The Battle of Midway was the turning point in the war in the Pacific during WWII.  It forced the Japanese to retreat for the first time since the beginning of the war.  The Battle was fought in the Pacific from June 3-6, 1942.  All of the fighting on the American side was fought by airplanes based on the Island of Midway.

            American forces under Rear Admiral Raymond Spruance and Rear Admiral Frank Fletcher were ordered to deflect attacks on the tiny island at any cost.  Even though the Americans were heavily outnumbered, they managed to hold off the Japanese for four days, until they finally gave up.

            In the end, the Americans lost about 150 planes, one aircraft carrier (the Yorktown), a destroyer, and about 307 men.  The Japanese losses were far worse.  They lost four aircraft carriers, 275 airplanes, almost five thousand men, and extensive damage to many other ships.

            The Battle of Midway was a huge victory for the Americans.  The Japanese suffered huge losses, especially since they lost hundreds of their best pilots.  The Battle was the turning point in the Pacific in WWII, and the Japanese would never recover from their losses at Midway.