The film "Midway" tells the story of the Pacific War between the USA and the Japanese Empire during the Second World War. The story begins in 1937, when the American naval attaché Edwin T. Layton accepts an invitation to a banquet hosted by Admiral Yamamoto in Japan. In a personal conversation, Yamamoto - a rather moderate representative within the Japanese leadership - expresses his concern that cutting off the American oil supply could strengthen the radicals in Japanese politics.
As the film progresses, two central figures are introduced: the dive-bomber pilot Richard Halsey Best and Edwin T. Layton, who has since risen to become chief of intelligence for the US Pacific Fleet. He gives an overview of the most important stages of the early Pacific War, including:
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 was a significant historical moment that brought the United States into the war.
The first American counterattack on the Marshall Islands
The Doolittle Raid, a highly symbolic air raid on the Japanese mainland
The Battle of the Coral Sea was a major turning point, marking the first time a naval engagement took place without direct visual contact.
The movie ends in a significant confrontation that took place on Midway Island in June 1942 and was of decisive importance for the further development of the plot. Thanks to the valuable information provided by Layton, the US Navy was able to recognize the Japanese attack in advance and prepare for it tactically. Despite heavy losses and at the risk of their lives, the Americans succeeded in sinking four Japanese aircraft carriers.