"The captain of the yard - Warrenton - wasn't he your classmate?" "Yes, he was." "You saw the Yorktown's damage report after she got smashed up in the Coral sea." "Can that classmate of yours put her back to sea in 72 hours?" "He's going to have to." "Nimitz has ordered it." "Well, if anyone can, Harry can, but it's bound to be one hell of a patch job." "I'm afraid so, but three carriers instead of two will increase our striking force by 50%, which we'll soon need." "Reinforcements." "You're looking pretty handsome there, sport." "Thank you." "Oh, him." "Want a beer?" "Yes." "So Aster's got command now." "That's right." "It's no more Lady." "It's Captain, sir!" "I don't like him." "Why not?" "Because he thinks he's God's gift to women the way he goes around grinning like the Phantom of the Opera." "I'm going to tell him you said that." "Don't you dare." "It's time for little Vic's nap." "Come on, honey." "Oh." "You've got him spoiled now." "Come on." "Oh." "Give daddy a kiss." "Mommy?" "So..." "Look alive!" "Dad and Admiral Spruance are rounding the Smith's terrace full steam." "Spruance?" "When they make port, they usually hike here together." "Come on." "It's got to be five miles." "Right, and know what he does?" "He has glass of water and hikes right back." "You got to be kidding." "Guess he likes the exercise." "As you were, gentlemen." "Byron, hey." "Hi, Dad." "This is my submariner, Admiral." "I haven't seen him since Thanksgiving." "Byron." "Warren, good to see you." "Nice cold glass of water, Sir?" "Thank you, Janice." "You're a gracious hostess." "My son's a submariner, also." "He's out on the Tambor now." "How's your hunting been?" "Two confirmed sinking's, sir, 11,000 tons." "Congratulations." "You're ahead of the Tambor." "Well, thank you, Janice." "I'll have to be getting back down the hill now." "Byron or Warren can give you a lift." "That won't be necessary." "Uh..." "Henry." "Boys..." "Good luck." "Thank you, Sir." "Henry..." "It's good both your boys are in port together." "Spend all the time you can with them." "I intend to, sir, but I've got a lot to do on my ship." "This is for your information only." "The Japanese are heading East." "They're going to hit Midway island." "Obviously, a Japanese base 1,000 miles from Hawaii is unacceptable, so Nimitz is sending everything we have up there." "We're about to fight our biggest battle." "Intelligence is that certain?" "We've penetrated Jap codes." "Now, we'll be vastly outnumbered, but we may be able to achieve surprise." "One other thing." "I don't know if you know, but Bill Halsey is in Cincpac Hospital." "It's nothing serious, but he won't fight this battle." "He's recommended to Admiral Nimitz that I assume command of Task Force 16." "I'm sorry to hear about Halsey, but congratulations, Admiral." "Thanks." "Henry, uh..." "Well, as I say, spend some time with your sons while you can." "I will, sir." "You're a little jumpy today." "Okay, you know what I mean?" "Where's Sweden?" "You committed right there." "No, I didn't." "Come on." "You missed." "You're jumping." "Come on." "Is any beer left, or have you two soaked it all up?" "I got great news." "Natalie's coming home on a boat from Lisbon." "That's wonderful." "I got a cable from Jan's dad." "I'm trying to confirm it." "Warren thinks I shouldn't transfer to Sublant because the glory's in the Pacific." "I never mentioned glory." "I said subs carry the fight in this war." "It's a chance to take a hand in history." "What else is glory?" "What do you think?" "You ought to take your transfer and go." "This Pacific War will last a long time." "You'll have plenty of time to get history." "You've never seen your son." "What are you grinning about?" "You surprised me." "That's all." "This calls for a celebration - Natalie coming home." "When did we last all get together?" "Your wedding?" "Right." "We should have an anniversary party." "I'm for a champagne dinner tomorrow at the Moana." "I'm in." "Janice will love it." "Dad, phone for you!" "And guess who?" "Alistair Tudsbury!" "He's calling from the Moana right here in Hawaii." "[Singing in Hawaiian]" "Pug Henry, by jove!" "Ha ha!" "Late of London, Berlin, and Moscow." "How are you?" "Yank, you're in with us now up to your neck, to death." "That we are." "None too soon." "None too soon." "Do you remember my daughter Pamela?" "Or had you forgotten her?" "Nice to see you again." "Hello, there." "I'd like you to meet my son Lieutenant Byron Henry." "Alistair Tudsbury." "How do you do, Sir?" "Miss Pamela Tudsbury." "Pamela." "Oh, Pug Henry, all alone with the troubles of the world on your manly phiz?" "Hello, Talky." "Enjoying your party?" "Oh, bloody waste of an afternoon." "Is your son's anniversary dinner still laid on for tonight?" "Still laid on." "How's your eye?" "Trifle irritation." "Small scar of battle." "I'm hoping to get the patch off when I've checked at your naval hospital this afternoon, after I've interviewed Nimitz." "You sure he'll see you?" "These boys are never too busy to talk to me." "If I'd been at Waterloo," "Napoleon would've talked to me on horseback when he was fleeing, no matter how much his piles were hurting." "I've just been thinking about Napoleon." "The ball in Brussels before the battle." "Yes, but at the moment, one doesn't hear the thunder of approaching cannon, or does one?" "None I know of." "Pug..." "Something's brewing up on this island, something tremendous." "Tell me what you know." "Sorry, I can't help you." "How do you think Pam's looking?" "Sort of tired." "She's had a rough time, but she'll snap out of it." "She's very resilient." "I suppose I'd better drivel a bit more with General Richardson." "Terrible stick." "[Singing] He was a famous trumpet man from out Chicago way he had a boogie sound no one else could play he was top man at his craft but then his number came up and he was gone with the draft" "he's in the army now blowing revelry he's the boogie-woogie bugle boy of company "B"" "they made him blow a bugle for his uncle Sam" "It really brought him down because he couldn't jam the captain seemed to understand he was an excellent cap went out an rapped to the band and now the company jumps when he plays revelry he's the boogie-woogie bugle boy of company "B"" "[scatting]" "Put it down." "Oh, it's lovely." "Dad, it's lovely." "Thank you." "It's my pleasure, Janice." "Now, what the devil is keeping Byron?" "Don't worry about Byron." "He'll turn up sooner or later." "Let's go, anniversary girl." "Tonight's your night." "What time do the festivities close down?" "The curfew is at 10:30." "It has teeth in it." "Come to our suite, will you, Victor, afterward?" "Okay, but just for a minute." "I've got a conference later." "My orders to sublant, Captain." "I need your signature." "You were reconsidering." "You said you'd sign them, Lady." "They're not on that boat." "The Italians detained her and Jastrow in Siena." "What?" "The other Americans are on their way, but not them." "Did state say why?" "Yeah." "Some garbage about Italian journalists in Rio." "What are you waiting for?" "Sign them." "This will straighten itself out." "She'll be on the next boat." "Lady, sign them." "I think you're making a big mistake." "Just sign them." "I'm flying to San Francisco." "I'll need a ride to N.A.T.S. At 2130." "Small matter of air priority." "I've got air priority, class one." "Byron does these things." "He has two gaits - the crawl of a snail and the speed of light in a vacuum." "About time you showed up." "Can I borrow your wife for a dance?" "Bring her back in one piece." "They'll pour me onto that plane." "Let's show them how it's done." "What's going on?" "I'm signing Byron's sublant orders." "Natalie and the baby have been detained in Italy." "But I thought " "That's all I know." "Warren, why don't you pull up a chair?" "Sit next to the commander." "They can talk to me about their exciting exploits." "The folks at home love hearing about young American heroes." "What's it feel like on the bottom when you're submerged, and depth-charges are coming at you?" "I haven't had the thrill yet." "Commander Aster can give you a better rundown." "Yes, I imagine so." "I'm sure his dive-bombers have figured out how to attack under water." "Let's hear it all." "Then, Warren, you can tell me your exploits." "What's the most exciting underwater experience?" "Did you, by any chance, get a letter I sent from here months ago?" "No." "I've never had a letter from you." "I got one from you." "Did that actually reach you?" "Written in another epoch, wasn't it?" "I was very glad to get it." "How's your wife?" "She's asked me for a divorce." "How could she?" "You haven't given her any cause." "She claims to have fallen in love with someone else." "How ghastly for you." "She's since expressed some regret about it, more or less." "It's sort of all up in the air." "Do your sons know?" "No." "I was sorry to hear you lost your battleship." "How long will you and your father be in Honolulu?" "I'm not sure." "We're running out of time." "Let's crack that champagne." "Never mind." "I'll do it." "Dad, this is your show." "How's for the first toast?" "Okay." "Lady." "Let's all raise our glasses." "Janice, to you." "Many happy returns." "Warren, happy hunting." "To Mom." "Hear!" "Hear!" "And Madeline." "And to Natalie and her baby and their safe return." "She's not on the boat." "Oh, Byron, I'm so sorry." "They're going to be just fine." "Cheers." "No one will ever know how much I owe this girl." "I've dragged her through fire and water." "She's never faltered, never complained." "Pamela, get me a brandy, will you?" "Victor, I'm going to ask you again, what is happening on this island?" "What major military operation is planned?" "Damn it, Victor." "I'm a friend of yours." "I'm a friend of your country's." "Talky, go to bed." "I beg your pardon." "You've had a long day." "Go to bed." "I want to talk to Victor." "So do I." "You're very hard on me, Pamela." "Very hard." "Go to bed." "You know perfectly well Victor won't tell you anything." "I suppose you're right." "Very well." "Good night, Victor." "Good night, Talky." "Pamela... pleasant dreams." "He's such a small boy." "We can talk in my room." "It's not as luxurious as Talky's suite, I'm afraid, but then, I wasn't expecting to entertain." "Well... this is a big surprise." "Why?" "I made my feelings clear in Moscow." "I thought it was over, the way you were acting." "Your sons were right there." "I thought you liked young Aster." "He was handy." "I had to do something to take my eyes off you." "Now what's this about a conference tonight?" "I have to leave in a few minutes." "What?" "Can we see each other tomorrow?" "The fleet sails in the morning." "No!" "There's never time, is there?" "I should've looked you up the instant we arrived." "I wasn't sure what you felt." "It's been six months." "What was in that letter you sent me?" "I was ending it, giving you up." "Look I'm here, and if you want me to stay, I will." "I want to." "I love you." "To me, you're life itself." "If you want me to go, I'll go, but you must say." "I can't continue like this." "Pam, I'm too old for you." "Never." "Wait." "Here's where I'll be when you get back." "I put a month's hold on it yesterday." "When will you get back, do you know?" "I'm telling you alone." "We're heading out to one hell of a battle." "The odds are against us." "Right now, I'm going over to Admiral Nimitz' headquarters." "I love you, Victor." "I'll never change." "When you come back, and you will, I'll be here." "[Radio] With the Philippines lost to the Japanese and British and Chinese forces routed in Burma," "General Joseph Stilwell, the American commander of Chiang Kal-Shek's Chinese Armies, said from Imphal, India, this morning, after a 140-mlle retreat through the Burmese jungle," ""we've taken a hell of a beating."" "On the other side of the world, in Cairo, the British command reports heavy German bombings..." "Appetite's fine this morning, Captain?" "Food's fine, much better than that war news." "Lieutenant." "Hi, Dad." "If you're too busy for me, say so." "Not at all." "Just catching up on the news." "... Red Army defenders in the Kharkov area." "Kremlin sources fear that up to 200,000 soviet troops may have been killed or captured." "Closer to home..." "Turn that off, will you?" "Did you ever get to Kharkov?" "No." "The Germans held it when I was in Moscow." "Have something to eat." "No, thanks." "Janice just gave me the royal sendoff - steak and eggs for breakfast." "Byron get away all right?" "He's in San Francisco by now, probably with a historic hangover." "Dad, it's Midway, isn't it, and the whole damned Jap fleet?" "Where did you hear that?" "Guy on Halsey's staff." "I'm sorry to hear that Halsey's staff is a sieve." "What about Admiral Spruance?" "You've been steaming around with him for months." "What about him?" "Battleship man, war college type, not even qualified in aviation like Halsey." "You can't shoot off dive bombers like 16-inch shells." "They have to come back." "Admirals seem to have trouble remembering that." "Admiral Spruance will remember." "I'm glad to hear you say that." "Look, it's, uh... 0814 now." "I'm underway at 0900." "Do you want to go back to Ford island on my gig?" "In a minute." "I, uh..." "Got this - just a little financial dope." "I was going to give it to Byron, but he's gone." "Janice is a smart girl, but arithmetic throws her for a loop." "Look, Dad... when I'm coming back from a strike," "I'll make a pass over the North Hampton and waggle my wings." "If I don't, it won't mean anything." "I may be in formation or something, but..." "I'll try and do it." "I understand perfectly." "That'll be fine, but I won't count on it." "I missed Mom and Madeline at that party last night." "There will be more family reunions, Warren." "Dad, don't worry." "I'm going to do all right." "I know you are." "Good hunting." "Request permission to leave the ship, Sir." "Permission granted, Sir." "Shove off." "June 3, 1942, 1800 hours, and the whole might of the Japanese combined fleet is rapidly closing on Midway island, but the capture of 2,000 acres of Pacific coral and sand is not their only mission." "Perhaps even more important is their plan to lure out and annihilate the remnants of the severely weakened U.S. Pacific fleet." "In overall tactical command is Japan's most brilliant naval strategist," "Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, with 11 of the mightiest battleships afloat." "Spearheading the attack 300 miles closer to Midway is the carrier strike force with its four battle-seasoned fleet carriers." "In command aboard flagship Akagi is Vice Admiral Chulchi Nagumo." "Latest intelligence from Tokyo assures him that there is still no evidence of an enemy task force anywhere in the vicinity." "Secure in that belief, he will launch his attack as dawn breaks on the morning of the 4th." "And so..." "Heavily outnumbered 28 United States warships to the Japanese 88, with their only chance of victory total surprise, the United States fleet lies in ambush some 325 miles northeast of Midway, awaiting the hour of battle." "It's going to be a long night for our pilots over there." "It's going to be a longer day tomorrow." "Enjoying the moonlight, Warren?" "Commander McClusky." "You okay?" "Yeah, I'm fine." "You know what I was just thinking?" "Hmm?" "There's no place I'd rather be right now than right here, getting ready to fly against the Japs tomorrow." "Concur." "Well, ask a silly question..." "Damn." "That's got to be the biggest show on earth." "Look." "Flight 92 reporting." "Enemy carriers." "Two carriers." "Two battleships." "Bearing from Midway, 320 degrees." "Distance, 180 miles." "Course, 135 degrees." "Speed, 25 knots." "Dog, love." "Ah, God love that lad." "Got them in our cross hairs, Admiral." "I'll make it... 175 miles." "Launch the attack, please, Captain." "Sir, we've received no orders from Admiral Fletcher to launch planes." "We will." "Get moving." "Admiral." "Yes, sir." "That's an absolute outside range for our torpedo bombers." "The plain fact is, sir... they won't get back." "Very well." "Let's put out a new fleet course, Captain, closing with the enemy at full speed." "Meanwhile, the Enterprise and the Hornet will make all preparations for launch." "Aye, sir." "Thank you, Commander." "Yes, Sir." "He's changing it." "175!" "175!" "Yeah!" "Whoo!" "Eugene E. Lindsey, Commander, Torpedo Six." "Well, it won't be too much longer now." "Under 170 miles." "I figure we'll close to 130." "That's still tight for our group, but this is for keeps." "We got to get the drop on the little bastards." "If they'll just get us to 130..." "Let's hope so." "[Alarm sounds]" "Admiral." "Yes?" "Oh, thank you." "Gentlemen, Midway is under attack." "Present range to target, Commander." "I'll call it 153 miles, sir." "Launch planes, Captain." "Sir, it's still extreme range for our torpedo squadrons." "I know that, but it is absolutely vital that we hit them with that first surprise blow and with everything we've got." "Unfortunately, that calls for the ultimate risk, but it is exactly what we must do." "Sir, we still don't know their other carriers' location." "No, but Midway is reporting very heavy air attack, so I'm gambling that that sighting report was wrong and that Jap carriers are all there together." "Flag shelter." "Launch aircraft." "God help those brave young men." "Good luck, Gene." "Give 'em hell." "Good hunting, Warren." "Might as well relax, Cornett." "It'll be a while before the rest are up." "The first Japanese strike on Midway island has ended, and the American Garrison has been hit hard." "Only the bombers and torpedo planes, which scrambled before the attack, and the Midway airstrip itself survive the pounding." "For this reason, the returning Japanese attack squadrons radio ahead that there is a need for a second strike." "A tough decision." "Nagumo already has a group of torpedo planes on deck armed and ready to torpedo any American warships that may surprise him." "They will now have to be rearmed with bombs to hit land targets, but his intelligence still reports no American vessels in the area." "So Nagumo decides - remove all torpedoes." "Rearm with bombs for the second strike on Midway." "It is a decision on which the entire battle will turn." "What do you think they're doing down there?" "Will them fighters and torpedo planes ever get airborne?" "When are we going after them Japs?" "We all go together, Cornett." "Coordinated attack, remember?" "These launchings are going slow, Captain." "Those dive bombers have almost burned up an hour's fuel." "Bandit!" "Starboard quarter!" "Bearing, 165!" "Range, 6 miles!" "Flash the Enterprise, Jim." ""Urgent." "Sighted enemy cruiser scout plane."" "Aye, aye, sir." "Admiral, the North Hampton's spotted a Japanese search plane." "Radar confirms the bogie, and we're getting strong voice transmissions in Japanese." "He's sending a sighting report." "That's for sure." "I see." "Obviously, our edge of surprise is rapidly melting away." "How long before those fighters are airborne?" "We're having a problem with elevator number three." "No further contact with Admiral Fletcher?" "No, sir." "The Yorktown's still below the horizon." "Meanwhile, as Nagumo continues to rearm for the second strike, a scout plane slighting report is delivered " ""10 enemy ships some 200 miles to the east, heading southeast, appear to be accompanied by one aircraft carrier."" "And so, with a carrier threat to his flank, a second strike against Midway is suddenly out of the question." "The moment of ultimate decision has arrived." "Shall Nagumo wait for his returning planes to launch an all-out attack coordinated against the American carrier or strike at once with what he has?" "At this moment, the Midway strike planes begin to arrive, low on fuel, some shot-up and in distress, demanding to land on the cluttered carrier decks." "He makes his decision." "Clear all carrier decks." "Recover, refuel, and rearm all planes from Midway." "Close the enemy at full speed and hit him in a coordinated attack with all massed air might." "All this will take precious time that will prove crucial to the outcome of the battle." "[Alarm sounds]" "Turned into the wind this way, we're rapidly moving away from the enemy." "Wouldn't you agree, Captain?" "Yes, sir." "Send the dive bombers on their way." "Without fighter cover, sir?" "Without fighter cover." "We cannot afford the luxury of this leisurely launch." "We have to forget about a coordinated attack." "Squadrons will proceed to the target as and when airborne." "Signal Commander McClusky to attack the enemy carriers immediately." "Aye, sir." "This is flag shelter." "Release opening aircraft for strike." "McClusky's going to need all the help he can get." "So will he." "Well, old Dad, there you are sitting way down there, and here I go." "0912 hours." "As the enterprise dive bombers reach the intercept point, they find no trace of the enemy." "Where in hell are the Japs, Mr. Henry?" "I don't know, but I sure hope the Hornet and Yorktown are doing better than we are." "And although the Yorktown has finally launched, she has sent up only half her planes." "The Hornet dive bombers and fighters are already out of lt." "Low on fuel, they're heading home." "Many will splash in the sea with empty fuel tanks." "But there is still one wild card remaining in this all but played-out game." "The three slow American torpedo squadrons operating separately in a random and quite unplanned way, they are the ones who will finally find the enemy." "First to come upon Nagumo's strike force are the 15 devastator torpedo bombers from the Hornet almost immediately followed by the two squadrons from the Enterprise and the Yorktown." "[Bugles signal air raid]" "Cornett, looks like we finally found something - a Jap destroyer." "What do you figure we're doing?" "I figure we're following it." "That destroyer showed us the way." "We found the bastards." "Squadron, descend to 10,000." "Prepare to attack." "Say, where the heck are the zeros?" "Are you complaining?" "Oh, no, sir, Mr. Henry." "Just you drop that egg in there, sir." "I'm going to try." "You want to know where the zeros are?" "Take a look below." "The battle of the torpedo squadrons is almost over." "Without fighter escort, the slow-moving torpedo planes are easy prey." "Not one American torpedo will find a Japanese ship, and in less than 40 minutes of actual combat time," "35 of the 41 attacking planes will be lost, and 68 courageous young flyers, including Eugene E. Lindsey," "Commander, Torpedo Six." "Okay, one squadron to one carrier." "Scouting six, take the rear flat top." "Bombing six, that second one is your baby." "We're going in." "Here we go." "1025 hours." "The Enterprise dive bombers attack the Akagi." "Then moments later, the Yorktown dive bombers, launching a whole hour after the Enterprise, hit the Soryu." "It is a perfectly coordinated attack." "It is a freak accident." "What was not an accident was the willingness of the torpedo plane squadrons to go in against hopeless odds, thereby clearing the skies of zeros for the dive bombers- the extra ounce of martial weight that in the next few decisive minutes" "will tip the balance of history." "Wahoo!" "You did it, Mr. Henry!" "You did it!" "Zero at 8:00 up, closing in." "He's making a run on us!" "Yeah!" "Wahoo!" "The annals of military conflict show no equal to the world-historical five minutes of Midway." "Between 1025 hours and 1030 hours, on this fateful morning of June 4, 1942, three Japanese carriers, with their full complements of aircraft, are reduced to smoking flotsam." "In these five explosive minutes," "Japan's world status is shattered, though she will have to suffer three more years of defeat and final atomic-blast horror before she will accept this fact." "That's 12 of them, sir." "Captain!" "Dauntless off the port bow!" "Warren, you were great!" "Thanks, Sammy." "Woo!" "Right fair amount of holes." "How did you get her back, Mr. Henry?" "Somebody up there likes me." "Now here this..." "stand by to launch fighters." "Repeat - stand by to launch fighters." "We better get below." "Seems we got company." "Right, Mr. Henry." "How's it going, Ben?" "Any action?" "Fire control reports a mess of bogies heading for the Yorktown, Lieutenant, out there past the Hornet." "Yorktown reports three bomb hits - heavy damage below decks." "All gun crews, attention..." "Planes approaching on the port quarter are friendly." "They're returning Yorktown aircraft low on fuel and requesting emergency landing." "The Yorktown's been hit." "Stand by to take planes on board." "Warren!" "That was hell of a shot, Warren." "Listen, everybody's having arguments in here about what exactly happened out there." "No doubt you take the credit for that biggest flat top." "Everybody who made it back saw it." "How many didn't make it back?" "10 of our squadron unaccounted for so far." "Hey, some of those guys could be floating in the drink though, right?" "McClusky made it back." "Shot up, but back." "Yeah, I heard." "Looks like Gallaher's gonna be taking over." "Henry, you're wanted in air ops on the double." "I'll debrief you when you get back." "Henry, this is Shumway," "Yorktown's bomber squadron exec." "Shumway's just itching to get at that fourth Jap carrier." "I want that son of a bitch that plastered the Yorktown." "That's what we're doing." "Search planes are out looking for it now." "You heard about McClusky." "Something else." "My exec is missing." "Instant promotion, Henry." "You're next in line." "You're it." "Yes, sir." "I want you to scratch together a bombing squadron at once." "What's left of bombing six, scouting six, and the rest of the guys from the Yorktown." "Shumway will be your operations officer." "Yorktown's damage control people are doing one hell of a job, but right now hell it's up to us." "Commander Gallaher, Captain Browning wants you on Admiral Spruance's flag shelter immediately." "All right, you guys, get to work." "I want to see an attack plan when I get back from flag country." "Warren, great hit you got." "Thank you, sir." "1400 hours." "The Japanese strike the Yorktown again, this time two more squadrons from their last remaining carrier, the Erle." "Okay, let's settle down." "Everybody take a seat." "Captain of the Yorktown has given the order to abandon ship." "Admiral Fletcher's transferring his flag to the Astoria." "That's the bad news." "The good news is the Yorktown search planes have spotted the fourth Jap carrier." "Yeah!" "The attack is on." "We've got a chance to give it right back to the bastards." "We're mostly new to each other." "I've heard arguments about who got hits on those carriers this morning and who didn't." "I don't want to hear any more of it." "It's our tails if we don't operate together like buddies." "If you have a problem, save it for the Japs." "Okay?" "Yes, sir!" "Lieutenant Shumway will give you the attack plan." "Okay, this time out, there will be no torpedo planes or fighters to wait for." "All right!" "Yeah!" "Sounds like they got her, sir." "I'd say we won the first of this fight." "640 miles northwest of the American Carrier Force, with the only Japanese warships that still remain undetected, fleet Admiral Yamamoto's mighty battle line has been smashing grimly eastward since mid-afternoon in hopes of counter ambushing and annihilating the remaining" "American Naval forces, but his desperate gambit depends on one thing - the American fleet steaming in hot pursuit of the wounded Japanese carrier Force." "Westward into Yamamoto's trap." "Wait till you hear this." "Gentlemen, let's relax here flag sheltermen." "Admiral, from Admiral Fletcher on the Historian." "Read it, please." ""I have no instructions for you." "I will conform to your movements."" "Very well." "They probably figured we can't fight the battle from the cruiser." "Captain, after we recover all our aircraft, we will retire eastward " "Retire, Admiral?" "Yes, retire, Captain." "Put me someplace where I can deal with the enemy in the morning, if he's still threatening Midway." "Yes, sir." "What's wrong, Captain." "We just received orders to retreat." "What?" "Retreat." "Retreat from a beaten foe." "And so the United States fleet will turn eastward, away from the powerful, advancing Japanese force." "Then as 3:00 a.m. Passes and there is still no sign of the enemy, though unable to believe that the Americans have not come out in pursuit," "Yamamoto must now reluctantly turn back." "His only hope remaining that with daybreak, the enemy will finally come out and pursue." "Pete, what are you doing up?" "Couldn't sleep." "Me, either." "Any of the other guys around." "Nobody's going to sleep too well tonight, let me tell you." "The guys have gone down to the Ward room - they're chowing down." "No news?" "News is we got a gutless Admiral." "News is we're retreating." "Didn't you hear?" "What are you talking about?" "You didn't hear?" "All hell's broken loose up in flag country." "Word in the Ward room is that Spruance could get court-martialed for this." "He must have some reason." "He has no stomach for fighting." "That's his reason." "The staff could hardly get him to launch today." "Word is if Browning wasn't around, we'd still be on that deck." "The Japanese would've creamed us, Warren." "Why did Halsey have to come down with the crud?" "Will you tell me that, please?" "Look, we did get four of their carriers." "Maybe he wants to quit while he's ahead." "That's not bad poker." "The guy's blowing our chances of destroying the Japanese fleet, you know that, Warren." "Maybe tomorrow the Japs will want to take on Midway." "We'll have another big day." "Best thing you do right now is get some sleep." "Hey, let the brass worry about where we're going and why." "Come on." "I'll head down to the Ward room, see if those chow hounds left anything behind." "Hey, Warren..." "Tell me, what did it feel like when you dropped that bomb down there?" "I mean, I missed two today by a country mile." "It's a great feeling." "Nothing like it, but I'll tell you something." "On that long flight back," "I got to thinking about those Japs burning up - planes going up like firecrackers, everybody drowning." "I thought to myself, we get paid to do some damn strange things in this Navy." "I'll see you later." "High noon, no attach order yet." "This is like peacetime steaming." "Okay, if I hang for it," "I'm going to have it out with him." "Admiral..." "Captain..." "May I say something, sir?" "Certainly." "I feel I must point out that our aviators have been up since 3:00 a.m." "And in their ready room since 10:00 a.m., yet no air operations are scheduled." "We're not even in pursuit." "I'm aware of that, Captain." "Do you have a suggestion?" "The staff recommends an urgent launch of a search-and-destroy mission, Admiral, while there's enough daylight left for combat." "Well where would we send them?" "I still have no clear idea where the enemy headed last night." "You've had contact reports all morning from the Midway search planes." "Very dubious reports." "They jump all over the chart." "And I still don't have confirmation that those carriers we damaged are sunk." "Sir, our boys are losing their fighting edge." "It was bad enough when we had the enemy running and we turned the opposite direction." "That's a hard maneuver for young fighting men to understand." "Captain, would you mind stepping out on the bridge with me, please?" "Aye, sir." "I thank you for your opinion, Captain, but this force is not leaving Midway unguarded until I know the Japanese are out of airstrike range." "I won't conduct any air operations until I have hard knowledge of where the enemy is." "I won't take unnecessary risks with anymore of my surviving aircraft or my surviving pilots." "May I speak candidly, Admiral?" "Why not?" "Admiral Halsey doesn't operate this way." "He acts on staff recommendations." "Well, that may be, but then Bull Halsey wasn't out there yesterday." "Captain, when Cincpac approved me as replacement for Admiral Halsey," "I assumed that his staff would be competent - that you would conduct combat operations with reasonable skill." "I don't understand the implication, Admiral." "Well, I'll spell it out for you then." "Perhaps you've forgotten in the fine flush of our good fortune that yesterday's operations began with a bungled first launch." "They were further complicated by wrong estimates of the enemy's movements and by gross miscalculation of our aircraft recovery point." "My God!" "Fuel exhaustion splashed more of our aircraft than the Japanese did." "Because of that bungled first launch," "I had to send out three torpedo squadrons unescorted to be slaughtered." "Those were staff's contributions to victory." "Admiral Spruance, we still left four Jap carriers dead in the water and burning." "Only because of the heroism of our aviators." "Let's not take credit for their valor." "No, Captain, whatever we accomplished out there yesterday was in spite of staff, and by anybody's standards has to be attributed to sheer luck." "Uh..." "My point..." "My point, Admiral... is that sunsets do not wait." "If we don't launch soon, a whole day will have passed without this force having taken one aggressive action." "That may take some explaining, Admiral, back at Pearl Harbor, not to mention Washington." "It may indeed, Captain, and that is my responsibility." "Pardon me, this just came in from Midway." "Thank you, Commander." "It's a bomber's report." "The Japanese are out of air strike range of Midway." ""They're retreating westerly, escorting a smoking carrier."" "Now I have a hard target." "You may prepare and execute an attack plan, Captain Browning." "Sit down, Warren." "Had a chance to plot that new attack plan?" "Yes, sir, I have." "What do you think?" "It's a plan for a swim meet." "You know Admiral Spruance don't you?" "My father does." "Good enough." "Might just talk to the Captain." "He'll run interference for us." "[Knock on door]" "Come in." "Well, what have we here?" "Miles, Commander McClusky would like a word with you about the staff's attack plan." "Go ahead." "It will splash every dive bomber left on the Enterprise." "Don't be ridiculous." "I okay'd this plan myself." "I'm sorry, Captain, but the numbers don't add up." "With 500 pound bombs, the fuel factors are totally out of whack, and you're calling for 1,000 pounders." "There's no margin for gas consumption in combat." "That's about enough, Commander." "Maybe it's a good idea having the staff recheck those numbers." "There's nothing to recheck." "This plan's an order." "If your pilots don't botch their navigation, they're won't be any splashes." "Sir, my group won't fly under these orders, even if I'm court martialed." "That's exactly what it will mean." "Gentlemen?" "What's the matter?" "Insubordination, Admiral." "McClusky here refuses to obey a direct order." "It's a one-way mission, Admiral." "With this plan, my aviators don't make it back." "He's right, Admiral." "You tell me, Gentlemen... what is the meaning of this temerity?" "Don't you suppose the staff has worked out this plan with the utmost care?" "Mr. Henry?" "Admiral, the staff isn't flying this mission." "That's an insubordinate response, Mister." "Don't you think your father in your place would carry out his orders, which is jump in his plane and do as he's told?" "Yes, sir." "But if asked as you're asking me, he'd mention you wouldn't see your aircraft again, because you won't." "All right." "I'll do what you pilots want." "What?" "Commander McClusky, would you call air operations, please?" "Let's have a revised plan." "Aye-aye, Admiral." "Thank you, sir." "Captain." "God damn It!" "Isn't somebody going to get that little son-of-a-bitch?" "Never seen so much AA from something that small." "Get him!" "Get him now!" "Sounds like the Japanese Skipper knows what he's doing." "When they couldn't find that crippled carrier, they should've come right on back." "All right, squadron, let's forget lt." "Let the little squirt go." "Form up, form up." "We're running out of daylight." "Let's get out of here." "I heard the boys were coming back." "Yes." "Admiral, those pilots haven't been trained in night landings." "So McClusky informed me." "Let's go to flag plot." "It's going to be dark in half an hour, Mr. Henry." "I know, Cornett." "Just how the hell we ever going to get back aboard?" "I don't know." "Maybe when we get there," "Admiral Spruance will pull us in with a big skyhook." "[Telephone rings]" "Flag bridge." "Admiral, radar reports returning aircraft two miles out." "Thank you, Commander." "Victor Victor Six to Sugar." "We are at point option." "Fuel levels critical." "Urgently request instructions." "Repeat... urgently request instructions." "Admiral, their tanks have got to be about bone dry." "Admiral, we've got to turn on the lights." "Well, we have to assume, the Japanese have submarines about." "If we illuminate, the last two carriers in the Pacific fleet are lit up like Christmas Trees." "Sir, we have a screen out there." "If a sub has gotten through the screen, that's too bad." "The boys have to land." "I agree, Captain." "Illuminate at once." "Aye-aye, sir." "Bill." "This is flag bridge." "Admiral Spruance has ordered the fleet illuminated for recovering aircraft." "Turn on all landing lights." "Repeat..." "Turn on the lights." "Woo!" "Ha ha ha!" "Look at that!" "You ever seen anything so pretty in your life?" "We got light!" "Go to General quarters, Commander Grigg." "Full submarine alert." "Very well, sir." "Officer of the deck, make it so." "Quartermaster, sound general quarters." "That's the last of them, Admiral." "Very well." "Let's darken ship, Captain." "Aye-aye, sir." "Secure from general quarters, Jim." "Aye-aye, sir." "Admiral Spruance?" "Yes, Commander?" "I just want to say thank you." "Thank Miles Browning." "June 6, 0900 hours." "With the Yorktown fatally crippled, his vessels low on fuel, his aviators exhausted, and an enemy of unknown, but heavy strength lying somewhere beyond the horizon," "Admiral Spruance will finally break off and end the battle." "Gentlemen, I think we've done about all the damage we're going to do." "Let's get out of here." "Dismissed." "And so, the Midway victory will be sealed." "The Japanese expansion east is finally stopped." "And Franklin Roosevelt will be able to continue his all-important "Germany First" Doctrine so crucial to the final conclusion of the war." "Raymond Spruance, the quiet warrior, will go on to win many victories in command of ever vaster forces, yet in history, like Nelson of Trafalgar, he will remain Spruance of Midway." "But before this last day draws to a close, there will still be one more mission to fly." ""Scout plane reports enemy ships severely damaged." "But still are underway." "Looks like more target practice for Enterprise."" "Yay!" "Yay!" "Cornett, there they are." "Dead ahead." "Right on schedule." "Looks like duck soup." "Divisions three and four, you go after that lead cruiser." "Divisions one and two, follow me." "We're going after that second one." "Okay..." "Here we go." "Captain?" "Jump, Cornett!" "Jump!" "Dearest Rhoda, by now you have the official word." "I tried to place a call to you, but It's probably for the best I didn't get through." "It might have been painful for both of us." "Warren made it through the worst only to be killed on the last day." "He'll probably get a Posthumous Navy cross." "Rear Admiral Spruance told me this." "Spruance is a controlled person, but when he spoke of Warren, there were tears in his eyes." "He said that Warren turned in a brilliant, heroic performance." "Warren is dead." "We will never see him again." "We have Byron, we have Madeline, but Warren's gone, and there will never be another like him." "He came to see me just before the battle." "I can still see him standing, hand on the overhead, saying with that easy grin of his," "If you're too busy for me, say so." "Too busy?" "God forgive me if I ever gave him that impression." "There was no greater joy in my life than talking to Warren, in fact, just resting my eyes on him." "I have just written my ship's battle report- one page long." "We never fired a gun." "We never saw an enemy vessel." "Warren and a few hundred men like him carried the brunt of a great and victorious battle." "Somewhere a character in Shakespeare says," ""We owe God a death"." "Few men in any armed force, on any front, will strike a harder blow for their country then Warren did." "That's what he set out to do." "His life was successful, fulfilled and complete." "I want to believe that, and in a way, I truly do." "But, ah, what Warren might have been." "I'm a known quantity." "There are a thousand four stripers like me." "One more or less doesn't matter that much." "I've had my family, you might say I've had my life." "Yes, Warren's gone." "He won't have any fame." "When the war's over, nobody will remember the ones who bore the heat of combat." "They'll probably forget the names of the Admirals, even of the battles that saved our country." "I feel that despite the present discouraging news, we'll eventually win the war." "The Japs can't recover from the shellacking we gave them at Midway, and Hitler can't lick the world by himself." "Our son helped turn the tide." "He was there when it mattered and where it mattered." "He took his life in his hands, did his duty as a fighting man." "I'm proud of him." "I'll never lose that pride." "He'll be in my last thoughts." "Other things will have to wait for a different letter." "God keep you well." "Love, Pug." "Departing train number two the Sunset Limited for El Paso and New Orleans." "Mom!" "Mom!" "Here I am." "Oh, my baby." "It's so good to see you." "I got the most wonderful letter from your father." "I must have read it a thousand times." "Have you heard from him?" "No." "Let's go." "I've got Madeline's car." "You look so wonderful." "You look really pretty, Mom." "What does it matter how I look?" "Ooh, it's so hot here." "I've haven't had a proper bath in three days" "I feel absolutely slimy." "Same old mom." "Well, tell me, dear, what's the news from Natalie?" "It's from that fellow Slote." "They're still interned in Siena." "I may have to go to Switzerland." "Byron, how can you?" "In wartime, and you under orders?" "It's not easy, but possible." "I can cross France by train or fly to Zurich from Lisbon." "After my torpedo course, I've got 30 days leave." "Even so, Byron..." "once there, then what?" "I don't know." "Nobody else is doing anything." "I have to see what I can do myself." "All right?" "Byron." "Wasn't that Errol Flynn?" "That it was, ma'am." "He's having a hell of a war, isn't he, sir?" "Yeah." "Hell of a war." "You can just put them over here." "Thanks." "Before I do anything else, I must shower." "I mean, this very second." "Where's dad's letter?" "You want to read it right now?" "Yeah." "Isn't it a beautiful letter?" "I'm saving it." "I'm saving everything." "The telegram, the letter from the Secretary of the Navy, the newspaper write-ups, invitation from the Gold Star Mothers." "I'm saving it all." "I'm going to put it - the hell with this hair." "I don't care anyhow." "Mother." "Madeline." "Oh, Madeline." "I'm so glad you're here." "Why aren't you ready?" "Ready for what?" "The party." "The fund-raiser for Second Front Now." "You didn't tell her." "I forgot." "I'm only organizing the whole thing." "Madeline, I'm completely confused." "Aren't you working for Hugh Cleveland?" "He's the Committee Chairman." "That's how I got involved." "I'll going to make great contacts." "I don't want to be Hugh's little sandwich-fetcher forever." "Well, there's some good news." "Mother, why don't you get dressed?" "Hugh's picking us up in his limousine." "I'm not going to know anybody there." "I've nothing to wear." "Both of you are coming." "Besides, you do know somebody." "Alistair Tudsbury." "He and his daughter are both going to be there." "They were passing through from Hawaii, and they stayed to see you." "I wore my black suit, but it could be pressed." "Get dressed." "I'll make some calls." "I don't suppose anybody will notice me anyway." "I'll just pretend to be somebody's poor aunt from Dubuque." "Lenny." "Hi, sweetie." "It's Maddie." "I called everybody." "I'm so excited." "Mom's going to be there." "Byron will be there if his mood improves." "I did call everybody." "Hey, baby, how are you?" "I've got a script for you." "Mary Lou." "Hugh!" "Good to see you." "Maddie!" "Hi, sweetie." "I want to introduce a few people here." "Maddie's mother, Rhonda Henry." "Rhoda Henry." "Welcome to Hollywood." "War hero son, Byron." "Byron, I'll watch out for you." "Lots of nice girls here." "Hughie, I never get over this house." "It's so beautiful, isn't it, Mom?" "It's all so exciting." "Harry Tomlin's Hugh's agent, one of Hollywood's biggest." "10º% of my heart's blood's in this place." "It ought to be nice." "Mom, Tudsbury's in there." "You print that, and you won't wake in the morning." "Father, look who it is." "Good heavens." "It's Rhoda Henry and young Byron." "Mrs. Henry." "Pamela, how nice to see you." "Good evening, Byron." "Rhoda, I met your son Warren in Hawaii." "A very special young man." "I was deeply saddened to hear of his death." "That's very considerate of you, Mr. Tudsbury." "Well, now..." "When did we last set eyes on each other?" "Berlin, wasn't it?" "1939?" "Yes." "Remember we sailed on the Bremen together." "And the Captain's Wife!" "I know." "I just love this music." "She loves the music." "She's my mom, and I love her." "Well, I think..." "I think it's about time that everybody faced up to the fact there's isn't going to be a second front in Europe this year." "Oh, really?" "And why is that?" "Churchill." "Oh, come now." "You know as well as I do, only a trickle of Green American troops have yet reached Britain." "A cross-channel attack would be a futile slaughter." "Oh, come on, Al." "Sure, sure, that's the standard line, but everybody knows the real truth." "Winnie hates the Bolshies and wants to hold back and let Stalin bleed himself white fighting Hitler alone." "Everyone knows that?" "I don't know any of that." "How do you know that?" "Read your newspapers, Admiral." "Why do you think I'm chairing this shindig?" "To put the pressure on." "To get something done." "Listen to me, Hughie, you want to do something useful?" "Put on a benefit for European Jews." "Show the world somebody cares." "Wait a minute, Admiral." "Just one damn minute." "You're not accusing me of being an anti-Semite, are you?" "Come now, Mr. Cleveland." "Byron meant no such thing." "I certainly hope not." "I'm in show business for crying out loud." "I like Jews." "Some of my best friends are Jews." "I got a problem with the program." "I hate pulling you from your famous friend " "You're forgiven." "Whatever it is, it's taken care of." "You folks will excuse us." "Come on, Maddie." "Was that fun Byron?" "Well done, Byron." "You put that horse's ass just where he belongs." "Didn't he, Pamela?" "He certainly did, Talky." "Pamela, get me a large brandy... for my nerves." "Mrs. Henry." "Yes." "Could we have breakfast tomorrow morning, the two of us?" "Well, I suppose so." "Good." "My daughter's arranged a studio tour." "Would you like to come?" "We might see Humphrey Bogart." "Imagine." "I'm sorry." "I've got to finish tonight's broadcast and get it to Talky by 11:00." "You actually wrote it?" "Yes." "I help him when he's indisposed." "He manages better in London." "We'd be there now, but..." "Madeline said you were coming West, and I desperately wanted to talk to you." "Really?" "What about?" "About your husband." "I love him." "I know you asked for a divorce." "He asked you to reconsider." "I have reconsidered." "Long since." "That's all over with." "How did you know all this?" "He confided in me." "He confided in you?" "Miss Tudsbury, are you having an affair with my husband?" "No." "No, Mrs. Henry." "He's remained faithful to you." "Worse luck." "Indeed." "You're very pretty." "He's been an ass." "It would've been heaven." "And honors would be even between you two." "Isn't my husband much too old for you?" "Your husband is the most attractive man I've ever met, in every way, including his loyalty to you." "Unfortunately, it was that loyalty which defeated me." "Did you..." "see him after Midway?" "Yes." "I saw a lot of him." "And all through his agony, all he did was think about you, how you were taking it." "He even considered asking for emergency leave." "He packed me off, though I tried to stay." "Mrs. Henry, he's a family man to the bone." "If you can get to Hawaii, why don't you?" "He needs you." "If there was ever a chance for me, the death of your son has ended it." "I can't understand you." "How could you risk losing him?" "You have a well-wisher, you know." "Victor has received several letters about you and a man." "Oh, my God." "What do they say?" "Guess." "Look, I'm sorry to hurt you in your bereavement, but I don't want you to hurt him anymore." "This is a bizarre conversation, isn't it?" "A wartime conversation." "You know, I met Warren." "Only once, in Hawaii, just before the battle." "He had a strange light about him." "It wasn't my imagination." "My father saw it, too." "You've had an appalling loss, but you still have two wonderful children." "If you and Victor console each other, perhaps, in time, you will be happy again." "Thank you for seeing me, Mrs. Henry." "Miss Tudsbury." "Will you promise never to see my husband again?" "I can't do that." "That's impossible." "But I am out of your way for now." "Rest assured of that." "Early June, 1942." "Hitler's Case Blue offensive smashes deep into Russian's vitals." "At Kharkov, Sevastopol, and all along the Don, the Red Army fades away before this astounding new show of German power." "Meanwhile, in North Africa," "Field Marshall Erwin Rommel's brilliant armored offensive sends the British reeling in headlong retreat eastward across Libya into Egypt." "On June 21st, the Fortress Seaport Tobruk falls." "By July, Rommel has thrown the British back to El Alamein, threatening to link up with the German columns driving southward through the Soviet Union." "Although President Roosevelt is acutely aware of Soviet premier Stalin's increasingly strident demands for a second front in Europe, he recognizes the British view that a successful allied landing in Europe in 1942 is impossible." "But to keep faith with the beleaguered Soviet people, he tells his closest advisors..." "Gentlemen, United States' forces must fight Germans somewhere in 1942." "I agree, Mr. President." "And toward that end, in late July, the President dispatches a special mission to London for urgent meetings with Winston Churchill and the British Chiefs of staff." "We have arrived at an historic moment." "I thank our American friends for their forbearance and understanding." "So..." "North Africa it is to be and the recovery in the West of the initiative - the Golden Fleece of war." "Our previous code names for this operation have all been cancelled, and the final code name for the landings of our combined forces in North Africa will now be..." "Torch." "And, gentlemen, on or before October the 30th, the Torch shall be lit." "There is, Prime Minister, still the matter of our Russian friends." "Indeed." "But now I must do as I promised your President." "I shall leave at once for Moscow, and there I will tell Joe Stalin, face to face, there will be no second front in France in 1942." "A Jew's journey." "July the 25th, Siena, Italy." "Our last day in my beloved villa, for today we embark on our perilous flight to freedom." "It's been over a month since that fateful decision was made, a trying month." "Werner Beck has grown increasingly more difficult." "Assuring him that if I were allowed a respite from the Summer heat," "It would speed my completion of the Rome radio scripts, he hastily agreed to a short seaside holiday." "Hence, today we leave with the Castelnuovos for their beach house in Follonica." "Once there, the plan is to wait for Rabinovitz's signal to depart the mainland for the island of Elba." "From there, on to French Corsica, where the underground will arrange to have us taken aboard a freighter and carried to Lisbon, our gateway to America." "The car will be here soon." "Thank you." "We'll be ready soon." "Of everything I must leave behind," "I shall miss my library most." "There is something personal and alive for me in this room." "The authors are all my friends and colleagues, though some of them crumbled to dust 15 centuries ago." "They speak to me." "I shall miss them." "For my part, If the worst comes to the worst," "Natalie will learn that I am not altogether a woolly-headed Professor." "Like Hamlet, when the wind is southerly," "I know a hawk from a handsaw." "In a desperate emergency, there are always the diamonds." "We have learned that old Sasha Dote and his wife will only accompany us to the bus station." "Age, and the prospect of abandoning the fruits of a lifetime to the Fascisti proved too much for them." "To further legitimize our deception," "Natalie has the servants orders for work to be completed on our return in two weeks." "But the servants are wise." "They will not be fooled." "So, in cold fact," "A Jew's journey begins."