a film made in 1976 with henry fonda and charlton heston does not do justice to the importance of the battle of midway. the battle was not only important, it was a desperate gamble, and the story has never been fully told. at the time of the battle of midway, the japanese had advanced from the south pacific and the indian ocean and were threatening the british at the suez. they sank the british capital ships with the prince of wales in the china sea, and shortly after, pearl harbor. in february, they went all the way down to australia and they sank a bunch of merchant ships in the harbor of port darwin, australia. in february of 1942, they annihilated nine cruisers and 18 destroyers of the british/american and dutch asiatic fleet. >> the australians were there, too. if i don't say that, my australian passport will be canceled. george: in april of 1942, just before midway, they had five carriers in the indian ocean, and they drove the remnants of the british navy out of the raidedocean and went and as far as madagascar. they sank the british carrier and its escort. they sank dozens of