Changes

But perhaps Billy Mitchell’s warnings did make a difference.  In 1942 the United States sent Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle to bomb Tokyo and other Japanese cities, largely for symbolic purposes.  In May 1942, a fleet of American and Australian ships intercepted a Japanese strike force and stopped Japanese advances at the Battle of Coral Sea.  This was the first battle in world history in which both sides fought in aircraft based on aircraft carriers.

But perhaps Billy Mitchell’s warnings did make a difference.  In 1942 the United States sent Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle to bomb Tokyo and other Japanese cities, largely for symbolic purposes.  In May 1942, a fleet of American and Australian ships intercepted a Japanese strike force and stopped Japanese advances at the Battle of Coral Sea.  This was the first battle in world history in which both sides fought in aircraft based on aircraft carriers.

In June 1942, the Japanese brought together the largest naval force in the world near Midway Island in the Pacific.  The American cryptographers had by this time deciphered enough of the Japanese messages to know that there was going to be an attack on Midway, and they knew roughly when the attack would occur.  When the Japanese did attack, there was an American force waiting for them.  The Americans had home field advantage and surprise on their side, as the Japanese were not expecting the Americans to be ready. General Douglas MacArthur, commander of the Allied land forces in the Pacific, then embarked on a strategy of island-hopping to capture strategic islands surrounding Japanese positions.  The Japanese, who were trained not to surrender, fought tenaciously for months before succumbing to American and Australian forces in the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

In June 1942, the Japanese brought together the largest naval force in the world near Midway Island in the Pacific.  The American cryptographers had by this time deciphered enough of the Japanese messages to know that there was going to be an attack on Midway, and they knew roughly when the attack would occur.  When the Japanese did attack, there was an American force waiting for them.  On a reconnaissance mission an alert American soldier with superb eyesight spotted the Japanese fleet on the distant horizon.  That gave the Americans the advantage of surprise, as the Japanese were not expecting the Americans to be ready. General Douglas MacArthur, commander of the Allied land forces in the Pacific, then embarked on a strategy of island-hopping to capture strategic islands surrounding Japanese positions.  The Japanese, who were trained not to surrender, fought tenaciously for months before succumbing to American and Australian forces in the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

With the help of Americans, the Allies began to win victories against the Axis Powers in Europe.  In late 1942, the Allies won the Battle of El Alamein, and in May 1943 General Dwight Eisenhower led the Allies to a victory against the feared Afrika Korps.  Russia continued to hold its own in Stalingrad against the German army.  

With the help of Americans, the Allies began to win victories against the Axis Powers in Europe.  In late 1942, the Allies won the Battle of El Alamein, and in May 1943 General Dwight Eisenhower led the Allies to a victory against the feared Afrika Korps.  Russia continued to hold its own in Stalingrad against the German army.