Реферат: The Battle Of Midway In The Pacific

lost 19 without scoring a single hit. “From the time of the attack and the known

position of the enemy carriers, we estimated they would be back in three or four

hours,” Kimes wrote (Stevens 54). Only six Dauntlesses, seven Vindicators, one

Buffalo and a single Wildcat were left to oppose the Japanese. The defenders of

Midway steadied themselves for another air raid. Nothing happened. The only

aircraft to show up were 11 Dauntlesses from the carrier Hornet at 11:00 a.m.

Some Marine gunners, believing they were Japanese planes, opened fire on the

SBDs before recognizing their silhouettes. The Dauntlesses were refueled and

back in the air by 2:00 p.m. At 3:58, Midway’s defenders received an indication

that the Japanese were taking a beating when a PBY pilot reported “three burning

ships.” At 5:45 he reported, “The three burning ships are Jap carriers.” The

stricken vessels–Akagi, Kaga and Soryu–were the victims of SBD Dauntlesses

from the American carriers Enterprise and Yorktown. At the same time out at sea,

B-17s from Midway, along with six more Flying Fortresses from Hawaii, attacked

the Japanese carrier Hiryu, which had been damaged and set afire by dive bombers

from Enterprise and Hornet. The B-17s claimed hitting the burning Hiryu, as well

as a cruiser and battleship, and sinking a destroyer. In fact, the land-based

bombers were no more successful in the afternoon than they had been in the

morning. With all four of Nagumo’s carriers destroyed, Yamamoto decided he could

not proceed with his plan to occupy Midway, and ordered his fleet to withdraw.

Midway’s defenders, however, still expected the Japanese to invade. Captain

Simard dispersed his PBYs, evacuated nonessential personnel and warned his PT-

boats to expect a night attack. At 1:20 a.m., the Japanese submarine I-168

opened fire on Midway with its 5-inch deck gun. Batteries B and E on Eastern

Island, along with Battery D on Sand Island, returned fire with their 3- and 5-

inch guns, lobbing 42 shells at I-168, which lobbed eight shells back. The brief

exchange resulted in no damage to either side. Most of I-168’s shells fell in

the lagoon. The submarine submerged at 1:28, the Marine gunners ceased firing

and Midway settled back into uneasy silence (Miracle 68). June 5, 1942, began