Battle of Midway Begins

The Battle of Midway, fought June 3-7, 1942, was the most decisive naval battle of World War II in the Pacific Theater. U.S. Navy cryptanalysts had broken Japanese naval codes, allowing Admiral Chester Nimitz to position his carriers northeast of Midway Atoll in anticipation of the Japanese attack. In the battle, American dive bombers sank four Japanese aircraft carriers (Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, and Hiryu) in exchange for the loss of one American carrier (USS Yorktown). Japan lost 248 aircraft and 3,057 men, while the U.S. lost 145 aircraft and 307 men. This victory permanently shifted the balance of naval power in the Pacific, ending Japan's offensive capability and marking the turning point of the Pacific War. The battle demonstrated the strategic importance of aircraft carriers and naval aviation over traditional battleship warfare.