What event is considered the turning point in the Pacific War?

The Battle of Midway is considered the turning point in the Pacific War for several key reasons. Fought from June 4 to June 7, 1942, this battle occurred just six months after the Attack on Pearl Harbor, which initially put the United States on the defensive in the Pacific theater. At Midway, American forces, leveraging intelligence breakthroughs and codebreaking efforts, were able to ambush the Japanese fleet, resulting in the destruction of four of their aircraft carriers—Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, and Hiryu.

This significant loss dealt a severe blow to Japanese naval power and their ability to project force across the Pacific. The victory at Midway shifted the balance of power, enabling the United States to move into an offensive posture, launching a series of successful campaigns against Japanese-held territories in the following years. Consequently, Midway marked a pivotal moment that halted Japanese expansion and began a sustained series of Allied victories in the Pacific, leading to the eventual defeat of Japan.

The other events, while significant in their own right, did not have the same strategic impact on the momentum of the war in the Pacific as the Battle of Midway did. The Attack on Pearl Harbor was the initial event that brought the U