Status - John Skinner - USS O'Brien:
On May 17th, O'Brien was based at Pago Pago, and would remain there for several weeks doing local escort duty.
By May 18th, US Naval commanders, with help from Naval Intelligence and its partially deciphered Japanese Navy messages, had discovered many of the details of the planned Japanese attack on Midway. The Japanese forces were planning to sail on the 21st, and reach the target (determined to be Midway Island) at the end of the month. A good estimate of the components of the Japanese force (4 carriers with escorts, a battleship force, invasion force, etc.) had been made. That Alaska would be invaded was also clear.
A task force of surface ships was sent to Alaska and air defenses were increased at Oahu. All three carriers with their associated task forces would arrive around the 26th-27th of May. Task Force 16 would immediately deploy northeast of Midway, with the hope being that Yorktown could be repaired in time to reach there before the battle began.
U. S. Navy Task Forces:
- Task Force 17 (Yorktown) was heading to Pearl Harbor for repairs.
- Task Force
16 (Enterprise and Hornet), were moving toward Pearl Harbor to meet the expected Japanese attack in the central Pacific.
More Information:
- Official Navy Chronology, pp. 197-202.
- The First South Pacific Campaign, John B. Lundstrom, pp. 165-176.
NEXT POST: MAY 25TH
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