Battle of Midway

Bomber pilot Col. James P. Muri, Distinguished Service Cross Recipient, remembers the horrific and heroic circumstances facing our service members.

“It happened nearly seventy years ago, but I can still smell the burning oil, and feel the Japanese bullets ripping through my plane,” Col. Muri said.

This battle was a gateway to the rest of the western United States. If we didn’t succeed in defending Midway, Hawaii or even California would have been the next targets of the Japanese fleet.

The skies swarmed with dozens of Japanese zeros launching from aircraft carriers, led by the Imperial Fleet’s flagship, the Akagi. Col. Muri’s B-26, Suzie Q, carried a deadly payload charged with performing the first ever torpedo bombing of the Japanese fleet. With nerves of steel and his honorable crew, Col. Muri would dodge anti-aircraft fire, dart through enemy fighters, and drop the package meant for the brash silhouettes of the Imperial Navy.

Mission accomplished. Returning to home base at Midway proved impassible tearing through a fog of opposition– but not impossible. Suzie Q endured over 500 bullet holes and not everyone made it back alive. The Japanese lost four carriers, a cruiser, 248 carrier-based aircraft, anlong with over 3,000 men. One of the carriers, the flagship of the enemy, Akagi, sank to the bottom of the Pacific.

Remembering the struggle to return home, Col. Muri recalled, “When I finally landed my damaged plane on
Midway, the control panel popped right into my lap! It’s a miracle we back it back.”