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Appendix II: Midway Chronology

1940
31 May Capt. Samuel G. Taxis was ordered to Midway to perform initial survey and reconnaissance for defenses.
9 July Capt. Kenneth W. Benner ordered to Midway to relieve Captain Taxis and continue survey and reconnaissance.
29 September Midway Detachment, Fleet Marine Force (9 officers and 168 enlisted), under Maj. Harold C. Roberts, arrives Midway and commences installation of 3d Defense Battalion matériel.
1941
14 February Remainder of 3d Defense Battalion (28 officers and 556 enlisted), under Col. Robert H. Pepper, arrives Midway and continues defensive preparations.
1 August Naval Air Station, Midway, goes into commission.
11 September 6th Defense Battalion (Col. Raphael Griffin) relieves 3d Defense Battalion as the atoll's garrison.
19 November 1st Lt. Loren D. Everton, with 60 enlisted, sent forward to Midway as ground echelon from Marine Air Group 21, to prepare for reception of aircraft.
7 December Japanese destroyers Akebono and Ushio bombard Midway, inflicting 14 casualties and considerable damage to structures.
17 December Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 231 (Maj. Clarence J. Chappell) reaches Midway after executing world's record single-engine land-plane massed over-water flight (1,137 miles) from Hickam Field, T.H.
24 December Batteries A and C, 4th Defense Battalion (Capt. Custis Burton, Jr.) arrive from Oahu to reinforce Midway.
25 December Marine Fighting Squadron 221 flies in to Midway from USS Saratoga.
26 December 4th Defense Battalion units and ground echelon of VMF-211 arrive from fruitless attempt to relieve Wake, and are assigned to Midway garrison.
1942
25 January Enemy submarine I-173 bombards Midway.
8 February Enemy submarine bombards Midway.
10 February Enemy submarine bombards Midway.
1 March Marine Air Group 22 is commissioned from squadrons on Midway.
10 March Four-plane section of fighters from VMF-221 shoots down enemy patrol seaplane southwest of Midway.
2 May Admiral Nimitz visits Midway to ascertain its defensive readiness and needs.
20 May Admiral Nimitz warns Captain Simard and Colonel Shannon of impending Japanese attack.
25 May Companies C and D, 2d Raider Battalion (Capt. Donald H. Hastie) and 37-mm battery, 3d Defense Battalion (Capt. Ronald K. Miller), arrive Midway.
26 May USS Kittyhawk arrives at Midway with crucial air and ground reinforcements.
28 May Japanese Occupation Force sails from Saipan for Midway.
30 May Two PBYs of VP-44 sustain damage in aerial contact with twin-engined Japanese bombers to westward.
4 June Battle of Midway commences, including air-strike by VMSB-241 against Japanese Striking Force; fighter-defense of Midway by VMF-221; and heavy anti-aircraft action by 6th Defense Battalion (reinforced). Midway sustains major damage from Japanese air-raid.
5 June VMSB-241 attacks and damages Japanese cruisers retiring to westward.
6 June Japanese communique states: "The Midway Occupation operations have been temporarily postponed."

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