The airfield was used by American forces for launching aircraft, including fighters and bombers, which helped turn the tide against the Japanese Navy in one of the most decisive battles of the war.

While the airfield is no longer an active military installation, Midway Atoll’s airstrip remains available as an emergency landing site for trans-Pacific flights.

The runway, now located on Sand Island, is maintained for emergency use and occasional government operations, providing a critical safety option for aircraft experiencing mechanical issues over the Pacific Ocean.

Aircraft of the Navy, Marine Corps & Army operated from Eastern Island, and helped to turn back the Japanese Fleet.

The Marine Corps had nineteen SBD-2 Dauntless dive-bombers, seven F4F-3 Wildcat, seventeen SB2U-3 Vindicators, twenty-one F2A-3 Brewster Buffalos and six TBF-1 Avenger torpedo-bombers.

They remained in the air for about 4 hours, by which time the progress of the search and the reduction of their fuel load made it safe for them to land.

The four B-26's, the six TBF's, and other planes remained on the ground but fully alert until the search had reached a distance of 400 miles (640 km).

Nimitz believed that the enemy planned a rendezvous about 700 miles (1,100 km) west of Midway and ordered that this area be searched by B-17's on 31 May and 1 June, if possible.

At 12:30 9 B-17Es left Midway in search of the Japanese invasion fleet, which had been sighted by a PBY an hour earlier only 700 miles (1,100 km) away, and was ordered to attack this "main body."

This Japanese force, consisting of 2 or 3 heavy cruisers and about 30 other ships, including destroyers, transports, and cargo vessels, had evidently been moving toward Midway since the morning contact.

On the night of 3 June, an additional seven B-17Es from the 42d Bomb Squadron arrived on Midway to reinforce the heavy bomber contingent.

A second group of eight B-17Es launched from Midway on 5 June attacked a Japanese task force 130 miles (210 km) from the island and claimed hits on two large warships.

Bomb craters and long strings of strafing bullet marks from Japanese Zero fighter aircraft still stitch across runway aprons and building faces, evidence that Japan brought the battle onto Midway's shores.

[citation needed] This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency