Batalha de Midway: emprego de aeronaves de asa fixa e o confronto entre doutrina e realidade operacional (1942)

Abstract

The Battle of Midway (1942) marked a turning point in modern naval warfare by highlighting the supremacy of carrier-based aviation and the obsolescence of traditional doctrines centered on decisive battle. This dissertation critically analyzes the use of fixed-wing aircraft by the United States and Japan during the engagement, adopting a comparative perspective between doctrinal planning and operational reality. Using a "Theory versus Reality" research design, the study is structured around four analytical axes: the classical foundations of sea power, doctrinal conceptions of carrier aviation, command challenges under combat friction, and a comparative doctrinal analysis. The findings reveal that the Japanese doctrine, although meticulously planned, proved rigid and unable to adapt to battlefield contingencies, whereas the American approach demonstrated greater flexibility, integration of intelligence, and decentralized command. By confronting theoretical models with real combat dynamics, the study shows that effectiveness in employing naval air power depends not only on material superiority, but on the alignment between doctrinal assumptions and the evolving demands of warfare. This dissertation contributes to naval historiography and encourages critical reflections on doctrinal flexibility, tactical initiative, and the human factor in planning and conducting naval operations.