A time to remember

This is the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Midway, arguably one of the most critical in the entire war.  Not because there was ever much doubt that America would defeat Japan but because if it had been lost by the Americans then they would have been forced to change the direction of their main effort from Europe to the Pacific with outcomes too grim to contemplate.  Here are just some of the photographs from The Atlantic site to remind us.  Also, we should all just pause for a second or two and bow our heads in remembrance of those incredibly brave American torpedo-bomber crews who, fully recognising the imminence of their own deaths, flew straight and steady and at wave-top height into an inferno of anti-aircraft fire in which most of them perished.  This left the way open for the subsequent dive-bombers to hurtle in and in the course of a few minute virtually wipe out Japan's naval air arm.

"The Japanese carrier Hiryu maneuvers to avoid bombs dropped by Army Air Forces B-17 Flying Fortresses during the Battle of Midway, on June 4, 1942."

 

"U.S. Navy LCdr Maxwell F. Leslie, commanding officer of bombing squadron VB-3, ditches in the ocean next to the heavy cruiser USS Astoria, after successfully attacking the Japanese carrier Soryu during the Battle of Midway, on June 4, 1942. Leslie and his wingman Lt(jg) P.A. Holmberg ditched near Astoria due to fuel exhaustion, after their parent carrier USS Yorktown was under attack by Japanese planes when they returned. Leslie, Holmberg, and their gunners were rescued by one of the cruiser's whaleboats. Note one of the cruiser's Curtiss SOC Seagull floatplanes on the catapult at right. (U.S. Navy)"

"Japanese Type 97 shipboard attack aircraft from the carrier Hiryu amid heavy anti-aircraft fire, during the torpedo attack on USS Yorktown in the mid-afternoon of June 4, 1942. At least three planes are visible, the nearest having already dropped its torpedo. The other two are lower and closer to the center, apparently withdrawing. Smoke on the horizon in right center is from a crashed plane. (U.S. Navy)"

"Black smoke pours from the aircraft carrier Yorktown after she suffered hits from Japanese aircraft during the Battle of Midway, on June 4, 1942. (U.S. Navy)"

"Navy fighters during the attack on the Japanese fleet off Midway, in June of 1942. At center a burning Japanese ship is visible. (NARA)"

 

Comments

[dearieme]

If ever an important battle was settled mainly by luck it was Midway. Happily the luck fell on our side.

[David Duff]

That about sums it up, DM. It always strikes me as the nearest thing to a 'proof' that God exists - and that He's on our side!