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Quiz about Midway Turning Point in the Pacific

Midway: Turning Point in the Pacific Quiz

Midway was the turning point of the war in the Pacific. It proved the Japanese could be beaten after six months of setbacks.

A multiple-choice quiz by beterave. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
beterave

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
335,757

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
916

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 166 (10/10), Guest 166 (8/10), Guest 69 (9/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who did Admiral Yamamoto pick to lead the Japanese strike force for the Midway Operation? Hint

Kusaka

Toyoda

Nagumo

Onishi

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which event convinced the Japanese they needed a decisive battle against the US Navy's surface fleet? Hint

Pearl Harbor

the Doolittle raid

the battle of the Java Sea

the fall of the Philippines

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Question 3 of 10

3. The Shokaku, a veteran of Pearl Harbor was not able to participate in the Midway Operation. Why? Hint

she was in another operation

she was badly damaged

they felt she was not needed

she had been sunk in another operation

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which 'other' (or second) carrier did the Japanese believe they sank at Coral Sea? Hint

the Lexington

the Enterprise

the Saratoga

the Yorktown

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Question 5 of 10

5. What did U.S. Marine pilots call the F2A Brewster Buffalo? Hint

excellent

nimble and neat

durable but slow

a flying coffin

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Question 6 of 10

6. During the attack on Nagumo's task force, what happened to Waldron's torpedo squadron? Hint

it was destroyed on the ground

it scored the initial hits on the enemy fleet

the squadron was annihilated in the attack

it never located the enemy fleet

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Question 7 of 10

7. What decision prompted Nagumo to re-arm the bombers with torpedoes? Hint

the sighting of enemy ships

no one is sure

he received new orders

the island needed another strike

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Question 8 of 10

8. What one event made the destruction of the three Japanese carriers easier? Hint

fuel and ordnance improperly stored

improper fire fighting techniques

the wooden decks on the carriers

rough seas

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Where did the Japanese make a diversionary attack during the Midway Operation? Hint

Guam Island

the Philippines

Wake Island

the Aleutians

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Question 10 of 10

10. When did the Japanese government inform the public about the disaster at Midway? Hint

about 36 hours after the battle

the government never informed the public

in 1943 the army announced what had happened

in December 1944

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 10 2024 : Guest 166: 10/10
Apr 01 2024 : Guest 166: 8/10
Mar 28 2024 : Guest 69: 9/10
Mar 25 2024 : Guest 207: 7/10
Mar 21 2024 : Guest 67: 9/10
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 96: 8/10
Mar 19 2024 : wingrider6: 8/10
Mar 17 2024 : Guest 49: 8/10
Mar 07 2024 : Guest 164: 9/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who did Admiral Yamamoto pick to lead the Japanese strike force for the Midway Operation?

Answer: Nagumo

Admiral Yamamoto chose Admiral Nagumo, the 'hero' of Pearl Harbor, to lead the carrier strike force (Kido Butai) for the Midway operation.

2. Which event convinced the Japanese they needed a decisive battle against the US Navy's surface fleet?

Answer: the Doolittle raid

The Doolittle raid on Japan finally persuaded the Imperial Navy that a decisive battle was needed against the US surface fleet. Although the raid caused very little damage, it caused the Imperial Navy a loss of face.

3. The Shokaku, a veteran of Pearl Harbor was not able to participate in the Midway Operation. Why?

Answer: she was badly damaged

The Shokaku and the Zuikaku did not participate in the Midway Operation because both had received damage and the loss of too many pilots at Coral Sea. These two carriers might have made a real difference, or perhaps both might have been sunk.

4. Which 'other' (or second) carrier did the Japanese believe they sank at Coral Sea?

Answer: the Yorktown

The Lexington was sunk at the battle of Coral Sea; the Japanese also believed they sank the Yorktown as well. Believing this, they were under the assumption they only faced the Enterprise and possibly the Hornet.

5. What did U.S. Marine pilots call the F2A Brewster Buffalo?

Answer: a flying coffin

Marine pilots called the F2A Buffalo a flying coffin. The Japanese A6m Zero easily outclassed this fighter.

6. During the attack on Nagumo's task force, what happened to Waldron's torpedo squadron?

Answer: the squadron was annihilated in the attack

Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8) under the command of John C. Waldron, was annihilated in its attack on Kido Butai. All 15 aircraft and crews were lost with the exception of Ensign Gay who observed the sinking of the three Japanese carriers. The unit was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for its sacrifice.

7. What decision prompted Nagumo to re-arm the bombers with torpedoes?

Answer: the sighting of enemy ships

With the sighting of the US Naval carrier group (by scout plane) Nagumo felt compelled to cancel another strike on Midway and attack the US carriers.

8. What one event made the destruction of the three Japanese carriers easier?

Answer: fuel and ordnance improperly stored

Relentless attacks by US aircraft and the decision to rearm the bombers with torpedoes left the hangars and flight decks of the Akagi, Soryu and Kaga with improperly stored ordnance and fuel. The explosions and flames overwhelmed even the best fire fighting teams.

9. Where did the Japanese make a diversionary attack during the Midway Operation?

Answer: the Aleutians

The Japanese made a diversionary attack on the Aleutian Islands and occupied both Kiska and Attu. If the ships used for this diversion had been used at Midway, the outcome might have been different.

10. When did the Japanese government inform the public about the disaster at Midway?

Answer: the government never informed the public

The results of the Midway Operation so shocked the Japanese High Command that they kept the results of the debacle from the general public. In fact, propaganda announced a total victory. Only top military echelons were aware what really happened.

Source: Author beterave

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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