USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The U.S. Navy’s decisive victory in the air-sea battle (June 3-6, 1942) and its successful defense of the major base located at Midway Island dashed Japan’s hopes of neutralizing the United States as a naval power and effectively turned the tide of World War II in the Pacific.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Japanese lost approximately 3, 057 men, four carriers, one cruiser, and hundreds of aircraft, while the United States lost approximately 362 men, one carrier, one destroyer, and 144 aircraft.

Detailed explanation-3: -Commanding the Japanese Combined Fleet was Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto who viewed Midway as a way to draw out and destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s aircraft carrier striking forces, which embarrased the Japanese with the Doolittle Raid on Japan in April 1942.

Detailed explanation-4: -One logical conclusion is that Midway would have fallen to the Japanese; although heavily defended, the island would have been surrounded. With the U.S. carriers gone, the Japanese would have had aerial dominance, allowing Imperial warships and aircraft to bomb the defenders at will.