Midway Bases

Type   111 Air Base, Navy Base
Historical Name of Location   Midway, US Pacific Islands
Coordinates   28.201389000, -177.381389000

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe construction for naval aviation facilities on Sand Island and then Eastern Island of Midway Atoll began in 1939 by Contractors Pacific Naval Air Base, a consortium of several private firms. Elements of US Marine Corps 3rd Defense Battalion arrived to build defensive fortifications in Sep 1940, and in Sep 1941 they were replaced by 6th Defense Battalion. During the Battle of Midway, the facilities on both Sand and Eastern were targeted by the Japanese, who arrived in two waves; meanwhile, land-based aircraft from these airfields were also launched to attack the Japanese, though their contribution to the battle was small. To commemorate Major Lofton Henderson, who was killed during the Battle of Midway, Sand and Eastern airfields were collectively named Henderson Field (though not to be confused with the wider-known Henderson Field located on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands). In late 1942, they hosted bombers of US Seventh Air Force, which conducted periodic bombings of Japanese-held Wake Atoll beginning in Jul 1943.

ww2dbaseIn Jul 1942, the US Navy established an advanced base for submarines at Midway Atoll. By 1943, it had become a major base for fleet submarines operating in the Pacific Ocean. Many submarines either used Midway to top off their supplies after leaving Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii and before heading into enemy waters, or used Midway for temporary repairs after returning from a war patrol.

ww2dbaseBetween 1943 and 1944, the collective population of the US military bases at Midway Atoll reached 5,000, but by 1945 the demand waned. Air operations on Eastern Island ceased toward the end of the war, but Sand Island's airfield remained active. In 1957, Sand Island became the headquarters of an early warning network in the Pacific Ocean, which operated radar picket ships. In 1996, control of Midway Atoll was passed to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior, and the airfield on Sand Island remained in use generally only for scientists and tourists visiting Midway Atoll.

ww2dbaseSources:
US National Parks Service
Wikipedia

Last Major Update: May 2014



Midway Bases 互動地圖

Photographs

Aerial view of the under-construction Naval Air Station Midway, Eastern Island, Midway Atoll, 1941Aerial view of the under-construction seaplane base at Sand Island, Midway Atoll, 1941Aerial photograph of Midway Atoll, 24 Nov 1941A US Navy PT Boat underway immediately off Midway Atoll, circa 1942
See all 53 photographs of Midway Bases

Midway Bases Timeline

1940年3月27日 A dredge was towed to Midway Atoll to begin work to enlarge the basin and channels between the two main islands.
1940年5月31日 The US Marine Corps 14th Naval District dispatched Captain Samuel G. Taxis to survey Midway Atoll with a small reconnaissance party for the planning of building a US Marine Corps presence there.
1940年7月9日 US Marine Corps Captain Kenneth W. Benner was ordered to continue the survey of Midway Atoll with another officer, 8 enlisted Marines, and 2 US Navy corpsmen. He was to relieve Captain Samuel G. Taxis who had been been there since early Jun 1940 on the same mission.
1940年9月1日 The US Marine Corps Midway Detachment of the Fleet Marine Force, consisting of 9 officers and 168 enlisted Marines and approximately one-third of the 3rd Defense Battalion's equipment, was established.
1940年9月29日 The US Marine Corps Midway Detachment of the Fleet Marine Force, under the command of Major Harold C. Roberts, arrived on Midway and began making camp and installing defenses.
1941年2月14日 The rear echelon of the US Marine Corps 3rd Defense Battalion arrived at Midway.
1941年8月1日 The US Navy established the Naval Air Station at Midway under Commander Cyril T. Simard.
1941年8月11日 Lieutenant Colonel Harold D. Shannon, executive officer of the US Marine Corps 6th Defense Battalion, arrived at Midway to prepare for his battalion to relieve the 3rd Defense Battalion.
1941年9月11日 US Marine Corps 6th Defense Battalion relieved the 3rd Defense Battalion as the garrison force at Midway.
1941年11月19日 A ground echelon from US Marine Aircraft Group 21 was dispatched to Midway Island to prepare the island to receive aircraft.
1941年12月17日 A PBY Catalina flying boat led 17 SB2U-3 Vindicator dive bombers of Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 231 from Hickam Field, Oahu, Hawaii Islands to Midway Atoll; at 9 hours and 45 minutes covering 1,137 miles, it was the longest mass over-water flight by single-engined aircraft to date.
1941年12月24日 American seaplane tender Wright disembarked US Marine reinforcements at Midway.
1941年12月24日 100 officers and men arrived at Midway Atoll as reinforcement from Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
1941年12月25日 Carrier USS Saratoga launched F2A Buffalo aircraft of Marine Fighter Squadron 221, originally intended to relieve Wake Atoll, to Midway Atoll. They became the first fighters to be based in Midway, and they immediately began a daily patrol schedule.
1941年12月26日 American seaplane tender Tangier disembarked men of Battery B of the US Marines 4th Defense Battalion, ground echelon of Marine Fighter Squadron 221, and additional equipment including radar at Midway Atoll. These men and equipment were originally intended for Wake Atoll.
1942年1月25日 Japanese submarines I-24 and I-18 bombarded US Marine positions on Sand Island, Midway Atoll. The submarines were driven off by defensive coastal gunfire.
1942年2月8日 Japanese submarine I-69 shelled Sand Island, Midway Atoll, causing minor damage to the radio towers. US Marine Buffalo aircraft of VMF 221 squadron counterattacked and damaged I-69.
1942年2月10日 A Japanese submarine fired two rounds at American installations at Midway Atoll and then was chased away by aircraft of Marine Fighter Squadron 221.
1942年3月1日 The United States Marine Corps established Marine Aircraft Group 22 at Midway Atoll, consisted of Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 231 and Marine Fighter Squadron 221.
1942年3月11日 Japanese H8K flying boats attacked Midway Atoll, causing minor damage; one aircraft was shot down in this attack.
1942年5月2日 Chester Nimitz inspected defenses on Sand Island and Eastern Island of Midway Atoll.
1942年5月10日 Gato-class submarine USS Silversides engaged in her first combat of the war, making a surface attack on Japanese guardboat No.5 Ebisu Maru 600 miles southeast of Japan. Ebisu Maru returned fire with machine guns and rifles, killing a man on Silversides’ gun crew. Ebisu Maru was set ablaze and left to sink. Torpedomans Mate 3rd-class Mike Harbin was buried at sea later that same day. Ebisu Maru was heavily damaged but was able to return to port.
1942年5月25日 Companies C and D of the 2nd Raider Battalion and the 37mm battery of the 3rd Defense Battalion of the United States Marine Corps arrived at Midway via USS St. Louis. St. Louis departed the same day bound for Cold Bay, Alaska.
1942年5月26日 USS Kitty Hawk delivered to Midway Atoll the 3-inch anti-aircraft group of 3rd Defense Battalion, 5 light tanks of a light tank platoon for mobile reserve, 16 SBD-2 aircraft, and 7 F4F-3 aircraft, all of which were of the United States Marine Corps.
1942年6月2日 I-168 observed Sand Island, Midway Atoll with her periscope, reporting heavy aircraft activity.
1942年6月3日 I-168 circled Midway Atoll to provide weather data and other observations to the headquarters of the Combined Fleet.
1942年6月4日 Japanese carriers launched 72 bombers and 36 fighters against the airfield at Midway Atoll at 0430 hours, hitting the atoll at 0620 hour and doing limited damage.
1942年6月4日 I-168 observed the first Japanese attack on Midway Atoll through the periscope.
1942年6月5日 I-168 surfaced 1,100 yards southwest of Midway at 1024 hours and fired 6 shots with her 10-centimeter deck gun, inflicting no damage. When she was caught by American searchlights, she submerged and evaded American return-fire. She survived two subsequent attacks, one by a patrol vessel and another by PBY Catalina aircraft, incurring no damage.
1942年6月6日 Clarence Tinker led a flight of B-24 Liberator bombers from Midway Atoll.
1942年6月9日 USS Flying Fish arrived at Midway Atoll for refitting.
1942年6月11日 USS Flying Fish completed refitting at Midway Atoll and departed for Japanese waters.
1942年6月25日 Saratoga delivered 25 P-40 Warhawk fighters and 18 SBD Dauntless dive bombers to Midway Atoll.
1942年7月4日 The US Navy Pacific Fleet established an advance base for submarines at Midway Atoll.
1942年7月17日 A detachment consisted of 225 men and 4 officers of the US Navy 5th Construction Battalion arrived at Midway Atoll. The remainder of the battalion would arrive during the following month. They were to build an airfield and an underground hospital on Sand Island.
1942年7月25日 USS Flying Fish arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her first war patrol.
1942年8月15日 USS Flying Fish departed Midway Atoll for her second war patrol.
1942年9月19日 USS Haddock arrived at Midway, ending her first war patrol.
1942年10月11日 USS Haddock departed Midway for her second war patrol.
1942年10月23日 USS Pollack arrived at Midway Atoll, refueled, and departed for her fourth war patrol in the Truk, Caroline Islands area.
1943年1月14日 USS Sunfish arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her first war patrol.
1943年2月2日 USS Whale arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her second war patrol.
1943年2月16日 USS Whale completed her refitting at Midway Atoll.
1943年2月17日 USS Haddock arrived at Midway, ending her third war patrol.
1943年2月20日 USS Tunny arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her first war patrol.
1943年2月27日 USS Wahoo arrived at Midway Atoll, refueled, and then departed for her fourth war patrol.
1943年2月28日 USS Whale departed Midway Atoll for her third war patrol.
1943年3月11日 USS Haddock departed Midway for her fourth war patrol.C96,F111,
1943年3月24日 USS Tunny departed Midway Atoll after a brief stay to replace her periscope.
1943年4月4日 US Navy 50th Construction Battalion arrived at Midway Atoll to relieve the 5th Construction Battalion. It was to continue the work to lengthen the airstrips and to build oil storage tanks on Sand Island.
1943年4月6日 USS Whale arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her third war patrol.
1943年4月6日 USS Permit departed Midway Atoll, starting her eighth war patrol.
1943年4月6日 USS Wahoo arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her fourth war patrol.
1943年4月7日 USS Whale departed Midway Atoll.
1943年4月7日 USS Wahoo began a period of refitting at Midway Atoll.
1943年4月18日 USS Pollack arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her sixth war patrol.
1943年4月23日 USS Tunny arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her second war patrol.
1943年4月25日 USS Wahoo declared her readiness for a war patrol while at Midway Atoll.
1943年4月25日 USS Wahoo departed Midway Atoll for her fifth war patrol.
1943年4月27日 USS Tunny departed Midway Atoll for Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
1943年5月6日 USS Runner arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her second war patrol.
1943年5月7日 Submarine USS Tinosa departed Midway on her first war patrol.
1943年5月9日 USS Whale arrived at Midway Atoll and received repairs to her hydraulic system and her air search radar.
1943年5月10日 USS Whale departed Midway Atoll for her fourth war patrol.
1943年5月11日 USS Flying Fish arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her fifth war patrol.
1943年5月23日 USS Snook arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her first war patrol.
1943年5月27日 USS Runner departed Midway Atoll for her third war patrol.
1943年6月2日 USS Scorpion refueled at Midway Atoll.
1943年6月9日 USS Snook departed from Midway Atoll for her second war patrol.
1943年6月17日 USS Whale arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her fourth war patrol.
1943年6月19日 Submarine USS Tinosa completed her first war patrol and arrived at the Midway submarine base.
1943年7月7日 USS Harder arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her first war patrol.
1943年7月7日 Submarine USS Tinosa departed Midway on her second war patrol bound for the Japanese shipping lanes south of Guam.
1943年7月8日 Eight US Army B-24 bombers from Midway made the first land-based air strike against Wake Atoll.
1943年8月6日 USS Wahoo arrived at Midway Atoll, refueled, and then departed for her sixth war patrol.
1943年8月6日 USS Haddock arrived at Midway, ending her fifth war patrol.
1943年8月9日 USS Tunny arrived at Midway Atoll.
1943年8月10日 USS Tunny departed Midway Atoll.
1943年8月25日 USS Wahoo arrived at Midway Atoll.
1943年9月2日 USS Whale arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her fifth war patrol.
1943年9月3日 USS Whale departed Midway Atoll.
1943年9月13日 USS Wahoo departed Midway Atoll, starting her seventh war patrol. Based on the poor performance of the Mark 14 torpedoes on his earlier patrols, Wahoo captain Commander Mush Morton specifically requested to outfit his boat for this patrol exclusively with the new and not combat-tested electric Mark 18 torpedo.
1943年9月27日 USS Seahorse arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her first war patrol.
1943年9月28日 USS Haddock arrived at Midway, ending her sixth war patrol.C96,F111,
1943年10月4日 USS Harder arrived at Midway Atoll.
1943年10月16日 Submarine USS Tinosa arrived at Midway at the end of her third war patrol. For his performance on this patrol, Commander Daspit received the Navy Cross.
1943年10月17日 USS Scorpion refueled at Midway Atoll.
1943年10月20日 USS Seahorse departed Midway Atoll for her second war patrol.
1943年11月6日 USS Flying Fish arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her seventh war patrol.
1943年11月10日 USS Grayback arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her eighth war patrol.
1943年11月16日 USS Cero arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her first war patrol.
1943年12月7日 USS Snook arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her fourth war patrol.
1943年12月13日 USS Cero departed Midway Atoll for her second war patrol.
1943年12月25日 USS Whale departed Midway Atoll for her sixth war patrol.
1944年1月3日 USS Scorpion refueled at Midway Atoll.
1944年1月16日 USS Flier ran aground near Midway Atoll. USS Macaw attempted to pull Flier free, but Macaw would also run aground in the process, causing her to sink. She was eventually pulled free and put into Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii for repairs.
1944年2月3日 USS Whale arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her sixth war patrol.
1944年2月5日 USS Gunnel departed Midway Atoll for her fourth war patrol.
1944年3月2日 USS Tunny arrived at Midway Atoll.
1944年3月3日 USS Tunny departed Midway Atoll.
1944年3月13日 USS Whale arrived at Midway Atoll.
1944年3月14日 USS Whale departed Midway Atoll for her seventh war patrol.
1944年3月16日 USS Tang departed Midway, starting her second war patrol in the waters near Palau Islands, Caroline Islands, and south of the Philippine Islands.
1944年4月11日 USS Pollack arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her ninth war patrol.
1944年5月3日 USS Golet arrived at Midway Atoll.
1944年5月6日 USS Pollack departed Midway Atoll for her tenth war patrol.
1944年5月20日 USS Pintado arrived at Midway Atoll.
1944年5月21日 USS Pintado departed Midway Atoll.
1944年5月23日 USS Parche arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her first war patrol.
1944年5月28日 USS Golet departed Midway Atoll with Lieutenant James S. Clark as her new commanding officer.
1944年6月17日 Submarine USS Bowfin arrived at Midway en route Pearl Harbor, Hawaii following her fifth war patrol.
1944年6月25日 USS Pompon arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her fifth war patrol.
1944年6月29日 USS Tunny arrived at Midway Atoll.
1944年7月11日 USS Whale arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her eighth war patrol.
1944年7月12日 USS Whale departed Midway Atoll.
1944年8月1日 USS Sunfish arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her seventh war patrol.
1944年8月14日 USS Snook arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her sixth war patrol.
1944年8月19日 USS Sunfish completed her refit at Midway Atoll.
1944年8月22日 USS Sunfish departed Midway Atoll for her eighth war patrol.
1944年8月26日 USS Sterlet arrived at Midway, ending her first war patrol.
1944年8月31日 USS Croaker arrived at Midway for refitting, ending her first war patrol.
1944年9月18日 USS Sterlet departed Midway for her second war patrol.
1944年9月23日 USS Croaker completed her refitting at Midway and began her second war patrol.
1944年9月27日 USS Tang departed Midway, where she stopped to refuel.
1944年10月18日 USS Flying Fish arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her eleventh war patrol.
1944年10月18日 USS Seahorse arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her sixth war patrol.
1944年10月29日 USS Whale arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her ninth war patrol.
1944年11月4日 USS Kete refueled at Midway.
1944年12月11日 USS Skipjack arrived at Midway Atoll.
1944年12月20日 USS Dragonet arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her first war patrol.
1944年12月24日 USS Finback arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her eleventh war patrol.
1945年1月30日 USS Spot arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her first war patrol.
1945年2月11日 USS Pompon arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her seventh war patrol.
1945年2月16日 USS Parche received fuel at Midway Atoll.
1945年3月24日 USS Sea Cat arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her second war patrol.
1945年3月30日 USS Pompon departed Midway Atoll for her eighth war patrol.
1945年4月4日 USS Sterlet arrived at Midway, ending her third war patrol.
1945年4月26日 USS Tirante arrived at Midway, ending her first war patrol.
1945年4月26日 USS Hackleback arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her first war patrol.
1945年4月29日 USS Sterlet departed Midway for her fourth war patrol.
1945年4月30日 USS Parche arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her fifth war patrol.
1945年5月20日 USS Tirante departed Midway for her second war patrol.
1945年5月20日 USS Puffer departed Midway Atoll for her eighth war patrol.
1945年5月21日 USS Hackleback departed Midway Atoll for her second war patrol.
1945年6月10日 USS Sterlet arrived at Midway, ending her fourth war patrol.
1945年6月16日 USS Ray arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her seventh war patrol.
1945年6月27日 USS Tunny set sail for Midway Atoll.
1945年7月5日 USS Sterlet departed Midway for her fifth war patrol.
1945年7月23日 USS Parche arrived at Midway Atoll.
1945年8月10日 USS Segundo departed Midway Atoll for her fifth war patrol in the Sea of Okhotsk off the Kurile Islands. She was tasked to monitor Soviet activity in northern Japan.
1945年8月16日 USS Hackleback set sail for Midway Atoll.
1945年8月23日 USS Tirante arrived at Midway Atoll.
1945年8月23日 USS Sterlet arrived at Midway, ending her fifth war patrol.
1945年9月6日 USS Sterlet departed Midway.
1996年10月31日 US President Bill Clinton signed an executive order which passed the jurisdiction and control of Midway Atoll to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior.




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Map
WW2-Era Location Name:
Midway, US Pacific Islands

Latitude-Longitude:
28.2014, -177.3814

Midway Bases Photo Gallery
Aerial view of the under-construction Naval Air Station Midway, Eastern Island, Midway Atoll, 1941
See all 53 photographs of Midway Bases


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