Posted on 05/31/2015 11:19:33 AM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com
U.S. Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers from the USS Hornet about to attack the burning Japanese cruiser Mikuma for the third time on 6 June 1942
REMEMBER: June 4–7, 1942: the Battle of Midway, a turning point in World War II in the Pacific. The Imperial Japanese Navy had been undefeated until that time and out-numbered the American naval forces by four to one.
Timeline of the Battle of Midway (acc. to William Koenig) 4 June
04:30 First Japanese takeoff against Midway Islands 04:30 10 planes (Yorktown) begin to search for the Japanese ships 05:34 Japanese ships detected by Yorktown airplanes 07:10 1 Avenger and 4 B26 of US-Army (from Midway I.) attack 07:50 67 Dive-, 29 Torpedo-bombers, 20 Wildcats takeoff (Spruance) 07:55 16 Dive bombers of the US-Navy (from Midway I.) attack 08:10 17 B17 (from Midway Islands) attack 08:20 11 Bombers of the US-Navy (from Midway I.) attack 09:06 12 Torpedo-, 17 dive-bombers, 6 Wildcats takeoff (Yorktown) 09:18 Nagumo to Northeast 09:25 15 airplanes (Hornet) attack 09:30 14 airplanes (Enterprise) attack 10:00 12 T-Bombers (Yorktown) attack 10:25 37 Dive bombers (Enterprise) attack on Akagi and Kaga 10:25 17 Dive bombers (Yorktown) attack on Soryu 11:00 18 Vals and 6 Zekes takeoff from Hiryu 12:05 First attack on Yorktown 13:30 24 Dive bombers takeoff against Hiryu (Spruance) 13:31 10 Kates and 6 Zekes take off from Hiryu 13:40 Yorktown again in service with 18 kn 14:30 Second attack on Yorktown 15:00 Yorktown abandoned 16:10 Soryu sunk 17:00 Dive bombers attack on Hiryu 19:25 Kaga sunk
5 June
05:00 Akagi sunk 09:00 Hiryu sunk
Data from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Midway http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwari1/p/Midway.htm
Well then, did someone splice some post-1942 video into the video of Ford's? At the 10:19 mark we see a pair of quad 1.1"/75 caliber guns firing.
Per Wiki, those are firing from the carrier Hornet CV-8 in May 1942. Note the sailor sitting on the edge of the deck at the 10:19 mark in the video and on the Wiki below. Some of the other scenes of splashing Japanese planes look awfully like 1944-1945 era video.
I'm not sure how camera angle, or a cloud line could be the explanation.
I’ve seen multiple Dauntless attacks on Pearl Harbor in American documentaries. Also saw Ju87 Stukas attacking Pearl Harbor in one of the American productions.
You just gave me a great movie to watch tonight even though I have seen it many times.
...and about three-quarters through, a chance to hear the hymn “Onward Christian Soldiers”, which has since been delegated to the cutting room floor. :(
Well I am watching it now. It really does look great. I will try to confirm the “Onward Christian Soldiers” part. I hate when things are left out.
we sailed into Midway in June of 2006 and I can assure you that there are no mountains. Big ass runway, some JP fuel tanks, a bowling alley, store, memorials to the battle and a really nice chow hall. That island could’nt be more than 15feet in elevation. Lots of albtross babies, close to a million, makes riding a bike there rather exciting.
Didn’t see a mountain. Looks like a sand berm, dune or covered bunker. All existed on Midway in 1972.
At about 13:47.
At the 7:42 mark in the video, that would have to be one heck of a bunker, or sand berm on the left side of the screen several miles across the water.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajlKvA48IXU
It uses some of the same footage but memorializes the flight crews. It is a very emotion film when you realize the sacrifice the Devestator pilots made
Onward Christian Soldiers is in the background at 4:57 as crews are listed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajlKvA48IXU
What a POS the Devastator was. Criminal to send in that slow unmemorable crate into that battle. I guess it had to be done.
The highest point on Midway Island is around 13 Meters or about 42 feet.
The 3 second clip showing either 'mountains' or dark clouds is stock US Navy color footage... 
from another battle in the Pacific. It was (& still is--) common for filmmakers to insert stock footage when they needed a transition or to bridge scenes where they do not have any 'original' footage in the can.
Yes, I see now what you are talking about. Certainly not part of the topography of Midway, either island. I was looking at the sand at 7:55 thinking that was what was being discussed.
The B-17Es were new, first of the "big tailed" B-17s. Interestingly some footage shows the ventral turret is a remote controlled version (the turret is flat on the bottom with no glazing). Other footage shows sperry ball turrets. Either would work for the time but the remote turrets were installed first. They were aimed with a periscope. The sight housing can be see just aft of the turret in some shots.
These were replaced with the sperry ball because the sight picture caused severe vertigo for the gunner.
Perhaps they should have gone on strike like some of the sailors loading ammunition ships at Port Chicago, California did in July 1944./Sarcasm
Torpedo 8 had a very bad day but they critically drew the CAP to sea level allowing the SBDs to attack almost unopposed by fighters. The pilots showed incredible courage.
A very good book in the battle is Incredible Victory By Walter Lord.
The thing is EVERYONE at the time knew the Devastator was a POS. IF the battle had taken place just a few months later they’d have the Avenger which was 10 times better. But you cannot choose the time and place of battle in all cases.
OH Man they are in process of restoring Tora Tora Tora right now Bender that what I hear on TCM Message board and others
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