Why did the Japanese lose the Battle of Midway?

Answer 1

A chain of twisted fates and some advanced knowledge of Japanese battle plans. 1. The US breaks the Japanese naval code thus giving them knowledge of Japanese plans and intentions. This allows Admiral Nimitz to position his ships to best defend Midway. 2. The Japanese Fleet dispatches a Japanese Destroyer to locate and chase down a suspected US Submarine; The fleet continues on it's mission. The lone Destroyer hunts for the US Submarine, can't locate it; then plays catch-up trying to get back to the main body (the fleet). 3. Disorientated (nearly lost) & almost out of fuel US Navy attack planes luckily see the wake of the sub chasing Japanese Destroyer trying to catch up to it's main body. Since the US Planes couldn't locate the Japanese Fleet; this destroyer will lead them right to it. 4. At the very same time all of this is going on, Japanese SEARCH planes (Reconnaissance Aircraft) have all reported "Negative SITREPS" (Situation Reports) on enemy (US) aircraft carriers. All but one. Unknown to all involved, the reconnaissance airplane that COUNTS is having radio problems. 5. Since all but one recon plane has reported negative sightings on US Carriers, and the Midway Attack Force is requesting a second (or third) air strike, the fleet commander must either arm the attack airplanes with bombs for the strike or wait on the missing scout planes report; if there's a US Carrier out there, torpedoes must be installed on the aircraft to "take out" the US Carrier. 6. In the midst of the re-arming of the aircraft on the flight decks for BOMBS, the missing scout plane finally sends in it's report: US CARRIER SIGHTED. 7. Now bombs must be removed from the planes and torpedoes installed. 8. During this frantic un-arming of bombs and re-arming with torpedoes, those "lost and nearly out of fuel" US Dive Bombers and Torpedo planes show up. The torpedo planes attack seperately and the Japanese fighters decimate the US torpedo squadrons. However, the fighter cover is drawn down to wave top altitude, so the US dive bombers plunge down unmolested and take out three of the four large Japanese carriers. Nothing explodes a carriers flight deck like tons of bombs, torpedoes, and airplane fuel when attacked by dive bombers!