Location
Located on Eastern Island at Midway Atoll. Also known as "Eastern Island Airfield".

Construction
American built prior to the war.

Wartime History
On December 17, 1941, 17 SB2U-3 Vindicators of VMSB-231, led by a PBY of Patrol Wing 1, arrived at Midway from Oahu, completing the longest mass flight by single-engine aircraft then on record: 9 hours, 45 minutes. It was the same squadron that was en route to Midway on December 7th, aboard USS Lexington when reports of the attack on Pearl Harbor forced the carrier to turn back.

Battle of Midway
May 17, 1942 The 7th Air Force is placed on alert in anticipation of a possible attack on Midway. For the next 10 days the old B-18's on hand are used on sea searches to supplement the B-17's. VII Bomber Command receives an influx of B-17's during this period, and the 72d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), is converted from B-18's to B-17's.

Units Based At Midway
USN
VT-8 (TBF)
USMC
VMF-221 (F2A Buffalo)
VMSB-241 (SBD)
7th Air Force
318th FG, 73rd FS (P-40E) USS Saratoga Jun 42 - Jan 26, 43 Kaneohe
307th BG, 371st BS (B-24) Wheeler Jan 20 - Jan 26, 1943 Wheeler
15th FG, 78th FS (P-40K) Hawaii Jan 23 - April 23, 43 to Barking Sands

Late in the war, US Navy NATS (Naval Air Transport Service) operated a small detachment at this airfield, to service two round trip flights per week from Honolulu Airfield (John Rodgers).

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009