page_title: Henderson Field (Midway)
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Henderson Field (Midway) / History
caption_attribution_description: English: The crew or a U.S. Army Air Forces Martin B-26 Marauder (s/n 40-1391, "Susie-Q") from the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium), 22nd Bomb Group, which made torpedo-attack on the Japanese carriers in the early morning of 4 June 1942 during the Battle of Midway: Pilot Lt. James P. Muri (second from left, front row), co-pilot Lt. Pren L. Moore, navigator Lt. William W. Moore, bombardier Lt. Russell Johnson, gunners S/Sgt. John J. Gogoj, Cpl. Frank L. Melo Jr, and Pfc. Earl D. Ashley 1st. The plane had more than 500 bullet holes when it landed at Midway and was written off. The crew was allowed to cut out the nose-art "Susie-Q" before the plane was dumped at sea.
context_page_description: Henderson Field on East Midway Island is a former World War II airfield in the Central Pacific. The airfield was abandoned after the war.
context_section_description: The Midway Islands are best known as the location of the pivotal battle of the Pacific Theatre of World War II.  Henderson Field was built in 1941.  It consisted of a seaplane facility on Sand Island and a landplane airfield on Eastern Island. The Eastern Island airfield initially comprised three runways, 2 hangars & a barracks.
  Midway was shelled by a Japanese destroyer on the same day as the Pearl Harbor attack, and was shelled by a submarine several months later.
  During the climactic Battle of Midway in 1942, the Japanese were so sure of their victory that they deliberately spared the runways of Eastern Island for their use after the capture of the island.  That didn't happen, due to their overwhelming defeat in the waters surrounding Midway.
  Aircraft of the Navy, Marine Corps & Army operated from Eastern Island, and helped to turn back the Japanese Fleet.  The Marine Corps had nineteen SBD-2 Dauntless dive-bombers, seven F4F-3 Wildcat, seventeen SB2U-3 Vindicators, twenty-one F2A-3 Brewster Buffalos and six TBF-1 Avenger torpedo-bombers.
  Eight B-17E Flying Fortresses of the 431st Bombardment Squadron (11th Bombardment Group) were deployed to Midway on 29 May 1942 and were joined by nine more the next day from the 42d Bombardment Squadron along with five B-26 Marauders (three from the 19th Bombardment Squadron (22d Bombardment Group) that were in Hawaii and two from the 69th Bombardment Squadron (38th Bombardment Group)).  The Marauders were equipped to drop torpedoes and were under the command of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief, Pacific.  In addition, B-17Es of the 3d and 72d Bombardment Squadrons (5th Bombardment Group) were sent to Midway in preparation for the battle.
  No aircraft based on Midway scored any hits on enemy ships during the battle.
  Because of the threat of a dawn attack on Midway, searching planes were sent out as early as possible each day - usually about 04:15. To safeguard them from destruction on the ground and to have the striking force instantly available, the B-17's took off immediately afterwards. They remained in the air for about 4 hours, by which time the progress of the search and the reduction of their fuel load made it safe for them to land. The four B-26's, the six TBF's, and other planes remained on the ground but fully alert until the search had reached a distance of 400 miles (640 km).
  Nimitz believed that the enemy planned a rendezvous about 700 miles (1,100 km)  west of Midway and ordered that this area be searched by B-17's on 31 May and 1 June, if possible. This was done with negative results. On 2 June a B-17 without bombs searched 800 miles (1,300 km) to the west without making any contacts. These searches were conducted in part by two groups of six B-17's flown in from Hawaii on 30 and 31 May, respectively. Consequently, their crews were in the air about 30 hours in the 2 days before actual combat, and, in addition, serviced their own planes.
  On 3 June the usual search was made.  At 12:30 9 B-17Es left Midway in search of the Japanese invasion fleet, which had been sighted by a PBY an hour earlier only 700 miles (1,100 km) away, and was ordered to attack this "main body."  This Japanese force, consisting of 2 or 3 heavy cruisers and about 30 other ships, including destroyers, transports, and cargo vessels, had evidently been moving toward Midway since the morning contact.  At 16:25 the fleet of 26 ships was spotted 570 miles (920 km) from the island. Six B-17Es of the 431st, along with three B-17Es from the 31st, attacked in three flights of three from altitudes of 8,000 feet (2,400 m), 10,000 feet (3,000 m), and 12,000 feet (3,700 m) respectively.
  On the night of 3 June, an additional seven B-17Es from the 42d Bomb Squadron arrived on Midway to reinforce the heavy bomber contingent.  At 04:15, 14 B-17s left Midway shortly after the patrol planes had been sent out. They were proceeding to the west to attack the enemy forces sighted the preceding day when a message was received in plain language telling of the discovery of the enemy carrier task force on bearing 3
caption: First Lieutenant James Muri's aircrew and its USAAF B-26A which made torpedo-attack on Nagumo's carriers in early morning 4 June during the Battle of Midway, June 1942. 1st. Lt. Muri is second from left, in the front row.
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