Historic Feature: Midway Pillbox

Pillbox on Eastern Islands, Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway National Memorial. Photo Credit: USFWS

Just prior to the decisive Battle of Midway, June 4-7, 1942, Marines stationed on Midway, now Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway National Memorial, were expecting to be overrun by the forces of the Japanese Imperial Navy. Cut off from radio contact, and unaware of the U.S. Navy's carrier group secretly closing on the Japanese about 150 miles NW of Midway, the Marines thought they were doomed. They knew the Japanese were not fond of taking prisoners, and were expecting the same treatment as other islands overrun in Japan's march across the Pacific. In the sweltering June humidity, Marines on Midway were set to hide out in these pillboxes with their machine guns as a last line of defense, waiting for the invasion that never came. In what some have called "the most stunning and decisive blow in the history of naval warfare," the U.S. Navy surprised the Japanese carrier group and sank four carriers and one cruiser, and destroyed 248 aircraft. The Japanese were never able to fully recover from their losses in ships, planes and pilots and the tide in the battle for the Pacific was turned. Learning of the battle raging at sea, Marines stationed on Midway were exalted for their renewed lease on life.

Click Here for more information (you will be directed to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website).

Click Here for more information (you will be directed to a non-NOAA website).