Midway Island

In Girl in the Glass, the plane carrying Declan back to the United States must change course, veering away from the Alaska Territory and towards Midway Island.

Before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Midway Atoll was a remote American outpost, a vital part of the U.S. Pacific defense strategy, and a haven for seabirds. It consisted of three small islands, Sand Island, Eastern Island, and the tiny Spit Island, surrounded by a vast coral reef and lagoon. While seemingly insignificant, its strategic location made it a key focus in both American and Japanese war plans. 

Midway is a circular atoll located about 1,300 miles northwest of Honolulu, Hawaii, and while it is not considered a Hawaiian island, the same chain of underwater volcanoes created all of them (see map below).

Midway's strategic value stems from its location, making it a potential base for both offensive and defensive operations in the Pacific. Before World War II, the U.S. had already begun developing it as an air and submarine base, recognizing its potential for controlling sea lanes. The Army Corps of Engineers dredged a channel and harbor, this preparation proving crucial in the subsequent Battle of Midway.

Midway Island pre-WW II

Midway’s Islands, lagoon, and coral reef