Fought from June 4-June 7, 1942, this four-day battle marked the turning point of the war in the Pacific. Using almost entirely aircraft, US Navy Admirals Chester Nimitz, Frank Jack Fletcher, and Raymond A. Spruance were able to defend the island of Midway and deflect the attacking Imperial Japanese fleet. This was a severe blow to the Imperial Japanese Navy; they lost four carriers and were unable to cripple the US Navy as they had planned.