75 Years Ago The Battle Of Midway Ended

[Dashinka 24,606]

It is amazing that in the course of two days the war in both Europe and the Pacific took major turns.

 

http://www.businessinsider.com/one-of-the-most-important-batttles-of-world-war-ii-was-captured-on-film-by-a-legandary-hollywood-director-2015-6

[Dashinka 24,606]

Of course I mean in the course of two days two years apart. 

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

2 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

Of course I mean in the course of two days two years apart. 

True confession, you did make me look it up!

[TBoneTX 45,550]

We need more threads like this.

[Dashinka 24,606]

6 hours ago, ccneat said:

True confession, you did make me look it up!

I've always been interested with this battle.  It really showed the American spirit.  Six months after Pearl Harbor, little progress on the US side (Doolittle Raid, Coral Sea), forces still depleted.  They turned around a damaged carrier (Yorktown) in 2-3 days, had an untested carrier commander (Spruance), and some planes that were obsolete.  It took a little Luck and a lot of hard work along with some over confidence on the Japanese side, and the results stemmed the expansion and started the long road to victory.

2 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

We need more threads like this.

Here, here!

[Teddy B 17,252]

13 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

It is amazing that in the course of two days the war in both Europe and the Pacific took major turns.

 

http://www.businessinsider.com/one-of-the-most-important-batttles-of-world-war-ii-was-captured-on-film-by-a-legandary-hollywood-director-2015-6

Good post Bill. I am always interested in anything to do with WWII because I had a lot of family members serve during that war. But even more so I am highly interested with anything to do with the Pacific Theatre Operations as that's where my Grandfather served on board the USS Chikaskia which was a Cimmaron class fleet oiler. I put some info below about the USS Chikaskia for anyone interested. My grandfather was injured onboard during the typhoon that hit the 3rd Fleet in Dec of 1944.

 

Quote

 

USS Chikaskia (AO-54) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served her country primarily in the Pacific Ocean Theatre of Operations, and provided petroleum products where needed to combat ships. For her very dangerous work under combat conditions, she was awarded six battle stars for World War II and one for the Korean War.

Chikaskia was launched 2 October 1942 by Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard, Sparrows Point, Maryland, under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. J. L. Bates; acquired by the Navy 10 January 1943; and commissioned 10 November 1943, Commander L. J. Hasse, USNR, in command.

 

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

On 15 December 1943 Chikaskia sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, loaded oil at Aruba and arrived at Pearl Harbor 7 January 1944. She joined Task Force 58 at Majuro 4 February and provided logistic support for the fast carrier force's strikes during the occupation of Kwajalein, and on Truk.

Between 7 March and 15 September 1944 Chikaskia operated out of Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides; Purvis Bay, Florida Island; and Manus, Admiralties, bringing vital at-sea replenishment of fuel to the fast carrier task forces and other ships. Departing Manus 18 September 1944 to aid the fast carrier task force engaged in the invasion of the southern Palaus, Chikaskia gave a striking illustration of her capabilities by simultaneously refueling USS Iowa and USS New Jersey 23 September.

 

Surviving typhoon conditions

Changing her base to Ulithi on 25 October 1944, Chikaskia continued to support the fast carrier units. She was part of the fueling unit that endured the typhoon which struck the U.S. 3rd Fleet during a fueling rendezvous 18 December, weathering the heavy seas to return safely to Ulithi 24 December. She continued to provide logistic support during the operations in the Philippines, and the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa until she returned to San Pedro, California, for overhaul 22 May 1945.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Chikaskia_(AO-54)

 

 

 

Edited June 8, 2017 by Teddy B

[Dashinka 24,606]

1 hour ago, Teddy B said:

Good post Bill. I am always interested in anything to do with WWII because I had a lot of family members serve during that war. But even more so I am highly interested with anything to do with the Pacific Theatre Operations as that's where my Grandfather served on board the USS Chikaskia which was a Cimmaron class fleet oiler. I put some info below about the USS Chikaskia for anyone interested. My grandfather was injured onboard during the typhoon that hit the 3rd Fleet in Dec of 1944.

 

 

 

I am very interested in the Pacific Theatre as well.  What amazes me about WWII is how fast the US went into war production.  I think Yamamoto said if Japan didn't get the US to capitulate in 6-12 months, the industrial strength would overwhelm Japan which it did.  Japan lost four fleet carriers at Midway, and the US lost one, but the US industrial machine was just starting, to ramp up.  I think there were 24 Essex Class carriers that came out starting about six months after Midway, not to mention all the other ships like your Grandfather's Oiler.  

[Teddy B 17,252]

2 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

I am very interested in the Pacific Theatre as well.  What amazes me about WWII is how fast the US went into war production.  I think Yamamoto said if Japan didn't get the US to capitulate in 6-12 months, the industrial strength would overwhelm Japan which it did.  Japan lost four fleet carriers at Midway, and the US lost one, but the US industrial machine was just starting, to ramp up.  I think there were 24 Essex Class carriers that came out starting about six months after Midway, not to mention all the other ships like your Grandfather's Oiler.  

The industrial strength of the US and the pace in which they turned out the big ships at that time was amazing. Midway was one of the most decisive Naval victories in history and also the undoing of the Japanese fleet.

 

Just recently I have been e-mailing with a former Lt. Cmdr. of the USS Chikaskia in search of any info he might be able to pass on regarding my Grandfather and his service. It is difficult to get any info from that time period because most of the folks who served are now gone, but he has been extremely helpful and also sent me a package of USS Chikaskia memorabilia (patches, hat and pics), which I thought was really nice and cool.

[Mr&Mrs G. 903]

10 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

Japan lost four fleet carriers at Midway, and the US lost one, but the US industrial machine was just starting, to ramp up.  I think there were 24 Essex Class carriers that came out starting about six months after Midway, not to mention all the other ships like your Grandfather's Oiler.  

I believe it was the Yorktown that was sunk, but not too long after they launched another Essex Class carrier and gave her the same name.

 

She is berthed now at Patriots Point in Charleston Harbor, took this shot on the way out to Fort Sumter. 

 

 

[Dashinka 24,606]

31 minutes ago, Mr&Mrs G. said:

I believe it was the Yorktown that was sunk, but not too long after they launched another Essex Class carrier and gave her the same name.

 

She is berthed now at Patriots Point in Charleston Harbor, took this shot on the way out to Fort Sumter. 

 

 

You are correct.  The Lexington was sunk and Yorktown damaged about a month earlier at the battle of the Coral Sea.  The Yorktown made it back to Hawaii and was hastily repaired for immediate action in a few days, but sadly it was lost at Midway.  Both names were subsequently used for Essex Class carriers and I believe both of those became museum ships after they were eventually decommissioned.

[Mr&Mrs G. 903]

2 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

You are correct.  The Lexington was sunk and Yorktown damaged about a month earlier at the battle of the Coral Sea.  The Yorktown made it back to Hawaii and was hastily repaired for immediate action in a few days, but sadly it was lost at Midway.  Both names were subsequently used for Essex Class carriers and I believe both of those became museum ships after they were eventually decommissioned.

We were late getting back from Fort Sumter so didn't have time to tour the Yorktown.

 

We got an email from my father in law yesterday,  21 August Patriots Point will host "Eclipse on a Warship". We were due head over September for a visit and get some domicile stuff organised, might try swing it a couple of weeks earlier and do the eclipse event. 

[Dashinka 24,606]

3 minutes ago, Mr&Mrs G. said:

We were late getting back from Fort Sumter so didn't have time to tour the Yorktown.

 

We got an email from my father in law yesterday,  21 August Patriots Point will host "Eclipse on a Warship". We were due head over September for a visit and get some domicile stuff organised, might try swing it a couple of weeks earlier and do the eclipse event. 

Sounds like fun.  I am not really an eclipse chaser, but if you can swing it that would be cool.

 

[Mr&Mrs G. 903]

Just now, Bill & Katya said:

Sounds like fun.  I am not really an eclipse chaser, but if you can swing it that would be cool.

 

It's the ship I am interested in the eclipse is a side event,

 

Went on the USS North Carolina ship in 2013, that one was four days late arriving for Midway, she was in the Atlantic prior to potentially go up against the Tirpitz.