Wasatch Area Race Productions (WARP)
8224 Akers Way
Sandy, UT 84094
1-801-450-8477 phone
1-866-875-6457 fax
www.wasatchracing.com

General Questions/Information: info at bamtriathlon dot com

Head Race Director: Rob Leishman - rob at bamtriathlon dot com

Webmaster, Sponsorships & Expo: Charity Vernon - charity at bamtriathlon dot com

Professional Athlete Rep: Mike Mamales - mike at bamtriathlon dot com

Volunteer & Logistics Coordinator: Erik Vernon - erik at bamtriathlon dot com

BAM Head Volunteer Leader: Becky Leishman - volunteer at bamtriathlon dot com

THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY HISTORY - A TURNING POINT IN WWII
The Battle of Midway was a decisive naval battle in World War II that demonstrated that bombers from aircraft carriers, properly utilized, could defeat a superior surface force. This victory by the United States over Japan in June 1942 ended the Japanese advance in the Pacific Ocean. It was fought over and near the tiny U.S. mid-Pacific base at Midway atoll.

Having achieved its initial military goals by early 1942, the Japanese decided to take more Pacific outposts--including Midway Island in the central Pacific and islands off Alaska--in order to establish an outer defense line. The Japanese fleet, under Adm. Yamamoto Isoroku, also hoped to draw the remaining U. S. aircraft carriers into battle.

Yamamoto erred in dividing his force of more than 160 vessels. The U.S. commander, Adm. Chester Nimitz, with 76 ships available, including the carriers Hornet, Enterprise, and Yorktown, was stronger than the Japanese thought. Searches by U.S. aircraft established the position of the Japanese fleet. Early on June 4, Vice Admiral Nagumo, in command of the Japanese carriers, launched 108 planes for an attack on Midway, 240 miles (386 km) to the southeast. American fighters sent to intercept them were outmaneuvered by Japanese fighters. Bombs damaged Midway, but the runways were not put out of action.

Rear Adm. Raymond Spruance, in command of the Hornet and the Enterprise, counterattacked. Fighters and bombers from all three carriers and from Midway were sent toward the enemy carriers. Only then did Nagumo learn that the U.S. carriers were to the northeast. He also learned that another air attack on Midway would be required and ordered his reserve aircraft to be rearmed with fragmentation and incendiary bombs. His logistics grew increasingly complex as his striking force returned from Midway. At 9:05 am he altered course to proceed toward the U.S. carriers. By 9:17 all his bombers were on his decks, refueling or rearming. Because of Nagumo's change in course, dive bombers from the Hornet missed him. Two other waves of more than 40 bombers did find the Japanese, but they scored no hits, and all but a few were shot down.

But the maneuvers of the Japanese carriers had kept their bombers from taking off, and their fighter planes were out of position because of their fight with the attackers. At 10:26, 37 U.S. bombers struck with devastating effect. The Agaki took direct hits, was abandoned, and sank, and the Kaga and Soryu were also destroyed. The Hiryu escaped, launched bombers that damaged the Yorktown, but was itself destroyed from the air at 5 pm The Yorktown was later destroyed by a Japanese submarine. The Americans lost 150 planes and 307 lives; the Japanese, 253 planes and 3,500 lives.

After Midway the Japanese fleet withdrew, never again to regain the offensive. The only Japanese gain from the operation was the occupation of two Aleutian islands off Alaska.

ABOUT THE BATTLE AT MIDWAY TRIATHLON LOGO
Aircraft of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps have carried distinguishing markings almost from the beginning of naval aviation. The earliest marking was the aircraft building number, preceded by a block letter A, painted on a vertical surface, usually the rudder. Before the United States entered into World War I, naval aircraft were identified by an anchor design on the vertical tail surface, the use of which continued to the time a National Aircraft Insignia was adopted.

The Battle at Midway Triathlon logo is based off of the National Aircraft Insignia, which when first adopted in May of 1917 it consisted of a red disk within a five-pointed white star on a circular blue field. The insignia went through a host of changes and evolutions. Since 1920, numerous additions and changes have been made in aircraft markings which over the years built up an awesome array of variety and detail. The story of these changes is further complicated by the fact that many were instituted by the operating forces without official Navy Department sanction and as a result, some directives issued on the subject did little more than to make standard practice official.

On May 15, 1942 the red disc in the center of the National Aircraft Insignia and horizontal red and white rudder striping were eliminated. Then in June of 1943 white rectangles where added to the left and right sides of the blue circular field on the insignia to form a horizontal bar, a red border stripe around the entire design was also added. More changes to the insignia came later that year, as the red border stripe was eliminated and use of insignia blue was ordered in its place in September of 1943. The final changes to date to the National Aircraft Insignia where made in June of 1947, where a horizontal red stripe, centered on the white horizontal bar, was added. The insignia has remained the same since this last change in 1947.

The progression of the insignia can be seen below:

HONORING OUR U.S. MILITARY AT THE BAM TRIATHLON
Because of The BAM Triathlon's Military theme, we wanted to use this race to help honor and than our current and veteran servicemen and women of the U.S. Military. To do this we will be having an Amred Forces Competition where any active or reserve Military personnel can register for the race at a discounted price, $10 off. Along with this they will automatically be registered in the Armed Forces Competition, this division of Military personnel will all be BATTLING it out for the "Armed Forces Fastest BAM Athlete Award", which will be awarded to the fastest Male and Female Military personnel of the day! Along with this we will also be sponsoring a local wounded veteran who will be training and preparing to compete in the race as our Challenged Athlete Veteran. This veteran is being provided with everything they will need to train and compete at BAM, from registration, a bike, wetsuit, all the way down to coaching and a training plan. For more information on our veteran athlete, click here. So come help support our servicemen and women as they BATTLE it out at the BAM Triathlon!