| 1940 | |
|---|---|
| 31 May | Capt. Samuel G. Taxis was ordered to Midway to perform initial survey and reconnaissance for defenses. |
| 9 July | Capt. Kenneth W. Benner ordered to Midway to relieve Captain Taxis and continue survey and reconnaissance. |
| 29 September | Midway Detachment, Fleet Marine Force (9 officers and 168 enlisted), under Maj. Harold C. Roberts, arrives Midway and commences installation of 3d Defense Battalion matériel. |
| 1941 | |
| 14 February | Remainder of 3d Defense Battalion (28 officers and 556 enlisted), under Col. Robert H. Pepper, arrives Midway and continues defensive preparations. |
| 1 August | Naval Air Station, Midway, goes into commission. |
| 11 September | 6th Defense Battalion (Col. Raphael Griffin) relieves 3d Defense Battalion as the atoll's garrison. |
| 19 November | 1st Lt. Loren D. Everton, with 60 enlisted, sent forward to Midway as ground echelon from Marine Air Group 21, to prepare for reception of aircraft. |
| 7 December | Japanese destroyers Akebono and Ushio bombard Midway, inflicting 14 casualties and considerable damage to structures. |
| 17 December | Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 231 (Maj. Clarence J. Chappell) reaches Midway after executing world's record single-engine land-plane massed over-water flight (1,137 miles) from Hickam Field, T.H. |
| 24 December | Batteries A and C, 4th Defense Battalion (Capt. Custis Burton, Jr.) arrive from Oahu to reinforce Midway. |
| 25 December | Marine Fighting Squadron 221 flies in to Midway from USS Saratoga. |
| 26 December | 4th Defense Battalion units and ground echelon of VMF-211 arrive from fruitless attempt to relieve Wake, and are assigned to Midway garrison. |
| 1942 | |
| 25 January | Enemy submarine I-173 bombards Midway. |
| 8 February | Enemy submarine bombards Midway. |
| 10 February | Enemy submarine bombards Midway. |
| 1 March | Marine Air Group 22 is commissioned from squadrons on Midway. |
| 10 March | Four-plane section of fighters from VMF-221 shoots down enemy patrol seaplane southwest of Midway. |
| 2 May | Admiral Nimitz visits Midway to ascertain its defensive readiness and needs. |
| 20 May | Admiral Nimitz warns Captain Simard and Colonel Shannon of impending Japanese attack. |
| 25 May | Companies C and D, 2d Raider Battalion (Capt. Donald H. Hastie) and 37-mm battery, 3d Defense Battalion (Capt. Ronald K. Miller), arrive Midway. |
| 26 May | USS Kittyhawk arrives at Midway with crucial air and ground reinforcements. |
| 28 May | Japanese Occupation Force sails from Saipan for Midway. |
| 30 May | Two PBYs of VP-44 sustain damage in aerial contact with twin-engined Japanese bombers to westward. |
| 4 June | Battle of Midway commences, including air-strike by VMSB-241 against Japanese Striking Force; fighter-defense of Midway by VMF-221; and heavy anti-aircraft action by 6th Defense Battalion (reinforced). Midway sustains major damage from Japanese air-raid. |
| 5 June | VMSB-241 attacks and damages Japanese cruisers retiring to westward. |
| 6 June | Japanese communique states: "The Midway Occupation operations have been temporarily postponed." |
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Compiled and formatted by Patrick Clancey