 After winning a clear victory , and as pursuit became too hazardous near Wake , American forces retired . Spruance once again withdrew to the east to refuel his destroyers and rendezvous with the carrier Saratoga , which was ferrying much @-@ needed replacement aircraft . Fletcher transferred his flag to Saratoga on the afternoon of 8 June and resumed command of the carrier force . For the remainder of that day and then 9 June , Fletcher continued to launch search missions from the three carriers to ensure the Japanese was no longer advancing on Midway . Late on 10 June a decision was made to leave the area and the American carriers eventually returned to Pearl Harbor . 
