Battle of Midway

Japan planned to take Midway and draw out the American carriers that had escaped Pearl Harbor. Codebreakers at Station Hypo in Hawaii spoiled the plan: a false message that Midway was short of fresh water drew a Japanese report that "AF" was short of water, confirming the target. On 4 June 1942 American dive bombers set Akagi, Kaga and Soryu ablaze, and a later strike left Hiryu burning until it sank. Japan lost four fleet carriers, hundreds of aircraft and about 3,057 men; the US lost Yorktown, sunk by a submarine on 7 June. After Midway Japan's expansion in the Pacific stopped, and the long series of island-hopping invasions became possible.