[60Gunner]

Being an avid amateur naval historian, I have a collection of books on the battle of Midway including G.W. Prange's Miracle at Midway, Fuchida and Okumiya's Midway: the Battle that Doomed Japan.

But by far, the most definitive account both of the battle and the reasons why Japan's loss was not as incredible as it first seemed is Parshall and Tully's Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway. I strongly recommend it.

The Americans faced a battle-proven enemy largely with substandard aircraft and completely worthless equipment (in the cases of the Douglas TBD Devastator the Brewster F2A Buffalo, and the horrible Mark XV torpedo). An entire squadron of TBDs and their crews (save one man) was wiped out. Most torpedo planes did not make it back.

What amazing courage those men had.

[pfflier]

You might want to add Walter Lord's Incredible Victory to your list.