torpedo bombers are shot down in the first wave attack on the Japanese ships. -
American Dauntless Torpedo Bombers Attack
10:22am Seventeen American Dauntless torpedo planes attack the Japanese ships. Three of these ships are seriously damaged, the Kaga, Akagi and the Soryu. This turned the battle in the American’s favor. -
Midway Island Attacked
6:30am Japanese bombardment of Midway began lasting a half hour and causing extensive damage. The runways however were not damaged. -
American Aircraft Carrier Yorktown Sinks
12:00pm As a last effort, Japanese planes are sent to follow the American planes back to the American battleship Yorktown. The ship is seriously damaged, but still functional. As second attack was made on the ship a couple of hours later, however, and the Yorktown would later sink. -
Final Attacks
Americans send about 60 bombers to catch the retreating Japanese ships. The Japanese cruiser Mikuma was sunk and the cruiser Mogami and the two destroyers Asashio and Arashio were seriously damaged. The Americans continue to attempt to save the battleship Yorktown. However, a Japanese submarine torpedoes the Yorktown and the destroyer Hammann, which both eventually sink