The Battle of Midway was a decisive U.S. naval victory that turned the tide of World War 2. As a result, the name ‘Midway’ has been assigned to everything from a high school in Texas to an airport in Chicago. It is also the name of the longest serving American aircraft carrier of the 20th century.

Today, the USS Midway continues to serve as a museum on the San Diego, Calif. waterfront. Hosting thousands of visitors daily, the ship proudly features dozens of static aircraft displays and offers a glimpse of what daily life was like for its crew.

On this episode, USS Midway Museum president and CEO, retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral John “Mac” McLaughlin explains not only the ship’s namesake battle and storied half-century of service, but the deeper meaning of service and sacrifice in our modern, ever-changing society.

During the listener question segment, we discuss whether squadrons undergo specific tactical training based on where they expect to deploy, if shutting down an engine is a viable tactic to save fuel in flight, and whether weight and balance is a constant concern for fighters, among other topics.

Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Jim Hendershot.

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