June 4–7, 1942General source · 2 sourcesWell documented
The Battle of Midway
On the timeline · around June 4–7, 1942 ·
What happened
Forewarned by code-breaking, U.S. carrier forces ambushed a Japanese fleet advancing on Midway Atoll. American dive-bombers sank all four of Japan's fleet carriers in the engagement, at the cost of the carrier USS Yorktown.
Why it matters
Midway is widely regarded as the decisive battle of the Pacific war, halting Japanese expansion and shifting the initiative to the United States.
Sources
- Naval History and Heritage Command. Battle of Midway · General source
- The National WWII Museum. The Battle of Midway · General source