Why Did Nimitz Replace Fletcher After Midway?
Most people believe Nimitz replaced Frank Jack Fletcher right after Midway. He didn't. Fletcher kept his command for three more months, fought and won a third carrier battle at the Eastern Solomons, and was wounded when his flagship was torpedoed before he was quietly sent to the Aleutians and never given a carrier task force again. This is the story of how the U.S. Navy threw away its most successful carrier admiral. Fletcher won the first three carrier battles in history, sinking six Japanese flattops for the loss of two. So why was he the one erased? I lay out the full case against him, the case for him, and the verdict on King's grudge, the aviator establishment, the Marines' fury, and one historian's flawed sourcing. Sources and further reading: John B. Lundstrom, Black Shoe Carrier Admiral: Frank Jack Fletcher at Coral Sea, Midway, and Guadalcanal Samuel Eliot Morison, History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volumes IV and V Walter R. Borneman, The Admirals Jonathan Parshall and Anthony Tully, Shattered Sword Craig Symonds, The Battle of Midway Ian Toll, Pacific Crucible Naval History and Heritage Command action reports and H-Grams
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