“The real significance was saving Australia from a pending invasion...”
Given the feuding between the Japanese navy and army it might not happen. More likely is Japan captures all of New Guinea and launches more bombing raids on Australia. You’re right about the real turning point being Midway, they lost their offensive power and could never make up the losses of ships and pilots.
I am half way through my World War II novel, set on a flat- top aircraft carrier. It is a character study more than anything else. But the more I write, the more awed I am by the men who fought that war. I am female writing from a man’s point of view. Getting perspectives from that angle, too. So far beta readers say I’ve got it down. Praise and kudos to those men.