The Battle of Midway, fought between June 4 and June 7, 1942, is often cited as the turning point in the Pacific Theater during World War II. This decisive naval battle involved the United States Navy defeating an attacking fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The U.S. victory allowed them to shift from a defensive stance to an offensive one, significantly weakening Japanese naval power. The loss of four aircraft carriers to the U.S. forces marked a crucial shift in the balance of power in the Pacific, paving the way for subsequent Allied offensives against Japan.