Monument to the Battle of Midway
[Front top]:
Dedicated to the Preservation of the Memory of Midway
where one of the most decisive naval battles in military history was fought
June 4, 1942
The day when the American Spirit reached unparalleled heights and, in so doing, save democracy for the western world.
[Front, lower left]:
United States Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief
* Task Force 17 *
Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher
Tactical Commander of U.S. Task Force
* Carrier *
Yorktown (CV-5)
Fighting Three 25 F4F-4 (Wildcat)
Bombing Three 17 SBD-3 (Dauntless)
Bombing Five 16 SBD-3 (Dauntless)
Torpedo Three 12 TBD-1 (Devastator)
* Cruisers *
Astoria * Portland
* Destroyers *
Hammann * Hughes * Morris * Anderson * Russell
[Front, lower right]:
* Task Force - 16 *
Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, Commander
* Carriers *
Enterprise (CV-6)
Fighting Six 27 F4F-4 (Wildcat)
Bombing Six 15 SBD-2, -5 (Dauntless)
Scouting Six 17 SBD-3 (Dauntless)
Torpedo Six 14 TBD-1 (Devastator)
Hornet (CV-8)
Fighting Eight 27 F4F-4 (Wildcat)
Bombing Eight 18 SBD-3 (Dauntless)
Scouting Eight 15 SBD-3 (Dauntless)
Torpedo Eight 15 TBD-1 (Devastator)
* Cruisers *
New Orleans ·
Minneapolis ·
Vincennes ·
Northampton ·
Pensacola ·
Atlanta
* Destroyers *
Phelps ·
Worden ·
Monaghan ·
Aylwin ·
Balch ·
Conyngham ·
Benham ·
Ellet ·
Maury
* Oiler Group *
* Oilers *
Cimarron ·
Platte
* Destroyers *
Dewey ·
Monssen
[Reverse, lower left]:
* Midway Island Aircraft*
* Marine Fighting Group 22 *
* VMF – 221 *
20 F2A-3 Buffalo Fighters
4 F4F-3 Wildcat Fighters
* VMSB-241 *
16 SBD-2 Dauntless Dive Bombers
11 SB2U-3 Vindicator Scout Bombers
* Detachment of VII Army Air Corps *
69th Bombardment Squadron (Medium)
2 B-26 Marauder Medium Bombers
18th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium)
2 B-26 Marauder Medium Bombers
431st Bombardment Squadron
26th * 31st * 42nd * 72nd * 394th Bombardment Squadrons
16 B-17 Flying Fortress Heavy Bombers
* Naval Shore Based Aircraft *
* VT-8 Detachment *
6 TBF Avenger Torpedo Bombers
* PBY Catalina Flying Boat Squadrons *
VP-44, VP-23 VP-24 VP-51 VP-11 VP-12 VP-72 VP-91
11 PBY-5 * 11 PBY-5A
* Midway Local Defenses*
* 6th Defense Battalion, USMC *
* 3rd Defense Battalion, USMC *
Companies “C” and “D” * 2nd Marine Raider Battalion
22nd and 23rd Provisional Marine Companies
* Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 1 *
PT-20 • PT-21 • PT-22 • PT-24 • PT-25 • PT-26 • PT-27 • PT-28 • PT-29 • PT-30 • PT-42
* District Patrol Craft *
YP-284 • YP-290 • YP-345 • YP-350
[Reverse, lower right]:
* Midway Submarine Force *
Nautilus ·
Growler ·
Cachalot ·
Flying Fish ·
Tambor ·
Trout ·
Grayling ·
Grouper ·
Dolphin ·
Gato ·
Cuttlefish ·
Gudgeon ·
Grenadier ·
Narwhal ·
Plunger ·
Trigger ·
Tarpon ·
Pike ·
Finback
* Support Forces *
* Codebreakers at Pearl Harbor *
Unit “Hypo”
* French Frigate Shoals *
* Seaplane Tenders *
Ballard ·
Thornton
* Yorktown Salvage *
* Destroyer *
Gwin
* Minesweeper *
Vireo
* Submarine Tender *
Fulton
* Midway Relief Fueling Unit *
* Oiler *
Guadalupe
* Destroyers *
Blue ·
Ralph Talbot
* Pearl Harbor Navy Yard *
[Reverse, top]:
“They had no right to win. Yet they did, and in doing so they changed the course of a war. More than that, they added a new name – Midway – to that small list that inspires men by example… Like Marathon, the Armada, the Marne. Even against the greatest of odds, there is something in the human spirit – a magic blend of skill, faith and falor – that can lift men from certain defeat to incredible victory.”
Walter Lord, Incredible Victory, 1967
[Left (as viewed from the front) end cap]:
The Class of 1942, U.S. Naval Academy, sponsors this monument so that the Battle of Midway may be studied, appreciated and remembered by future Midshipment and all who pass here by.
Dedicated 3 October 1996
[Right (as viewed from the front) end cap]:
Monument proposal and design provided by The International Midway Memorial Foundation based on the monument erected on Midway Island by the IMMF on 31 August 1995.
Marker is at the intersection of Buchanan Road and Blake Road, on the right when traveling east on Buchanan Road.
Courtesy hmdb.org
