Bulletin #5
8 May 2026
Topic in this update: The Midway Roundtable in a Naval History article
To fans and followers of the Battle of Midway Roundtable, www.midway42.org:
I wanted to let you know about Ron Russell's article in the current issue of Naval History magazine. The subject is Hornet captain Mark Mitscher's infamous after-action report at Midway: was it evidence of an embarrassing debacle? Or was there an element of sound judgment to it, as suggested by Craig Symonds in his 2011 book The Battle of Midway?
If you don't subscribe to the magazine, you can read the article free online here:
https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine
Scroll down a little and click the white "Mitscher at Midway" banner on the left. You'll find a lot of the Midway Roundtable in it, with content by Craig plus other historians you know well.
There is another BOM article in the same issue on the subject of Joseph Rochefort, although it's mostly taken from Elliot Carlson's book, Joe Rochefort's War. To read that article, click "Justice for Joe Rochefort" on the above web page.
As always, your comments and questions on this bulletin or any Battle of Midway matter are always welcome. Click Reply on this message or draft a new one to midwayroundtable@gmail.com.
Bulletin #6
Midway Roundtable Update #6
(Sent by email to all registered subscribers)
12 May 2026
Topic in this update: The Midway Roundtable on Youtube and USNI podcast
To fans and followers of the Battle of Midway Roundtable, www.midway42.org:
Over the years there have been a lot of Youtube videos featuring Battle of Midway Roundtable members and contributors. That's also very true of U.S. Naval Institute podcasts. Here's one more to grab your attention: Ron Russell's interview with the chief editor of Naval History magazine, on the subject of his "Flight to Nowhere" article in the June 2026 issue. (See our Roundtable bulletin #5, sent last week.) There is a whole lot about the Midway Roundtable and some of our well-know participants in the discussion, which runs about 30 minutes.
To watch the Youtube video, click this URL or copy and paste it into your browser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX2pky2O5BM
You can also listen to it (audio only) on the USNI website here:
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/the-proceedings-podcast/ep-499-inside-mitschers-battle-midway-cover
Bulletin #7
23 May 2026
Midway Roundtable Update #7
To fans and followers of the Battle of Midway Roundtable, www.midway42.org:
Topic in this update: 84th BOM anniversary at the Naval Memorial -- watch it live online
The Navy Department will conduct its annual Battle of Midway observance at the Naval Memorial in Washington, DC on Thursday, 4 June 2026 starting at 10:00 am EDT, and you can watch it live online. Advance registration (free) is required at the following address--click, or copy and paste it into your browser:
https://navymemorial.swoogo.com/2026Midway?i=e1NEN0impwlTL22aCmCJ3659vwh2VgB-
Note: that website currently has a couple of typos in the listed date and time for the event, i.e. "2025" or "EST" for the time zone. Ignore those errors; the correct date & time are indicated above, and that's what you're registering for.
This event is always a grand spectacle, with all the splendor that the Navy Department can muster. For a preview of what to expect, check last year's event as reported in our June and July 2025 newsletters. Go to our home page (above), click Archives on the top toolbar, then Forum Back Issues - 2025.
Your comments on this bulletin or anything related to the Battle of Midway or our website are always welcome, and anything you send will get a response. Click Reply on this message or draft a new one to midwayroundtable@gmail.com.
Best regards,
--Thom Walla, webmaster
--Ron Russell, contributing editor