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How did intelligence contribute to the Allied victory at the Battle of Midway?

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George W. Bush and Porter J. Goss at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. — intelligence U.S. Pres. George W. Bush (front) and Porter J. Goss, director (2004–06) of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), heading to a press conference at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, March 3, 2005.

The Allied victory at the Battle of Midway is widely characterized as a "victory of intelligence," as it provided the United States with a decisive strategic advantage.1

The primary contribution of intelligence was the breaking of the Japanese JN25 naval code by American cryptanalysts. By deciphering key radio transmissions, U.S. intelligence services were able to divine Japanese intentions, including the specific target of the attack. To confirm that Midway was indeed the intended objective, the Americans executed a clever deception scheme, which allowed them to prepare their defense despite being numerically inferior to the Japanese fleet.123

This advance knowledge enabled Admiral Chester Nimitz to position his limited carrier forces at a rendezvous point known as "Point Luck" to await the Japanese armada. Because the Americans knew the enemy's plans in advance, they were able to intercept and engage the Japanese fleet effectively, ultimately sinking four heavy carriers and securing a turning point in the Pacific war.32