BMMHS Evening Zoom Talk: The Battle of Midway

The Battle of Midway

Speaker: Jon Parshall

This Zoom Talk will be scheduled to start at 7:30pm

Zoom March 2022
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The Battle of Midway

The Battle of Midway (4 June 1942) is widely regarded as one of the most decisive naval battles in history. The destruction of four Japanese aircraft carriers in a single day marked the end of Japan’s triumphant opening campaign against the Allies, and brought about a new phase within the conflict wherein the U.S. and Japanese navies were much more evenly matched. Yet the battle’s true significance within the broader scope of both the Pacific War, and the larger context of WWII, is difficult to accurately assess. Jonathan Parshall will explore these larger issues, while also presenting an overview of the battle itself.

Midway
USS Yorktown (CV-5) is hit on the port side, amidships, by a Japanese Type 91 aerial torpedo during the mid-afternoon attack by planes from the carrier Hiryu, in the Battle of Midway, on 4 June, 1942. Yorktown is heeling to port and is seen at a different aspect than in other views taken by USS Pensacola (CA-24), indicating that this is the second of the two torpedo hits she received. Note very heavy anti-aircraft fire. Official U.S. Navy Photograph 80-G-414423, U.S. National Archives.
Battle of Midway
Midway Atoll. Aerial photograph, looking just south of west across the southern side of the atoll, 24 November 1941. Eastern Island, then the site of Midway's airfield, is in the foreground. Sand Island, location of most other base facilities. Source Naval History and Heritage Command

About the speaker - Jonathan Parshall

Jon Parshall is co-author (with Anthony Tully) of ‘Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway.’ Widely published on the Pacific War, he is also an adjunct lecturer for the U.S. Naval War College. Parshall has spoken at numerous museums throughout the U.S., and is frequently seen on TV, most recently the Netflix series “Greatest Events of WWII in Colour.” He is also the curator of the oldest website on the Imperial Japanese Navy, www.combinedfleet.com.

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