Deep-sea footage reveals WWII aircraft carriers lost at Midway Battle
World War II aircraft carriers that played a crucial role in the Battle of Midway. This discovery holds the potential to shed light on the mysteries surrounding this pivotal event that marked a turning point in the Pacific theater, shifting control from Japanese to U.S.
forces.
In September, remote submersibles operating at a depth of 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) meticulously conducted archaeological surveys of the Akagi and the Kaga, two of the four Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carriers lost during the June 1942 battle. They also explored the wreckage of the U.S.S.
Yorktown.
The high-quality video footage not only officially identified the Akagi but also provided fresh insights into the aircraft carriers' final hours.
One remarkable aspect captured in the footage was the damage to the island structure rising above the Yorktown's wooden deck, caused by intense heat. The crew's heroic efforts to prevent the American ship from sinking were also vividly depicted.
Julian Hodges, one of the last living veterans who served on the Yorktown, was visibly moved as he watched the footage.
He remarked, “Boy, she took a beating. I just hated to see my ship torn up like that.”
Although all three aircraft carriers were previously located, the identification of the Akagi was preliminary, and only limited images of the other two existed.
