The Battle of Midway

Perhaps the best book on the epic World War II Battle of Midway, Craig Symonds brings together all the pieces that became the turning point in the Pacific War. Looking at the leadup to the battle from both the Japanese and American perspectives, Symonds shows how the Japanese, in their typical style, created a battle plan that was overly complicated for its objective. Symonds explains how American Joe Rochefort and his eclectic band (he even had commissioned naval musicians) worked to bend (but not entirely break) the Japanese naval code. This allowed the Allies to surmise Midway as the Japanese… show more.

Symonds, an esteemed naval historian, writes a superb non-fiction telling of the battle, from “big-picture” decision making from the admirals at Midway to cockpit scenes like Moore.

It is readable for those with only a passing familiarity and of benefit to readers with a deeper knowledge. Leveraging the research of Parshall and Tully – as all modern commentators do - Symonds treats Midway evenly, and covers all aspects of the three-day Midway story, one more amazing than the next.