Which battle led U.S. Navy pilots to sink four Japanese carriers, affecting the war's progression?

The Battle of Midway was a pivotal naval battle that took place from June 4 to June 7, 1942, and was significant in the Pacific Theater during World War II. During this battle, U.S. Navy pilots successfully sank four Japanese aircraft carriers: Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, and Hiryu. These losses severely weakened the Japanese fleet's naval aviation capabilities and shifted the balance of power in the Pacific in favor of the United States.

One of the key factors that contributed to the U.S. victory was the element of surprise and the ingenuity of American intelligence, which had broken Japanese naval codes. This allowed the U.S. forces to anticipate the Japanese attack and launch their own surprise counteroffensive. The impact of this battle was profound, as it marked the first significant defeat of the Japanese navy and began a series of successful U.S. offensives in the Pacific, changing the course of the war.

The other battles listed, such as the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Battle of Coral Sea, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf, while important in their own right, did not have the same immediate and critical impact on the balance of naval power as the Battle of Midway did.