MIDWAY ISLAND IS STRUCK BY A SERIES OF
TSUNAMI WAVES

In this issue there will be an interruption in the reporting of the manuscript The Battle of Midway: An Historical Perspective in order to cover the story of the series of tsunami waves that struck Midway Island on March 10, 2011.

On March 11 (Tokyo date), a destructive (9.0) earthquake occurred in northern Japan, sending five foot waves streaming westward across the Pacific and toward Midway atoll lying peacefully in its wake. About four hours later, and in the late hours of March 10 (Midway date), Midway Atoll was struck by a series of four successive waves. The waves covered one hundred percent of Spit Island, sixty percent of Eastern Island and twenty percent of Sand Island.

In the aftermath, three hundred birds were removed from debris in which they had been trapped. It is estimated that 110,000 Laysan and black-footed albatross chicks and 2,000 adults were destroyed by the tidal waves. Thousands of bonin petrels were buried alive. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on Midway received an hour's warning that the tsunami was coming. This information allowed USFWS and the civilian population on Midway to retire to the third floor of the former naval barracks now known as Charlie Hotel. This structure located on Sand Island is the highest point on Midway atoll. The population of 64 people on Midway was safe and no loss of human life resulted when the tsunami waves pounded Midway atoll.

Debris and sand from the tidal wave reached the island's airstrip which resulted in the closure of the airstrip for almost twenty-four hours, and at its east end there was now a new lagoon. There was also damage to the piers and boat ramps on Sand Island. No word has been available as to the status of the Midway Memorial Monuments on Eastern and Sand Islands.

IMMF IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE PACIFIC AVIATION MUSEUM HOST A BATTLE OF MIDWAY SYMPOSIUM IN JUNE 2012:

Once June 2011 has passed, I will contact Admiral Ronald J. Hays, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the museum and discuss the details of the Battle of Midway Symposium which will be held in June 2012. The symposium will cover the history of events from Pearl Harbor to Midway. I will investigate the possibility of holding an event on board the USS MISSOURI as well. Further details will follow in the next issue of the Midway Sentinel.

Chris and I hope that everyone has a happy and safe summer.

EDITORIAL STAFF:

JAMES M. D'ANGELO
M. CHRISTINE SIMS

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