World War II
Battle of Midway Memorial
The Battle of Midway Memorial was commissioned by the Public Art Program, Department of Aviation, and City of Chicago, Richard M. Daley, Mayor. The Battle of Midway Exhibit is located just through the security checkpoint and to the left, at the beginning of Concourse A, just across from the Midway Boulevard Food Court. (Please note that due to new Federal Security guidelines only ticketed passengers and badged employees are allowed beyond the security checkpoint.)
YOU WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY TODAY HAVE WRITTEN A GLORIOUS PAGE IN OUR HISTORY. I AM PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH YOU. - ADMIRAL NIMITZ
Battle of Midway Memorial, 2001
Ellen Sandor & (art)n: Fernando Orellana, TJ McLeish, Pete Latrofa, Jack Ludden, Nichole Maury, Todd Margolis, Mike Kosmatka, Janine Fron and Stephan Meyers
Special acknowledgement to Ed Fox, all of the Battle of Midway veterans, historians, friends, and members of the Internet's Battle of Midway Roundtable, who helped provide the photos, stories and facts from the Battle of Midway for this memorial installation.
PHSCologram Sculpture
20' x 20' x 20'
The Battle of Midway Memorial recaptures Admiral Nimitz's leadership, Joe Rochefort's innovative military intelligence, and the bravery of the US Navy and Marines who won the pivotal Battle of Midway.
The commissioned Memorial measures 20'x20'x14-1/4 and combines computer generated images with digitized photographs and digitally carved images on aluminum, created by DMAC Architecture’s proprietary computer numeric control process. The uniquely carved etchings include quotes and images of LCDR. Thach, Station Hypo, and other Midway heroes. The exterior canopy features a montage of Midway heroes and Midway Island.
The interior is composed of two 13'x5' Virtual Reality murals that illuminate the history of the battle in four parts: Task Force 17/Task Force 16, Midway Defenders, COMINT, and Japanese and American Veterans Today. These rendered scenes include historic images of the Midway Defenders and Imperial Japanese Navy, combined with some of the aircraft and carriers used at Midway: USS Yorktown, USS Enterprise, SBD Dauntless, F4F Wildcat, Douglas TBD Devastator, PBY Catalina and others.
Part I: Task Force 17/Task Force 16
Battle of Midway Memorial detail
This panel is dedicated to COMINT, U.S. Naval Communications Intelligence, whose cryptology efforts enabled Admiral Nimitz to commit the U.S. forces that brought victory at Midway.
Featuring historic photographs from top left to right:
Crew of the Patrol Squadron 23 (VP-23) PBY-5A
Fleet Admiral Chester William Nimitz
Agnes Meyer Driscoll (the "Mother of Cryptology")
LCDR Joseph J. Rochefort, USN
Office of Codebreakers
Station HYPO
Agnes Meyer Driscoll: The First Lady of Naval Cryptology
Agnes Meyer Driscoll not only avoided the spotlight, she almost never permitted herself to be photographed. In this rare picture, she was photographed with Mrs. Helen L. Talley at Mrs. Talley's retirement ceremony 28 February 1958. Mrs. Talley had worked for Director Naval Communications, Armed Forces Security Agency and Naval Security Activity since 1928. Then Director, National Security Agency General Samford on left, Mrs. Talley in the center and Mrs. Driscoll on the right. After her serious automobile accident Mrs. Driscoll used a cane.
Battle of Midway Memorial detail, Part I: Task Force 17/Task Force 16, 2001
Ellen Sandor & (art)n: Fernando Orellana, TJ McLeish, Pete Latrofa, Jack Ludden, Nichole Maury, Todd Margolis, Mike Kosmatka, Janine Fron and Stephan Meyers
Special acknowledgement to Ed Fox, all of the Battle of Midway veterans, historians, friends, and members of the Internet's Battle of Midway Roundtable, who helped provide the photos, stories and facts from the Battle of Midway for this memorial installation.
Virtual Photograph/PHSCologram: Duratrans, Kodalith, Plexiglas
30 x 40 inches
Part III: COMINT (Communications Intelligence
Battle of Midway Memorial detail
U.S.S. Yorktown
Battle of Midway, June 1942
After the 4 June mid-morning U.S. Navy attacks on the Japanese carrier force, only the Hiryu remained operational. Shortly before 1100 she launched eighteen dive bombers, escorted by six fighters, to strike a retaliatory blow. At about noon, as these planes approached USS Yorktown (CV-5), the most exposed of the three American aircraft carriers, they were intercepted by the U.S. combat air patrol, which shot down most of the bombers. Seven, however, survived to attack, hitting Yorktown with three bombs and stopping her.
While Yorktown's crew worked to repair damage and get their ship underway, a second force left Hiryu, this one consisting of ten torpedo planes and six fighters. Though the U.S. carrier was moving again by 1430, and even launched more fighters, the Japanese aircraft penetrated heavy air and gunfire opposition to hit Yorktown with two torpedoes, opening a huge hole on her midships port side. The stricken ship again went dead in the water and took on a severe list. Concerned that she was about to roll over, her Captain ordered his crew to abandon ship.
Battle of Midway Memorial detail, Part III: COMINT (Communications Intelligence, 2001
Ellen Sandor & (art)n: Fernando Orellana, TJ McLeish, Pete Latrofa, Jack Ludden, Nichole Maury, Todd Margolis, Mike Kosmatka, Janine Fron and Stephan Meyers
Special acknowledgement to Ed Fox, all of the Battle of Midway veterans, historians, friends, and members of the Internet's Battle of Midway Roundtable, who helped provide the photos, stories and facts from the Battle of Midway for this memorial installation.
Virtual Photograph/PHSCologram: Duratrans, Kodalith, Plexiglas
30 x 40 inches
Part II: Midway Defenders
Battle of Midway Memorial detail
Crew of the Patrol Squadron 23 (VP-23) PBY-5A
Battle of Midway Memorial detail, Part II: Midway Defenders, 2001
Ellen Sandor & (art)n: Fernando Orellana, TJ McLeish, Pete Latrofa, Jack Ludden, Nichole Maury, Todd Margolis, Mike Kosmatka, Janine Fron and Stephan Meyers
Special acknowledgement to Ed Fox, all of the Battle of Midway veterans, historians, friends, and members of the Internet's Battle of Midway Roundtable, who helped provide the photos, stories and facts from the Battle of Midway for this memorial installation.
Virtual Photograph/PHSCologram: Duratrans, Kodalith, Plexiglas
30 x 40 inches
"The plane that won the day was the Douglas SBD Dauntless Dive Bomber, and in my book, the SBD won the Pacific War. The Douglas contribution the U.S. military aircraft is phenomenal, the list is long, and it spans the Vietnam War. The F4F would be second. Perhaps outclassed by the Zero, its pilots made the difference and turned it into a real fighting machine.."
Bill Price, The Battle of Midway Roundtable
Part IV: Japanese and American Veterans Today
Battle of Midway Memorial detail
In the words of military historian, John Keegan, “Midway was indeed an 'incredible victory', as great a reversal of strategic fortune as the naval world had seen, before or since . . . “
During World War II, on June 4, 1942, the United States Navy achieved its most important victory and one of the greatest in all naval history. After the devastating attack at Pearl Harbor the Japanese, within six months, tallied an almost unbelievable series of sea victories in the Pacific – Dutch East Indies, Singapore, Philippine Islands Indo-China, Malaya, Guam, Java Sea and many more. Riding a wave of success the Japanese military leaders, in the Spring of 1942, decided to invade Midway Island. Under Admiral Yamamoto, they assembled the largest war fleet yet seen in modern times. By all calculations the battle should have resulted in a major defeat for the United States Navy. However, three factors intervened: The breaking of the Japanese code, outstanding strategic leadership under Admiral Chester Nimitz, and the uncommonly brave and effective US pilots and crews. As a result, four Japanese carriers were sunk against the loss of one US aircraft carrier. The Japanese returned to Japan never again to be on the offensive in the Pacific.
Joseph E. Jannotta, USN Aviator, Korean War
VADM William D. Houser, USN (Ret.)
Battle of Midway Memorial detail, Part IV: Japanese and American Veterans Today, 2001
Ellen Sandor & (art)n: Fernando Orellana, TJ McLeish, Pete Latrofa, Jack Ludden, Nichole Maury, Todd Margolis, Mike Kosmatka, Janine Fron and Stephan Meyers
Special acknowledgement to Ed Fox, all of the Battle of Midway veterans, historians, friends, and members of the Internet's Battle of Midway Roundtable, who helped provide the photos, stories and facts from the Battle of Midway for this memorial installation.
Virtual Photograph/PHSCologram: Duratrans, Kodalith, Plexiglas
30 x 40 inches