Special Event-The Battle of Midway

On Saturday, June 5^th, the museum will open early for a special presentation on the Battle of Midway.  This one-hour event and follow-on flight demonstration will be held on the 79^th anniversary of the epic air and sea battle that changed the course of the war in the Pacific.  The presentation will begin at 9:00 am in the Westpac Restorations Hangar located on the museum campus. There is no additional charge for this event—just purchase a ticket to the museum and arrive early so you can be in place for the presentation.  Get Tickets

UPDATE: Interest in this event has been high and a large crowd is expected. While the museum will provide seating for most attendees, we encourage those who can to bring folding chairs to ensure that you have seating for the event.

This presentation will describe the three-pronged attack by Japanese forces that was designed to secure the eastern perimeter of Japan’s holdings in the Pacific and neutralize the United States as a naval power for the remainder of the war.  The presenter will explore how U.S. forces were able to locate the Japanese Carrier Strike Force that was leading the attack and destroy it, causing Japan to withdraw its invasion force and go on the defensive for the remainder of the war.

The story of the Battle of Midway, and its broader implications, will be presented by John Lynch, a retired U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps Commander and long-time docent at the National Museum of World War II Aviation.  John is a private pilot with a seaplane rating and a lifelong interest in Naval Aviation history and World War II.

The Battle of Midway will be presented at Westpac Restorations where an SBD Dauntless dive bomber will be on display.  The SBD was one of the keys to victory in the Battle of Midway.  The museum’s SBD will be flown following the presentation, subject to weather conditions and runway availability.

The schedule for the event is as follows:

8:00 am           Doors Open

9:00 am           Presentation

9:30 am           SBD Dauntless Walk-Around and Start-Up

9:45 am           SBD Dauntless Taxi and Take-Off

For more information contact the museum’s Front Desk at 719 637-7559.