Battle of Midway Memorial in Midway Airport

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While walking to our plane at Midway Airport, we noticed an airplane hanging from the ceiling. Fortunately it was a lounge area so my wife could set down while I took pictures. Unfortunately, the available view of the plane is backlit.

How often can you get a view of a plane from the angle on the left?

I went back down the hall to take an overview picture (below) to show that the plane was part of an exhibit about the Battle of Midway and that there was information displayed along the wall. (Midway Airport itself was renamed from Municipal Airport to honor that battle.)

My wife and I watched a PBS show about Navy Pier and the Lake Michigan being used to train pilots to land on aircraft carriers. Flattops were put on some old lakers to simulate aircraft carriers. The reason why Lake Michigan was used to train the pilots was because they did not have to worry about German submarines blowing up the carriers during the training.

I'll begin with two shots of the statue in the far-left corner and a transcription of the text.

In June 1942, the United States Pacific Fleet, still crippled as a result of the surprise attack on Perl Harbor, faced a mighty enemy fleet advancing on the American held base on Midway Island. Outnumbered and outgunned, the men of the Pacific Fleet and their comrades on Midway Island went in harm's way and changed the course of the Pacific Way and of history. On May 13, 1993, this statue, "America," designed and executed by noted sculptor Gary Weisman was presented to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley by the Union League Club of Chicago in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Midway for which Midway Airport was named.

"All participating personnel, without exception, displayed unhesitating devotion to duty, loyalty and courage . . . the performance of officers and men was one of the highest order."
W. W. Nimitz
Commander-in-Chief
United States Pacific Fleet

I took pictures of the panels along the window, "The Battle" was less informative than the above statue plaques. "The Technology" panel had this information:

Below are three of the five pictures that are on "The Chicago Connection" panel.

World War II planes used radial engines, which were especially designed for propeller airplanes.