

How to Use the Images


Inquiry Question

Historical Context



Photos 1 & 2
Photo 4
Photo 5
Photo 6


Table of

Visual Evidence

Photo 3: Bombing of U.S. carrier Yorktown, 1942. [Photo 3] with link to larger version of Photo.
(National Archives and Records Administration)

Aircraft carriers were a new and untried weapon at the beginning of the war. Both the Japanese and American navies saw their big, heavily armed battleships as their primary offensive weapon. Because so many American battleships were lost on December 7, Admiral Nimitz was more or less forced to rely on his carriers, which were not at Pearl Harbor.

Questions for Photo 3

1. The carriers whose aircraft determined the outcome of the Battle of Midway were located hundreds of miles away from each other. What effect do you think that might have had on the battle?

2. Do you think the loss of the Yorktown affected the outcome of the battle?

3. Does this photo help give you a better sense of what the battle was like? If so, how?

4. The Yorktown was sunk as it was being slowly towed towards Pearl Harbor for repairs. Why do you suppose the Americans went to so much effort to try to save the vessel?

* The photo on this screen has a resolution of 72 dots per inch (dpi), and therefore will print poorly. You can obtain a larger version of Photo 3, but be aware that the file will take as much as 30 seconds to load with a 28.8K modem.



Comments or Questions

National Park Service arrowhead with link to NPS website.