Evening star., 1942-07-15
Japs Lost 70 Ships,
n5P|anes, 4,80O Men
In Midway Battle
Navy Says U. S. Wor
Bottle With Loss Of
Only 307 Lives
Continued From First Page J

cred soon after the battle OF the
Coral Sea that there was a heavy
withdrawal of Japanese naval forces
from the Southwest Pacific toward
Japan. United States naval stra-
tegists, expecting the next attack
on either Hawaii, the Panama
Canal, Alaska or even the Pacific
Coast of the United States. de-
ployed the surface feet between
Midway and the Aleutian Islands.
Thus, the Navy made clear, the
fighting forces under supreme COM
mand of Admiral Chester w. MINI
itz, Pacific Fleet chief, were ready
when the blow fell.
This was further bronze out In
q supplementary account which said
that 1.-The full fury of the United
States naval task force lying In
ambush off Midway was poised
to strike-once the quarry was
overtaken."
Planes Sight Invaders.
Here is the official report on the
start of the battle:
AT about 8 am. June 3, United
States naval patrol planes reported
a strong force of enemy ships about
TOO miles off Midway, proceeding
eastward. Nine United States Army
Flying Fortresses' based on Mid
way Immediately were ordered to
intercept and attack the approach
ing enemy. The japanese force was
observed to be approaching in five
columns, and was composed OF many
cruisers, transports, cargo vessels
and other escort ships.
"The Army bombers scored hits
on one cruiser and one transport.
Both ships we're severely damaged
and left burning. Some lesser dam
age was done to other vessels in the
formation. Later, during the night,
foar Navy Catalina flying boats
located and attacked the same
enemy group by moonlight. These
four planes scored two torpedo hits
on large enemy ships, one OF which
is believed to have sunk
About dawn on June 4, several
groups of Army medium and heavy
bombers and Marine Corps dive
bombers and torpedo planes renewed
the attack. OF this joint action
the Navy reported that four Army
torpedo bombers braved fighter
protection sent up from two Jap
carriers. and succeeded in planting
one torpedo on one carrier. Two
of the bombers failed to return.
Marine Flyers Hit Carrier.
OF one group of six Marine Corps
planes that went into the fray, only
one returned. One hit on the enemy
was believed to have been made
by them.
Sixteen Marine Corps dive
bombers scored three hits on car
rier. believed to have been the
Soryu. Half the planes returned.
Another fight OF II Marine
bombers laid two bombs on an
enemy battlesfip, leaving the craft
smoking and listing.
A group of 16 Flying Fortresses'
carried out high-level bombing at
tacks. scoring three hits on car
riers and leaving one vessel smok-
ing heavily.
The Marines were given added
praise for their work in actual de-
fense of the Island of Midway on
the same day. Carrier based Jap
planes attacked the island early
in the morning and the Marine
air force, badly out-numbered, en-
gagged them and shot down approx
imately 40 enemy craft with aid Of
shore defense batteries.
Tragic Aspects of Battle.
"As the result of this fighter
defense. the material damage te
shore installations, though serious,
was not disabling" the Navy said
mo plane was caught grounded al
Midway"
The enemy then turned by
midmorning the enemy had suf-
fered only about 10 ships damaged
and the American command ex-
pected continued attack. But the
Japanese changed course unobservee
and both forces began to retire.
By that time American carrier.
in ambush were rushing full steam
to attack.
Concerted action by American
aircraft had caused the japanese
feet to change its course, and this
fact was not Immediately known
This caused two of the tragic as
poets of the battle Planes from one
carrier, flying to the spot where the
Jap feet would have been had II
not turned back, ran out Of gasolin'
before they could return. Many
fell into the sea, but most of those
forced down were rescued later.
Two flight commanders, 1t. Comdr
John Charles Waldron and Comdr
Clarence w. McClosky, however
guessed the change of course. ant
led Is torpedo planes to the exac
location of the enemy feet, attack
ing without protection of any sort
Not one of these Is planes returned
The sole survivor of this engage
ment was Ensign G. H. Gay, U. S
N. r, who made hit on an enem.
carrier before he was shot down
He later gave a "fish-eye" report o
the battle as seen from his life raj
on the bomb-ridden Pacific.
Comdr. Waldrons squadron score,
several hits and shot down som
Japanese fighters before it wa
wiped out Then American carrie
planes arrived in force. The Nav,
described the ensuing fight as "sucl
an aerial circus as never before ha'
been witnessed SO far at sea"
AS a result of the ambush, tn
japanese carriers Kaga, Agagi an
Soryu were severely damaged an
set af1re. Two battleships were hi
one of them left burning flercely
and one destroyer was hit and be
lieved sunk.
BY this time the ambush was dis
covered and the enemy had learne
the American naval force include
at least three carriers. Planes fror
the then -undamageo carrier Hlry
attacked the Yorktown and he
escort. -Four bombers out of l8 mad
three hits on the American shil