Japanese Navy Hid Midway Defeat

After Japan lost four aircraft carriers and more than 3,000 men at the Battle of Midway in June 1942, the Imperial Japanese Navy hid the scale of the defeat from the public, the Army, and much of its own Navy. On June 10, the Navy gave a military liaison conference only an incomplete account, while a detailed report submitted five days later remained restricted to the highest levels. Japanese news announced a great victory, and even the Imperial Japanese Army briefly believed the fleet remained in good condition. Only Emperor Hirohito and the highest-ranking Navy commanders received accurate information about the carrier and personnel losses.

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