The article overstates our peril. Those numbers of Japanese vessels were spread around in three different groups. The aircraft that “didn’t reach the carriers, but attacked a battleship” must have been going south, because there weren’t any battleships with the carrier fleet. The Buffalos were Marine aircraft based on Midway, not on the carriers, etc.
Parshall and Tulley’s recent book “Shattered Sword” is probably the most accurate account of the battle, and makes it clear that it was a near thing, but not Gordon Prange’s “Miracle”. Essentially, when our TBD’s jumped them before they could find us, the battle was over.
apparently finding each other was a tough thing in those days
Sorry...SBD’s.
Well... you know... I ought to stop relying on memory.
Re: the author’s description of an attack on a battleship, I remembered that the majority of the battleships were with the main force, approaching Midway from a different direction. Nevertheless, there were two battleships with the carrier striking force, and Marine medium bombers did attack one of them (Haruna) at 5:29 in the morning.
So, I stand corrected.
Shattered Sword is a terrific book.
Haruna and Kirishima were attached to Kido Butai. Haruna was attacked by aircraft six times over the 4th and 5th. No hits.
Kirishima was attacked twice by aircraft and once by submarine. No hits.