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(Thursday, June 4, 1942, 6:30 a.m. local time/1:30 p.m. Eastern War Time) — The Battle of Midway, a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II that took place six months after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor and one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea, began today when Japanese planes struck Midway Atoll, facing meager opposition.

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The U.S. Marine Corps force stationed on Midway endured devastating losses, but the facilities only suffered minor damage and remained operational.

After their initial attacks, the Japanese aircraft headed back to their carriers to rearm and refuel. While the aircraft was returning, the Japanese navy became aware of the presence of U.S. naval forces in the area.

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The United States was aware that the Japanese were planning an attack in the Pacific (on a location the Japanese code-named “AF”) because Navy cryptanalysts had begun breaking Japanese communication codes in early 1942. The attack location and time were confirmed when the American base at Midway sent out a false message that it was short of freshwater.

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Japan then sent a message that “AF” was short of freshwater, confirming that the location for the attack was the base at Midway. Station Hypo (where the cryptanalysts were based in Hawaii) was able to also give the date (June 4 or 5) and the order of battle of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

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From the American carriers USS Yorktown (CV-5), USS Enterprise (CV-6), and USS Hornet (CV-8) TBD Devastator torpedo bombers were launched to attack the Japanese force (at 9:10-10:00 a.m.). Drawing out enemy aircraft, they cleared the skies for SBD Dauntless dive bombers from the Enterprise and Yorktown to make an attack (at 10:22-10:25 a.m.), leaving the Japanese carriers Kaga and Akagi fatally damaged and wrecking the carrier Soryu.

The only surviving Japanese carrier, Hiryu, launched two waves of attacks against the American carriers (at noon and 2:30 p.m.), bombing Yorktown. Severely damaged, the ship’s crew fought to keep the carrier afloat.

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Dauntlesses from Enterprise struck the Hiryu in the early evening (5:00 p.m.), striking a fatal blow against the fourth and final Japanese carrier off Midway.

The battle, which raged for three more days, was the turning point for the United States in the World War II Pacific campaign against Japan.