Today, June 6, is a significant date in American history – for not one but two World War II events.
Perhaps the most memorable event is D-Day, June 6, 1944, when Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy – the start of the reversal of Nazi Germany’s domination of Europe.
Two years earlier, on the other side of the globe, on a tiny island and surrounding Pacific water the Battle of Midway was waged. It lasted several days, June 4-6.
The outcome of this monumental clash of U.S. and Japanese Naval forces resulted in the sinking of four Japanese aircraft carriers – America lost one, the Yorktown – that ended Japanese aggression and swung the pendulum of power in WW II’s Pacific Theater America’s way.
In a mere matter of minutes, dive bombers from U.S. carriers caught the Japanese off guard, by surprise and explosively vulnerable. Three carriers – Soyru, Kaga and Akagi – were left ablaze and out of action. The four flat-top, Hiryu, was sunk in a counterattack.
Code-breaking, of course, enhanced the U.S. strategy.
Amazing how quickly the tide of war turned.
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