The Battle of Midway (66 page)

American Order of Battle at Midway

(carriers in bold face)

Commander in Chief, Pacific (CincPac), ADM Chester Nimitz, USN

Commander, Carrier Strike Force, RADM Frank Jack Fletcher, USN

Task Force 17 (1 carrier, 2 cruisers, 5 destroyers)

Commander, Task Force 17, RADM Frank Jack Fletcher, USN

USS
Yorktown
(CV-5), CAPT Elliott Buckmaster, USN

Commander,
Yorktown
Air Group, LCDR Oscar Pederson, USN

Commander, VF-3, LCDR John S. Thach, USN (from
Saratoga)

Commander, VS-5, LT Wallace C. Short, Jr., USN (formerly VB-5)

Commander, VB-3, LCDR Maxwell F. Leslie, USN (from
Saratoga)

Commander, VT-3, LCDR Lance E. Massey, USN (from
Saratoga)

Commander Task Group 17.2 (Cruiser Force), RADM William W. Smith, USN

USS
Astoria
(CA-34), CAPT Francis W. Scanland, USN

USS
Portland
(CA-33), CAPT Laurance T. Du Bose, USN

Commander Task Group 17.4 (Destroyer Screen), CAPT Gilbert C. Hoover, USN

Destroyer Squadron Two

USS
Morris
(DD-417), CDR H. B. Jarrett, USN

USS
Russell
(DD-414), LCDR Glenn R. Hartwig, USN

USS
Hammann
(DD-412), CDR Arnold E. True, USN

USS
Anderson
(DD-411), LCDR John K. B. Ginder, USN

USS
Hughes
(DD-410), LCDR Donald J. Ramsey, USN

Task Force 16 (2 carriers, 5 cruisers, 1 light cruiser, 8 destroyers)

Commander, Task Force 16, RADM Raymond Spruance, USN

Chief of Staff, CAPT Miles R. Browning, USN

USS
Enterprise
(CV-6), CAPT George D. Murray, USN

Commander,
Enterprise
Air Group, LCDR Clarence Wade McClusky, USN

Commander, VF-6, LT James S. Gray, USN

Commander, VS-6, LT Wilmer E. Gallaher, USN

Commander, VB-6, LT Richard H. Best, USN

Commander, VT-6, LCDR Eugene E. Lindsey, USN

USS
Hornet
(CV-8), CAPT Marc A. Mitscher, USN

Commander,
Hornet
Air Group, CDR Stanhope C. Ring, USN

Commander, VF-8, LCDR Samuel G. Mitchell, USN

Commander, VS-8, LCDR Walter F. Rodee, USN

Commander, VB-8, LCDR Robert R. Johnson, USN

Commander, VT-8, LCDR John C. Waldron, USN

Commander, Task Group 16.2 (Cruiser Group), RADM Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN

USS
Minneapolis
(CA-36), CAPT Frank J. Lowry, USN

USS
New Orleans
(CA-32) CAPT Howard J. Good, USN

USS
Vincennes
(CA-44), CAPT Frederick L. Riefkohl, USN

USS
Northampton
(CA-26), CAPT William D. Chandler, USN

USS
Pensacola
(CA-24), CAPT Frank L. Lowe, USN

USS
Atlanta
(CL-51), CAPT Samuel P. Jenkins, USN

Commander Task Group 16.4 (Destroyer Screen), CAPT Alexander R. Early, USN

Destroyer Squadron One, CAPT Early

USS
Phelps
(DD-360), LCDR Edward L. Beck, USN

USS
Aylwin
(DD-355), LCDR George R. Phelan, USN

USS
Monaghan
(DD-354), LCDR William P. Burford, USN

USS
Worden
(DD-352), LCDR William G. Pogue, USN

Destroyer Squadron Six, CAPT Edward P. Sauer, USN

USS
Balch
(DD-363), LCDR Harold L. Tiemroth, USN

USS
Conyngham
(DD-371), LCDR Henry C. Daniel, USN

USS
Benham
(DD-397), LCDR Joseph M. Worthington, USN

USS
Ellet
(DD-398), LCDR Francis H. Gardner, USN

USS
Maury
(DD-401), LCDR Gelzer L. Sims, USN

Fueling Group

USS
Cimarron
(AO-22), CDR Russell M. Ihrig, USN

USS
Platte
(AO-24), CAPT Ralph H. Henkle, USN

USS
Dewey
(DD-349), LCDR Charles F. Chillingworth, USN

USS
Monssen
(DD-436), CDR Roland N. Smoot, USN

Midway Relief Fueling Unit

USS
Guadaloupe
(AO-32), CDR Harry R. Thurber, USN

USS
Blue
(DD-387), CDR Harold N. Williams, USN

USS
Ralph Talbot
(DD-390), CDR Ralph Earle, Jr., USN

Submarine Force

Commander, Submarine Force (ComSubPac), RADM Robert H. English, USN
Task Force 7

USS
Cachalot
(SS-170), LCDR George A. Lewis, USN

USS
Flying Fish
(SS-229), LCDR Glynn R. Donaho, USN

USS
Tambor
(SS-198), LCDR John W. Murphy, Jr., USN

USS
Trout
(SS-202), LCDR Frank W. Fenno, USN

USS
Grayling
(SS-209), LCDR Eliot Olsen, USN

USS
Nautilus
(SS-168) LCDR William H. Brockman, Jr., USN

USS
Grouper
(SS-214), LCDR Clarence E. Duke, USN

USS
Dolphin
(SS-169) LCDR Royal L. Rutter, USN

USS
Gato
(SS-212), LCDR William G. Myers, USN

USS
Cuttlefish
(SS-171), LCDR Martin P. Hottel, USN

USS
Gudgeon
(SS-211), LCDR Hyland B. Lyon, USN

USS
Grenadier
(SS-210), LCDR Willis A. Lent, USN

Task Force 7.2

USS
Narwhal
(SS-167), LCDR Charles W. Wilkins, USN

USS
Plunger
(SS-179), LCDR David C. White, USN

USS
Trigger
(SS-237), LCDR Jack H. Lewis, USN

Task Force 7.3

USS
Tarpon
(SS-175), LCDR Lewis Wallace, USN

USS
Pike
(SS-173), LCDR William A. New, USN

USS
Finback
(SS-230), LCDR Jesse L. Hull, USN

USS
Growler
(SS-215), LCDR Howard W. Gilmore, USN

Midway-Based Aircraft

Commander, Midway Naval Air Station, CAPT Cyril T. Simard, USN
  Air Commander for Battle of Midway, CDR Logan C. Ramsey, USN

Commander Patrol Wing Two, RADM Patrick N. Bellinger
  VP-23, VP-24, VP-44, VP-53, and a detachment of VT-8
     (31 PBY Catalinas, and 6 TBF Avengers)

Commander, Marine Aircraft Group 22, LCOL Ira L. Kimes, USMC
  Commander, VMF-221, MAJ Floyd B. Parks, USMC
     (21 F2A-3 Buffaloes, 7 F4F-3 Wildcats)
  Commander, VMSB-241, MAJ Lofton R. Henderson, USMC
     (19 SBD Devastators, 21 SB2U Vindicators)

7th Army Air Corps, Bomber Command, MGEN Willis P. Hale, USA
  431st Bomber Squadron, LCOL Walter C. Sweeny, Jr., USA
     (19 B-17 Flying Fortresses)
  69th Bomber Squadron, CAPT James F. Collins, USA
     (4 B-26 Marauders)

Japanese Order of Battle at Midway

(carriers in bold face)

Commander, Japanese Combined Fleet (CinC), ADM Yamamoto Isoroku, IJN

Main Body (3 heavy battleships, 1 small carrier, 1 light cruiser, 9 destroyers)

Commander, Main Body, ADM Yamamoto, IJN
Chief of Staff, RADM Ugaki Matome, IJN

Battleship Division One

BB
Yamato
(flagship), CAPT Takayanagi Gihachi, IJN

BB
Nagato
, CAPT Yano Hideo, IJN

BB
Mutsu
, CAPT Yamazumi Tejiro, IJN

Carrier Group Accompanying Main Body

Light Carrier
H
ō
sh
ō
,
CAPT Kaoru Umetani, IJN

Commander,
H
ō
sh
ō
Air Group, LT Irikiin Yoshiaki, IJN

DD
Yukaze
, LCDR Kajimoto Shizuka

Commander, Destroyer Squadron 3, RADM Hashimoto Shintar
ō
, IJN

CL
Sendai
, CAPT Morishita Nobue, IJN

Commander, Destroyer Division 11, CAPT Sh
ō
ji Kichir
ō
, IJN

DD
Fubuki
, CDR Yamashtia Shizuo, IJN

DD
Shirayuki
, CDR Sugahara Rokor
ō
, IJN

DD
Murakumo
, CDR Higaashi Hideo, IJN

DD
Hatsuyuki
, LCDR Kamiura Junnari, IJN

Commander, Destroyer Division 19, CAPT Oe Ranji, IJN

DD
Isonami
, CDR Sugama Ry
ō
kichi, IJN

DD
Uranami
, CDR Hagio Tsutomu, IJN

DD
Shikinami
, CDR Kawahashi Akifumi, IJN

DD
Ayanami
, CDR Sakuma Eiji, IJN

Fueling Unit, CAPT Nishioka Shigeyasu, IJN

AO
Naruto
, CAPT Nishioka

The Main Body also included a “Special Force” of two tenders carrying midget submarines, plus a supply ship.

First Carrier Strike Force (The Kido Butai) (4 carriers, 2 battleships, 2 cruisers, 1 light cruiser, 12 destroyers)

Commander, First Carrier Strike Force, VADM Nagumo Ch
ū
ichi, IJN
Chief of Staff, RADM Kusaka Ry
ū
nosuke, IJN
Senior Air Officer, CDR Fuchida Mitsuo, IJN

Commander, Carrier Division 1, VADM Nagumo

CV
Akagi
(flagship), CAPT Aoki Taijir
ō
, IJN

Commander,
Akagi
Air Group, CDR Fuchida

Commander, Fighter Planes (Kansen Buntai), LT Itaya Shigeru, IJN

Commander, Bombing Force (Kanbaku Buntai), LT Chihaya Takehiro, IJN

Commander, Torpedo Planes (Kanko Buntai), LCDR Murata Shigeharu, IJN

Plus 6 fighters intended for Midway garrison

CV
Kaga,
CAPT Jisaku Okada, IJN

Commander,
Kaga
Air Group, LCDR Kusumi Tadashi, IJN

Commander, Fighter Planes (Kansen Buntai), LT Sat
ō
Masao, IJN

Commander, Bombing Force (Kanbaku Buntai), LT Ogawa Sh
ō
-ichi, IJN

Commander, Torpedo Planes (Kanko Buntai), LT Kazuraki Masuhiko, IJN

Plus 9 fighters and 2 bombers intended for Midway garrison

Commander, Carrier Division 2, RADM Yamaguchi Tamon, IJN
Air Officer, LCDR Egusa Takashige, IJN

CV
Hiry
ū
(flagship), CAPT Kaku Tomoeo, IJN

Commander,
Hiryu
Air Group, LT Tomanga Joichi, IJN

Commander, Fighter Planes (Kansen Buntai), LT Mori Shigeru, IJN

Commander, Bombing Force (Kanbaku Buntai), LT Kobayashi Michio, IJN

Commander, Torpedo Planes (Kanko Buntai), LT Kikuchi Rokur
ō
, IJN

Plus 3 fighters intended for Midway garrison

CV
S
ō
ry
ū
, CAPT Yanagimoto Ryusaku, IJN

Commander,
Soryu
Air Group, LCDR Egusa, IJN

Commander, Fighter Planes (Kansen Buntai), LT Suganami Masaji, IJN

Commander, Bombing Force (Kanbaku Buntai), LT Ikeda Masatake, IJN

Commander, Torpedo Planes (Kanko Buntai), LT Abe Heijiro, IJN

Plus one reconnaissance plane and 3 fighters intended for Midway garrison