A number of these participants have generously made available various letters, notes and journals written at the time. I’m especially grateful to Aaron Bagley, Burdick H. Brittin, Eugene Card, Edward Creighton, Cleo Dobson, Alden W. Hanson, and Joseph Love in this connection. Likewise Mrs. John C. Waldron has kindly given me permission to quote from the touching letter sent her by her gallant husband just before the battle.
Gradually some of these contributors came to be regarded as “specialists” on particular areas, and I’m afraid I imposed upon them unmercifully: Howard Ady on the PBYs … Ham Dow on communications … Eddie Layton on CINCPAC … Bob McGlashan on anything to do with the Marines … Joe Rochefort on radio intelligence … Bob Russell on the screening destroyers … Dick Best and Max Leslie on air operations in general, vintage 1942. Jasper Holmes was a gold mine on contemporary Honolulu and Pearl Harbor.
Sometimes a particular point gave special trouble, and a number of participants would be drafted in an effort to solve it. Here too they gave willingly, although the result usually meant that somebody had to be wrong. There was the question, for instance, of what ship Captain Buckmaster was on when the Yorktown finally sank. Buckmaster himself thought he watched from the tug Vireo, but was not sure. Others recalled seeing him on the destroyer Balch; still others on the destroyer Gwin.
These conflicting viewpoints just couldn’t be reconciled, so finally it was “back to the archives.” By piecing together several obscure reports, it gradually became clear that Buckmaster had gone first to the Vireo … then transferred to the Balch later on June 6 … and finally transferred again to the Gwin at 7:20 A.M. on June 7, shortly after the Yorktown sank. So he watched from the Balch—just as Admiral Tiemroth had been saying all along.
The Japanese participants were just as patient and helpful. Many vivid pictures still come to mind: Takayoshi Morinaga acting out his escape from the Kaga’s blazing hangar deck … Mitsuharu Noda sipping Johnny Walker as he recalled with relish his extracurricular assignments for Admiral Yamamoto … Admiral Kusaka thoughtfully maneuvering a matchstick “fleet” about the polished top of a bamboo table, showing me exactly how Nagumo’s force made its famous turn to the northeast on June 4.
Here too several participants were sometimes drafted to help clear up a particular point. From interviews with Admiral Kusaka and Susumu Kawaguchi, for instance, it became clear that not only the torpedo planes but also the dive bombers had to be rearmed when Nagumo made his fateful decision to strike Midway again.
In addition to these personal recollections—both American and Japanese—I’ve relied on much written material about Midway. The U.S. Navy’s Classified Operational Archives offer a treasury of unpublished action reports, war diaries, debriefings, interviews, analyses, interrogations of Japanese prisoners. The material is all there—and so are the people to help. Nothing was too much trouble for Dean Allard and his fine staff. A special vote of thanks must go to Mrs. Mildred Mayeux, who bore the brunt of so many of my problems.
The Marine Archives, too, couldn’t have been more helpful. Rowland Gill runs a superb shop. Here, incidentally, are copies of most of the Army Air Force reports, so important in piecing together any account of Midway.
On the Japanese side, Colonel Susumu Nishiura opened wide the doors of his War History Office at the Defense Agency in Tokyo. He even put up with my French. A special word of gratitude is owed to Commander Tsunoda, the office’s expert on Midway. Thanks largely to his efforts, new light is shown on the Aleutian phase, which appears to have been more a sop to the Japanese Naval General Staff than an attempt to divert the U.S. fleet.
There’s also valuable printed material on Midway. Some of the best comes from government sources. The ONI pamphlet The Japanese Story of the Battle of Midway (1947) translates Nagumo’s Battle Report. It has its shortcomings (sometimes due to translation difficulties), but it helps pin down the time many incidents happened, and it remains the only source for some of the communications between the Japanese commanders. The USSBS’s Interrogations of Japanese Officials (1946) includes interviews with 18 participants. Admiral Raymond A. Spruance (1966) is a useful biography by E. P. Forrestel. Marines at Midway (1948) is a superb account by Robert D. Heinl, Jr., happily free of “officialese.” Scot MacDonald’s Evolution of Aircraft Carriers (1964) is full of useful information on all the carriers involved—both sides. The Pearl Harbor hearings contain nuggets on the organization of the Combat Intelligence Unit and the Japanese code JN-25.
Unofficially, much useful material has also been published. On the battle as a whole, Thaddeus V. Tuleja’s Climax at Midway (Norton, 1960) is a stimulating treatment. William Ward Smith’s Midway: Turning Point of the Pacific (Crowell, 1966) contributes firsthand experience and a fine seaman’s eye. In a class by itself is Samuel E. Morison’s account in Volume IV of his History of United States Naval Operations in World War II (Little, Brown, 1949). On some points my own conclusions stray from Admiral Morison’s findings, but there can be no doubt about my indebtedness. His three magnificent chapters on Midway were what fired my desire to do a whole book on the subject.
Other works throw valuable light on particular parts of the story: The Ragged, Rugged Warriors by Martin Caidin (Dutton, 1966) covers the B-26s … Torpedo Junction by Robert J. Casey (Bobbs-Merrill, 1942) conveys the suspense in Task Force 16 … The Flying Guns by C. E. Dickinson (Scribner, 1942) describes flying with Scouting 6 … Undersea Victory by W. J. Holmes (Doubleday, 1966) handles the submarines … The Wild Blue by John F. Loosbrock and Richard M. Skinner (Putnam, 1960) includes Colonel Walter Sweeney’s firsthand account of the B-17s … The Sky Is My Witness by Thomas Moore, Jr. (Putnam, 1943) tells the experiences of a Marine dive bomber pilot … United States Submarine Operations in World War II by Theodore Roscoe (Naval Institute, 1948) discusses the Nautilus and the Tambor … The Magnificent Mitscher by Theodore Taylor (Norton, 1954) views Midway through the eyes of the Hornet’s famous skipper.
In addition, there are useful, appropriately loyal ship’s histories on all three of the U.S. carriers. For the Yorktown there is Pat Frank and Joseph D. Harrington’s Rendezvous at Midway (John Day, 1967); for the Hornet there is Alexander Griffith’s A Ship to Remember (Howell, Soskin, 1943); and for the Enterprise there is Edward P. Stafford’s The Big E (Random House, 1962).
From time to time interesting magazine articles have also appeared. To name a few of the best: J. Bryan Ill’s beautifully organized “Never a Battle Like Midway” in the March 26, 1949, issue of the Saturday Evening Post … Joseph M. Worthington’s firsthand account of the Benham’s role in the January 1965 issue of Shipmate … Frank D. Morris’s description of the PBY torpedo attack in the July 21, 1942, issue of Collier’s … John S. Thach’s fine account of Fighting 3 in the December 12, 1942, issue of the same magazine.
Sydney L. James’s story of Torpedo 8 in the August 31, 1942, issue of Life remains a classic of war reporting. For fuller treatment of Commander Waldron’s men, there’s the series of nine articles by Lloyd Wendt with George Gay in the Grafic Magazine of the Chicago Tribune, starting May 30, 1948. Still another important source on Torpedo 8 is H. H. Ferrier’s “Torpedo Squadron Eight, the Other Chapter” in the October 1964 issue of the Naval Institute Proceedings.
Newspaper coverage was necessarily limited because of censorship and the limited availability of information in wartime. Nevertheless, there are good accounts of the attack on the Yorktown (without naming her) by Foster Hailey in the New York Times on June 22 and 23, 1942; and another by Wendell Webb in the New York Herald Tribune on June 22, 1942. Hometown papers eventually caught up with many of the survivors; for instance, see the interview with William England in the Davenport, Iowa, Democrat on September 20, 1942; or that with Hawey Wilder in the Atlanta Journal on September 16, 1942.
The B-17 fliers had a field day in the Honolulu Advertiser on June 12, 1942. The claims of hits and sinkings are mistaken, but the interviews are no less interesting for the picture they give
of these spirited young men flying their first combat missions.
On the Japanese side, the traditional authority has long been Mitsuo Fuchida and Masatake Okumiya’s Midway—the Battle That Doomed Japan (Naval Institute, 1955). This remains an indispensable work, but other less familiar sources can fill in gaps and contribute a fresh viewpoint. Teiichi Makishima’s The Tragic Battle of Midway (1956) benefits from the eye of a trained journalist … Juzo Mori’s Torpedo Plane Strike (1956) depicts the battle as seen from the Soryu … Hiroyuki Agawa’s Isoroku Yamamoto (1966) throws much new light on the Admiral. The same is true of Kota Hoketsu’s article, “Memories of Isoroku Yamamdto” in the April 1, 1966, issue of the magazine Zaikai. For the mood in Tokyo at the time of the battle, the back files of the Japan Times and Advertiser make fascinating reading—especially the period May 26-June 16, 1942.
There’s useful material on this side of the Pacific too. In addition to Fuchida’s Midway, three books especially come to mind: The End of the Imperial Japanese Navy by Masanori Ito (Norton, 1962); Death of a Navy by Andrieu D’Albas (Devin-Adair, 1957); and Zero! by Masatake Okumiya and Jiro Horikoshi with Martin Caidin (Dutton, 1956). Also, John Toland’s But Not in Shame (Random House, 1961) contains a valuable interview with Minoru Genda—generally considered the “brains” of Nagumo’s fleet.
Several helpful articles have also appeared in the Naval Institute Proceedings. In the October 1949 issue James A. Field, Jr. analyzes Admiral Yamamoto’s attitude toward America. In the May 1953 issue Edwin T. Layton offers an intriguing theory on Operation K—and is vigorously rebutted by W. J. Holmes three months later. In the May 1963 issue Commander Yahachi Tanabe (with an assist from Joseph D. Harrington) gives his version of how his submarine sank the Yorktown.
In researching this book, scores of helpful people have paved my way. The trail really began in Washington, where Rear Admiral E. M. Eller made available the marvelous resources of his Office of Naval History. Better than that, he gave freely of his wisdom and encouragement. The same can be said of Colonel C. V. Glines, Chief of the Magazine and Book Branch at the Defense Department’s Directorate for Information Service. Special thanks go to Lieutenant Commander Dan Dagle in that office, who did so much in helping locate participants.
The Marines were there too. Colonel F. C. Caldwell, head of the Historical Branch, met every request. At National Archives Mrs. J. Coleman turned the place upside down to find the right pictures, and as my deadline neared, the Navy’s Lieutenant Commander George P. Bienstadt worked like a Trojan to get them processed.
At the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in Hawaii, Doris Obata made the project her own. She was indefatigable in turning up some of the old hands who won that famous race to get the Yorktown ready in time. Getting to Midway itself turned out to be a combined operation, and I’m grateful to all concerned—especially Lieutenant Colonel Jim Sunderman of the Air Force and Lieutenant Commander Bill Stierman of the Navy. On Midway Captain James Savacool proved a perfect host, and Chaplain Robert H. Warren outdid himself to be helpful. Incredibly, he found six people there today who had also been in the battle that fateful June of 1942.
In Japan there were any number of people who took the neophyte in hand and made his visit fruitful. To name a few: Hiroyuki Agawa, Kazushige Hirasawa, Kiyoaki Murata, Walter Nichols, George Saito, Douglas Wada.
Back in Washington again, I descended on Rear Admiral Arthur McCollum along with the year’s biggest blizzard. It didn’t seem to faze him at all: he gave me the full benefit of his great insight on both the Japanese and the Washington end of things. Vice Admiral George Dyer, one of the few survivors of the early days at COMINCH, helped me pin down numerous dates and times. Adrian Van Wyen, CNO Air Historian, filled me in on many technical details about the planes. A visit to Norfolk found Charles S. Hiles immensely helpful on the intelligence preliminaries.
Throughout my research other Midway writers have been immensely generous. Roger Pineau freely shared his broad knowledge of Japan and the Japanese. Robert D. Heinl, Jr., is a human encyclopedia on the Marines. J. Bryan III, Richard Newcomb, and Thaddeus V. Tuleja lent me valuable papers. Ladislas Farago, Joe Harrington, John and Toshiko Toland were all hard-pressed working on their own new books, but there was always time for a helping hand.
Finally there are those who lived with the project from day to day. Yuzuru Sanematsu was a tower of strength in Tokyo. Maria Look performed wonders on research. Anne Barker valiantly pulled together the index. Evan Thomas contributed his deft editorial touch—plus the free services of his daughter Louisa, who came up with such a fine title. Florence Gallagher rounded out her twentieth year of typing my scribbled foolscap.
But all these individuals—helpful as they were—would not have been enough without the generous assistance of the 388 participants listed on the following pages. In the end, a battle consists of people, and these are the people of Midway. Like everyone else listed in this acknowledgment section, they share no responsibility for my findings—no blame for my failings—but all the credit in the world for any new light this book may throw on what was truly a great moment in our national experience.
List of Contributors
THIS BOOK REPRESENTS THE combined efforts of both Americans and Japanese, so it seems appropriate that they should be listed together, without regard to nationality. Each name is followed by the participant’s vantage point, rather than rank or position at the time of the battle. Where supplied, present rank is also included.
John O. Adams—PBYs, Midway
Capt. Howard P. Ady, Jr., USN (Ret.)—PBYs, Midway
Rear Adm. Frank Akers, USN (Ret.)—Hornet
Cdr. Gene L. Alair, USNR—Astoria
Rear Adm. Clarence E. Aldrich, USN (Ret.)—Yorktown
Maj. Gen. Brooke E. Allen, USAF (Ret.)—B-17s, Midway
Riley Allen—Honolulu
CWO John G. Almand, USN—Russell
Takahisa Amagai—Kuga
Cdr. Bernard L. Amman, USNR (Ret.)—PBYs, Midway
Brig. Gen. Kirk Armistead, USMC (Ret.)—VMF-221, Midway
Capt. Warren W. Armstrong, USN (Ret.)—Maury
Maj. Dorn E. Arnold, USMC (Ret.)—6th Def. Batn., Midway
Rear Adm. Murr E. Arnold, USN (Ret.)—Yorktown
Rear Adm. Ralph J. Arnold, USN (Ret.)—Yorktown
Rear Adm. William H. Ashford, Jr., USN (Ret.)—Enterprise
Lieut. A. M. Bagley, USN—New Orleans
Lt. Cdr. George M. K. Baker, Jr., USN (Ret.)—Astoria
Lt. Cdr. Thomas W. Baker, USNR (Ret.)—Astoria
Lt. J. Clark Barrett, USNR (Ret.)—VB-8, Hornet
CWO George E. Bateman, USN—Yorktown
Lt. Col. Robert J. Bear, USMC (Ret.)— VMSB-241, Midway
Capt. Walter H. Beckham, SC USNR—Portland
Lea Bell, USMC (Ret.)—Carlson’s Raiders, Midway
Lt. Col. William M. Bell, USMCR (Ret.)—6th Def. Batn., Midway
Lieut, (j.g.) Foyd H. Bennett, USN (Ret.)—Yorktown
Lt. Robert H. Bennett, USN (Ret.)—NAS, Midway
Capt. Vane M. Bennett, USN (Ret.)—Yorktown
William Bennett—Shipyard, Pearl Harbor
Rear Adm. Roy Stanley Benson, USN—Nautilus
William H. Berlin, Jr., USMC (Ret.)—6th Def. Batn., Midway
Capt. Arthur H. Berndtson, USN—Enterprise
Lt. Cdr. Richard H. Best, USN (Ret.)—VB-6, Enterprise
Cdr. Daniel T. Birtwell, Jr., USN (Ret.)—Portland
Read Adm. Worthington S. Bitler, USN (Ret.)—Pensacola
Cdr. W. P. Blackmore, USN (Ret.)—tug Keosauqua, Pearl Harbor
Cdr. Carl M. Blackstock, USNR (Ret.)—PT boats, Midway
Col. George A. Blakey, USAF (Ret.)—B-17s, Midway
Capt. Ben Ward Blee, USN—Pensacola
E. E. Blythe, USN (Ret.)—Phelps
CWO Jule C. Bode, USN (Ret.)—Yorktown
CWO Frank W. Boo, USN (Ret.)—Yorktown
Col. Alfred L. Booth, USMC (Ret.)??
?6th Def. Batn., Midway
Capt. Harold S. Bottomley, Jr., USN—VB-3, Yorktown
Cdr. Matthew J. Bouterse, CHC USN (Ret.)—Astoria
Cdr. James C. Boyden, USNR—PBYs, Midway
Sgt. Gail B. Brackeen, USMC (Ret.)—6th Def. Batn., Midway
Eugene K. Braun, USN (Ret.)—VB-6, Enterprise
Capt. Chester E. Briggs, Jr., USN—Yorktown
Capt. Burdick H. Brittin, USN (Ret.)—Aylwin
Rear Adm. William H. Brockman, Jr., USN (Ret.)—Nautilus
Rear Adm. Charles B. Brooks, Jr., USN (Ret.)—Yorktown
Capt. James A. Brown, MC USNR (Ret.)—Astoria
Cdr. Robert G. Brown, USN (Ret.)—Russell
Vice Adm. Elliot Buckmaster, USN (Ret.)—Yorktown
Col. Jean H. Buckner, USMC (Ret.)—6th Def. Batn., Midway
Capt. George S. Bullen, USN (Ret.)—Pensacola
Rear Adm. William H. Buracker, USN (Ret.)—Enterprise
Rear Adm. William P. Burford, USN (Ret.)—Monaghan
Cdr. Arthur T. Burke, USNR (Ret.)—Enterprise
S. I. Burke, Jr., USN (Ret.)—Benham
Capt. Noel A. Burkey, Jr., USNR—Astoria
Rear Adm. Sherman E. Burroughs, USN (Ret.)—Enterprise
Lt. Cdr. Nathaniel T. Burwell, USN (Ret.)—Ballard
Capt. Norwood A. Campbell, USN (Ret.)—Yorktown
Capt. Stanley Caplan, USNR—Aylwin Maj. Eugene T. Card, USMC (Ret.)—VMSB-241, Midway
Col. John F. Carey, USMC (Ret.)—VMF-221, Midway
Cdr. Conrad H. Carlson, USN (Ret.)—Astoria
Capt. Charles M. Cassel, Jr., USN—Anderson
Lt. Cdr. John K. Chase, USN (Ret.)—Hughes