The United States was engaged in a naval battle with Japan from June 4 to 7, 1942, 6 months after Pearl Harbor (Carson) (Interview). This engagement was the Battle of Midway and the most important naval battle of World War II. The United States was able to take control of the Pacific after the victory. This battle not only determined naval superiority in the Pacific but also was a turning point for the entire World War. (Interview) The Battle of Midway took place around the Midway Islands. These islands are the furthest west of the Hawaiian island chain. These islands were important in the U.S. defense of the Hawaiian Islands. US forces included 3 aircraft carriers (Yorktown, Enterprise, Hornet), 234 aircraft, 110 bombers, fighters and patrol planes, along with a fleet of 25 submarines. Admiral Chester Nimitz led the Americans. American troops had been depleted by the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of the Coral Sea. 6 large aircraft carriers and 400 aircraft highlighted the Japanese troops. Isoroku Yamamoto led the Japanese forces. The Battle of the Coral Sea was the battle preceding the Battle of Midway. At Coral Sea, Japan did not complete its mission objective, which was to invade Port Moresby in New Guinea to allow its planes to dominate the skies over northern Australia. Although the mission failed, naval power was still in the hands of the Japanese. (Cragg) (Lambert) (Hone) Japan's objective during the Battle of Midway was to destroy the American aircraft carriers and capture the Midway Islands, which would then lead to the capture of Pearl Harbor. Confident in its numerical advantage, Japan wanted to finish off the American fleet at Midway (Lambert). The night before the battle, American forces decoded... half of the document... 2004 Joseph Mitchell updated Sir Edward Creasy's 1851 study to rank Midway among the 20 most influential battles. (Tillman)Without a doubt the Battle of Midway is the most important battle of World War II. The battle marked the end of Japanese dominance of the Pacific and began the U.S. campaign against Tokyo (Prados). Halfway marked the end of Japan's strategic initiative, allowing America to go on the offensive two months later at Guadalcanal. Without a US victory in June 1942, US warships would still have dropped anchor in Tokyo Bay, but at a greater cost (Tillman). The Battle of Midway saved American and Allied troops not only in the Pacific but also on the European front. To give the United States control in the Pacific and save the lives of Americans and our allies, Midway was the most important naval battle of World War II.