Hiryu, a 20,250-ton aircraft carrier built at Yokosuka, Japan, was completed in July 1939. Active throughout the first six months of the Pacific War, she took part in the December 1941 Pearl Harbor attack as well as operations in the East Indies and Indian Ocean area. On 4 June 1942, during the Battle of Midway, Hiryu's aircraft inflicted serious bomb and torpedo damage to USS Yorktown (CV-5), causing her abandonment. Later that day, Hiryu was hit by U.S. carrier dive bombers. Though she remained underway for a time, she had been fatally damaged. Abandoned early the following morning, Hiryu sank at about 0900 on 5 June, the last of four Japanese aircraft carriers to be lost in the battle.
This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have concerning the Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu.
For pictorial coverage of Hiryu's loss, and the subsequent
rescue of some of her survivors, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 73063 Hiryu (Japanese Aircraft Carrier, 1937-1942) Running speed trials on 28 April 1939. Donation of Kazutoshi Hando, 1970. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 440 pixels |
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Photo #: USAF 3725 AC Battle of Midway, June 1942 Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu maneuvers to avoid three sticks of bombs dropped during a high-level attack by USAAF B-17 bombers, shortly after 8AM, 4 June 1942. U.S. Air Force Photograph. Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 625 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: USAF 75712 AC Battle of Midway, June 1942 Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu maneuvering during a high-level bombing attack by USAAF B-17 bombers, shortly after 8AM, 4 June 1942. Note ship's flight deck markings, including Katakana identification character "hi" on her after flight deck. This image is cropped from USAF Photo # 3725 AC. U.S. Air Force Photograph. Online Image: 108KB; 595 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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For pictorial coverage of Hiryu's loss, and the subsequent
rescue of some of her survivors, see:
NOTES:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 18 April 1999
Coding updated 3 May 2009