idway is a tiny atoll that became the location for the most decisive naval battle in the Pacific War. It should have been an easy victory for the Japanese: their battle fleet vastly outgunned its US rivals and pitted four carriers against three, while their pilots were far more experienced and flew much better aircraft. Yet somehow the Americans turned the Japanese trap at Midway into a bold ambush, gambling everything they had to sink the four Japanese carriers. But they had to take a huge risk to do it.