Thursday, July 05, 2007 - 11:32 AM UTC
Author Dallas Woodbury Isom brings us his insight on what is undoubtedly one of the most document naval battles of all time, the Battle of Midway.
Visit Indiana University Press and check out Mr. Isom's book, "Midway Inquest
Why the Japanese Lost the Battle of Midway".



Midway Inquest
Why the Japanese Lost the Battle of Midway
cloth
$29.95
Dallas Woodbury Isom


The definitive account of Midway and the causes for the Japanese defeat
"Even Nelson's victory at Trafalgar and Togo's at Tsushima Strait—where outnumbered naval forces also won spectacular victories—pale in comparison with the most striking aspect of the Battle of Midway: the lethal damage that determined the outcome was done during a two-minute period when three of the four Japanese aircraft carriers were set ablaze by American dive bombers." —from Midway Inquest
Midway, the most famous naval battle in American history, has been the subject of many excellent books. However, none satisfactorily explain why the Japanese lost that battle, given their overwhelming advantage in firepower. While no book may ever silence debate on the subject, Midway Inquest answers the central mystery of the battle. Why could the Japanese not get a bomber strike launched against the American carrier force before being attacked and destroyed by American dive bombers from the Enterprise and Yorktown? Although it is well known that the Japanese were unable to launch an immediate attack because their aircraft were in the process of changing armament, why wasn't the rearming operation reversed and an attack launched before the American planes arrived? Based on extensive research in Japanese primary records, Japanese literature on the battle, and interviews with over two dozen Japanese veterans from the carrier air groups, this book solves the mystery at last.
Dallas Woodbury Isom is a retired professor of law at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.
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Comments

redshirt
Thanks for the news Gator, you and Gunny are working that news desk awful hard! I’ll put this on my list for the library. “Although it is well known that the Japanese were unable to launch an immediate attack because their aircraft were in the process of changing armament, why wasn't the rearming operation reversed and an attack launched before the American planes arrived?” If you have ever seen the looks you get from a group of Ordies after you have changed the load plan even once, you would want to wear a life preserver the second time and have a marine escort for the third!
JUL 06, 2007 - 08:57 AM
gator
This should be an interesting follow up to "Shattered Sword".
JUL 06, 2007 - 09:32 AM
blaster76
Sorry guys, but I think Walter Lord's "Incredible Victory" and Gordon Prange's "Miracle at Midway" are probably the definitive books. Lord did his so long ago, that he actually talked with survivors of the event directly. Not trying to be a wart on the butt here, but I think I'll pass, if you don't have the other two this one I am sure is equally excellent. I don't think there is any new wrinkles out there.
JUL 06, 2007 - 10:38 AM
Halfyank
I don't know Steve, people I respect seem to have a very high opinion of Shattered Sword. I haven't been able to read it yet, but I look forward to reading it. I don't know how good this new book will be, but if it hits the local bookstores I'll give it a look.
JUL 07, 2007 - 12:52 AM
gator
I agree with Rodger here Steve. I've read Shattered Sword and it disproves a lot myths that we were taught. If anyone has ever been interested in the Battle of Midway, Shattered Sword is a must read.
JUL 07, 2007 - 05:26 AM
blaster76
Devil's Advocate here.....OK I'll bite.....what myths? Has something changed? Broke the Purple code and tricked the Japanese into giving away the impendeing attack> Waiting for them to attack and finding them first The Tone's scoutplane having a malfunction and starting a half hour late thus delaying the discovery we were even there with carriers The attack on the carriers coming piecemeal due to lost groups. Catching them loading and unloading ordanance on the decks The Yorktown getting hit, recovered, hit again, and finally giving up the ghost
JUL 07, 2007 - 05:45 AM
gator
Has something changed? The Aleutians Operation was an elaborate feint designed to lure the US fleet out of Pearl. The simultaneous launch of operations in the Aleutians was designed to capitalize on the US fleet being busy elsewhere, so that the objectives in the Aleutians could be seized without hindrance. Operation AL was an invasion in its own right, strategically timed, and not merely a diversion. The Tone's scout plane having a malfunction and starting a half hour late thus delaying the discovery we were even there with carriers. If anything the late launching of the Tone's scout plane and improvised search route led to the discovery of the American carriers earlier than ought to have been expected. The true failure in scouting during the battle began with Japan's submarines to arrive on station in time, followed by the abandonment of Operation K and culminated with the Chikuma's #1 scout plane failure to locate the US in the 0615 time frame. The attack on the carriers coming piecemeal due to lost groups. This in fact is one of the main reasons the Japanese could not launch an attack against the American carriers. The three waves of attacks from Midway, B-17 high altitude, B-26 torpedo attack and the Marine Corps attack, along with the attacks from the American task forces kept the Japanese carriers busy with evasive maneuvers along with constantly having to cycle CAP fighters in to refuel and rearm. Catching them loading and unloading ordinance on the decks. This is one of the biggest fallacies in the conventional Japanese account. At the time of the decisive attack, the Japanese were at least a half an hour away from being able to launch an attack and few, if any attack aircraft were on deck. The Japanese, unlike the Americans, armed their aircraft on the hanger deck. The aircraft were only brought up on deck once they were armed and fueled. The US forces were hopelessly outclassed and outnumbered. First, while almost the entire Combined Fleet sortied for both Operation MI and Operation AL, the Japanese battle plan ensured that the majority of the Japanese force could not have engaged the American units on that day. The Japanese forces capable of tactical offensive action against the Americans on the morning of June 4 consisted only of Nagumo's carrier force consisting of 20 warships. The US brought 25 to the battle, not to mention the unsinkable aircraft carrier, Midway Island. As far as being outclassed, yes the Japanese did have better pilots, fighters and torpedo aircraft, but their senior officers and anti-aircraft capabilities failed them. The US fighters and torpedo aircraft were no match for the Japanese, and with the exception of a few of the element and squadron commanders, the American aviators were inexperienced compared to the Japanese. But the senior officers of the US simply outclassed the Japanese on that fateful day. I would also add, that after reading the book, the Japanese fleet was not the mighty professional force that we have been led to believe. In a word, Japanese damage control was a joke. On a US vessel, every man has a job during damage control. The Japanese carriers had a designated damage control party and everyone else on board merely watched. Also, by the time of June 4, the US had implemented the practice of draining all aviation fuel lines and filling them with inert gas to prevent a catastrophic disaster, the exact thing that doomed the Japanese carriers. The book Shattered Sword gives the Japanese account of the battle based on battle reports of various Japanese commanders at the battle including Admiral Nagumo. The American account of the American forces is not in question. This book gives, for the first time, an actual account of the Japanese forces, not Commander Fuchida's altered account to 1. keep face when it comes to the IJN and 2. remain the media darling he had become to the Americans after the war.
JUL 07, 2007 - 10:46 AM
blaster76
The only thing I see that disputes somethiing I read is the armament loose on the decks. As to planes on the deck, I seem to recall comments made by some of the dive bomber pilots that there were aicraft up there. BOth the older books point out that the submarines around French Frigate Shoals were supposed to be the ones that would initially spot the US fleet coming out. We sortied a day or so before they got on station. 3 carriers to 4 is not what i would call hopelessly out numbered. The piecemeal attack was pointed out to be a major factor as to why the dive bombers were so sucessful. THe cap needing to be refueled were at low altitude after repulsing the torpedoe bombers. The Aluetian campaign was a full fledged attack yes, but it was started early to draw the American attention up there rather than to Midway. I'm not saying the new books aren't as good as the old ones, it's just to me one more Bismarck kit coming out type of thing. If you don't have or haven't read the others, these would be the way to go,
JUL 07, 2007 - 11:06 AM
gator
One thing I need to point out is that all of these are quoted from the book. Other than my views of the Japanese damage control, everything said here is the views of the authors.
JUL 07, 2007 - 11:21 AM
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