Changes

Over the next two hours, Japanese "Zekes" on Combat Air Patrol (CAP) and antiaircraft fire from the Japanese fleet annihilated the repeated attacks by the American aircraft from Marine Corps Douglas SBD "Dauntless" and Vought SB2U "Vindicator" scout bombers from VMSB-241, Navy Grumman TBF "Avenger" torpedo bombers from VT-8 detachment, and U. S. Army Air Force torpedo-carrying Martin B-26 "Marauder" bombers sent out to attack the Japanese carriers. Army Air Force B-17s likewise bombed the Japanese carrier force without success, although without losses to themselves.

Over the next two hours, Japanese "Zekes" on Combat Air Patrol (CAP) and antiaircraft fire from the Japanese fleet annihilated the repeated attacks by the American aircraft from Marine Corps Douglas SBD "Dauntless" and Vought SB2U "Vindicator" scout bombers from VMSB-241, Navy Grumman TBF "Avenger" torpedo bombers from VT-8 detachment, and U. S. Army Air Force torpedo-carrying Martin B-26 "Marauder" bombers sent out to attack the Japanese carriers. Army Air Force B-17s likewise bombed the Japanese carrier force without success, although without losses to themselves.

[[Image:Hiryu.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Japanese heavy carrier ''Hiryu'' on June 4, 1942]]  

[[Image:Hiryu.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Japanese heavy carrier ''Hiryu'' on June 4, 1942]]  

Between 0930 and 1030, Douglas TBD "Devastator" torpedo bombers from VT 3, VT-6, and VT-8 on the three American carriers attacked the Japanese carriers. Although nearly wiped out by the defending Japanese fighters and antiaircraft fire, they drew off enemy fighters, leaving the skies open for dive bombers from ''Enterprise'' and ''Yorktown''. VB-6 and VS-6 "Dauntlesses" from ''Enterprise'' bombed and fatally damaged carriers ''Kaga'' and ''Akagi'', while VB-3 "Dauntlesses" from ''Yorktown'' bombed and wrecked carrier ''Soryu''. The submarine USS ''Nautilus'' (SS-168) then fired torpedoes at the burning ''Kaga'' but her torpedoes did not explode.

Between 0930 and 1030, [[Douglas TBD Devastator|Douglas TBD "Devastator"]] torpedo bombers from VT 3, VT-6, and VT-8 on the three American carriers attacked the Japanese carriers. Although nearly wiped out by the defending Japanese fighters and antiaircraft fire, they drew off enemy fighters, leaving the skies open for dive bombers from ''Enterprise'' and ''Yorktown''. VB-6 and VS-6 "Dauntlesses" from ''Enterprise'' bombed and fatally damaged carriers ''Kaga'' and ''Akagi'', while VB-3 "Dauntlesses" from ''Yorktown'' bombed and wrecked carrier ''Soryu''. The submarine USS ''Nautilus'' (SS-168) then fired torpedoes at the burning ''Kaga'' but her torpedoes did not explode.

At 1100, the one Japanese carrier that escaped destruction that morning, ''Hiryu'', launched "Val" dive bombers that temporarily disabled ''Yorktown'' around noon. Three and a half hours later, ''Hiryu's'' "Kate" torpedo planes struck a second blow, forcing ''Yorktown'''s abandonment. In return, "Dauntlesses" from ''Enterprise'' mortally damaged ''Hiryu'' in a strike around 1700 that afternoon. The destruction of the Carrier Strike Force compelled Admiral Yamamoto to abandon his Midway invasion plans, and the Japanese Fleet began to retire westward.

At 1100, the one Japanese carrier that escaped destruction that morning, ''Hiryu'', launched "Val" dive bombers that temporarily disabled ''Yorktown'' around noon. Three and a half hours later, ''Hiryu's'' "Kate" torpedo planes struck a second blow, forcing ''Yorktown'''s abandonment. In return, "Dauntlesses" from ''Enterprise'' mortally damaged ''Hiryu'' in a strike around 1700 that afternoon. The destruction of the Carrier Strike Force compelled Admiral Yamamoto to abandon his Midway invasion plans, and the Japanese Fleet began to retire westward.