A detailed review of the Battle of Midway, one of the most significant battles in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

In April 1942, the Imperial Japanese Navy Combined Fleet was at the height of its power. It had inflicted serious damage on the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor in December 1941, before leading the Japanese advance into Southeast Asia and causing upheaval in the South Pacific. Just a few months later, in June 1942, the U.S. Navy managed to deliver a decisive defeat to this formidable force near Midway Atoll, resulting in the strategic initiative in the Pacific Theater passing to the U.S. Navy.

The Battle of Midway is one of the most mythologized battles of World War II. The traditional view of the battle, which has prevailed since it happened and remains to this day, is that the Americans were overly undermanned and managed to win against overwhelming odds. This view is simplistic and, in many cases, inaccurate.

Pacific War expert Mark E. Stille provides a detailed analysis of this pivotal battle and argues that Midway was neither a miraculous American victory nor a matter of good luck, but that plans, personalities, lessons learned, ships, and weapons of both sides meant that a Japanese defeat was the most likely outcome. This updated study offers unparalleled insight and in-depth analysis of one of the decisive moments of the Pacific War.