Midway Atoll in Virtual Reality

Midway Atoll's location in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean makes it one of the most isolated places on the planet. It's held many important roles in the past century, first as a telegraph station in the early 1900's and later as a US Navy base from WWII through the Cold War. The Battle of Midway happened 75 years ago at sea near the atoll and has been considered the turning point in the US war with Japan. In recent years, Midway has become a National Wildlife Refuge managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, included as part of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, and designated the Battle of Midway National Monument. Only about 40 people live there full-time, though they're greatly outnumbered by the 17 species of seabirds that nest and breed on Midway, including 1.5 million Laysan Albatross. It's also important habitat for the Hawaiian Monk Seal and the Green Sea Turtle.
Instructions:
- Interactive viewing is available with Chrome and Firefox browsers (not Safari) or in the KZbin app on mobile platforms.
- Select the highest possible quality level (preferably 4K) under "Settings."
- Use the Google Cardboard icon to view inside of any VR headset.
All video taken under NMFS Permit No. 16632 and Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument Permit No. PMNM-2016-001.

[@ilima64]

I lived on Midway from 1959 to 1969. We lived next to the hospital, just steps away from downtown. It was the best years of my life. Attended George Cannon School, from 3rd grade to 7th grade. 8th grade I went to boarding school in Honolulu and came home for summer. Summer time was the best. The beaches were the best. I loved it there. The video is awesome. Trying to picture where on the island some of the shots. I remember the bowling alley, the commissary, the Navy Exchange, the GeeDunk, the Club, the beauty salon, and of course the theater. Movies were free and was the hang out for all us kids.

[@jackwest4906]

I. Also attend george cannon 1970 Thu 1973 I swear I saw my house d49

[@jackwest4906]

I lived on midway 1970 thru the end of 1973 as a navy brat also attended george cannon school

[@jackwest4906]

I lived on midway 1970 till end 1973. Attended george cannon school thru 4th grade. Once we stationed back to the states kcmo I never felt air seen snow also I used to car sick. It was difficult be normal civilian

[@fiercenet]

saw they had a hobby shop too.

[@dingchat555]

Dang, there are birds literally everywhere, and they seem so unfazed when you pass right by them. Great video, man.

[@garyj1709]

Was there in Navy 1964/65. Very nostalgic! Awesome VR! Thank you!

[@fjcook]

Gary J I was there in 64-65 with awe

[@EonRanch]

I was a kid living on Midway from 75-78, I attended to George Cannon school, I will never forget my time on Midway...great video, thanks! :-)

[@darlenesmith2258]

Me too- 5th, 6th and 7th grades....our class buried the time capsule that has been removed but no one seems to know where it went.

[@r.lihuak]

Darlene Smith I found it yesterday

[@cdog9559]

Personnel Office Mar 74-Jul 75 what an experience of a life time.

[@jackwest4906]

Hi I live on midway 4 years my dad in navy went to george cannon school 1970 to the end of 1973 I will do anything to go back my address. D 49 phone number is 2380 anyone please correspond with me

[@jackwest4906]

I lived on midway as a kid 1970 thru 1973 a navy brat attend school at george cannon my name is jaci

[@marloweggum8952]

A special thank you to the guy who took the time to film this, I really appreciated revisiting Midway

[@ethanwelles]

Thank you so much for these!! 4 of my family who have since passed on lived there from '58-61, including my dad. It had a profound effect on them (and on me vicariously). Hope to volunteer there someday to experience it first-hand!

[@napuluzzio]

My question is, what are they doing on that island today? And why did you say you want to volunteer? What for? Sorry for the questions but I'm too curious, on Google Maps I see some houses, but are they inhabitants?

[@achtagon]

@@napuluzzio It's a nature preserve, and they also maintain the runway for emergency landings. Only people there to support those functions. All military in the remote Pacific area seems to be on Wake island now. A lot of work in the last 20 years to haul off discarded junk and demolish buildings, give the place back to the rare animals.

[@billmoyer5342]

My first Navy duty station, 1969-70.

[@craighall7186]

Bill Moyer I served there during that time too. What division were you attached to?

[@christoph.vd.reer01]

My wife and me has been visited this islands in 2020. I wanted this visit in connection with the movie 'Battle of Midway', where I saw a sandy, plant-less wasteland. To my amazement, it's actually a plant-filled, vibrant place. I recommend everyone to visit.

[@TheJimford]

I was fortunate to have been able to visit this island base while serving aboard the USS Reclaimer ARS 42 several times between 70-72. on the last visit I got a small group of my fellow sailors, to try and walk the permitter of the island in a day. We almost made it, but we had to cross the runway at the farthest end from the base and were met with a large transport plane that was coming in for a landing. Just passing overhead as we halled ass across, what seemed to be a mile wide tarmac. Apparently someone on the plane contacted the base and they sent a Jeep to pick us up, interrupting our days goal. We were a little paranoid, in that we had just had a smoke before running across the landing strip. Luckily the driver just took us back to the pier, where we started, our ship awaited us. I loved that time. Joked about it for some time. Wonderful experience, being Young, health and stupid.. Your video brought back many memories. Thank You for that. The sweet air, goony Birds, the constant wind, white sands, the big sky and crystal blue, sea, is treasured forever in my mind. I do miss my mates, god bless them all.

[@napuluzzio]

nice story, these things fascinate me

[@charleskachel6709]

I was stationed on Midway from February, 1971 until March, 1972. I was an Electronics Technician assigned to the transmitter site on Sand Island. I loved it there! I'm really interested in birds and Midway was paradise if you liked birds. Great snorkeling and scuba diving too. My barracks was the building just east of the galley in the middle of the island, and very near the gym and downtown. I really appreciated the Navy Exchange, the EM club, the bowling alley and movie theater, and all the sports opportunities there were. I turned 20 years old on Midway, and without all the activities available, I would have struggled. It was by far the best duty I had during the six years I was in the Navy. I still keep in touch with several guys I was stationed with. We all loved it and wish we could go back for a visit.

[@tamuman93]

This is one of the coolest things that I’ve seen on YT. Bravo! I was part of the advanced party for the 4th BN, 27th Infantry Regiment (stationed out of Schofield) and we stopped here for a brief layover on our way to Thailand for the very first Operation Cobra Gold. I volunteered to guard the plane while everybody else went into the terminal. One of the most beautiful sunrises ever, but I never got to see the rest of the island. Great Video! And cool surround effects!

[@wangofree]

I was a kid on Midway from 64 to 65. Thanks Fish and Wildlife for totally trashing the Island. You've taken a jewel and turned it into a barren waste land. So many good memories for a 12 yr old boy. Fishballing, camping on Eastern, mowing the grass around the gooney's, riding my "horse" a Schwinn Sting Ray all over the island, snorkeling for longusta, what a great time.

[@teddysmith1952]

For those not aware, Mike is completely correct. The paradise that was once Midway was handed over the US Fish and Wildlife. Disgraceful destruction of historical buildings and abandonment of the maintenance of the vegetation and all else is beyond sad.....US veterans of WWII and their family are no longer permitted to visit the island. Under any circumstanced.

[@glensmith9580]

Mike, I was stationed there 1963-64 in the security dept. Went snorkeling every Saturday with my buddies. Our meeting place was the pillbox. I now live in Conway Arkansas.

[@wangofree]

@@glensmith9580 Hey Glen, I wonder if we crossed paths? I was at north point by the harbor and I spotted a fishball over the sea wall. A security guy pulled up and asked "what are you doing kid?" I pointed to the fishball and he starts taking his shirt off to go after it. I immediately jumped over the wall and snagged the fishball, but the sea wall was so slimy I couldn't get back up. He reached down shaking his head and helped me up and let me keep the fishball. It turned out to be a Korean fishball with "holy water" in it. I still have it. So many fond memories of Midway. I wonder if you were the one who helped me out of the water?

[@tomtolentino7575]

Thank you for sharing this memorable tour. You’ve brought back fond memories of my very first assignment of my 20+ year Navy Career. I was assigned to NAF MIDWAY ISLAND CRASH AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, and at the time, our fire station was located adjacent to the main runway, where we spent many a day clearing gooney birds off the flight line, and runways for incoming aircraft. Aside from daily fire drills training, and gooney birds.......we made the best of what considered at the time, “ Isolated Duty “. I’m sure in today’s time, it would still be considered just that, given the number of inhabitants that work there. This is definitely one of many bucket list, revisit I would love to do.......thanks for sharing Sir. USN 1979-1999. NAF MIDWAY ISLAND 1980-1981 😎😇🙏🇺🇸🇵🇭🇺🇸🇵🇭🇺🇸🇵🇭🇺🇸⚓️⚓️👍

[@garykebschull4791]

I lived on Midway Island from 1962 - 1963 and attended George Cannon School as well. Living on the Midway was truly a “once in a lifetime” experience. Thanks for sharing your tour of the island. It was affirming to see some of the iconic sites; the movie theater, the bowling alley and of course, the “goony” birds (albatross). Here’s to the memory of those days. Cheers!

[@lawrencerothrock2368]

I was stationed there in 1965 with the navy--it was my first duty station after my tech schools. The shop I worked at was just off the runway and was closed about 6 months after I arrived, due to an economy move by McNamara--or so we were told. Fond memories of the place and the people I worked with. Beautiful coral beaches and fascinating bird and animal life. Would love to go back for a visit.

[@trainliker100]

I was there 1966-1968 as an Electronics Technician at the transmitter site. Fun fact: Some of the movie "Mister Roberts" was filmed at Midway Island. The USS Hewell went from Pearl Harbor to Midway to be the ship in the movie named the "Reluctant".

[@VirginiaFoster-ll8xk]

There from fall 76 to mid 78. It was beautiful!!! Fish and Wildlife have turned it over to the birds, but they are destroying the birds and the island due to lack of care. It just makes me want to cry.

[@jessebayer6059]

I was born there in 1971, but have only seen the island through my dad's old movies. Thanks for posting. Hopefully, one day I'll be able to see it in person.

[@glensmith9580]

I was stationed there 1963-1964. I was in Security Dept as navy police at the brig. My favorite thing to do was meeting at the pillbox with my diving buddies on Saturdays and going snorkeling. Great memories of Midway. Walked the beaches many times searching for glass fishnet balls that floated all the way from Japan. I’m from Greenville Mississippi.

[@JCox-zp1bk]

I was on Midway for a brief time performing a service for the island. This was at the height of the Viet Nam conflict. I crossed the Pacific aboard ship a few times. Day after day seeing nothing but water (my duty station was the ship's bridge, so I saw the water constantly). A few times I saw those glass fishnet flotation balls which had got loose and were floating to who knows where. For days that might be the only thing to see other than water.

[@AllemanFamilyDentalBoulder]

Just got done watching the 2019 “Midway” movie and came across your video. I was pleasantly surprised to see the Colorado hat and the Left Hand Brewing Co. patch on the back. What a small world

[@RobKMusic]

I don't know how I got here, but I really enjoyed this video. So many amazing places in the world I'll never get to see.

[@getyeeted2818]

Then we shall go to Midway Atoll together one day

[@martijnkosters9024]

Awesome video! The abandoned buildings, the extremely calm birds, the tropical atmosphere. One of a kind.

[@ChrisSlack]

Always curious about this island. I feel like I’ve just been there. Good perspectives!

[@TheMitcher]

what a wonderful video of a truly fascinating island. super-remote places such as these always interested me, it must be such a unique feeling travelling across a wildlife sanctuary surrounded by thousands of miles of ocean. thanks for the upload!

[@hudbenz1]

Hey amazing video, I was trying to find a video to see what the island looked like and you went above and beyond.

[@henrycole8705]

What a great place to escape city living it would be every weekend, peace and quite and a nice tan

[@ReddingDoesEverything]

thank you for your service to the GeoGuessr community

[@pantswithanL]

yes, we need to get rainbolt to move there for one of his monthly countries

[@ailes28]

What a beautiful beach and lots of birds❤

[@timpotter3272]

I watched this video like 5x. Thanks so much

[@TheresNothingToWatch]

Is there any way I could make a documentary about this place?

[@jenniferlawrence1372]

My grandfather served on an island in Kiribati during WWII, and I would love to go see it. Thanks for this view. Amazing. I also don't know how you ride a bike through all that without squashing an albatross.

[@PowerfulTruth]

Great technique and video with the 360 views. Nicely done! Which historic battlefields are on the Future Hit List?

[@parkerlarsen8134]

I dont know about you but this 3d thing is the coolest thing i have ever seen

[@18yea]

Magnificent, Thanks for sharing

[@americanpatriot9276]

1st duty station after “A” school. Worked in the bowling alley for a while. Coast Guard guys from Kure island LORAN station would come to Midway for R&R. ‘78-‘79.

[@robertspeicher5047]

Concrete pill box....That beach was called "buddy beach" because the reef edge was so close and sharks could enter easier there. 1965, three buddies decided to go snorkling on that beach. Two were at the surface and the 3rd was under near the bottom. The 3rd looked up at the other two and saw the6 were swimmig hard for the beach. He turned to look around, saw large dark shape moving slow. "SHARK?". He didn't wait to see for sure. When the two reached to where they could stand, the 3rd guy was laying half out of the water, breathinh hard and mad as hell. He told them he would have liked to have been warned ....He beat them to the beacch. There was school on the island for dependent children of navy personel. It was named after a 14 year boy killed by a shark.

[@adolfoescobar3935]

Watching you from Manila Philippines myfriend

[@CasperLCat]

Advice to Midway tourists: Wear a hat. A wide brimmed hat. And not because of the tropical sun !

[@joebudi5136]

Thanks for the video. Who I gotta talk to to get a job there running the generators?

[@neft16]

Why does the seal at 2:15 say "Yoo" on its back??

[@fiercenet]

dang I just looked up at the birds.... crazy awesome!

[@BLINGBLINGBIKES]

Great Video brother.

[@ad70preterist]

Awesome great experience thanks.

[@monkilla165]

This place seems very eerie

[@kboy6150]

Wow, really well done and that was an amazing video. Waaayyyy too many birds, but beautiful.

[@Last_one_before_I_go]

Are goony birds good eating?....they must have some use, other than being in the way and not moving?

[@aquamedical]

hope some day I'll can go to this place.

[@nemesissuperhero2078]

Nice

[@Frank009-fl]

Great video. Regards from the Netherlands

[@georgeanderson4414]

Would love to see this normally.

[@Wolfen443]

This is pretty cool, do you have more videos in VR?.

[@aviationwithjeff]

This is so cool.

[@RattoJunqueira]

Amazing

[@N2TU]

Nice video! Thanks! When will this war memorial be re-opened? All Americans should be afforded the chance to visit one of America's most sacred war memorial.

[@fiercenet]

2022 miltours will start going back.

[@loudietrich9317]

@@fiercenet Great. It is about time the Memorial can be viewed by all.

[@teddysmith1952]

@@loudietrich9317 Sadly there are no immediate plans that the USFWS will open Midway to the public. Not even on the horizon..

[@jrweaver]

Very nice Jon!!

[@cands6803]

Was stationed on Midway in 1967, Bob Hope performed that year at 200 am in the hanger bay, he never refused a show.

[@sheilagravely5621]

It's so out of focus you can't read the words.

[@REDAHAFEZ1]

i thought 200 or so zeroes and vals are gonna strafe the island or something-

[@veseyvonveitinghof7088]

was there in 1966 and again in 1968.......

[@georgeanderson4414]

Too confusing. Difficult to determine what is going on.

[@Bugsygb1]

Awesome

[@Edgarzapata189]

¿Y la base militar?

[@stevedunn2195]

Was there in 1980 shame what happened, the fish and wildlife did to the island they ruined more than I could bucn Dunn

[@kilokilo9034]

Anyone else notice all the dead birds by the gun emplacement

[@mtecengineering4803]

I was there as a mployee

[@happyfriday2684]

that's cool !

[@robertclark4929]

Where does it get electricity from?

[@Ray092684]

When I was looking at photos, there's a building that says power plant. I don't know if it is still functional, but I also noticed quite a few modern shipping containers placed around the island with high voltage signs posted on them. So they could be portable generators.

[@jackwest4906]

@@terrellbrittom6008 l

[@jackwest4906]

I live on midway 1970 thru the end of 1973 attend george cannon school as a navy brat girl

[@jackwest4906]

Underground cable

[@nathankong4679]

From USA base then to a plastic island and finally a lot of birds

[@jwells3315]

1979 -1980. FUEL FARM

[@SK-ps1mo]

I need a holiday be to a resort there

[@Brad366-f3s]

do people still live on the island

[@ndsshotgunnose5028]

Nope :/

[@HondaFit-ot5ws]

@@ndsshotgunnose5028 yeah, they do

[@classic_jam]

somewhere around a few dozen to a couple hundred depending on situation

[@aliasunknown7476]

i proposed to my wife in that ww2 bunker!!!

[@vladanamatovicmatovic2137]

Fantastic video

[@robinsieber4541]

What do you mean after a long day looking for Monk Seals? You can walk the beaches in a couple of hours. I know I've done it. LOL

[@jackwest4906]

Me too. I was too young to understand the history of war. Remember rusted wreckage of aircraft's at the of the airstrip. My dad a naval officer 1970 thru the end 1973. He calls it rusty bucket

[@icecold7088]

That place is for the birds

[@teddysmith1952]

To bad most of you did not see Midway pre 1996-2002 before the US fish & wildlife took over and ruined it. Demolished historical monuments and WWII buildings. Was a paradise pre 2002. Now a wasteland where vistors are no longer allowed. Including WWII veterans.

[@misshappyballl]

No one lives here and it's a shame

[@jackwest4906]

I lived there 1970 thru the end 1973. My dad retired from navy 1976. I learned everything been dismantled. The 1976 movie filmed at eastern island. I remember going there at a school field trip

[@olentangy74]

@@jackwest4906 In the 1976 film, what was depicted at eastern island was actually filmed at Point Mugu in southern California.

[@thomasfields7902]

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13) He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13) Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. (Psalms 51:1-4)

[@pantswithanL]

Easy 5,000

[@24Mossberg]

Beautiful, beautiful island(s)... keep the tourists away, they’ll just destroy what’s left, kill the seals and shoot the birds for sport. Thank you to the researchers and the effort in posting this!

[@ragnarlundin1579]

this IS yuck

[@jarrodyuki7081]

japan should have won midway and coral sea, taken port moresby, guadalcanal fiji and new Caledonia then marched onto hawaii.

[@Grandizer8989]

They should’ve taken it on the way back from Pearl Harbor

[@mark-ib7sz]

But hey did not , sore loser.

[@Cribzuz]

Should have but they're losers sooooo

[@jamey6236]

Shoulda coulda woulda didnt

[@kwankenobe4462]

🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️ USA MF💪🏿 WE BEAT DA HELL OUT OF Japan..