The Battle of Midway Midway Island Code Breaking

The Battle of Midway

Midway Island

Code Breaking • We cracked the Japanese code and knew they were going to attack Midway.

Admiral Chester Nimitz Commander of American Naval Forces.

Battle of Midway – June 3 rd, 1942 • U. S. Scout planes find • Japanese fleet. Americans send torpedo dive bombers!

The Battle of Midway • The Japanese were caught with their planes still on the decks. • Japanese lost: – – – 4 Aircraft carriers. A cruiser And 250 planes. “The Americans have avenged Pearl Harbor. ”

The Battle of Midway • A turning point in WWII’s Pacific War. • American “Island Hopping”. – All the way to Japan!

Island War in the Pacific.

The Allies go on the Offensive.

Guadalcanal • August 1942. • 19, 000 troops storm • • the island. “Island of Death” to Japanese. “Hell” to Americans.

Guadalcanal • Japan’s first defeat on land.

Leyte Island – The Philippines. • General Mac. Arthur. • “I have returned”.

The Japanese Defense

Japan used their entire fleet at Leyte Island.

Kamikaze • Suicide mission. • Planes loaded with • bombs. “Divine wind”.

Kamikazes at Leyte Island • 424 Kamikaze pilots. • Sunk 16 ships and damaged 80. • “A mixture of respect and pity. ”

Japan’s losses at Leyte. • Disaster for Japan. • • 3 battleships. 4 aircraft carriers. 13 cruisers. 500 planes. The Imperial Navy was trashed.

Iwo Jima “Sulfur Island”

Iwo Jima • Critical for American • bombers. Japan could be reached from Iwo. • The most heavily defended spot on earth.

Iwo Jima • 20, 700 Japanese in caves. • 6000 Marines died. • Only 200 Japanese survived.