USO Canteen FReeper Style..Battle of Midway Tribute....June 4,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

Sixty years after the Battle of Midway, ceremonies across the nation and on the tiny atoll itself will commemorate the day U.S. forces sunk four Japanese aircraft carriers and turned the tide of World War II. the battle on June 4-6, 1942.

For three days, American dive bombers and fighter pilots fended off the Japanese naval fleet's attempt to gain Midway as an outpost.

After Midway, the crippled Japanese fleet withdrew, never again to gain the offensive.

The battle of Midway was the most important in the fight for the pacific in the WW2, finishing the Japanese rule over on the last six months since the Pearl Harbour attack the 7th. of December of 1941.

Having achieved its initial military goals by early 1942, the Japanese decided to take more Pacific outposts--including Midway Island in the central Pacific and islands off Alaska--in order to establish an outer defense line. The Japanese fleet, under Adm. Yamamoto Isoroku, also hoped to draw the remaining U. S. aircraft carriers into battle.

Yamamoto erred in dividing his force of more than 160 vessels. The U.S. commander, Adm. Chester Nimitz, with 76 ships available, including the carriers Hornet, Enterprise, and Yorktown, was stronger than the Japanese thought. Searches by U.S. aircraft established the position of the Japanese fleet.

Early on June 4, Vice Admiral Nagumo, in command of the Japanese carriers, launched 108 planes for an attack on Midway, 240 miles (386 km) to the southeast. American fighters sent to intercept them were outmaneuvered by Japanese fighters. Bombs damaged Midway, but the runways were not put out of action.

Rear Adm. Raymond Spruance, in command of the Hornet and the Enterprise, counterattacked. Fighters and bombers from all three carriers and from Midway were sent toward the enemy carriers. Only then did Nagumo learn that the U.S. carriers were to the northeast. He also learned that another air attack on Midway would be required and ordered his reserve aircraft to be rearmed with fragmentation and incendiary bombs. His logistics grew increasingly complex as his striking force returned from Midway. At 9:05 am he altered course to proceed toward the U.S. carriers. By 9:17 all his bombers were on his decks, refueling or rearming. Because of Nagumo's change in course, dive bombers from the Hornet missed him. Two other waves of more than 40 bombers did find the Japanese, but they scored no hits, and all but a few were shot down.

But the maneuvers of the Japanese carriers had kept their bombers from taking off, and their fighter planes were out of position because of their fight with the attackers. At 10:26, 37 U.S. bombers struck with devastating effect. The Agaki took direct hits, was abandoned, and sank, and the Kaga and Soryu were also destroyed. The Hiryu escaped, launched bombers that damaged the Yorktown, but was itself destroyed from the air at 5 pm The Yorktown was later destroyed by a Japanese submarine. The Americans lost 150 planes and 307 lives; the Japanese, 253 planes and 3,500 lives.

After Midway the Japanese fleet withdrew, never again to regain the offensive.

Going back to June 4, 1942.......

On the Island of Midway at 0230 pilots and air crews were awakened and just fifteen minutes later the units of the First Air Fleet, in preparations for the air attacks that morning against Midway began at 0245 when pilots and air crews aboard the flagship, Akagi, were awakened, At 0400 PBY Catalinas and F4F Wildcats from Midway had already taken off, patrolling the area and the island. By 0430, the first airplanes started lifting off for their first air strike of the day, 108 planes from all four carriers this time. Half an hour earlier, Scouts were launched from the Japanese carriers prior to the attack, but too few: one Kate each from Akagi and Kaga, supplemented only by two catapult planes from Tone and two from Chikuma, and a smaller scout from Haruna. Tone's No.4 catapult plane would not launch in time due to a malfunction and Admiral Nagumo did not send out a replacement as he could have should done.

The strike force, closed on Midway, and appeared shortly before 0600 on the radar at t Midway. Midway's base commander launched all available planes, including the twenty-seven fighters led by Marine Major Floyd B. "Red" Parks, which would jump the enemy bombers on their run in. Six Avenger torpedo-bombers, four Army Marauder medium bombers, eleven Marine Vindicator dive-bombers and sixteen Douglas Dauntlesses, and a total of nineteen B-17 bombers, augmented the rest of the 32 total Catalina’s.

Major Park's pilots and their planes in both numbers and quality were not ready to engage this enemy. They were to early and failed to get into the bombers quickly, owing to the escorting Zero fighters. Of the intercepting fighters, 15 were shot down, and the fighters were unable to protect Midway from air attack, which task was now left to the air defense units. Total Japanese losses over Midway and before were around fifteen planes shot down and thirty-two damaged. In exchange, the Japanese, without any planes to bomb, hit the facilities on Sand and Easter Island, and left both islands on fire, having destroyed fuel tanks, the hospital, storehouses, and seaplane facilities.

Even before the Japanese planes attacked Midway, Nagumo's carrier lost their most important defense when Lt. Howard Ady, piloting a PBY Catalina spotted them. Ady immediately broadcast the sighting report, which was received at 0553 by USS Enterprise, Yorktown, and Intelligence back at Pearl Harbor.

US flattops waited on. But Nagumo's carriers would see their very first action. On Midway Lt. Langdon K. Fieberling led six VT-8 Avengers, re-routed to Midway when they had been unable to catch up with their mother ship, the Hornet, Midway's planes took off with orders to attack the enemy carriers along with four B-26 Marauder bombers They flew into the fray of AA and Japanese Fighters as the first US attack group. And above them, old Vindicator dive-bombers, SDB Dauntlesses, and B-17 level bombers approached for their attacks.

Fieberling's planes attacked first at 0700, but there was no way around the Zero fighters, much less away through them. Four Avengers fell even before they were able to release their torpedoes. The other planes continued, but three more fell to AA, and the rest, an Avenger and two Marauders, scoring no hits, retired damaged to Midway.

Nagumo, watching the attack from his flagship's bridge, was not impressed with the ability of the of the US pilots, but he felt that they might indeed prove what Lt. Tomonaga Joichi of the Midway strike force had stated: a second attack was necessary.

Unknown to Nagumo, his fate was being sealed. Admiral Spruance, his flagship Enterprise having intercepted the report from Ady, had been steaming toward the enemy to reduce the range. When the Japanese planes left the air space over Midway at around 7 o'clock, quick calculations made it clear that if the US carriers launched immediately, they would probably hit the Japanese carriers with planes loaded on the deck, a most vulnerable condition. Accordingly, both carriers launched their planes between 0700 and 0755, full deckloads of bombers with a fighter escort. Twenty minutes past seven, Spruance ordered the new Rear-Admiral Mitscher to take Hornet and an escort and maneuver independently.

Nagumo's ships underwent more attacks in rapid succession, first Major Loften Henderson's Marine Dauntlesses, then B-17s from the Army, and finally the Vindicators. None scored a single hit, but the more planes attacked, the more convinced was Nagumo that a second strike was needed against Midway. Already at 0715, Nagumo had ordered to arm his ready planes with bombs instead of torpedoes. But by 0730, Tone's No. 4 scout had radioed Nagumo that there were "ten enemy surface ships" in the vicinity. Though worried about the unplanned presence of this force, Nagumo regarded the Midway forces as the main threat and continued the re-arming.

Nagumo was greatly hampered by the incapable crew of Tone No.4, which took an hour to find out what it had really sighted, the Yorktown group. Only by 0820 did the plane inform Nagumo that the force included "what appears to be a carrier". Nagumo now had to worry but didn't for too long, and soon ordered armament changed back to torpedoes. Only half of the Japanese planes were affected, for only half of them had been loaded with bombs after the first of Nagumo's rearm orders had been given. Due to the time pressure, however, bombs were not being properly stored. The Japanese carriers slowly became floating, unprotected arsenals.

By 0830, the final Midway-based attack against Nagumo's forces had been made, and a mere nine minutes later, Lt. Tomonaga's Midway group arrived overhead and commenced landing. Though interrupted once by a false report of US torpedo planes, Nagumo successfully landed Tomonaga's group, and turned his forces toward the enemy by 0917. Only a minute later, however, Nagumo saw himself faced once again with enemy torpedo planes .

It was VT-8 from Hornet, under the command of Lt.Cmdr. John C. Waldron. His planes were old, slow, and sluggish TBD Devastators, once the finest plane in the fleet ,but after seven years it had become a deathtrap., Waldron had trained his pilots to the last - and, before the battle, suggested to them that they should write a letter to their families. This brave but hopelessly outnumbered force approached Admiral Nagumo's carriers. Zeros were soon between them, and no single plane survived the massacre, as the Devastators approached in the "low and slow" manner necessary for them to conduct a successful attack, an approach forced upon the men by their torpedo load, the Mk13. Only one of the pilots, Ensign George Gay, survived, and was picked up alive by a PBY the next day.

The Yorktown wounded and sinking at the Battle of Midway

USS YORKTOWN CA 5 AT

THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY

During the great air battle of 4 June, Hammann screened Yorktown, helping to shoot down many of the attacking aircraft. But the carrier took two torpedo hits and, listing heavily, was abandoned that afternoon. Hammann again picked up survivors in the water, including Yorktowns skipper, Captain Buckmaster, and transferred them to the larger ships. Next morning, however, efforts were mounted to save the stricken carrier, a skeleton crew returned on board, and attempts were made to tow her to safety. Hammann came alongside 6 June to transfer a damage control party. The destroyer then lay alongside, providing hose and water for fire fighting, power, and other services while tied up next to Yorktown.

The salvage party was making excellent progress when the protective screen was penetrated by a Japanese submarine after noon on 6 June. Four torpedoes were loosed two missed, one passed under Hammann and hit Yorktown, and the fourth hit the destroyer amidships, breaking her back.

Sailors on Yorktown watch the USS Hammann break into and sink into the ocean with many crewmen trapped below.

ENS George H. Gay, with his gunner, Robert K. Huntington, ARM3c, climbing into the rear cockpit, spotted first for takeoff from Torpedo Eight on U.S.S. Hornet on the morning of June 4, 1942, is visited during a delay by ENS Ulvert M. "Whitey" Moore who was spotted behind him. They joked about never having launched with a torpedo slung under their aircraft, and had never even seen it done. Moore said "You test the weight and I'll test the wind," to which Gay responded, "I'll do my best, buddy, if I go into the drink she's too heavy so you ask for more speed to get more wind over the deck." With a grin and a thumbs up, Moore returned to his TBD, and soon they were launched.

America owes a great debt to those brave men in the Battle of Midway.Thank you seems so small, but it is said with all our hearts.

[American Preservative]

Congratulations Tonkin! : ) Thank you for being out there. May G*d bless you. And, stay safe.

uscg.mil

Semper Paratus (Always Ready)

Words and Music
by Captain Francis Saltus Van Boskerck, USCG
Words and Music Copyright by Sam Fox Publishing Co, Inc.

Current Version

Verse

From North and South and East and West,
The Coast Guard's in the fight.
Destroying subs and landing troops,
The Axis feels our might.
For we're the first invaders,
On every fighting field.
Afloat, ashore, on men and Spars,
You'll find the Coast Guard shield.

Chorus

We're always ready for the call,
We place our trust in Thee.
Through howling gale and shot and shell,
To win our victory.
"Semper Paratus" is our guide,
Our pledge, our motto, too.
We're "Always Ready," do or die!
Aye! Coast Guard, we fight for you.

[Billie]

I don't want NO trouble, I promise!

Arne, Arne, Arne - you know that's not true - your middle name is trouble. :)

[MistyCA]

Good heavens! What do you do to those poor monitors? I have yet to have a monitor die, and I have been computering for a long, long time! :)

[MistyCA]

That is just awesome! You really left me in the dust as to how you did that....I have never "morphed" anything! :) Ok, that does it! I have to go get that new program now for sure! :)

[Diver Dave]

How are the little guys?

Doin' GREAT. L turned 6 mos yesterday and C graduates from kindergarten tonight. Thanks for asking.

Gotta go start preparing a candle-light dinner for Mrs. dd. See ya all later.

[MistyCA]

You better behave or I will ban you back to your coconut days!

[quietolong]

This happend -15 years on my birthday

[HiJinx]

Candlelight Dinner?! You romantic ol' Sea Dog, you!

[Diver Dave]

Howdy Billie, whathername, Billiam, etc.

Mind the store, please. I've got work to do.

Not to slight all you ladies, but Mrs dd got REAL roses delivered to her work to day. I'm a hero again.

[SpookBrat]

Yeah, I miss Texas a lot lately. I'm happy here. Florida is nice and there is so much to do. I'll always be a Texas girl, deep in my heart. I can't explain it to people when I try to tell them what it's like to be a Texan or how you feel when you are away from home. It hurts to be seperated from Texas. But I'm determined to be happy here and explore our new world with my kids right now. As long as I can buried in Texas, I can tolerate living some place else.

[The Right Stuff]

Great report on the Battle. I'll post my three part series when it's put up tomorrow.

[larryjohnson]

Dem wife is a term of resignation. Remember Rumshold of the Baily who refered to "she who must be obeyed? I s this not better than the little woman or my better half? We have been seeding today. I water she seeds then says let's roll and I push 200 lb roller and water some more. Half acre done with no machines.Wildflowers is the 42nd anniversary gift.

[DoughtyOne]

Well Misty, it is time consuming, but it isn't all that hard to do.

The finished product consists of three pictures that are played over and over.  The wheels and the front of the building have three positions, a different one in each picture.  As each picture is played in rapid succession, the observer sees movement.  This is basicly a three frame movie, or more accurately graphic or cartoon.

When I used the term morphed, I meant that I altered the frame truck by drawing changes to it.

I used microsoft paint, photoshop 7, thumbsplus, and a gif program.  I know this will sound like greek to you, but if you have questions I'd be willing to explain in more detail.  Take care.

[Pippin]

Good evening, Misty! I'm back!

[SpookBrat]

Hi Meek my friend. How is Ming? Is it hot there?

[SpookBrat]

I vote for a Starbucks in New Freepia. I'll manage the place so I can get free white chocolate mocha's. :)

[Billie]

Happy Anniversary to you and Mrs. Diver - know you're glad you can give real flowers to your girl.

Whatshername

[MeekOneGOP]

THE ANSWERS:
(IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS YET, GO BACK TO POST I'M REPLYING TO NOW - #328).

1. "Kookie; Kookie; lend me your comb."

2. The "battle cry" of the hippies in the sixties was "Turn on, tune in, drop out." Many people who proclaimed that 30 years ago today are Wall Street bond traders and corporate lawyers.

3. The Lone Ranger left behind a silver bullet. Several of you said he left behind his mask. Oh, no -- even off the screen, Clayton Moore would not be seen as the Lone Ranger without his mask!

4. "When the rooster crows at the break of dawn, look out your window and I'll be gone. You're the reason I'm traveling on; Don't think twice, it's all right."

5. The group of protesters arrested at the Democratic convention in Chicago in 1968 was known as the Chicago seven. As Paul Harvey says, "They would like me to mention their names."

6. When the Beatles first came to the U.S. in early 1964, we all watched them on the Ed Sullivan Show.

7. Some who protested the Vietnam war did so by burning their draft cards. If you said "bras," you've got the right spirit, but nobody ever burned a bra while I was watching. The "bra burning" days came as a by-product of women's liberation movement which had nothing directly to do with the Vietnam war.

8. Dick and Jane's dog was Spot. "See Spot run." Whatever happened to them? Rumor has it they have been replaced in some school systems by "Heather Has Two Mommies."

9. It was the VW Beetle, or more affectionately, the Bug.

10. A Broadway musical and movie gave us the gang names the Sharks and the Jets. West Side Story.

11. In the early sixties, the drop-out, non-conformists were known as beatniks. Maynard G. Krebs was the classic beatnik, except that he had no rhythm, man, a beard, but no beat.

12. At the end of "The Life of Riley," Chester would turn to the camera and exclaim, "What a revolting development this is."

13. "Get your kicks, on Route 66."

14. "The story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent."

15. The real James Bond, Sean Connery, mixed his martinis a special way: shaken, not stirred.

16. "In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight."

17. That "adult" book by Henry Miller was called Tropic of Cancer. Today, it would get a PG-13 rating.

18. Back in the sixties, members of the math club used a slide rule.

19. "The day the music died" was a reference and tribute to Buddy Holly.

20. The matching slogan was "Let Hertz put you in the driver's seat."

21. After the Twist, the Mashed Potatoes, and the Watusi, we "danced" under a stick in a dance called the Limbo.

22. "N-E-S-T-L-E-S; Nestles makes the very best....chooo-c'late." In the television commercial, "chocolate" was sung by a puppet - a dog. (Remember his mouth flopping open and shut?) (Farfil was the dog - 'D')

23. In the late sixties, the "full figure" style gave way to the "trim" look, as first exemplified by British model Twiggy.

24. Our parents shared this great jazz trumpet player with us. His name was Louis Armstrong.

25. Joe's regular visitor at the bar was Crazy Guggenheim.

26. The Russians put the first satellite into orbit; it was called Sputnik.

27. What takes a licking and keeps on ticking? A Timex watch.

28. The large plastic ring that we twirled around our waist was called the hula-hoop.

29. The "Age of Aquarius" was brought into the mainstream in the Broadway musical "Hair."

30. Red Skelton's hobo character was Freddie the Freeloader. (Clem Kaddiddlehopper was the "hay seed.") Red ended his television show by saying, "Good night, and may God bless."

[Mr_Magoo]

What do you do to those poor monitors?

Use 'em?? :-)

I start up the 'puter at around 10am and shut down around 2am every day. My latest theory is that the Dolz gifs are just too hot for monitors. LOL!

[Billie]

I LOVE the truck, D1 - had already checked out the frames, and was surprised it was only 3. Good job! :)