Silver Waterfall

How America Won the War in the Pacific at Midway

By Brendan Simms | Publisher: PublicAffairs

About the book

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.

Editions of Silver Waterfall

Hardcover
ISBN 9781541701373
EBook
ISBN 9781541701397

Read an Excerpt

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Silver Waterfall about?

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.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Silver Waterfall?

History and Archaeology > History > Military history > Specific wars and military campaigns > Second World War

Where can I read a sample of Silver Waterfall?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781541701373

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Silver Waterfall?

Brendan Simms

Who is the Publisher of the book Silver Waterfall?

PublicAffairs

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Silver Waterfall is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781541701373) and ebook(ISBN 9781541701397)

Where can I buy Silver Waterfall online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Silver Waterfall from below

Where can I buy Silver Waterfall?