The Battle of Midway began on June 4, 1942

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - One of World War II’s most decisive battles began on June 4, 1942. The Battle of Midway was fought just six months after Pearl Harbor was attacked.

An outnumbered United States Navy took on the dominant Japanese fleet at Midway. Japan had conquered and added islands throughout the Pacific to its empire. As it turned toward Midway Island, the U.S. caught wind of their plans.

The Japanese sent four aircraft carriers to capture Midway, planning to lure the U.S. carriers into a trap. The U.S. sailors had intercepted and broken the Japanese codes and had three carriers waiting and ready for battle.

Japanese planes bombed the U.S. base on Midway and returned to refuel. That’s when U.S. dive bombers attacked.

The U.S. strategically used both bombers and submarines to eventually take out three of the Japanese aircraft carriers. As the battle continued for three more days, the fourth Japanese carrier was also destroyed.

At the end of the battle, Japan had lost all four carriers, a cruiser, and 292 aircraft. The U.S. lost one of its carriers, the U.S.S. Yorktown, one destroyer, and 145 aircraft. The Japanese had around 2500 casualties verses 300 for the United States.

The Battle of Midway brought the Japanese and American sea power to approximate parity. It is considered a turning point in the Pacific Theater and was key to the U.S. strategy at Guadalcanal that began the following August.