There are events in our history that are indeed, quite pivotal. One of those is the Battle of Midway. In June 1942, the Japanese were riding a wave of euphoria where nothing they did seemed to go wrong. Conversely, the United States had reached a low point in the Pacific war with her main maritime assets, the aircraft carrier, being about the only way that the Japanese could be slowed down.

We all think we know about the events surrounding Midway. It has been written about countless times and frankly, very little original research into the battle has been done since the immediate post war period. Author Peter C. Smith decided that there had to be more to the story than what we have come to believe. With this in mind, and thanks to the rather recent release of previously classified documents on the subject, he has taken a most thorough and in-depth look at the Midway battle.

Not surprisingly, he has found that not all of what we thought was exactly true. There was considerable bickering between US brass and the Army's participation in things was pretty much a joke as there was little actual cooperation with the Navy at this time. There was much trepidation about committing all of the Navy's assets to the battle as well, fearing that defeat would leave the US wide open to the Japanese.

On the Japanese side, there were problems as well. Though unrealized at the time, the standard operating procedures of the air wing were such that they would cause the high losses to the Japanese carrier fleet. Once again, the seeming cautiousness of their leadership would have a large part in the development of the battle.

This is not a book that one would consider light reading. Author Smith has delved deeply into the background of the men involved and brings us insights as to why they did what they did during the battle. There are exhaustive appendices and statistical analysis of the combatants and their equipment. It has to be the most thorough look at the Midway battle that has ever been done and a book that is a must for any nautical enthusiast.

July 2008

Review book courtesy of  Casemate Publishing, where you can order your copy of this and many other superb books.

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