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The Silver Waterfall: How America Won the War in the Pacific at Midway
Eighty years after the stunning and decisive battle, a revelatory new history of Midway
The Battle of Midway was, on paper, an improbable victory for the smaller, less experienced American navy and air force, so much so that it was quickly described as “a miracle.” Yet fortune favored the Americans at Midway, and the conventional wisdom has it that the Americans’ lucky streak continued as the war in the Pacific turned against the Japanese. This new history demonstrates that luck, let alone miracles, had little to do with it.
In The Silver Waterfall , Brendan Simms and Steven McGregor show how the efforts of America’s peacetime navy combined with creative innovations made by designers and industrialists were largely responsible for the victory. The Douglas Dauntless Dive Bomber, a uniquely conceived fighting weapon, delivered a brutally accurate attack the Japanese quickly came to dread.
Told through a vivid narrative, Simms and McGregor show how the course of the war in the Pacific was dramatically altered, emphasizing the crucial combination of a culture of innovation, a brilliant contribution from immigrants, and a vital intelligence coup that allowed the navy to orchestrate the devastating attack on the Japanese and dominate the Pacific for good.
The Battle of Midway was, on paper, an improbable victory for the smaller, less experienced American navy and air force, so much so that it was quickly described as “a miracle.” Yet fortune favored the Americans at Midway, and the conventional wisdom has it that the Americans’ lucky streak continued as the war in the Pacific turned against the Japanese. This new history demonstrates that luck, let alone miracles, had little to do with it.
In The Silver Waterfall , Brendan Simms and Steven McGregor show how the efforts of America’s peacetime navy combined with creative innovations made by designers and industrialists were largely responsible for the victory. The Douglas Dauntless Dive Bomber, a uniquely conceived fighting weapon, delivered a brutally accurate attack the Japanese quickly came to dread.
Told through a vivid narrative, Simms and McGregor show how the course of the war in the Pacific was dramatically altered, emphasizing the crucial combination of a culture of innovation, a brilliant contribution from immigrants, and a vital intelligence coup that allowed the navy to orchestrate the devastating attack on the Japanese and dominate the Pacific for good.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 17, 2022
30 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Brendan Simms
33 books64 followersBrendan Peter Simms is Professor of the History of International Relations in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge. Simms studied at Trinity College Dublin, where he was elected a scholar in history in 1986, before completing his doctoral dissertation, Anglo-Prussian relations, 1804-1806: The Napoleonic Threat, at Cambridge under the supervision of Professor Tim Blanning in 1993. A Fellow of Peterhouse, he lectures and leads seminars on international history since 1945
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September 14, 2024
我不知道對一位頗有點歷史常識美國人來說，談到二戰，他們第一個想到的是什麼：珍珠港？諾曼第？不過我猜肯定有中途島吧。這場仗常被冠以什麼「奇蹟」、「不可思議」之類的形容詞，描述成一場驚心動魄大逆轉的決定性會戰。不過隨著時間的流逝，人們逐漸冷靜下來之後，也就漸漸地更能審慎地觀察以及重新評價。並不是說要否決中途島之戰的重要性，事實上，以國力的差距而言，即使輸了這場戰役，美國也未必會輸掉這場戰爭。然而，以足球比賽來作比喻，對於落後一方來說，以二比零跟二比一兩種不同比分進入下半場，對球員士氣跟壓力是不可一概而論的；美國當時太需要一場重大的勝利來挽救民心了，它讓華盛頓能夠繼續堅持「歐洲優先」的戰略，也讓軍隊的自信心能夠以所恢復。
此外，這場戰役也不再被那麼被視為一種「奇蹟」。確實，正如一句歌詞中說的：「三分天註定，七分靠打拼」，美國在戰前的工業基礎與軍事力量，還有在這場戰役前的準備，才是造就「奇蹟」發生的根本。現實終究是不存在神明，不可能憑空就有一些幸運的事發生。
那麼，在眾多關於中途島的著作中，這本《銀翼狂潮》又有何特殊之處嗎？我在閱讀之前問了這個問題。
其實就是兩位作者觀察這場戰役的切入點相當的新穎。所謂「工欲善其事，必先利其器」，他們選擇從在這場戰役中立下赫赫功勞的關鍵武器：SBD無畏式俯衝轟炸機--其設計師、開發過程--的故事開始說起。這架飛機的設計人愛德華‧海尼曼是德裔，這並不妨礙其對美國的奉獻。他本人是「美國夢」跟「美國空中帝國」的縮影，而海尼曼的成功，標誌著華盛頓在這方面的投資獲得了報酬，並成為他們取得二十世紀霸權的原因：以出色的人才建立的航空工業為基礎，源源不斷設計出最優秀跟先進的飛機，取得制空權，贏得戰爭，進而成為最大的贏家。關於這角度的論點，台灣的八旗出版社之前引進的「興亡的世界史」《空中帝國．美國的二十世紀》中有更豐富的討論，有興趣的可以延伸閱讀。
接下來比較中規中矩。兩位作者跟著討論指揮官、飛行員，從背景、成長過程跟面臨的境況等談起，讓我想到了之前讀過的伊恩‧托爾（Ian W. Toll）的《太平洋戰爭三部曲》，也是這般寫法，同樣都是相當細膩的微觀寫法，可讀性高。
兩位作者的身分背景略為不同，布蘭登‧西姆斯（Brendan Simms）明顯的是偏戰略部分，史蒂文‧麥格雷戈（Steven McGregor）應該是負責細部戰史，所以，個人覺得書的最後結論部分應該是前者執筆。這本書有簡體版，我在想這段會被「修正」多少。
作者明顯直言，如今西太平洋又開始戰雲密布，昔日的敵人今日是盟友，而過去聯合的卻已經變成對手。但是中國的龐大國力遠優於日本，而美國看上去卻已遠非1941年那時般尤是沉睡中的工業巨人，反而更像是垂垂老矣的王者，面臨挑戰可能會力不從心。
作者有句話說得不錯，儘管目前檯面上大家都把自己的武器吹的震天響，但實際上發揮只有臨場了才能見真章，烏俄戰爭已經給當代的軍事界帶來了很多深遠的教訓，特別是無人機的空中作戰之運用，彷如當年飛機在制海權爭奪上，對戰鬥艦艇壓倒性優勢給人們的震撼。日本人當年最先嘗到勝利的滋味，但卻沒有保持到最後，如今不會有人再重蹈覆轍(吧)。不過，由於如今資訊相當的透明化，大家所能掌握的並不會出現太可怕的落差，因此，那種斷崖式的懸殊差距恐不復見，兩個大國之間的交鋒很高的機率是兩敗俱傷。作者在書的結尾依然老調重彈的呼籲：好戰必亡，但忘戰必危。在如此戰雲密布的當下，要更加的戒慎恐懼。
歷史的記憶並非是直接拿來做粗暴的類比，今時今日要在發生類似珍珠港或中途島那樣的奇襲或決定性的會戰並不容易，然而，當初如何犯下錯誤或贏得勝利，卻是值得銘記的。這本書篇幅適中，可讀性高，不想讀大部頭作品的可以考慮。
PS：書中有提到2019年拍的那部中途島電影，有大量中國資金挹注，箇中原由，頗有意思，或許反映了他們對日美之間的觀點。
此外，這場戰役也不再被那麼被視為一種「奇蹟」。確實，正如一句歌詞中說的：「三分天註定，七分靠打拼」，美國在戰前的工業基礎與軍事力量，還有在這場戰役前的準備，才是造就「奇蹟」發生的根本。現實終究是不存在神明，不可能憑空就有一些幸運的事發生。
那麼，在眾多關於中途島的著作中，這本《銀翼狂潮》又有何特殊之處嗎？我在閱讀之前問了這個問題。
其實就是兩位作者觀察這場戰役的切入點相當的新穎。所謂「工欲善其事，必先利其器」，他們選擇從在這場戰役中立下赫赫功勞的關鍵武器：SBD無畏式俯衝轟炸機--其設計師、開發過程--的故事開始說起。這架飛機的設計人愛德華‧海尼曼是德裔，這並不妨礙其對美國的奉獻。他本人是「美國夢」跟「美國空中帝國」的縮影，而海尼曼的成功，標誌著華盛頓在這方面的投資獲得了報酬，並成為他們取得二十世紀霸權的原因：以出色的人才建立的航空工業為基礎，源源不斷設計出最優秀跟先進的飛機，取得制空權，贏得戰爭，進而成為最大的贏家。關於這角度的論點，台灣的八旗出版社之前引進的「興亡的世界史」《空中帝國．美國的二十世紀》中有更豐富的討論，有興趣的可以延伸閱讀。
接下來比較中規中矩。兩位作者跟著討論指揮官、飛行員，從背景、成長過程跟面臨的境況等談起，讓我想到了之前讀過的伊恩‧托爾（Ian W. Toll）的《太平洋戰爭三部曲》，也是這般寫法，同樣都是相當細膩的微觀寫法，可讀性高。
兩位作者的身分背景略為不同，布蘭登‧西姆斯（Brendan Simms）明顯的是偏戰略部分，史蒂文‧麥格雷戈（Steven McGregor）應該是負責細部戰史，所以，個人覺得書的最後結論部分應該是前者執筆。這本書有簡體版，我在想這段會被「修正」多少。
作者明顯直言，如今西太平洋又開始戰雲密布，昔日的敵人今日是盟友，而過去聯合的卻已經變成對手。但是中國的龐大國力遠優於日本，而美國看上去卻已遠非1941年那時般尤是沉睡中的工業巨人，反而更像是垂垂老矣的王者，面臨挑戰可能會力不從心。
作者有句話說得不錯，儘管目前檯面上大家都把自己的武器吹的震天響，但實際上發揮只有臨場了才能見真章，烏俄戰爭已經給當代的軍事界帶來了很多深遠的教訓，特別是無人機的空中作戰之運用，彷如當年飛機在制海權爭奪上，對戰鬥艦艇壓倒性優勢給人們的震撼。日本人當年最先嘗到勝利的滋味，但卻沒有保持到最後，如今不會有人再重蹈覆轍(吧)。不過，由於如今資訊相當的透明化，大家所能掌握的並不會出現太可怕的落差，因此，那種斷崖式的懸殊差距恐不復見，兩個大國之間的交鋒很高的機率是兩敗俱傷。作者在書的結尾依然老調重彈的呼籲：好戰必亡，但忘戰必危。在如此戰雲密布的當下，要更加的戒慎恐懼。
歷史的記憶並非是直接拿來做粗暴的類比，今時今日要在發生類似珍珠港或中途島那樣的奇襲或決定性的會戰並不容易，然而，當初如何犯下錯誤或贏得勝利，卻是值得銘記的。這本書篇幅適中，可讀性高，不想讀大部頭作品的可以考慮。
PS：書中有提到2019年拍的那部中途島電影，有大量中國資金挹注，箇中原由，頗有意思，或許反映了他們對日美之間的觀點。
December 22, 2021
I have recently concluded my read of an illuminating book, sort of a technical history, entitled "The Silver Waterfall: How America Won the War in the Pacific at Midway." The ARC was provided to me by the publisher, Public Affairs. There have obviously been many books and even films on the Battle of Midway; superb narrative histories are out there for those of you looking to review the details of the battle itself. Even a spate of recent novels fictionalizing the action at Midway offer much to the discerning reader. This book, however, sets itself apart in that it examines at some length the weapons and tactical doctrines as well as procedures and protocols adapted by the warring powers. I found its discussion of weapons systems, principally the U. S. Navy aircraft and carriers and their Japanese opponents, a refreshing change from a more routine recitation of who bombed who when. Looking at things like the different procedures for storing aircraft on board and fire control procedures is very revealing in this context and had an enormous influence on the outcome of this crucial battle. For the reader who has never looked at these details, it is most enlightening. It is a very worthwhile addition to anyone interested not just in what happened but why it happened the way it did. I recommend it without reservation!
July 14, 2022
This book was mediocre at best. I wondered what else could be said new about midway and the answer to that is nothing. This book has offers absolutely nothing new, in fact, it relies heavily on previously published books for most of the information. It is heavily sourced so that was at least interesting in case you want to read the actual books relied on to complete this one.
I stuck around because my favorite midway pilot, Dusty Kleiss was mentioned early and since I love him, I wanted to see his contribution to this work. Well, you should really just read his autobiography Never Call Me a Hero because that is a far superior account and much more engaging read. Also, I’d recommend pacific payback or the battle of midway as absolutely way better books if you are interested in Midway.
I won’t go into the last chapter as it was all a bunch of blow hard drivel and quotes from far superior sources and not even worth the read. I’m disappointed in this book. Hell, they even use the movie from 2019 as a source. And that was funded by the Chinese.
In summary, there are far better books on Midway available and this one is not worth the time.
I stuck around because my favorite midway pilot, Dusty Kleiss was mentioned early and since I love him, I wanted to see his contribution to this work. Well, you should really just read his autobiography Never Call Me a Hero because that is a far superior account and much more engaging read. Also, I’d recommend pacific payback or the battle of midway as absolutely way better books if you are interested in Midway.
I won’t go into the last chapter as it was all a bunch of blow hard drivel and quotes from far superior sources and not even worth the read. I’m disappointed in this book. Hell, they even use the movie from 2019 as a source. And that was funded by the Chinese.
In summary, there are far better books on Midway available and this one is not worth the time.
April 26, 2022
Professor Brendan Simms has added a very important addition to the history of the Pacific War. Few instances can be identified in Military History that truly showed a clear victor and path forward. Midway is one such path. While this is no "Miracle at Midway" it is well written and provides a reminder of how pivotal this battle truly was. The United States Navy during this battle broke the back of the Imperial Japanese Navy and began the slow methodical slog towards Tokyo and victory.
February 20, 2023
I was hoping this book would be a good serious history of the battle, based on some of the reviews I'd read. Sadly, it isn't. It's a popular history, and not one of the best. The book is split into roughly 3 parts, though for my review, I'll place chapter 6 in the middle and not at the end, as the authors do. Also, there are some very minor historical errors which I'm sure would get some people upset, but they didn't seem that big to me and there weren't a lot, or at least I stopped noticing them.
The beginning is about 48% of the book (excluding the extensive note section, which is 21 pages long).
Pros:
This does a very good job of giving the biography of the people involved. The details about Edward Heinemann, the designer of the Dauntless, and Norman Kleiss, a dive bomber pilot, are excellent. Others like Nimitz, Yamamoto, McClusky, and Best are very well detailed. One thing the authors do very well is to avoid bringing in a lot of negative baggage about the people they discuss. They avoid, for the most part, "taking sides" on these often controversial figures and stick with their narrative. The description of the equipment is also very good. The development of the Dauntless dive bomber is gone into in much detail. There are a lot of fascinating details that the authors bring out which help explain the uniqueness of the Dauntless.
Cons:
They talk about the Dauntless dive bomber way too much. I wouldn't be surprised if the authors have the Monogram 1:48 model of the Dauntless with working dive breaks, retracting landing gear, and bomb release on their desks. Yes, it's a very rugged and well built plane and it's the plane that "won the battle", but give it a rest. The authors also fall into the "historian's fallacy" with regards to the idea that everybody knew that US torpedoes didn't work. YES, a lot of people did know that compared to the Japanese and to almost everybody else’s torpedoes, the US ones didn't seem to work. But what everybody also knew back then was that torpedoes sank ships, think about Taranto, the Bismarck, Pearl Harbor, the HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse. Dive bombers might render a ship unable to fight, but putting a hole in it for seawater to get in was the way to sink it. So the US emphasis on torpedo planes is not unreasonable.
The middle, actual battle part takes about 31% (I'm including the Inferno chapter).
Pros:
Here the authors do a very good job of welding the personal observations of participants with details of what is happening. The time line layout is clear, and makes it easy for someone not familiar with the battle to easily follow what is often a very confusing story. The description of the damage to the Kaga, Akagi, and Soryu is excellent. The fires, secondary explosions and inability to contain the spreading fires spells the doom for the three Japanese carriers. Contrasting that is the two attacks on the USS Yorktown. The Yorktown's damage control is able to handle bomb and torpedo damage and keep the ship afloat.
Cons:
Hello what about the Hiryu? After doing a excellent job describing the loss of the three carriers, the authors sort of just mention the US sank the fourth one. Also, the authors seem to downplay the role of luck in the outcome. They stress the high level of training the dive bomber pilots had and the remarkable airplane that the Dauntless was. This somewhat contradicts their statements that a fair number of the pilots were new and had little experience. They also said that for a significant number this would be their first time in combat.
The end or legacy part takes about 18%.
Pros:
I'm sure I'll think of something later.
Cons:
Reading the history of the history of the battle isn't really that interesting. Reviewing movies about the battle, even less. There's a reason historicist conventions don't attract large crowds. Reading the speculation about what all this means for the last 50 years is not as effective as melatonin, but it's close. I really think you could cut the ending to about 4 pages and end up with a much better book.
The beginning is about 48% of the book (excluding the extensive note section, which is 21 pages long).
Pros:
This does a very good job of giving the biography of the people involved. The details about Edward Heinemann, the designer of the Dauntless, and Norman Kleiss, a dive bomber pilot, are excellent. Others like Nimitz, Yamamoto, McClusky, and Best are very well detailed. One thing the authors do very well is to avoid bringing in a lot of negative baggage about the people they discuss. They avoid, for the most part, "taking sides" on these often controversial figures and stick with their narrative. The description of the equipment is also very good. The development of the Dauntless dive bomber is gone into in much detail. There are a lot of fascinating details that the authors bring out which help explain the uniqueness of the Dauntless.
Cons:
They talk about the Dauntless dive bomber way too much. I wouldn't be surprised if the authors have the Monogram 1:48 model of the Dauntless with working dive breaks, retracting landing gear, and bomb release on their desks. Yes, it's a very rugged and well built plane and it's the plane that "won the battle", but give it a rest. The authors also fall into the "historian's fallacy" with regards to the idea that everybody knew that US torpedoes didn't work. YES, a lot of people did know that compared to the Japanese and to almost everybody else’s torpedoes, the US ones didn't seem to work. But what everybody also knew back then was that torpedoes sank ships, think about Taranto, the Bismarck, Pearl Harbor, the HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse. Dive bombers might render a ship unable to fight, but putting a hole in it for seawater to get in was the way to sink it. So the US emphasis on torpedo planes is not unreasonable.
The middle, actual battle part takes about 31% (I'm including the Inferno chapter).
Pros:
Here the authors do a very good job of welding the personal observations of participants with details of what is happening. The time line layout is clear, and makes it easy for someone not familiar with the battle to easily follow what is often a very confusing story. The description of the damage to the Kaga, Akagi, and Soryu is excellent. The fires, secondary explosions and inability to contain the spreading fires spells the doom for the three Japanese carriers. Contrasting that is the two attacks on the USS Yorktown. The Yorktown's damage control is able to handle bomb and torpedo damage and keep the ship afloat.
Cons:
Hello what about the Hiryu? After doing a excellent job describing the loss of the three carriers, the authors sort of just mention the US sank the fourth one. Also, the authors seem to downplay the role of luck in the outcome. They stress the high level of training the dive bomber pilots had and the remarkable airplane that the Dauntless was. This somewhat contradicts their statements that a fair number of the pilots were new and had little experience. They also said that for a significant number this would be their first time in combat.
The end or legacy part takes about 18%.
Pros:
I'm sure I'll think of something later.
Cons:
Reading the history of the history of the battle isn't really that interesting. Reviewing movies about the battle, even less. There's a reason historicist conventions don't attract large crowds. Reading the speculation about what all this means for the last 50 years is not as effective as melatonin, but it's close. I really think you could cut the ending to about 4 pages and end up with a much better book.
July 4, 2022
Fascinating history lesson.
May 24, 2022
Brendan Simms and Steven McGregor are the authors of several history books. The book The Silver Waterfall: How America Won the War in the Pacific at Midway was published earlier this month.
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Due to some scenes of violence, I categorize this book as PG.
This book covers the battle at Midway. Unlike many works of history, this story is told from both the Japanese and the US perspectives. The book tells the history of US dive bombers and, in particular, the Douglas SBD Dauntless. A lot of consideration is given to the development of the Dauntless. Many consider the battle at Midway the turning point of the war in the Pacific. The US Navy achieved an unexpected victory over the more experienced Japanese. The procedures and tactics of both the Japanese and US fleets are reviewed. Some of the exploits of individual pilots on both sides are followed.
I enjoyed the 6+ hours I spent reading this 354-page WWII history. Unlike so many books on history, this book was an exciting read. If you are interested in the history of the Pacific Theater or naval aviation, you will enjoy this book. I like the chosen cover art. I give this book a rating of 4.5 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Due to some scenes of violence, I categorize this book as PG.
This book covers the battle at Midway. Unlike many works of history, this story is told from both the Japanese and the US perspectives. The book tells the history of US dive bombers and, in particular, the Douglas SBD Dauntless. A lot of consideration is given to the development of the Dauntless. Many consider the battle at Midway the turning point of the war in the Pacific. The US Navy achieved an unexpected victory over the more experienced Japanese. The procedures and tactics of both the Japanese and US fleets are reviewed. Some of the exploits of individual pilots on both sides are followed.
I enjoyed the 6+ hours I spent reading this 354-page WWII history. Unlike so many books on history, this book was an exciting read. If you are interested in the history of the Pacific Theater or naval aviation, you will enjoy this book. I like the chosen cover art. I give this book a rating of 4.5 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
December 1, 2024
Brendan Simms and Steven McGregor's *The Silver Waterfall: How America Won the War in the Pacific at Midway* offers a detailed and engaging account of the pivotal Battle of Midway.
Seldom said or told in documentaries, I didn’t even know that there is Midway Atoll somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. The famous scene that made US entered WW2 is said to be the attack of to Pearl Harbour Hawaii by Japan with its first wave under the lead of Mitsuo Fuchida.
The authors emphasize American ingenuity and strategy, highlighting key figures like aviation engineer Gustave Heinemann and Admiral Chester Nimitz. Through primary sources, they vividly recreate the chaos of battle, illustrating both tactical failures and successes.
One notable difference is about Japan thought of superiority on their battleship, while aircraft carriers had changed warfare at that time. The status difference of pilot officer and maintenance crew between Japan and US Navy turns out to be a story. Ship design also matters, taking a good balance between speed of deployment during warfare, and soundness of daily stowage.
The quick attack to deter enemies that Japan has hoped to achieve turned out to be too hard to materialise, regardless of all the improvements in war technology. In the end, manufacturing capability of a certain country becomes the key of winning a war in the long run.
The narrative also draws parallels to contemporary military challenges, warning against complacency in the face of rising powers like China. This book is a compelling blend of history and analysis, appealing to both enthusiasts and scholars alike.
Seldom said or told in documentaries, I didn’t even know that there is Midway Atoll somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. The famous scene that made US entered WW2 is said to be the attack of to Pearl Harbour Hawaii by Japan with its first wave under the lead of Mitsuo Fuchida.
The authors emphasize American ingenuity and strategy, highlighting key figures like aviation engineer Gustave Heinemann and Admiral Chester Nimitz. Through primary sources, they vividly recreate the chaos of battle, illustrating both tactical failures and successes.
One notable difference is about Japan thought of superiority on their battleship, while aircraft carriers had changed warfare at that time. The status difference of pilot officer and maintenance crew between Japan and US Navy turns out to be a story. Ship design also matters, taking a good balance between speed of deployment during warfare, and soundness of daily stowage.
The quick attack to deter enemies that Japan has hoped to achieve turned out to be too hard to materialise, regardless of all the improvements in war technology. In the end, manufacturing capability of a certain country becomes the key of winning a war in the long run.
The narrative also draws parallels to contemporary military challenges, warning against complacency in the face of rising powers like China. This book is a compelling blend of history and analysis, appealing to both enthusiasts and scholars alike.
December 28, 2022
Another Midway book? I don't read this book if it wasn't for the great cover art as I kept thinking I'm SO over the Pacific War. Fact is I'm not AS over the Pacific War or the Midway battle as I thought. Thank you Brendan Simms for pulling me back into this and having more to say then what's already been said. This is certainly a blow by blow of what happened, but it's also an origin story of how every one came together to the intersection fatefully known as The Battle of Midway. The book delves into the backgrounds of not only the staff, pilots, and commanders, but the planes and ships that won and lost the battle. The doctrines and training that both sides undertook months and even years in advance are dealt with heavily here. Once it comes time for the main battle, it is retold in a thoroughly engaging narrative and it almost felt like I was listening to what happened for the first time. I appreciated the fact the author spent as much time as his research would allow him to explain the Japanese perspective and what they were going through as the battle and aftermath unfolded. The cherry on top though for me was the final chapter. Here the author lays out his rebuttal\thesis of the battle, not as an after-action report, but the effects it has on us today as an American society decades later. He works through the myths and counter arguments and gives his own opinions in a very convincing way. I think this (**sigh**) is just another great Midway\Pacific book that has to be recommended. Sorry you WW2 enthusiasts....go grab it!
June 29, 2023
I'm going to be 100% honest and say up front that the art deco cover of this book made it a must-have for me. You don't see many books on WW2 or the Pacific War in particular with covers like this one, and it pulled me right in. It didn't hurt that the topic is one that I love learning more about, but the cover is a winner.
I've read many books on the Battle of Midway, but this one takes a different approach by looking at the background of three men, all Americans of German descent, who had a significant impact on the outcome of one of the most important naval battles in the Pacific War and possibly in world history. The three men were Ed Heinemann (who designed the SBD Dauntless dive bomber), Admiral Chester Nimitz (Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet, and Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas), and Norman Jack "Dusty" Kleiss (dive bomber pilot, Scouting Squadron Six, USS Enterprise). The book doesn't have nearly as much detail on the battle as many other books that are available, but the unique take on the three German Americans' contribution to the American victory at Midway makes the book worth reading for me.
I think the title is a little misleading as the author doesn't really explain why he believes that America won the war at Midway. He doesn't even claim that it was the "turning point" that it is so often called. The claim he does seem to make is that the SBD Dauntlesses and the pilots who flew them were the indispensable weapon that won the battle for the US Navy.
I've read many books on the Battle of Midway, but this one takes a different approach by looking at the background of three men, all Americans of German descent, who had a significant impact on the outcome of one of the most important naval battles in the Pacific War and possibly in world history. The three men were Ed Heinemann (who designed the SBD Dauntless dive bomber), Admiral Chester Nimitz (Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet, and Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas), and Norman Jack "Dusty" Kleiss (dive bomber pilot, Scouting Squadron Six, USS Enterprise). The book doesn't have nearly as much detail on the battle as many other books that are available, but the unique take on the three German Americans' contribution to the American victory at Midway makes the book worth reading for me.
I think the title is a little misleading as the author doesn't really explain why he believes that America won the war at Midway. He doesn't even claim that it was the "turning point" that it is so often called. The claim he does seem to make is that the SBD Dauntlesses and the pilots who flew them were the indispensable weapon that won the battle for the US Navy.
May 31, 2022
“The Silver Waterfall: How America won the war in the Pacific at Midway,” by Brendan Sims and Steven McGregor (Public Affairs, 2022). After all the books I’ve read about Midway, and the movies, this is the clearest, quickest, most intense recounting not just of the battle itself, but of all the planning that came before, from the end of World War I. the struggle between the battleship and carrier factions, the progress of the war to that point, and most interesting (to me), the story of Ed Heinemann and the SBD Dauntless diver bomber he designed. (and none of the sentences in the book are as long as that one). It was fighter pilot Jimmy Thach, spotting the Dauntlesses high above as they began their dives, who described the sight as “a beautiful silver waterfall.” Great book. Now I’m going to watch the movie again.
https://www.publicaffairsbooks.com/ti...
https://www.publicaffairsbooks.com/ti...
June 19, 2022
The authors attack conventional interpretations of the US naval victory at Midway as the result of luck or a "miracle." They point to the prewar development of the Douglas Dauntless dive-bomber, the strategic vision of senior (largely German-American) naval leaders, and the skill of seasoned pilots as advantages that contributed to the stunning defeat of the Japanese fleet. Simms amd McGregor offer a detailed account of the battle, using not only official records but also memoirs of survivors. Their well-written account provides a more complete analysis of the conflict, but I would not discard luck or happenstance entirely, particularly decisions by the Japanese command that aided the US forces.
March 23, 2023
The authors presented the battle way different than other historical accounts of this battle and others. Starting with details on development of the Dauntless dive bomber and its chief engineer. Lacking that unique airplane it would not have been possible to sink 4 Japanese carriers. The torpedo plane attacks were not effective as they were shot down and the torpedo if they hit a ship won't go off. The authors had access to a lot of first hand accounts from the Americans and Japanese. So there are first hand accounts of what the enemy saw and experienced during the battle. Continue to end of book after the battle as the author's provide a historical perspective especially with the Pacific area threat from China in 21st century.
May 31, 2025
3.75 Solid summary of a single battle—and arguably the most important Naval battle of the 20th Century—in the Pacific Theater. It didn’t try to do more than summarize the battle by straying too far into a broader view of the war or the global politics leading to it. It also provides a solid addition to the various histories of the battle by focusing on the role the Douglas Dauntless dive bomber played in the US victory and how it may have been the best dive bomber of WWII. The biggest gripe I have is the shift in tone from the historical summary to an advocacy piece about expanding the Navy to counter China or face “another Midway” as China has learned the lessons of the battle. Major eye roll with the tone deaf shift in narrative.
June 15, 2024
Not great. In parts, the narrative is a bit scrambled, with sentences that could have worked well in other paragraphs and choppy non-connections between paragraphs.
There's a lot of information here, but it's not much I haven't read in other books.
The authors are very enthusiastic about dive-bombers and the Dauntless in particular, but their data is sometimes off (i.e. combat range is not the same as ferry range, the Dauntless definitely did not have an 800-1100 mile combat radius). Their enthusiasm causes the authors to overlook the necessary role of torpedo bombers and level bombers anachronistically.
The final chapter, about the historical legacy of the battle, was interesting in parts, but I'm really sure that the movie "Star Wars" was not "hardly more than the Battle of Midway set in space"?
There's a lot of information here, but it's not much I haven't read in other books.
The authors are very enthusiastic about dive-bombers and the Dauntless in particular, but their data is sometimes off (i.e. combat range is not the same as ferry range, the Dauntless definitely did not have an 800-1100 mile combat radius). Their enthusiasm causes the authors to overlook the necessary role of torpedo bombers and level bombers anachronistically.
The final chapter, about the historical legacy of the battle, was interesting in parts, but I'm really sure that the movie "Star Wars" was not "hardly more than the Battle of Midway set in space"?
December 9, 2025
Really great. Enjoyed the theme that this was possible because of the efforts of German-Americans to fight back against the axis in the Pacific.
I just did not enjoy the emphasis of procurement to curb future pacific naval conflict. It just doesn’t mesh with the hard numbers that the U.S. military budget being in the trillions. Sure, it’s far to say China is comparable in the Pacific. China’s naval capabilities are steadily rising, they obviously have a great industrial base, and they have mapped out projection into the pacific with the string of pearls initiative. I just don’t think increasing military allocation to even greater heights, is a solution.
I just did not enjoy the emphasis of procurement to curb future pacific naval conflict. It just doesn’t mesh with the hard numbers that the U.S. military budget being in the trillions. Sure, it’s far to say China is comparable in the Pacific. China’s naval capabilities are steadily rising, they obviously have a great industrial base, and they have mapped out projection into the pacific with the string of pearls initiative. I just don’t think increasing military allocation to even greater heights, is a solution.
May 17, 2022
This book is great for World War II buffs! I myself have only just started to dabble into history novels that do deep dives into the events that happened in this bloody war but found this one to be an exceptionally educational read. Anyone interested in the air resources that led to the victory in this pivotal battle will want to pick this up.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
August 14, 2022
This is an excellent perspective on what we now know to be true about the battle of Midway, how it was won and what forces contributed the most. The final chapter is a prescient comment on the current state of affairs in the South Pacific, with the important conclusion that the USA is subject to a Pearl Harbor-style attack by our enemy, but can no longer count on a Midway success to reverse the coming war.
Read it.
Read it.
August 26, 2025
A thoughtful and well-written historical account of the Battle of Midway. It is not revisionist but like many historical studies it views its subject through the lens of additional time and thought. There are chapters on the Dauntless bomber and its construction. Chapters on pilots and commanding officers. Finally chapters on the battle aftermath and its treatment in books and films.
An enjoyable read.
An enjoyable read.
November 22, 2022
The Silver Waterfall Great informative history.
New take on the battle of Midway with emphasis on the development of the combat systems and personnel that won the battle. An incredibly informative review of the battle and an extensive historiography of how and why the battle was won.
New take on the battle of Midway with emphasis on the development of the combat systems and personnel that won the battle. An incredibly informative review of the battle and an extensive historiography of how and why the battle was won.
September 1, 2025
This is a fabulous book that gives a lot of background on why the USA won the battle of Midway in June, 1942. It covers several topics on the equipment and intelligence before the fight which contributed greatly to the victory. It was definitely the turning point in the Pacific war and this book does a great job of telling why.
September 23, 2022
Simms book is a well-researched, well-documented history of the Dauntless dive bomber, how it was used in the Battle of Midway, and the people who designed and flew it. The book is highly detailed and a bit gruesome at times from the reports about casualties during the battle.
October 29, 2022
Most Excellent Account & Overview
My father was an SBD, TBM and also an F4U Marine aviator during WWII. The book provides a worthy account of why and what actually took place at Midway. Kudos to the author!
My father was an SBD, TBM and also an F4U Marine aviator during WWII. The book provides a worthy account of why and what actually took place at Midway. Kudos to the author!
November 3, 2022
An excellent account of the historic Battle of Midway. The author takes us
from pre-war, through the battle to the present day. A chilling look at a possible future concludes this worthwhile endeavor.
from pre-war, through the battle to the present day. A chilling look at a possible future concludes this worthwhile endeavor.
August 19, 2024
Would be higher rated if the author included dates of events - it’s clear things are happening over a long span of time in much of the book, but impossible to tell exact time frames of events because for some baffling reason he almost never includes dates at all. Extremely frustrating.
September 5, 2022
Great details about the battle of Midway. Best I've read or seen at the movies.
November 12, 2022
Interesting approach to a well hashed topic
April 21, 2023
A recent history of the Battle of Midway postulating that the Dauntless dive bomber design of Ed Heinemann was the key to victory.
May 6, 2023
It’s interesting to note that 53 attacking Dauntless dive bombers scored only 12 hits on the four Japanese carriers, a success rate of a little more than 20%.
June 16, 2024
Excellent overview of the Battle of Midway. I especially enjoyed reading the accounts from both the American and Japenese perspectives.
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