Staff graphic (color) by MICHAEL DABROWA ALL INFORMATION AND PHOTOS COURTESY OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY The wreck of the USS Yorktown, 3 miles down on the Pacific floor, is seen for the first time in 56 years. The World War II aircraft carrier was sunk by Japanese torpedoes in the Battle of Midway on June 7, 1942. It was discovered on May 19, 1998. [Robert Ballard], famous for discovering the Titanic, pores over sonar charts as the expedition attempts to locate the Yorktown. The carrier is deeper than any of Ballard's previous discoveries. Among those watching Ballard are three Battle of Midway survivors. Hiruo Yoshino and Yuji Akamatsu were on the Japanese carrier Kaga; Bill Surgi, second from left, was on the Yorktown. Location of the Battle of Midway (USS Yorktown's resting place)