World War II Facilities at Midway
Encyclopedia
The World War II Facilities at Midway were built as part of the fortification leading up to World War II
. The Midway Atoll
's unique location halfway between the United States
and Japan
ensured it would hold a strategic position. This island was the site of the pivotal Battle of Midway
which shifted the balance of sea power towards the United States
.
The military shut down all of its bases by 1993, handing over control to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
. The islands remain mostly uninhabited and unvisited. They are part of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1987.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Midway Atoll
Midway Atoll
Midway Atoll is a atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, near the northwestern end of the Hawaiian archipelago, about one-third of the way between Honolulu, Hawaii, and Tokyo, Japan. Unique among the Hawaiian islands, Midway observes UTC-11 , eleven hours behind Coordinated Universal Time and one hour...
's unique location halfway between the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ensured it would hold a strategic position. This island was the site of the pivotal Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
which shifted the balance of sea power towards the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The military shut down all of its bases by 1993, handing over control to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
. The islands remain mostly uninhabited and unvisited. They are part of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1987.