Abstract

The Introduction to Turning the Tide: The Battles of Coral Sea and Midway introduces the reader to the Royal Navy's Naval Staff Histories and Battle Summaries number 45 and number 46. The first is an account of the Battle of Coral Sea in May 1942, while the second deals with the Battle of Midway in June 1942 and considered the turning point of the War. The introduction then places both battles of the Pacific War into context with an analysis of the two protagonists before the conflict as well as during the first five months prior to the battles. It also provides an in-depth assessment of their respective naval air arms, the keep players in both battles.