On June 4, 1942, just six months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of Midway began during World War II.

The battle lasted through June 7. In the end seven ships sunk and 3,364 men died.

According to history.com, "Thanks in part to major advances in code breaking, the United States was able to preempt and counter Japan's planned ambush of its few remaining aircraft carriers, inflicting permanent damage on the Japanese Navy. An important turning point in the Pacific campaign, the victory allowed the United States and its allies to move into an offensive position."

Military historian John Keegan called the Battle of Midway "the most stunning and decisive blow in the history of naval warfare."

Here are some excerpts from The Patriot and Evening News coverage:

The USS Yorktown lists heavily to port after being struck by Japanese bombers and torpedo planes in the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942 during World War II. A destroyer stands by at right to assist as a salvage crew on the flight deck tries to right the stricken aircraft carrier. A few hours later, the Yorktown was hit with Japanese torpedoes and sank. ( AP Photo/U.S. Navy)

From The Patriot, Friday, June 5, 1942

“Washington, June – Japanese planes attacked tiny Midway Island and its tough Marine Corps garrison again today, while far to the north Dutch Harbor, which was raised by enemy bombers yesterday, reported that all was quiet.

The Navy made public only a bare announcement that the enemy planes struck at the stubbornly held mid-Pacific atoll of Midway at 9 a.m. local time (2:30 p.m. E., W., T.). Details of fighting were lacking.”

Crewmen aboard the USS Yorktown battle fire after the carrier was hit by Japanese bombs, during the Battle of Midway, in a June 4, 1942, file photo. Later the vessel had to be abandoned and was sunk by a Japanese submarine torpedo hit. (AP Photo)

From The Evening News, Friday, June 5, 1942

"Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - A major naval-aerial battle was developing in the mid-Pacific today after United States forces had damaged a Japanese battleship and an aircraft carrier, probably damaged other ships and shot down many planes in beating off a carrier-based plane attack on Midway Island.

Victorious in the first phase of a big engagement, the United States naval and air force were continuing their attack on the enemy forces off Midway.

It was believed here that the Japanese attack on Dutch Harbor had been a diversified one, and that both the Dutch Harbor and Midway attacks might be designed to divert attention from another major drive – possibly against Hawaii, the United States or the supply line to Australia."

During the Battle of Midway, a Japanese heavy cruiser of the Mogami class lies low in the water after being bombed by U.S. naval aircraft, seen in this 1942, file photo. Bursts from anti-aircraft fire fill the air. (AP Photo)

From The Patriot, Saturday, June 6, 1942

“Honolulu, June 5 – A great air and naval battle, possibly with the possession of Midway Island at stake, presumably was in progress today off the low-lying outpost northwest of Hawaii, following an attempt in force by the Japanese yesterday to raid the strongly-fortified base.

The enemy ran into a hot reception, said a communique by Admiral Chester N. Nimitz, commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet, and suffered direct hits on at least one battleship, an airplane carrier and possibly other warships. In addition, the defense forces took a heavy toll of attacking warplanes.

Midway’s defenders continued the attacks on the enemy, Admiral Nimitz said, leading to comment by naval experts in Washington that the ensuing engagement may have been one of the greatest battles of the war in the Pacific so far.”

Smoke burns from the USS Yorktown after a Japanese bomber hit the aircraft carrier in the Battle of Midway near Midway Islands in June 1942 during World War II. Bursts from anti-aircraft fire fill the air. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy)

From The Patriot, Monday, June 8, 1942

“Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, June 7 – A decimated Japanese armada struggled desperately in the Central Pacific today to escape total destruction by victorious United States forces reported inflicting growing losses on the enemy in the fourth day of a running battle.

At least thirteen to fifteen of the Japanese vessels, including aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers and transports, already had been sunk or damaged in the colossal engagement west of Midway Island. But indications were that the enemy’s losses were climbing to even greater proportions as American warships and planes relentlessly pressed mopping up action.

The pursuing United States forces, whose losses were insignificant compared to those of the foe, were believed fully exploiting their advantage to deal smashing new blows at the surviving units of the retreating Japanese formations.

The triumphant American naval and air units, having already decided the issue by crushing a Japanese drive for Midway, were believed to be still blasting doggedly at the heels of the withdrawing enemy.”

From The Patriot, Tuesday, June 9, 1942

“Pearl Harbor, June 8 – The first eyewitness account of the battle of Midway came today from a naval aviator, who, floating in the sea, saw a line of burning Japanese ships pass by. The sailor’s story was revealed by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet.

From a 25-year-old torpedo plane pilot of the Pacific Fleet came one of the most amazing eyewitness accounts of a major naval engagement in the history of sea warfare.

The pilot had what veteran naval officers termed ‘a fish eye view’ of operations during an attack on three Japanese carriers participating in the battle of Midway. For he watched the havoc wrought when American dive bombers and torpedo planes blasted at these huge targets – observing from the surface of the sea itself while clinging to his boat-bag and covering his head with a mat from his plane. He covered his head to avoid detection.”

The pilot reported that he saw United States bombs slam into Japanese carriers.

“Tremendous fires burst from these vessels. Great billows of smoke churned upward with flames flaring from the apex in dark columns.

Internal explosions sent new gushes of smoke and fire belching from the carriers at momentary intervals, he said.

As the ferocious Pacific Fleet attack ended, the second Kaga class carrier was on fire from bow to stern.”

From The Patriot, Thursday, June 11, 1942

“Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, June 10 – The Japanese force which Americans defeated at Midway was an armada of more than 30 ships and perhaps half of them became casualties in the first three days of the battle, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, commander of the United States Pacific Fleet, disclosed today.

Information released by Nimitz indicated that thousands of the enemy must have perished. Japanese ships were sunk or damaged so rapidly and the invading fleet was on the run to such an extent that the Nipponese did not stop to pick up their men who had been cast into the sea.”

“The battle of Midway moved so rapidly that the final returns still are not scored. It ended, for the time being at least, Saturday night when pursuing American forces lost the Japanese fleet remnants in the darkness.

Until the final accounting the score, as reported by Admiral Nimitz, stands at two and perhaps three Japanese aircraft carriers sunk, with all of their planes; one destroyer sunk and three battleships and eight to eleven other ships damaged, three of them transports and the others warships.

Nimitz reported the loss of one American destroyer, damage to one United States aircraft carrier and the loss of an undisclosed number of planes.

(The Japanese have admitted the loss of one aircraft carrier, damage to another carrier and a cruiser, and 35 planes missing. In turn, they asserted they had sunk two 19,000-ton American aircraft carriers, one transport and shot down 135 United States planes.)”

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