The Decisive Battles of World History

Lecture 34: 1942 Midway—Four Minutes Change Everything

containing the American carriers; thus, Number 4’s sighting of

them was delayed a crucial half-hour.

x Meanwhile, Fletcher and Spruance had already received reports

locating at least two Japanese aircraft carriers. Beginning early

in the morning, the Hornet and the Enterprise launched 116

aircraft against these targets, including 67 dive bombers and 29

torpedo planes. Because the Americans were still using outdated

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coherent group, the various squadrons became separated and spaced

out at different intervals and altitudes.

x Even worse, some of the squadrons followed erroneous courses

that would cause them to miss their targets altogether. In addition to

these planes, a number of aircraft from Midway had been directed

toward the Japanese carriers, including a unit of medium bombers

The Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor destroyed or disabled the U.S. battleship

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dominant weapon in naval warfare.

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