Little noticed by most media, perhaps because of their unspectacular 83rd and 81st yearly anniversary dates, are two of the most important US and Allied wins in World War 2. The outcomes of both battles changed that war's trajectory to materially favor ultimate Allied victories, both having 80th anniversaries in 2025 … May 8 for victory over Hitler's Germany, and August 15 (September 2 for surrender signing), for victory over Japan. Below are recaps of each early-June battle.

Two major World War 2 early-June battles opened the doors to ultimate total Allied victories – in the Pacific against Japan and on Europe’s shore against Germany. US naval sea and air forces dominated the best Japan had to offer at Midway during June 3-6, 1942. On D-Day, June 6, 1944 a US naval flotilla brought dauntless land forces ashore as naval guns bombarded Germany’s believed impregnable defenses while Army Air Forces patrolled the skies and carried additional land forces behind the German lines. The combination of both battles demonstrated the all-domain superiority of US and Allied sea, air, and land forces at critical times during this world-wide two-front war, paving the way to peace in 1945. Both battles are documented in detail by numerous writings, three of which are referenced below.

MIDWAY Materially assisted by intelligence on Japanese fleet intentions to attack Midway Island, US carrier forces engaged the superior Japanese fleet at the Battle of Midway. Although the primary fighting was with carrier-based aircraft, courageous groups of Midway-based forces (Navy, Marine, and Army Air Force) were also involved. Ultimately, US forces destroyed Japan’s first-line carrier strength and most of its best trained naval pilots. A summary of the result is below [Ref 1].

The material losses suffered by Japan at Midway were catastrophic. Four carriers, a heavy cruiser, and more than 320 planes were sent to the bottom of the Pacific. Approximately 3,000 Japanese sailors and airmen were killed ... The victory cost the United States one carrier and a destroyer, as well as nearly 150 aircraft—more than two-thirds of which were carrier-based. American personnel losses were relatively light; 317 sailors, airmen, and Marines from the Midway garrison were killed. … The official U.S. Navy combat narrative of the battle characterized Midway as “a victory of intelligence,” and this was certainly the case. … The Battle of Midway brought the Pacific naval forces of Japan and the United States to approximate parity and marked a turning point of the military struggle between the two countries. …

Landscape

D-DAY This invasion (code-named Overlord) at Normandy, France was preceded by intense planning under General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force. US forces, supplemented by the Allied nations (e.g., United Kingdom, Canada) faced “Hitler's formidable Atlantic Wall” as they stormed the beaches Many men died before reaching shore. However, unlike Midway, this was not a quick victory. Weeks of intense fighting followed the immediate heroics of June 6. Ultimately, near the end of July, the Allied onslaught into France prevailed, marking a beginning of the Allied push to liberate northern France and Paris. [Ref 2]

In summary, on June 6, 1944, nearly 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline, to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day's end, the Allies gained a foot-hold in Continental Europe. The cost in lives on D-Day was high. More than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded, but their sacrifice allowed more than 100,000 Soldiers to begin the slow, hard slog across Europe, to defeat Adolf Hitler's crack troops.. [Ref 3]

Reference 1. Battle of Midway | Date, Significance, Map, Casualties, & Outcome | Britannica 

Reference 2. D-Day and the Normandy Campaign | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans 

Reference 3.  https://www.army.mil/d-day/