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by John Ford
Narration by Henry Fonda
  1942

16mm color flim
18 minutes



Language: English

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The Battle of Midway (1942)


This U.S. Navy (USN) documentary written and directed by John Ford who at the time was head of the photographic unit for the Office of Strategic Services making documentaries for the Navy Department with the rank of Commander. Narration by Henry Fonda, Donald Crisp, and Jane Darwell.

The original film is part of the National Archives & Records Administration (NARA) motion picture collection Identifier: 65422, Local Identifier: 342-USAF-16985. This film won an Oscar for best documentary during the 15th Academy Awards in 1943. View The Battle of Midway (1942) on YouTube.

This documentary includes color film footage of the Battle of Midway from Midway Airfield on Eastern Island. During the attack, Ford was filming from atop a power plant and injured by shrapnel.

The film shows B-17E Flying Fortress bombers landing at Midway Airfield and one with a bomb bay fuel tank for extended range, plus taxing, taxing off, being refueled and crews being briefed. The footage includes many of the bombers in standard olive drab and Hawaiian Air Depot (HAD) three color camouflage scheme including: B-17E 41-2437, B-17E 41-2524, B-17E 41-2648 and B-17E 41-2632.

On June 4, 1942 at the start of the Battle of Midway, films the take off of U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) SB2U Vindicators including SB2U Vindicator 2088 piloted by Lumpkin. Later that morning, when Japanese carrier planes bombing Midway Airfield and Eastern Island. During the attack, Ford was filming from atop a power plant and injured by shrapnel.

Review by  Justin Taylan  

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Last Updated
January 15, 2024


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