The Battle of Midway marked the turning of the tide against the seemingly invincible Japanese Navy.
A powerful Japanese aircraft carrier strike force has just attacked America's Midway Islands on the morning of 4 June 1942. This dramatic image depicts the Japanese carrier Soryu under attack by SBD Dauntless dive-bombers from the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5). USS Yorktown played a vital role in stemming Japanese military aggression at Coral Sea and Lae in early 1942, and turning the tide of the Pacific War at Midway. However, the infuriated Japanese struck back during the afternoon of 4 June, and eventually were able to sink this gallant ship.
Battle of the coral sea.
On 15 March 1942, Japan's Imperial General Headquarters decided to isolate Australia from the United States by seizing the southern Solomon Islands, the New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Fiji, Samoa, and Port Moresby on the southern coast of the Australian Territory of Papua. The first Japanese targets would be Port Moresby and the island of Tulagi in the British Solomon Islands.
Although these invasions had initially been intended to take place in April 1942, the destruction of Japanese troop transports at Lae on 10 March 1942 by aircraft launched from USS Yorktown and USS Lexington forced a one month postponement to enable Japanese aircraft carriers to protect the Port Moresby and Tulagi landings. These Japanese invasion plans directed against Australia and the United States would produce in the Coral Sea the first major fleet to fleet engagement between the American and Japanese navies following Pearl Harbour, and for the first time in naval history would see a major naval battle decided by opposing aircraft carriers.
Australia threw in its lot with Britain for several reasons. The emotional pull of the British Empire was strong; as a small nation distant from Europe, Australia sought security within the fold of the Empire.
