United States During the Battle of Midway
USS Yorktown
It was a miracle the USS Yorktown was even at the Battle of Midway, it was severely damaged at the Battle of Coral Sea and was in desperate need of repairs. The estimated time for the Yorktown to be repaired was 3 months, but it was repaired in just over 48 hours. During the battle, the USS Yorktown was damaged severely and could not make it back to port. While the Yorktown was being towed by the USS Hamann, the Japanese submarine I-68 split the Hamann in half and sank the Yorktown.
USS Enterprise
The USS Enterprise was by far the most effective carrier in the Battle of Midway. The Enterprise was responsible for most of the damage done to Japanese carriers. Even though the Enterprise’s dive bombers were extremely effective, its torpedo bombers were not. By midday on the first day, June 4th, half of the pilots assigned to the Enterprise were killed and by the end of the battle, 84% of all torpedo bomber pilots were killed. The USS Enterprise exited the battle intact and functional and went on to be one of only two pre-World War II carriers to survive the war.
The USS Yorktown and USS Hamann being struck be a torpedo
USS Yorktown surrounded by anti-aircraft gunfire
A plane crashing onto the deck of the USS Hornet
The USS Yorktown after it was hit by Japanese bombs
​
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AInDnt0Hdv8
The Douglass TBD Devastator in Combat
The first wave of devastators was sent out midway through the battle. There were 41 Devastators sent out and of all 41 only 6 returned with no successful hits. The torpedo bombers torpedoes commonly malfunctioned, practically turning the planes into suicide bombers. The Devastators were one of the worst failures in the Pacific war and they have taught the U.S. a lesson: never willingly sending anything malfunctioning into battle.
Three Douglass TBD Devastators launched from the USS Lexington.
Source: Histroy Net
The Douglass SBD Dauntless in Combat
The first Dauntless attack on the Soryu scored no hits and lost half the squadron of 16. Later, while low on fuel, a fleet of Dauntlesses desperately searched for the Japanese carriers. Finally, they spotted Arashi and Kaga. The Dauntlesses dropped down and lit up the carriers.
The Douglass SBD Dauntless over Norfolk, Virginia
Source: Warfare History Network
Almost simultaneously, another group of Dauntlesses dove on the Japanese Soryu. In that moment, when the Japanese carriers were in flames, the Douglass SBD Dauntless changed the tide of the Battle of Midway, the Pacific War, and World War II. The Dauntless was the U.S.’s secret weapon in taking down the Japanese carriers.
The Douglass SBD Dauntless dropping a bomb
Source: Simple Wikipedia
Section by Bodhi B.
Section by Henry S.