Today in World War II History—June 7, 1942

Carrier USS Yorktown burning after being hit by three Japanese bombs, 4 Jun 1942 (US National Archives: 80-G-312018)

80 Years Ago—June 7, 1942: In the Battle of Midway, carrier USS Yorktown sinks due to damage by Japanese submarine I-168 the previous day, but the US is victorious in the major turning point of the Pacific War; from now on, the Japanese will be on the defensive.

Maj. Gen. Clarence Tinker, commander of US Seventh Air Force, is killed when his plane is lost off Midway, the first Native American to reach the rank of major general and the first US general killed in WWII.

Japanese occupy Attu in the Aleutians.

In Nazi-occupied France, Jews over the age of 6 are required to wear yellow stars.

Maj. Gen. Clarence Tinker, 1942 (US War Department photo)

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