1. Japan Seems Unbeatable Japan looks unbeatable American’s are able to strike back April 1942, Doolittle Raid over Japan bombs Tokyo Made a psychological point Japan was vulnerable Raised American morale

4. Battle of the Coral Sea Japan is heading for New Guinea Allied command had a huge air base their If Japan gained it, it would make a strike on Australia easily possible It is the first battle where either navy does not fire a shot Instead everything is done by aircraft

10. Battle of Midway Japan targets Midway (1,500 miles from Hawaii) Through code breaking technology, American’s prepare for the battle Admiral Chester Nimitz knew Japan was heading to Midway and Yamamoto was in command of the fleet Yamamoto hoped the attack would draw out the U.S. fleet

11. Midway June 4, 1942 American Navy hid beyond the horizon and allowed the Japanese to attack Midway American planes began to attack the Japanese fleet while Japan was taking off The strategy paid off, the American’s destroyed 332 airplanes, all 4 aircraft carriers and a support ship Yamamoto fleet was crippled and was forced to withdraw back to Japan Battle of Midway turned the tide of the war in favor of the Allies

18. Gen. Douglas MacArthur MacArthur puts a plan to take out the Japanese along the Pacific islands Island-hop (seize islands not well defended and close to Japan) Island of Guadalcanal (where Japan was building up a huge airbase) U.S. Marines was able to get the airfield but struggled to win the island It took 6 months before the U.S. won the Battle of Guadalcanal Japan loses 24,000 on the island