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Photo # 80-G-79984-28 (#2): Japanese survivors of the aircraft carrier Hiryu under guard on Midway, following their rescue by USS Ballard, June 1942.

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

Actions and Activities after 4 June 1942 --
Rescue of Japanese Survivors of Hiryu and Mikuma

On 9 June 1942, the U.S. submarine Trout, patrolling well to the west of Midway, ran through an area fouled by oil and debris, picking up two men. They were the last survivors of the Japanese heavy cruiser Mikuma, sunk three days earlier by U.S. carrier planes. Trout took them to Pearl Harbor, adding to the very small population of Japanese prisoners of war held by the United States at that time.

The Mikuma survivors soon had company. On 14 June, a PBY spotted a small boat hundreds of miles away from Midway. It was seen again on the 19th, and the seaplane tender Ballard was directed to the area. There she found thirty-five Japanese navymen, members of carrier Hiryu's engineering force who were left for dead when she was abandoned before dawn on 5 June. They had made their way topsides, found a boat as their ship sank and had been sailing for two weeks trying to reach friendly territory.

This page presents photographs related to the rescue of survivors of the Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu and cruiser Mikuma.

For coverage of the sinking of Mikuma and Hiryu, see:

  • Sinking of the Japanese Cruiser Mikuma, 6 June 1942; and
  • Hiryu Bombed, Abandoned and Sunk, 4-5 June 1942.

    For links to additional coverage of later Battle of Midway events, see:

  • Actions and Activities after 4 June 1942.

    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-32217

    USS Trout (SS-202)


    Returns to Pearl Harbor on 14 June 1942, after the Battle of Midway.
    She is carrying two Japanese prisoners of war, Chief Radioman Hatsuichi Yoshida and Fireman 3rd Class Kenichi Ishikawa, survivors of the sunken cruiser Mikuma who had been rescued on 9 June.
    Among those waiting on the pier are Rear Admiral Robert H. English and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.
    The district ferry Nihoa (YFB-19) is in the left background, just to the right of Trout's jack.
    Two .30 caliber Lewis machineguns are mounted on Trout's sail, flanking the periscope shears.

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

    Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 635 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-79974-1

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Japanese prisoners of war on board USS Ballard (AVD-10) after being rescued from a lifeboat two weeks after the Battle of Midway. They were members of the aircraft carrier Hiryu's engineering force, left behind when she was abandoned on 5 June 1942, and had escaped in one of her boats just as she sank.

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

    Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 510 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-79981-21

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Cutter from the sunken Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu, suspended from the starboard boat davits of USS Ballard (AVD-10), at Midway circa late June 1942. This boat had been picked up on 19 June, along with its occupants, who became prisoners of war.
    USS PT-25 and PT-30 are among the 77-foot ELCO-type PT boats visible in the right and left background.
    Note Ballard's motor whaleboat, cane fender, dark-colored awnings and smokestack details.

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

    Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 515 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-79982-24

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Japanese prisoners of war, survivors of the aircraft carrier Hiryu, are prepared for transportation from Midway to Hawaii in USS Sirius (AK-15), 23 June 1942. They had been rescued by USS Ballard (AVD-10) a few days earlier.
    Note armed guards nearby, crowd of onlookers, and widespread use of the old-style "tin hat" battle helmets.

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

    Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 505 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-79984-28

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Japanese prisoners of war, survivors of the aircraft carrier Hiryu, are brought ashore at Midway following their rescue from an open lifeboat by USS Ballard (AVD-10) on 19 June 1942.
    After being held for a few days on Midway, they were sent on to Pearl Harbor on 23 June.
    Note Marine guards at left and in the center background, armed with M1903 "Springfield" rifles.

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

    Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 585 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-79984-28 (#2)

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Japanese prisoners of war under guard on Midway, following their rescue from an open lifeboat by USS Ballard (AVD-10) on 19 June 1942. They were survivors of the sunken aircraft carrier Hiryu.
    After being held for a few days on Midway, they were sent on to Pearl Harbor on 23 June aboard USS Sirius (AK-15), arriving there on 1 July.
    Note Marine guard in the center background, armed with a M1903 "Springfield" rifle.

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

    Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 495 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-79979-15

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Japanese prisoner of war, one of the survivors of the aircraft carrier Hiryu that had been rescued by USS Ballard (AVD-10), reading the 24 November 1941 issue of Life magazine while being held on Midway pending transfer to Hawaii, circa 20-23 June 1942.

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

    Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 515 pixels

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

     


    For coverage of the sinking of Mikuma and Hiryu, see:

  • Sinking of the Japanese Cruiser Mikuma, 6 June 1942; and
  • Hiryu Bombed, Abandoned and Sunk, 4-5 June 1942.

    For links to additional coverage of later Battle of Midway events, see:

  • Actions and Activities after 4 June 1942.

    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 17 April 1999
    Coding updated 27 April 2009