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Photo # 80-G-312018:  Scene on board USS Yorktown shortly after she was hit by three Japanese bombs, 4 June 1942

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- World War II in the Pacific -- Battle of Midway --

Japanese Attacks on USS Yorktown, 4 June 1942 --
Scenes on Yorktown after the Dive Bombing Attack


This page features views taken on board USS Yorktown after the 4 June dive bombing attack, as her crew worked to extinguish fires, patch holes and get their ship underway again. Some of the photos show details of bomb damage.

For further coverage of the the dive bombing attack and its results, see:

  • The Bombing Attack on Yorktown;
  • Yorktown Stopped after the Dive Bombing Attack; and
  • Scenes elsewhere in Yorktown's Task Force after the Dive Bombing Attack.

    For links to pages on the torpedo plane attack later in the day, see:

  • Japanese Attacks on USS Yorktown, 4 June 1942 -- Overview and Special Image Selection.

    For links to views of other aspects of the Battle of Midway, see:

  • Battle of Midway, Overview and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: 80-G-312018

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Scene on board USS Yorktown (CV-5), shortly after she was hit by three Japanese bombs on 4 June 1942. Dense smoke is from fires in her uptakes, caused by a bomb that punctured them and knocked out her boilers.
    Taken by Photographer 2rd Class William G. Roy from the starboard side of the flight deck, just in front of the forward 5"/38 gun gallery. Man with hammer at right is probably covering a bomb entry hole in the forward elevator.
    Note arresting gear cables and forward palisade elements on the flight deck; CXAM radar antenna, large national ensign and YE homing beacon antenna atop the foremast; 5"/38, .50 caliber and 1.1" guns manned and ready at left.
    This view forms a panorama with Photo # 80-G-312019.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 119KB; 700 x 645 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-312019

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    USS Astoria (CA-34) steams by USS Yorktown (CV-5), shortly after the carrier had been hit by three Japanese bombs on 4 June 1942. Dense smoke is from fires in Yorktown's uptakes.
    Taken by Photographer 2rd Class William G. Roy from the starboard side of the flight deck, just in front of the forward 5"/38 gun gallery. Both guns are manned and ready. Projecting bars beyond the gun barrels are aircraft parking outriggers. Note open sights on the guns and splinter shield plates, fastened together with bolts.
    This view forms a panorama with Photo # 80-G-312018.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-312021

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Corpsmen treating casualties on board USS Yorktown (CV-5), shortly after the carrier had been hit by Japanese bombs on 4 June 1942. The dead and wounded were members of the crew of 1.1" machine gun mount # 4, in the center background. They were struck by fragments from a bomb that exploded on the flight deck just aft of the midships elevator.
    This view looks directly to starboard from the front of the midships elevator. The aircraft crane is at left, with 1.1" gun mount # 3 visible in the upper left corner..
    Note bearded Chief Petty Officer walking by, flight deck clothing worn by some of those present and fire extinguisher in the lower left.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 153KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-312020

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Repairing bomb damage on board USS Yorktown (CV-5), shortly after the carrier was hit by Japanese bombs on 4 June 1942. This hole, about twelve feet in diameter, was caused by a 250 Kilogram bomb that exploded on contact with the flight deck. Its explosion killed and injured many men on nearby guns and set fires on the hangar deck. Two of the dead are under a cover in the top center, by a battery of .50 caliber machine guns.
    Photograph looks aft and slightly to starboard from the rear edge of the midships aircraft elevator.
    The hole was quickly repaired with a timber and steel plate cover, allowing resumption of flight deck activities. This hole, minus the repair, was clearly visible when Yorktown's wreck was examined in May 1998, and looked much as it does in this view.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 126KB; 700 x 675 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-312023

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Scene in the hangar of USS Yorktown (CV-5), 4 June 1942, shortly after fires there from Japanese bomb hits had been extinguished. This rather fuzzy time exposure looks directly aft, with the sloping inner uptake sides at left. One bomb, which detonated on the flight deck just aft of the midships aircraft elevator, set fires in the area seen in the left distance.
    Note fire hoses on deck, and spare TBD-1 "Devastator" torpedo plane (with obsolete markings) hung under the hangar overhead.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 70KB; 655 x 675 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-11642

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Firefighters at work on board USS Yorktown (CV-5), after the ship was hit by three Japanese bombs shortly after noon on 4 June 1942.
    This view was probably taken in the hangar as crewmen were extinguishing fires set by a bomb that detonated on the flight deck just aft of the midships elevator.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-21601

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Bomb fragment damage in the hangar of USS Yorktown (CV-5), 4 June 1942.
    This damage was caused by a bomb that detonated on the flight deck just aft of the midships elevator, sending fragments into the hangar and setting fires that were quickly extinguished.
    Note water on the deck; also ordnance carts and chain fall mechanism stowed in the area.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 118KB; 600 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     


    For further coverage of the the dive bombing attack and its results, see:

  • The Bombing Attack on Yorktown;
  • Yorktown Stopped after the Dive Bombing Attack; and
  • Scenes elsewhere in Yorktown's Task Force after the Dive Bombing Attack.

    For links to pages on the torpedo plane attack later in the day, see:

  • Japanese Attacks on USS Yorktown, 4 June 1942 -- Overview and Special Image Selection.

    For links to views of other aspects of the Battle of Midway, see:

  • Battle of Midway, Overview and Special Image Selection.


    NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 9 April 1999
    Coding updated 25 April 2009