Midway: the Battle, the Ship, the Museum

Age Group:

Middle School Age, Teens, Emerging Adults, Adults, Older Adults
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Event Details

The Battle of Midway took place June 4th through June 7th, 1942, only six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor.  In commemoration of the 75th Anniversary, join retired Naval Aviator, Captain Ralph "Rafe" Arnott, as he presents: "Midway: the Battle, the Ship, the Museum".  Recommended for middle-school ages and older.

Topics included:

  • Why fight over Midway, a small atoll in the Pacific? (from both the Japanese and US perspectives)
  • Prior battles and impact on Midway,  (Pear Harbor and The Battle of the Coral Sea)
  • Mistakes made by both sides that impacted the outcome
  • Development of the Japanese battle plan by Admiral Yamamato and internal politics
  • The US plan lead by Admiral Nimitz and impact of US breaking of the Japanese Naval message code
  • Key events of the Battle from both sides
  • The outcome and impact on the rest of the War in the Pacific and Europe
  • The USS Midway, named for this important battle, and the amazing USS Midway Museum, right here in San Diego

A question and answer time with Captain Arnott will follow.

About the presenter:

Captain Ralph “Rafe” Arnott, USN (ret), received his Navy Wings in 1970 and reported to Naval Air Station Lemoore, CA for training in the A-7 Corsair II aircraft. He made two combat deployments to Vietnam, completing over 200 combat missions.  He was stationed at NAS Lemoore on and off over the next 20 years in various squadrons, the last as Commanding Officer of VA-146 making an around-the-world deployment on USS Kitty Hawk.  Shore assignments included, Naval War College in Newport, RI, where he also received a Masters’ Degree in International Relations, Yokosuka, Japan, on the staff of Commander Seventh Fleet embarked in USS Blue Ridge, and The Pentagon Washington D.C.  His last assignment was as Chief-of-Staff, Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific, NAS Lemoore, where he retired from the Navy in October, 1993.

After providing training support for the F/A-18 aircraft for two years he was hired by FedEx and spent the next 15 years flying from Memphis, TN to almost every state in the union. Upon retirement, he began volunteering at the USS Midway Museum, where he has completed over 2500 hours as a Docent.

Accessibility

Need disability-related modifications or accommodations? Information and program content can be made available in alternative formats upon request by emailing JFRogers@sandiego.gov.