Changes

Just after midnight on June 4, Admiral Nimitz, based on patrol plane reports, advised Task Forces 16 and 17 of the course and speed of the Japanese "main body," also noting their distance of 574 miles from Midway. Shortly after dawn, a patrol plane spotted two Japanese carriers and their escorts, reporting "Many planes heading Midway from 320 degrees distant 150 miles!"

Just after midnight on June 4, Admiral Nimitz, based on patrol plane reports, advised Task Forces 16 and 17 of the course and speed of the Japanese "main body," also noting their distance of 574 miles from Midway. Shortly after dawn, a patrol plane spotted two Japanese carriers and their escorts, reporting "Many planes heading Midway from 320 degrees distant 150 miles!"

The first attack, however, took place when the four night-flying PBYs attacked the Japanese transports northwest of Midway with one PBY torpedoing fleet tanker ''Akebono Maru''. Later that morning, at roughly 0630, [[Aichi D3A]] ("Val") carrier bombers and [[Nakajima B5N]] ("Kate") torpedo planes, supported by A6M fighters ("[[Mitsubishi Zero|Zekes]]"), bombed Midway Island installations. Although defending U.S. Marine Corps Brewster F2A ("Buffalo") and Grumman F4F ("Wildcat") fighters suffered disastrous losses, losing 17 of 26 aloft, the Japanese only inflicted slight damage to the facilities on Midway. Motor Torpedo Boat PT-25 was also damaged by strafing in Midway lagoon.

The first attack, however, took place when the four night-flying PBYs attacked the Japanese transports northwest of Midway with one PBY torpedoing fleet tanker ''Akebono Maru''. Later that morning, at roughly 0630, [[Aichi D3A]] ("Val") carrier bombers and [[Nakajima B5N]] ("Kate") torpedo planes, supported by A6M fighters ("[[Mitsubishi Zero|Zekes]]"), bombed Midway Island installations. Although defending U.S. Marine Corps [[Brewster Buffalo|Brewster F2A]] ("Buffalo") and Grumman F4F ("Wildcat") fighters suffered disastrous losses, losing 17 of 26 aloft, the Japanese only inflicted slight damage to the facilities on Midway. Motor Torpedo Boat PT-25 was also damaged by strafing in Midway lagoon.

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.