Authors

Mark E. Horan
A full-time computer teacher in a technical high school and an avid military historian, particularly WWII and Civil War. Areas of special interest include the carrier operations in 1942, The Finnish Air Force in WWII, USA Airborne Operations in WWII, and Order of Battle for the Civil War and WWII.

Co-authored "A Glorious Page in Our History" on the Battle of Midway, as well as several articles. Was a featured speaker at the 5oth Anniversary Battle of Midway Symposium in 1992.

Also participates in Civil War (Co. A, 7th Va. Cav.) and WWII re-enacting (E/2/506 PIR/101 AbnD).

Books

A Glorious Page in Our History
Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, Inc
107 South 3rd Street, Missoula Montana 59801
ISBN 0-929521-40-4

------The absolute best book on the subject that I have read, period. This subject details the air attacks made by both sides like no other. It also includes a chapter on the history of Midway, something unique to the many books on the subject. I have spoken with two of the authors of this magnificent work.

Miracle at Midway
Prange, Gordon W. with Donald M. Goldstein and Katherine V. Dillon
New York: McGraw-Hill, 1982

------Not as good as A Glorious Page in Our History, and if you can get past some of the errors it is a good work. This book excels in its detail of Japanese planning and the United States response. It also includes extensive post-battle evaluations from both the Japanese and United States perspective. Additional works by Prange include At Dawn We Slept and Pearl Harbor: The Verdict of History.

The First Team, Pacific Naval Air Combat From Pearl Harbor To Midway
Lundstrom, John B.
Naval Institute Press.

-----THE book on United States Naval fighter operations from December 1941 through June 1942. Not only does it give complete coverage of Midway, but every naval action from Pearl Harbor on. I have met and talked with John, who personally has been very supportive and helpful in clarifying many of Midway's "mysteries." I would also recommend Fateful Rendezvous, by John and Steve Ewing, a great book covering the live of Edward "Butch" O'Hare.

Incredible Victory
Lord, Walter
Harper & Row, 1967.

------Walter Lord has always been a favorite of mine. While his book is quite old and lacks some of the research of new books, it is probably the second best "Midway" book behind A Glorious Page in Our History. Lord writes books which are a pleasure to read and are full of stories and anecdotes that bring the men to life. Day of Infamy, Lord's look at Pearl Harbor, is another must read.

Midway: the Battle That Doomed Japan.
Fuchida, Mitsuo and Masatake Okumiya.
Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute,1955

------ A great Japanese perspective book. It is somewhat brief in it actually discussion of the battle itself, being written mostly from Fuchida's perspective. However, much of its analysis forms the basis for other looks at post-battle Japanese reaction.

The Following Are Submitted by Craig Burke

Midway: the Battle That Doomed Japan.
Fuchida, Mitsuo and Masatake Okumiya.
Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute,1955

------ This is a first-hand account of the Battle from the man who lead the bombers in over Pearl Harbor, and who was sidelined for Midway by illness. Especially good is the analysis of the Battle at the back of the book.

Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, USN.
Forrestel, Vice Admiral E.P.
Washington D.C.: U.S.Government Printing Office, 1966

------ This book pays surprisingly little attention to the most famous battle this admiral ever fought, yet is a good account of a great admiral.

Yamamoto.
Hoyt, Edwin P.
New York: McGraw-Hill, 1990

------ A good reference to see what the Japanese were thinking.

Nimitz.
Potter, E.B.
Annapolis Md.: Naval Institute Press, 1976

------ An all-around good reference into the mind and career of the United States' premier architect of the victory

Titans of the Seas.
Belote, James H. and William M. Belote.
New York: Harper and Row, 1975

-----Currently out of print, this book gives a good account of all aspects of the naval war in the Pacific.

 

The Following Are Submitted by Richard Leonard

The First Team, Pacific Naval Air Combat From Pearl Harbor To Midway
Lundstrom, John B.
Naval Institute Press.

-----This book and it's follow on THE FIRST TEAM AND THE GAUDALCANAL CAMPAIGN are considered to be the definitive classics on naval air fighter operations for the periods covered.

That Gallant Ship, USS Yorktown, CV5
Cressman, Robert
Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, Inc

------A nice run at the subject.

Midway - Turning Point Of The Pacific
Smith, William W., VADM USN (Ret.)
Thomas Y Crowell and Co, 1966

Rendezvous At Midway -- USS Yorktown And The Japanese Carrier Fleet
Frank, Pat and Joseph Harrington
John Day Company, 1967

------Another mid-'60's book. Pretty sure there's been no recent editions. Pretty good, was one of the first to point out the disproportionate share of effort put forth by Air Group 5 in defeating the Japanese at Midway.

Incredible Victory
Lord, Walter
Harper & Row, 1967.

------A good general account of the battle for its time. Lord is extremely readable.

 

On-Line Resources

Battle of Midway Discussion Group
Mark E. Horan
Midway Circular E-mail Group by Bill Price

If you have a favorite resource you would like to see on this page, e-mail me, and I'll post it here. Unless other wise noted, these sources are provided by the author.

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