For anyone at all interested in the battle of midway, the pacific war or the navy, this is a must. Selected as a best book of 2011 by military history quarterly deeply researched, shrewdly argued, and powerfully narrated, the battle of midway is a superb work of the historians craft. Both were based on fuchidas account published quickly after the us occupation government allowed such literature. A closeup look at the battle of midway island analyzes this crucial naval victory, which marked the turning point for the american fleet in the pacific theater of world war ii. Walter lord titled his immersive 1967 narrative of the battle incredible victory. It is a well researched book that has a multitude of facts on every page. The first edition of the novel was published in october 5th 2011, and was written by craig l. In some ways, the books title the battle of midway by craig symonds is a little misleading as the pacific ocean carrier battle of june 1942 under examination doesnt seriously begin until page 218, well more than halfway through the volumes narrative text. The book necessarily begins with the december 7, 1941 attack on pearl harbor by the kido butai, the japanese navys mobile carrier force commanded by admiral yamamoto, i. Midway, released in the united kingdom as battle of midway, is a 1976 american technicolor war film that chronicles the june 1942 battle of midway, a turning point in world war ii in the pacific, directed by jack smight and produced by walter mirisch from a screenplay by donald s. Just as it appears all is lost, american dive bombers fortuitously arrive over the japanese carrier task force moments. They picked a scenario in which the us knew that they were coming, rolled the dice and found that they would take massive losses, and decided to ignore this result. The battle of midway by craig symonds is an excellent addition to the pivotal moments in american history series.
This naval institute guide includes some of the most vibrant and informed accounts by individuals who fought on both sides of the june 1942 battle. While i am not a buff on world war ii, this is the best nonfiction read i have read on a historical battle. The battle of midway book the seattle public library. Their defeat was brought about not by bad luck, or even by the excellence of american code breakers, but by deep seated errors of doctrine and attitude. The great thing about rosens books is that they take you into the battle. Hoping to put itself within striking distance of hawaii and california, the japanese navy planned an ambush that would obliterate the remnants of the american. Nimitz had a strong hand, symonds concludes, and he rightly expected to win. Although this document is not perfectly complete part iv for example is missing. It easily takes its place as the best and most comprehensive account of the pivotal battle from the american perspective. Throughout the book, the authors make extensive usage of new japanese primary and secondary sources that have not been utilized in prior studies. The battle of midway there are few moments in american history in which the course of events tipped so suddenly and so dramatically as at the battle of. The japanesse try to take midway because they could have more control of america with it.
The battle of midway was the beginning of the end for japan. Pacific naval air combat from pearl harbor to midway. Free download or read online the battle of midway pdf epub book. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 452 pages and is available in hardcover format. The battle of midway this edition was published in 1996 by lucent books in san diego, ca. Battle of midway by ira peck meet your next favorite book. Featured are more than two dozen titles on the battle of midway. Nov 11, 2005 the unknown battle of midway is the clearest and most persuasive story of the battle of midway i have ever read or heard. This book purports to bring significant new facts to, and a major reinterpretation of, the battle of midway. This book provides a critical look at the time between pearl harbor and just after the battle of midway where america was finding its way against the combined fleet of the japanese navy. The film stars ed skrein, patrick wilson, luke evans, aaron eckhart, nick jonas, mandy moore, dennis quaid, tadanobu asano, and woody harrelson. The bookstore is usually open 7 days a week from 10 am 4 pm. Many historians including symonds have compared the battle of midway to that of lord nelsons win at the battle of trafalgar. The battle that doomed japan, the japanese navys story bluejacket books by mitsuo fuchida, masatake okumiya, et al.
He is the author of many books on american naval history. Shattered swordis a new, definitive account of the battle of midway, focusing primarily but by no means exclusively on the japanese side of the battle. At dawn of june 4, 1942, a rampaging japanese navy ruled the pacific. In this absolutely riveting account of a key moment in the. Jan 12, 2012 there are few moments in american history in which the course of events tipped so suddenly and so dramatically as at the battle of midway. The battle of midway pivotal moments in american history 9780199315987.
The battle of midway was an epic wwii clash between the u. Oct 05, 2011 a definitive history of the crucial naval battle of world war ii, as told by an acclaimed historian and expert in the field part of oxfords acclaimed, bestselling pivotal moments in american history series comprehensive in approach. Nov 08, 2019 the first military engagement of the battle of midway took place during the afternoon of june 3, when a group of b17 flying fortress bombers launched an unsuccessful air attack on what a. Symonds, the battle of midway, oxford university press, 2011.
What are the best books about the battle of midway. This space is adjacent to the battle of midway experience and staffed by library volunteers. Amagi, takahisa 6 october 1945 hiryu 6 aoki, taijiro 9 october 1945 akagi 23 kawaguchi, susumu 10 october 1945 hiryu 11 ohara, h. By sunset, their vaunted carrier force the kido butai had been sunk and their grip on the pacific had been loosened forever. In relating these events, the emphasis is more about people than events.
Republished in 2017 by nhhc with a new introduction in observance. The most fascinating part of this book was when the japanese leadership en route to midway were playing war games to determine what the outcome might be. Navy divebombers landed a series of haymakers on japans formerly invincible aircraftcarrier. The moment is etched in gilt in american history as the miracle at midway. Moving on in examining the next six months leading to the midway confrontation, symonds considers the nature and strategic bent of the. May 30, 2019 during the battle of midway in june 1942, us navy dive bomber pilot wade mcclusky proved himself to be one of the greatest pilots and combat leaders in american history, but his story has never been told until now. The untold story of the battle of midway by jonathan parshall and anthony tully. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read incredible victory. Shattered sword will come to be regarded as a benchmark in modern history, for it brings to bear all the tools of modern communication technology in a way that has never been done before. Located adjacent to the battle of midway theater and experience and staffed by library volunteers explore the store for a wide range of used books at fair prices. Located adjacent to the battle of midway theater and experience and staffed by library volunteers explore the store for. The battle of midway, commemorated annually in the u.
The 4day battle of midway history book for 12 year old childrens history. The authors bring to bear a somewhat old 20 years reconsideration of the most respected japanese authority on the battle as well as a much better understanding of japanese carrier operations, naval doctrine, and other operational details hitherto fore not understood. The battle of midway was a major naval battle in the pacific theater of world war ii that took place on 47 june 1942, six months after japans attack on pearl harbor and one month after the battle of the coral sea. On the fifth anniversary of the battle of midway, the office of naval intelligence publishes the official japanese action report of this engagement, recently translated under the supervision of the naval analysis division, united states strategic bombing survey, and here available in english for the first time. Battle of midway interrogation of japanese officials. It asks the right questions directly and answers them clearly, simply, and convincingly, basing its conclusions on keen analysis based on the primary sources and much new evidence rarely if ever used by other accounts. Nov 12, 2007 the battle of midway movie follows closely on the book, with the added obligatory romantic interest and she is lovely. The film features an international cast of stars including charlton heston, henry fonda, james coburn. Jun 03, 2016 the battle of midway in june of 1942 was one of the most important naval battles in world history and a turning point in the second world war. Weadon a p re ca ri o u s s t a t e o f a f f a i rs. May 28, 20 the battle of midway, commemorated annually in the u. The book starts of in midway when the americans realize they are going to be attacked by the japanesse. Symonds is professor of history emeritus at the united states naval academy.
On the morning of june 4, 1942, doom sailed on midway. Midway is a 2019 american war film about the battle of midway, a turning point in the pacific theater of world war ii. The battle of midway multnomah county library overdrive. Sep 01, 20 buy the battle of midway unabridged by symonds, craig l isbn. It was wade mcclusky who remained calm when the japanese fleet was not where it was expected to be. Gordon prange titled his important 1982 book miracle at midway. A closeup look at the battle of midway island analyzes this crucial naval victory, which marked the turning point for. The japanese story of the battle of midway, translation of captured japanese documents by opnav p321002, office of naval intelligence oni, june 1947. A history from beginning to end world war 2 battles book 7. The bookstore features a wide range of used books at fair prices.
Navy and the imperial japanese navy that played out six months after the attack on pearl harbor. The authors are particularly impressive about how techniques of launching planes dispel myths about the battle. This is a book that will be an often quoted source for many years about the battle of midway. John abbatiello monument, colorado the series editors of oxfords pivotal moments in american history collection certainly hit a home. Moving on in examining the next six months leading to the midway confrontation, symonds considers the nature and strategic bent of the two opposing navies, their commanders, their ships and planes, the men that flew the latter. The battle of midway book pima county public library.
Navy stopped the japanese steamroller off midway island, it not only turned the progress of the war but set the navys foundation for future. This incredible book shatters all previous notions on how the battle of midway was fought. Battle of midway bookstore stop by our battle of midway bookstore during your next visit. Along with guadalcanal, and new guinea, japan was stopped and the long road to victory was begun. This excellent book dispels various myths about the battle of midway. Essentially a history of the pacific war from january to june 1942 midway does not. In addition to naval codebreaking that gave admiral. There are few moments in american history in which the course of events tipped so suddenly and so dramatically as at the battle of midway. On the fifth anniversary of the battle of midway, the office of naval intelligence publishes the official japanese action report of this engagement, recently translated under the supervision of the. The core of the book focuses on events leading up to the battle and the battle itself, with a separate section examining how others have interpreted the battle s often desperate engagements. The crucial legacy of the battle of midway literary hub. Jan 01, 2007 the battle of midway by steve white is a great book about a battle that took place during world war ii. T h e b a t t l e o f mi d w a y how cryptology enabled the united states to turn the tide in the pacific war.
Nov 20, 2020 you can also purchase this book from a vendor and ship it to our address. Spruance defeated an attacking fleet of the imperial japanese navy under admirals isoroku. The battle of midway was a major naval battle in the pacific theater of world war ii that took place on 47 june 1942, six months after japans attack on pearl. Though titled after the single battle, the book s narrative begins at the planning of the attack on pearl harbor, covers the activities and planning of both sides leading to the decisions to attack midway and culminates in the ensuing battle.
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