Joichi Tomonaga
| Surname | Tomonaga |
| Given Name | Joichi |
| Died | 5 Jun 1942 |
| Country | Japan |
| Category | Military-Sea |
| Gender | Male |
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
ww2dbaseJoichi Tomonaga was air unit commander of the carrier Hiryu during the Battle of Midway. On 4 June 1942, he led the morning attack on the American base at Midway, causing serious damage through the heavy American anti-aircraft action, but failed to wipe out the base's utility. He was among the officers who advised Chuichi Nagumo that a second strike on Midway must be launched in order to achieve the mission's objectives. After returning to Hiryu, he led the afternoon torpedo attack on USS Yorktown (CV-5). In a demonstration of sacrificial heroism, he commanded a damaged torpedo bomber that was unable to carry enough fuel to return to Hiryu, if it was able to make it to the American fleet at all. Reaching the Yorktown, he attacked the carrier from her aft port quarter, maintaining his path despite a receiving damage from American pilot Jimmy Thach. Tomonaga held his plane long enough to release the torpedo, but immediately afterwards his left wing gave way, sending the plane tumbling into the waves. The torpedo missed.
ww2dbaseSources: Naval Historical Center, Shattered Sword.
Last Major Revision: Dec 2005
Photographs
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Joichi Tomonaga Timeline
| 5 Jun 1942 | Joichi Tomonaga passed away. |
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Visitor Submitted Comments
29 Mar 2021 07:52:54 AM
Why were the Midway runways not bombed.
10 Jul 2023 05:41:19 AM
I believe the Japanese wanted to use the runways for their own aircraft after occupying the island. I
7 Dec 2023 11:09:26 PM
In the 1972 version of Midway, Tomanaga is chosen to replace Fuchida to lead the strike on Midway from the Carrier Akaga. After Agaga is sunk, he flies from the Hiriu, and crashed his plane into the bridge of the Yorktown. Movie is wrong!
All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.
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George Patton, 31 May 1944
17 Dec 2016 04:03:53 PM
The movie "MidWay" shown Tomonaga crashing his plane into the Yorktown