The turning point in the Pacific.
- Torpedo squadrons of VT-3s were ineffective, but along with F4F-4 (wildcat) escorts, they distracted a large part of the Japanese air defense
- More or less by accident, three squadrons, two from the USS Enterprise and one from the USS Yorktown found targets
- Three of the four Japanese aircraft carriers took multiple direct hit, and were immediately aflame
- The decks of these carriers were full with armed, full planes, fuel, and new munitions
- This preparation for attack made for easy and explosive targets.
- The Kaga and the Soryu sank later that day
- The Akagi sunk before the sun rose the next morning.
- All three were rendered useless almost immediately, along with a huge chunk of the Japanese air support.
- A huge portion of the Japanese Navy was sunk in less than six minutes, and the tides of war in the Pacific turned.