"Admiral Yamamoto, please." "He asked not to be disturbed." " It is most urgent." "Admiral Yamamoto?" "Tokyo has been bombed." " When?" "10 minutes ago, Admiral." "Yokohama, Kawasaki and Yokosuka were also bombed." "His Imperial Majesty is unharmed, Sir." "I personally phoned the palace." "The Emperor is safe." "Damage?" " Very little to Tokyo." "The other cities haven't reported in yet." "but it seems probable that they too were barely scratched." "How did they do it, Watanabe?" "They launched long-range land-based bombers from their carriers, B-25s." "They came in at treetop level, they weren't even seen until they were over the city." "Tokyo ... bombed!" "Sir, I understand your deep concern for the Emperor's safety, but ..." "You may speak freely, Commander." " Sir, this raid is a blessing in disguise." "The Americans have done us an invaluable service." "They have proven you correct." "Our homeland is not invulnerable to attack." "After today there will be no more foot-dragging by the General Staff." "Now they will certainly approve your operation M-I." "Lieutenant-Colonel James H(arold) Doolittle led the raid with a force of 16 B-25s and an all-volunteer crew of airmen." "Most of the planes carried three 500-pound demolition bombs and single incendiary clusters, which were dropped on oil stores, factory areas and on some of the military installations of Tokyo." "A few planes went on to make minor strikes on Kobe, Yokohama and Nagoya, with one bomb hitting the Japanese aircraft carrier Ryuko." "News of this raid had a most heartening effect on American morale and the morale of our allies, while at the same time constituting a blow to the prestige of the Japanese." "Yes, Sir." "At his press conference today, President Roosevelt was asked the following questions:" ""Mr. President, couldn't you tell us about that bombing, where did those planes start from and go to?" "He replied:" "Yes, the time has now come to tell you." "They came from our new secret base at Shangri-La ... "" "Well, my God, it's Captain Garth!" "I was expecting some junior intelligence officer not the Air OPS himself." "This is an unexpected honor!" "Yeah, like hell it is, Joe!" "Admiral Nimitz sent me over here to ..." " To chew my ass off, huh?" "Officially, Joe I'm supposed to question that estimate (of the) Japanese intentions you sent over." "Why so grim, Matt?" "I got to think that Doolittle's attack have (made) you CinCPAC people dancing in the street." "Not by a long shot." "That damn raid could boomerang on us." "The fleet is still crippled, we only got 4 carriers in the whole Pacific." "We need time to rebuild." "Now the boss is afraid Yamamoto's going to jump right back at us." "Question is where?" "Well, we got all the latest intercepts right over here." "Here's a list of Japanese ships that we suspect are gonna be assigned to amphib operations south of Rabaul." "The Coral Sea!" "That's where we think they'll strike next." "But something else is stirring, something out our way." "Joe, we need facts, not guesswork." "Matt, we cracked Yamamoto's staff level code, that doesn't mean we can't just reel it off word for word like song." "We get a flicker here and a glimmer there." "Missing pieces are falling ablaze." "How much can you decipher?" " Hell, 15, maybe ..." "Really decipher." " Ten percent." "10 per ..." "That's one word in 10." "For Christ's sake, Joe you're guessing!" "We like to call it "analysis"." "Alright." "What are these indications you got that something's brewing back our way?" "There's no hard clues yet." " What do you have, Joe?" "An increased radio traffic between Yamamoto's staff commanders." " And that's all?" "Could be significant." "At least I feel that something's stirring." "Alright," "I'll take that list of Jap war ships you "feel" are heading for Coral Sea." "Nimitz may want to send Jack Fletcher's task force down there to find out what the hell's going on." "We'll see how your 10-percent guesswork pays off, huh?" "As a back-room code-cracker I thank you, Matt." "Joe, could I ask you something very personal?" " Certainly." "It really stinks down here." "How often do your people take a bath?" "Bath?" "God, I don't know ..." "What day is it?" "Forget it, Joe." "Any new Yamamoto intercepts?" "Here's a first mention of something they are calling "A-F", whatever that means." "A-F?" "Captain!" "Tom!" "Dad ..." "My God, Tom." "When did you get in?" "I didn't know ..." "Last night." " This is beautiful." "Why didn't you write me that you were coming?" "I've been assigned to Kaneohe." " Well, I'll finally get to see something of you." "Three years!" "You look great, Tom really great." " So do you, Dad." "Kaneohe, are you?" "What squadron?" " VF-8." "You'll like it out there." "Your C.O. used to be my wing-man, when we were flying off the old Langley." "Could we talk somewhere?" "Sure ..." "Here." "I phoned you from Guam the day you graduated." "Yeah, I heard later." "I'm sorry, I missed the call." "I guess your mother was there?" "Yeah." " How is she?" "Recovered from the divorce, I guess." " That's good." "I was hoping maybe we could ..." " Dad," "I've fallen in love with a Japanese girl." "I want to marry her." "I need your help." "I damn well guess you do, Tiger." "She's been arrested here in Honolulu." "How the hell did you manage that?" "That training in San Diego and getting mixed up with a Japanese girl here in Honolulu?" "She was a student at (the) San Diego State (Universtity), I met here there" " Wait a minute, she was arrested here in Honolulu?" "Her parents live here." "She wouldn't marry me without their consense and she came out to see them." "Apparently, the FBI has some sort of information on her folks, so the army picked her up too." "Well, that figures." "Haruko was born here." "She's as loyal as either you or me." "Anyway, the minute I got in I went to see where they're being held." "She wouldn't see me." " Why not?" "I don't know." "I did find out that she and her parents will be sent back to the mainland in a few days." "It sticks in your throat, doesn't it that I want to marry a Japanese girl?" "Sticks in your ...?" "Don't give me any of that "racial bigot" crap." "I don't care what color your girl is." " It's not the point ..." "Christ almighty!" "6 months after Pearl Harbor!" "Boy, you have one lousy sense of timing." "What's her name?" "I'll see if I can get hold of the FBI report on her." "I wrote it down for you:" "Haruko Sakura." "But promise me one thing:" "Just, don't do anything stupid on that till I can get hold of her case." "That's a deal." "In my opinion, this entire plan is not only unnecessary, but doomed to fail." "Admiral Kondo, Operation M-I has been conceived by our most brilliant strategist." "We are all aware of Captain Kuroshima's authorship Commander, and his reputation." "But this time, the god of operations has conceived a monster." "Would you please explain, Sir?" "How am I expected to land my invasion forces on Midway, unless the enemy airfields and shore batteries have been neutralized?" "Sir, you have heard Admiral Nagumo has said, his carriers will obliterate the American defenses at Midway." "The enemy's land-based bombers have a range of at least 400 miles more than Nagumo's carrier planes." "His ships would be blown out of the sea before he could launch his attack." "I took my carriers to Hawaii, where the risk was far greater, and destroyed the American fleet." "Where were the enemy land-based bombers then?" "That was then, Nagumo, not now." "A surprise attack with a carrier task force is one thing." "But this, a strike against Midway and the Aleutians with 200 ships and 100,000 men." "Does the idea of taking the Aleutians cause you any concern, Hosogaya?" "No, Sir." "But an operation so large, so complex, I'd like more time to study it." "After all, in a matter of hours our Coral Sea operation will be starting." "We have sufficient forces for both." "I tend to agree with Admirals Kondo and Hosogaya, Sir." "May I suggest we meet again after the Coral Sea campaign." "Very well." " Meanwhile Gentlemen, please consider this:" "The Americans are still unprepared and outnumbered." "If their fleet, particulary their aircraft carriers, can be lured into battle and defeated, they will then have no significant naval force left in the Pacific." "They will be compelled to sue for peace." "I have traveled widely in America, my friends." "Their industrial might is awesome." "I'm convinced our only hope for victory is one massive strike at Midway." "He Joe, what about this "hot information" of yours, you are sure it can't wait ?" "I already got one headache for the boss." " I consider this urgent." "And, you were right about Coral Sea." "That's where the Japs were, alright." "Every ship in your list was there." " We get hurt?" "We got hurt." "Welcome on, Admiral." "How was your flight?" "Long and strewn with potholes." "Got Fletcher's Coral Sea report?" " Right here, Sir" " Right." "Get in the back, Joe." "But wait till I cue you in." "Here's Admiral Fletcher's preliminary report, Sir." "We lost the Lexington." "What did we do to the enemy?" "We sank one of their light carriers, one of their big first-line jobs and some of their smaller ships." "Looks like we just about broke even, Admiral." "We can't trade the Japanese carrier for carrier, Matt." "We started out with a 3 to 1 superiority." "With the Lexington gone, Saratoga laid up, all we've got is Hornet, Enterprise and the Yorktown to counter Yamamoto's next move." "Sir, Yorktown was heavily damaged at Coral Sea." "There's the follow up report." "Admiral, Commander Rochefort has something urgent, he says." "It's about objective A-F, Sir, the meaning of "A-F"." "And now our listening posts had picked up a lof of traffic between Yamamoto's flag commanders." "There's been a very heavy volume of traffic Sir, with recurrent references to objective "A-F"   and A-O." "A-O is still a mystery, Admiral maybe a diversion." "But I think we've identified objective "A-F"." "It's Midway." "It had us really stymied them, until one of my men remembered an enemy intercept we decoded last March." "A Jap reconnaissance pilot radioed his base that he's passing close to "A-F"." "Now we plotted every possible course this plane might have taken, and the only appreciable landmass he could have overflown at that time was Midway." "Joe!" " I know it's thin." " Thin?" "Damn near invisible!" "But I figured out a way to confirm it, Sir." "Now, if you have this flown to Midway." "It's a fake message, Admiral, reporting that Midway's freshwater condenser's broken down." "It should be transmitted in the clear, so it can't be questioned by the Japanese operators getting every word of it." "Instruct Midway to include that in their housekeeping traffic tomorrow." "Aye-aye, Sir." "Send this right away." "Hey, chief!" "What's this?" "There ain't nothin' wrong with our freshwater condenser!" "I was just over there" "Dombrowski, send it." "It's crushing, that got damn heat's gettin' to everybody here." "Have this intercept coded and transmitted to fleet headquarters!" "They took the bait, Admiral." "Rochefort just decoded a transmission from Kwajalein to Yamamoto' fleet headquarters:" "Reads: "A-F is having trouble with its freshwater condenser."" ""A-F" has to be Midway Island." "Be at my office at 05:00, Matt." "I'm calling in the whole staff." " Aye-aye, Sir" "This is how I expect the battle to develop:" "The northern force, under Admiral Hosogaya, will strike here in the Aleutians as a diversion." "To keep Nimitz's attention away from our main objective." "He will not realize our objective is Midway until 24 hours later, when Admiral Nagumo's carriers strike the island and destroy the American planes and shore batteries." "At that hour you move in, Kondo, with your invasion forces." "Nimitz will be forced to respond." "He will have to commit the balance of his fleet, most certainly his carriers, to repel the invasion." "His carrier commander will undoubtedly be Admiral Halsey." "I have studied his tactics and I have studied the man." "Halsey is courageous, tough-minded and not afraid to take risks, but these strengths, we will turn against him." "It will take Halsey's task force at least 48 hours to reach Midway." "By that time, Admiral Nagumo, you'll have crushed Midway and be waiting for him." "You'll have the advantage of position, and at least a 2-to-1 superiority in carriers, and 4 to 5 times the number of screening vessels." "All of these is based on the assumption that the American fleet will still be guarding the Hawaiian Island when we make our strike." "Nimitz is crippled and on the defensive." "He must deploy his remaining strength around his most valuable Pacific base." "I agree with Admiral Nagumo, Sir." "We must make certain where the enemy fleet is." "Now I propose that on the 29th, we send 2 flying boats from Kwajalein to French Frigate Shoals." "We fuel them by tanker submarine and fly them to Pearl Harbor on the 30th." "They then report, whether or not the American fleet is actually there." "A very wise precaution indeed." "We will call it "Operation K"." "Does anyone have any other thoughts?" "Yes." "We can achieve a great victory, providing Nimitz and Halsey do exactly what you expect." "The Enterprise and the Hornet are due in the harbour by sundown, Sir." "The rest of Admiral Halsey's task force should be in sometime by the morning." "It's the Yorktown we are worried about, she is more severely damaged than we thought." "How soon can we expect to dry-dock her?" "By the 17th, if a Jap sub doesn't spot the oil she's trailing and track her down." "Admiral Fletcher just radioed in his repair list." "Tell the yard commander, that I want that every workman he can muster, is standing by to board her." "That sharpshooter from Washington has just landed, Sir." "Be here in 30 minutes." "Who did they send?" " Captain Vinton Maddox." "Maddox." "He's a God damned scalp hunter!" "See that he's thoroughly briefed, and get Captain Garth up here." " Aye-aye, Sir." "Admiral, why don't you let me handle it?" "No, he's entitled to a crack at me." "Phone that in." "He tested those electric arming switches?" " No, we still got some damn snafu on this circuitry." "You get them all working, and I mean 100%, Commander, or I want em ripped out of every SBD (Dauntless) in this suadron." "Is that clear?" "Yes, Sir." " Get to it." "Sorry to drag you out of bed at this hour, Tom, but it may be the only chance to get to talk, for a few days." "It's OK." "Did you get the reports?" " Yup." "I've already read it." "You know your girl belonged to those Japanese patriotic organizations?" "I saw some magazines around her apartment, but I didn't know it was propaganda." "Now the Atorney General's office says it's subversive." "And the FBI doesn't think she's telling the truth about why she suddenly showed up here in Pearl (Harbor) either." "I guess, you just can't blame them for that." " Sure I can!" "And I can sure as hell straighten them out, too!" "Look Mister why don't you cool down and let me handle this!" "Tom, I don't have a lot of time to fool around here." "You asked me to help you." "Do you want me to do or not?" "Well, I guess I don't really have any alternative, do I, Sir?" "I guess you don't." "Captain Maddox, Admiral Nimitz." " Great pleasure, Sir." "Get right to it, Captain?" " Certainly, Admiral." "I'm sure you're aware of Washington's opinion about this Midway invasion business." "Yes." "They think it's an enemy ruse." "An elaborate phony, Sir." " Go on." "Could we speak in private?" " If you'd feel more comfortable." "Admiral, these enemy radio intercepts that your intelligence unit has been accumulating ..." "Very detailed, aren't they ..." " Too damn detailed, Admiral." "Remember, what happened just before December 7th?" "The Japanese flooded the airwaves with faked messages." " Yes, these could be carbon copies." "Washington is convinced that Yamamoto's feeding this stuff to you in order to cover his real intentions." "A very definite possiblity." "Well then Sir, how can you still insist ..." " Because it's my judgement, this information is factual." "I'm convinced Yamamoto's target is Midway." "But if you're wrong, Admiral, if you send our carriers into a Japanese ambush, the entire West Coast and the Hawaiian Island will be wide open for invasion." "Fully aware of that, Captain." "You're saying, the safe play is to defend the home folks first?" "With respects, Admiral, it's the smart play." "Captain, if we surprise the enemy, catch him where he doesn't think we will be, we can drive him back 3,000 miles." "And keep him pinned till we are ready to take him on in his own front yard." "Sir, my instructions were to convey Washington's deep concern over the safety of the West Coast and the Hawaiian Islands." "That is, if you will insist on ..." "Captain Maddox, did Washington ordered me to defend against an attack here or the West Coast?" "No, Sir." "My orders were simply to consult." "No, Sir, I have no such orders for you." "Commander Blake, declare a state of Fleet Oppose Invasion." "Target:" "Midway Island." "Issue the order immediately." " Aye-aye, Sir." "Admiral, may I see you alone a moment, Sir?" " Excuse me, Captain." "Damn." "You know how much Bill Halsey hates hospitals." "Maybe it's not that serious, Sir." " If he scheduled himself to go anywhere near one" "I am sure it's not only damn serious, it's probably critical." "Admiral, I got some really bad news." " Today's the day for it." "The Japanese changed the J-N 25 code, that's the one that getting us Yamamoto's plans." "How long will it take you to unravel the new system?" " A month, maybe two." "Sir, do you still want that fleet order issued?" "Yes." "Target:" "Midway." "Welcome aboard your flagship, Admiral." "Thank you, Captain." "Rear Admiral Kusaka, my Chief of Staff." "Captain Aoki." "And where's Commander Genda?" "He's in sick bay, Sir." "Influenza." "When does the doctor think he will be able to resume his duties?" "In 2 or 3 days, Sir." "I don't like this idea beginning this operation without my best air commander." "Sir, we have another sick bay casualty:" "Commander Fuchida, he came down with appendicitis, this morning." "Fuchida too?" "We'll need a replacement." "Genda suggests a veteran torpedo pilot aboard the Hiryu:" "Lieutenant Tomonaga." "If Genda says so, I want to see Tomonaga as soon as possible." "Yes, Sir." "Fuchida, the man who led my first air strike at Pearl Harbor, out." "Genda, who planned it, both ill." "Very bad luck, Sir, very bad luck." "Only an inconvenience, Sir." "We'll manage." "Good morning, Sir." " Lieutenant." " Follow me, please." "Here we are." "The Sakura family." "Yes." "Thank you, Lieutenant." "I can find my own way out." "Miss Sakura, I'm Captain Garth, Tom's father." "Please come in." "My parents, Tetsuro and Sada Sakura." "This is Captain Garth." "How do you do?" "You want to speak to me in private, Captain." "My parents understand." "Yes." "Now then ... , thank you." "If I embarrassed you in there, forgive me, but I wanted you to meet my parents, so you can see for yourself that they are not much of a threat to national security." "I never really thought they would be, Miss Sakura." "I suppose it goes with the times." "And I shouldn't be bitter?" "I never said that." "Damn it, I'm an American!" "What makes us different from German-Americans or Italian-Americans?" "Pearl Harbor, I guess." "Look, I've read the FBI report." "Ask me anything you want to." "Alright." "Your father was seen frequently going into the Japanese consulate." "He has old friends there." "I see." "What about these Japanese patriotic organizations you belong to?" "My father enrolled me in those when I was born." "Out of respect for him I never resigned, but I wasn't active." "I see." "Those magazines they found in your parents' apartment?" "What about them?" "The "Prairie Shimbun"?" "Published in Wyoming." "My father has deep emotional ties for Japan, but even so he thought it was a ridiculous propaganda sheet." "Why did he subscribe?" "He's a traditional and honorable man." "He was once indebted to the man who publishes the "Prairie Shimbun"." "Look, Miss Sakura, I understand you came to Hawaii to ask your parents' permission to marry my son." "Yes, I did." "Why didn't you tell that to the FBI?" " I didn't want to implicate Tom." "Why won't you see him?" "He's in love with you, so he tells me." "You won't even talk to him." "He doesn't understand." "I don't understand." "Because my parents have forbidden me to marry outside my race." "I want you to tell him for me." "I can't tell him that." "He wouldn't believe me in the first place." "Besides, I'd just as soon he didn't know we'd talked together." "Look, Miss Sakura," "Haruko," "Tom's based at Kaneohe Naval Air Station." "Send for him, please." "You have to tell him this." "You have to tell him." "Damn itching is driving me crazy!" "All those medics can do, is smear this God-awful paste all over." "When they get up enough nerve to come in near you." " I know, I know I'm a son of a bitch of a patient." "But a skin disease!" "Of all the stupid, useless things to get laid up with!" "It's driving me nuts." "I can't even think right!" " We'll not have much time." "Fletcher's docking the Yorktown right now, and I've got to make some hard decisions." "I like you to recommend your own replacement." " Ray Spruance." "I know ... , I know he's junior to a lot of other flag officers, and never served a day on a carrier." "But Chet, he knows carrier tactics." "Well, you asked for my recommendation." "I can just picture Washington's reaction if I hand over the Enterprise and the Hornet to a cruiser skipper." "Especially after all the static I've been getting about going out looking for the Japanese at Midway." "You told me once, Chet:" ""When you're in command, command."" "Admiral Fletcher, Sir." " Good morning, as ordered, Sir." "Welcome home, Jack." "And congratulations on bringing your cripple in." "Well, we got lucky." " We haven't much time, so I'll get to it fast." "Halsey's beached, in the hospital." "Won't be leaving for a while." "I'm sending you out again, Jack, in 72 hours." "Back to sea (in) full combat readiness." "But Chet, that's impossible!" "It'll be at least 3 months before the Yorktown's back in full commission." "I giving Ray Spruance Halsey's command." "He'll be taking the Enterprise and the Hornet to sea tomorrow." "You follow him 48 hours later." "Ray Spruance is a cruiser commander!" " He knows carrier tactics." "Yeah, but even he can't fly." " Neither can you." "And he sure as hell can't learn it by tomorrow, can he Jack?" "No." "Congratulations, Ray." " I'm still in a state of shock." "Nice seeing you again, Matt." "How's the hand?" " Coming fine now, Sir." "Matt ... , we should have used you at Coral Sea." " Thank you, Sir." "We got him for this time, Jack, he's going with you on the Yorktown to join your Air Operations staff." "Good." "This time we are up against the biggest force the enemy has ever sortied, more than 200 ships." "They'll have a 4-to-1 supremacy over us." "Yamamoto himself is commanding." "We know when and from where each unit sailed, we know their original courses." "But we don't know where their rendezvous (well be), or what changes they make or when they'll strike." "My best guess is they could hit Midway from the northwest, but there is no intelligence to support that." "Ray, assuming what you see here isn't just an elaborate ruse," "Washington thinks it is, but assuming they're wrong, what kind of move do you suggest?" "I'd take my carriers out here, to a point northeast of Midway, lie there and wait for Nagumo's carriers." "Why not head northwest and hit them head-on?" "You know there's just a chance that Washington may be right." "You think Hawaii and the West Coast could be the real target?" "Well, it doesn't really matter, provided I'm in a position to cut them off if they do move east." "If it's Midway, I'll bushwhack them." "Alright." "Jack, you're senior." "You take overall command, you too join up." " Yes, Sir." "The Yorktown will be at sea in less than 72 hours." "I don't need to dwell on the fact that Yamamoto outweighs us in every department." "Our 3 carriers and their escorts are all that stands between the enemy fleet and the American coast line." "Now, about your point of rendezvous, what should we call it?" ""Point Luck", ..." "Sir." "Sounds like a prayer, Mr. Wold, but it's damned appropriate." "Son of a bitch!" "Nurse!" "Ray." " Hi, Bill." "Was just about to call the nurse to try to get someone to cut that tree down." "It spoils my view of the boatyard." "How are you feeling?" "I can't sleep." "I can't eat." "Just sit around scratching myself 24 hours a day." "You ever have an oatmeal water bath?" "Don't." "I want to thank you for recommending me to take your task force to sea." "Now I have a question for you:" "Did that itch go to your head?" "Stop underestimating yourself, Ray." "Any skipper who can keep his cruisers and destroyers alongside of my carriers from one side of the Pacific to the other is definitively the man for the job." "You know, you and I ..., we are kind'o ..." "Oh Bill, we're kind of different." "Do you think I can pull it off the same way you could have?" "I can only tell you this, Ray:" "You play it the way you feel it, not the way you think I'd played." "You go to sea, find Yamamoto and chew his ass." "Now that's all there is to it." "Bye!" "..." " Christ, no!" "You want to catch this?" "You want us to lose the God-damned war!" "Oh, by the way," "I'll have somebody cut down that tree for you." " Yeah." "In carrying out the task assigned in Op-Plan 29-42," "Enterprise and Hornet will be governed by the principle of calculated risk, which will interpret to me in the avoidance of exposure of your force to attack by superior enemy forces without good prospect of inflicting as result of such exposure greater damage to the enemy." "Sir, three of the boilers are out of commission." "The yard manager says he's gonna need another two days." "Delaney, I expect the yard to finish the job by 06:00 tomorrow." " Aye-aye, Sir." "Sorry about your boiler, Jack." "But if you clear Pearl by 07:00 you'll make your rendezvous with Enterprise and Hornet before Yamamoto hits Midway." "Agreed." " Good luck, good hunting." " Thank You, Sir." "You too, Matt." "See you back here soon." "Aye-aye, Sir." "We just haven't any future, Tom." "I figure that for the worse." "We don't." "We really don't." "I wish you'd go now." "I don't love you anymore." "It was a mistake." "Say it to my face." "say it to my face, God damn it!" "It'll be OK." "Shit." "Wait and see!" "1919, the Marines were practicing dive-bombing off Haiti, right then." "Everybody said:" ""Premature, better wait and see."" "We waited, then the Germans showed us in '37 in Madrid." "You mean like at Pearl Harbor?" " Pearl Harbor, shit!" "In '32 and '33 Jocko Clark's squadrons proved that Pearl Harbor could be attacked successfully from the air." "And Admiral Logan Ramsey said, predicted it would happen, in detail." "When was that?" " 1937, pal." "Wait and see." "We waited." "December 7th, we saw." "The wait-and-seers will bust your ass every time." "I'll drink to that." " Bet your ..." "How long have you been down here?" " Long enough to hear your lecture, buddy." "You ought to go on the radio." "How the hell are you?" "Alright ..." "Well, I'm celebrating my birthday." "That's how I am." "That's a problem we all have once a year." "My God, now you got my kid flying for you." "How's the boy doing?" " Just fine." "He's a good pilot." "Got him checked out in an F4F." "He'll be shipping out any day, now." "Coming from you that means a lot." "No." "He's good man, he's a natural pilot, he has a good attitude, good marksman." "I would say, that if Tom has any deficiency, it will have to be in ... enemy identification." "The boy's got to learn, man, you do not win a war by kissing the enemy." "For Christ's sake ..." " What the hell, everybody knows, he told the whole God-damned squadron." "I met her." "She seems like a nice girl." " So was Madame Butterfly, a nice girl." "She's having little trouble with us, right now." " Now we have little problem forgetting this somber story, don't we." "I've got to shove off." "Scuttlebutt says you're going out on the Yorktown, is that right." " Yeah, that's right." "Listen Matt, keep your dumb ass out of drafts." " That's right, buddy." "Hey. thanks for keeping an eye on my boy, I appreciate it." "He'll be fine, Matt." "Tom!" " Nice of you to take the time to see me off, Dad." "But your squadron isn't due to ship out for a week." "What you are doing reporting on board with this group?" "You try to tell me that you are surprised, Sir?" "Your buddy Jessop could not wait to have me transferred." "Well, I didn't know anything about it!" " Like hell you didn't!" "You wanted me shipped out, to stop me from doing something stupid, like try to keep my girl from going to a camp!" "So your old buddy Jessop obliged." " Tom, I knew absolutely nothing about this!" "I have to report on board now, Sir." "MARINE intelligence" "OK, Sir." "Captain Garth is here, Sir." " Oh great." "Come in here, Matt." "How the hell are you?" "I'm gonna do something I do not do, at least not since we were in Annapolis." "I'm gonna ask you to do me a favor." " Oh hell, ask away!" "Lord knows I owe you a few." "This is one of the Bureau's (FBI's) enemy alien reports." " Where did you get this?" "Don't ask." "Matt, I could find out." " Don't, Harry." "I have read the report, it's everything the bureau has got on ..." " A Japanese?" "On an American citizen named Haruko Sakura ... and her parents." "They look OK to me, but because I'm not in your business." "But it sounds that you are." "Harry, I'd like you to investigate this personally." "These people are being sent back to the mainland next week." "If they're clean, and I'm betting they are," "I want that shipment cancelled." "Matt come on, you're way out of line with this!" "This is not your department!" "This is tampering!" "Alright, what have we got here?" "What are these people to you?" "Someday, the girl may be my daughter-in-law." "Matt, this is not only tampering, you're pressuring me as a superior officer to take improper action because of personal reasons." "Improper action, hell, Harry!" "I read what's in there, these people are no more threat to national security than your pet Airedale." "Alright, I'll have to report this request of yours." "It'll go into your record." "It's not for me." "I wouldn't ask you for myself you know, Harry." "For my kid I'm asking you." "Jesus Christ, Harry!" "I'm begging you!" "Alright, I am investigating this." "Thanks, Harry." "And, Captain, this'll wash it with us." "We're even." " Aye-aye, Sir." "Captain?" "Thank you, Corporal." "Reporting as ordered, Sir." "I am sorry to send the Marines after you, Tom but you didn't answer any of my messages." "I didn't feel we had anything to talk about, Captain." "You can cut out that midshipman-crap, due you're talking to your old man." "I'll try to remember that." "Look, for whatever it's worth, I'd like to set the record straight:" "But before we left Pearl," "I personally vouched for both Haruko and her parents, and went way out on a limb for them, way out." "Of course, I don't know what weight it will carry, but you know, there it is." "Thanks." "One thing more:" "I didn't ask your C.O. to have you shipped out." "You spoke to him, didn't you?" " Yes, I did." "He asked me how I felt about ..." " Haruko and me, right?" "Look, I only had a few days left to help her." "If you couldn't do anything, why couldn't you leave it alone?" "Look, Jessop thought he was doing both of us a favor." "I did all I could, a hell lot more than I should've." "You know you're being paid to fly fighter planes, not to sit down in your cabin and cry over your girl's picture." "You better shape up, Tiger, as some hot-shot Jap pilot gonna flame your ass!" "Just received this message, Sir." "Operation K, the reconnaissance flight to Pearl Harbor, has been cancelled." "Cancelled?" "Why?" "Our scout planes could not be refuelled." "There was an enemy vessel at the rendezvous point." "Sir, Admiral Nagumo's carrier force should be warned immediately." "Admiral Nagumo must have picked up the transmission at the same time we did." "Suppose he didn't." "He will assume that operation K went forth and the American carriers are at Pearl Harbor." "And that is where our latest intelligence reports place them." "What latest intelligence reports, Captain?" "Have any of our submarines sighted the US fleet in the last 20 hours?" "No, Sir." "But there's no logical reason for the Americans to have moved their carriers away from Pearl Harbor." "At anyway we must not break radio silence and risk letting them know where we are." "Sir, the element of surprise is one of the most important aspects of our attack." "Admiral, this is our search plan." "An air search involving 22 PBYs, each plane to fly a spoke 700 miles out, covering an 8-degree sector." "That will give us a 180-degree look at anything coming in from the west, and still leave us next a flanking area northeast of Midway for our carriers." "Have it put into operation immediately." " Aye-aye, Sir." "Jesus, how many of those can you eat?" "Admiral, air search report." "No sightings." "Is there any defense measure we've overlooked?" "Anything Midway needs." "They've had top priority, Admiral." "We've sent them everything we could scrape up:" "tanks, PT boats, barbed wire, anti-aircraft guns." "Damn!" "It's miserable waiting here for an attack on your own people, hoping the hell it happens." "More pressure from Washington, Sir?" " Not a whisper." "Frankly, I'd rather have them raising hell." "Captain." " What's the count, Reid?" "I can put up half a dozen F4Fs and 15 Buffaloes." "Damned relics." " We'll the Japs know that we're up here, Sir." "Maybe we'll get lucky." "OK, Reid." "In less than 5 hours Hosogaya will attack the Aleutians, and we will still be groping toward Midway in this filthy squall." "We're not due to launch our first air strike for another 36 hours, Sir." "Our predictions are for clear weather before then, Admiral." "I keep wondering Kusaka, what did Operation K uncover at Pearl Harbor." "Were the American carriers there?" "We've heard nothing from Admiral Yamamoto." "That can only mean the American carriers are still in Hawaiian waters." "Damn communications blackout!" "Hey, you guys!" "The Japs are bombing Dutch Harbor!" "Here we go." "Well, Gentlemen, it's started." "Signal Spruance." "The Aleutian Islands are being invaded, Admiral." "Washington could still be right." "This could be just a feint for an attack on the West Coast or right here in Hawaii." "Or what we've defended against." "Today." "Our PBY should tell us today." "Hey, do you see what I see?" "Damn right, I do!" "Sparks, raise Midway." "Radio:" "Main body." "That's all?" "Just "Main body"?" " Send it!" " Yes, Sir." "An American PBY, Sir." "A reconnaissance seaplane!" "Sir, Radio's picked up transmission from the enemy plane." "It's alerting Midway." "Break radio silence." "Advise Admiral Yamamoto, that the invasion force has been discovered." " Yes, Sir!" "6 large ships in a column, bearing 262 degrees, distance 700 miles." "Admiral!" " I wanted to tell you myself Joe" " You were right, it's Midway." "Enigma!" "You know what I mean, Admiral." " God, Fletcher's joined Spruance on time." "Another one from Strawberry-9, Sir." "11 ships, course 090, speed 19 knots." "But what kind of ships?" "First transmission said "Main body", but ther was no mention of any carriers." "That PBY, Strawberry-9, was at the end of his 700-mile leg when it sent that message "Main body"." "It could be that Nagumo's carriers are following the large ships he reported." "They maybe just beyond his horizon, Admiral." "If they are, Fletcher's is in the wrong place, he is too far north." "He has to move right now flank speed now to get within striking distance before sunset." "But if Nagumo's carriers are where we figured, coming in behind this storm front ..." "Fletcher'd be caught between two forces." "Yes, if we let him head for that main body sighting." "Send a flash message to Admiral Fletcher:" "This is not, repeat, NOT main body." "Expect enemy carrier force to strike tomorrow from behind storm front   via northwest, as previously anticipated." "Signed, Nimitz." "Well that settles that." "CinCPAC must think the PBY sighted only Kondo's invasion force." "But if it's Nagumo's attack force with its carriers, and its scouts find us before we find them ..." "Captain Buckmaster, sound general quarters!" "Weather is clearing, Sir." "We could not have timed it better." "Look, we intercepted a radio transmission from Tokyo to Admiral Yamamoto." "So, intelligence still does not report any movement of the American fleet." "Well, whatever doubts we may have had ..." " They still are with me, Kusaka." "We have no definitive intelligence reports, only opinions and estimates." "And continued silence from Yamamoto does not make them a fact." "Admiral." " Genda." "My apologies." "I've been away from my duties much too long." "Genda, how are you?" "I'm well enough now to take charge of air operations." "And so you shall, my friend, and so you shall." "I want you to prepare an air search plan immediately." " For what area, Admiral?" "Where I would deploy my aircraft carriers if I were the American commander." "There, northeast of Midway." "Times like this, Joe, I miss the flatlands." "It's a big body water out there." "I'm just a fella came out from the Texas prairie town." "Nearest lake was 120 miles away." "You could wade across it at the height of the rainy season." "During the summer we made clay pots out of its bottom." "No mather what happens, Joe, I want you to know, you've sure as hell earned your salary this month." "Well, thank you, Sir." "To cover the area in question, we will launch scout planes from the Akagi and the Kaga, and our cruiser escorts will launch 5 seaplanes." "Very good." "And until our scouts have searched the area, we'll hold our most experienced pilots in reserve and half our aircraft." "But Sir, the American fleet can not be anywhere near Midway." "We shouldn't hold back our best pilots." "We've been over this ground before, Kusaka." "Admiral, our first strike must be decisive." "Midway's airstrip and planes must be destroyed in one massive blow, otherwise we invite a counterstrike." "Commander Genda?" "I agree with you, Sir." "Let our younger pilots fly the first strike." "I am sure they can do the job." "If not, we can always launch a second strike." "That is how we shall have it." "Suddenly, the man who led us to victory at Pearl Harbor is choked by caution." "He senses danger out there." "So do I." "Admiral, they wouldn't bring their transports in so close if they didn't plan to invade damn soon." "CinCPAC's right." "They are gonna hit Midway today." "Yes, but from where?" "He could pop out anywhere along each of that storms." "When he does, he's gonna have his own scout planes out." " We have to find him before he finds us, Sir." "If we are wrong, if he hits us from the blind side ..." "Why don't you get some eyes out there too, Sir?" "But 10 SBDs will cover our northern flank." "OK get them in the air!" " Aye!" " But no more than 100 miles out." "I wanna be able to recover them fast, in case the PBYs make contact first." " Yes." "You OK?" " Yeah." " Here." "The poor bastards are gonna miss all the fun." "There's nothing north of us but the ocean." "He gets his dope straight from Tokyo Rose." "Right, Chili Bean?" "Huh, huh, huh, huh, wrong Goliah, I get it from here." " Yeah." " When it bristles there's Japs around." "Yeah, you're crazy!" "'Morning, Captain." " You guys are supposed to be sacked out." "What the hell are you doing here?" "We tried Captain, we couldn't sleep." "Yeah, I know, but let's get below and try." "We got a heavy day ahead." "Yes, Sir." "Excellent weather forecast, Sir." "We got broken cloud cover up to 2,000 feet to conceal us from enemy scout planes, and above 2000 unlimited visibility straight into Midway for our flyers." "Commence launching." "Sir, all scout planes from our cruisers are in the air, except one." "The Tone is having catapult problems, Admiral" "They are delayed in getting scout 4 launched" " How long?" "Half an hour, Sir." "Sir, in case the Americans should suddenly appear," "I suggest the 2nd flight wave be brought on deck as soon as the 1st wave is clear." "Armed with torpedoes to deal with the enemy carriers, Commander?" " Yes." "Our planes and the Kaga's." "Soryu's and Hiryu's planes can stand by with bombs, in case they need it over Midway." "Give the order." " Yes, Sir." "Now it's up to our strike leader." "Tomonaga is the best we've got." "Howie?" "It's the whole damn Jap navy!" "Radio, raise Midway." "Send:" "Enemy carriers." " Bandits, sea fighter planes!" "Joe, we got 'em!" "It's Jap fighter cover." " Okay, let's duck into the clouds and and come in from behind for a closer look." ""Enemy carriers"?" "You mean that's all?" "That's all he sent Sir, it's Strawberry-5." "We haven't heard from him since, Admiral." "If he was on course and on schedule, he made the contact about here, 250 miles out." "You better signal it to Spruance." " Aye-aye, Sir." "You damn certain it was Strawberry-5 you heard?" "Positive, Skipper, it was their call letters." "How far are we from that contact point?" "We're 15 minutes behind schedule." "Bandits, Bandits!" "Sweet mother of God, hundreds of them!" " Where, damn it, where?" "Four ... no, five, five o'clock!" "Jesus!" "Billy, send that quick:" "Many planes heading Midway." "Are you certain?" "Alright, just let us know the second you get anything else." "Nothing more, Admiral." "Not a word from any of our scouts since that "Many planes" flash." "Yes, but was that from Strawberry-5, or one of the other scouts?" " No call letters were sent, the operator must been too excited." "Just was jumped by enemy fighters." "Damn it!" "How many carriers?" "What course?" "What speed?" "Those Jap fighters will never find us in this soup." "Yeah, and we'll never find their carriers again unless we break into the clear." "It's soup!" "Damn it!" "I should've gone straight in and risked it." "Nothing." "We've lost 'em!" "Lieutenant Ady, they're behind us!" "I can see 2 carriers and a battleship." "Send it!" " Aye-aye, Sir." ""Fletcher to Spruance." "Second sighting reported, Strawberry-5:" "2 enemy carriers, battleship." "Bearing:" "Midway, 320 degrees." "Distance: 180 miles." "Course: 135 degrees." "Speed: 25 knots."" "Thats right where Nimitz figured it to come." ""Proceed southwesterly, attack enemy carriers." "Will follow as soon as search planes recovered." "Fletcher."" "Signal "Ahoy", Captain Browning." "Lets get to battle stations." "Get the control tower of Captain Simard." "Andy" " Yes Sir." " Major Parks get his fighters up?" "All 23." "The SBDs are on the line now, ready to go." "Get 'em airborne." " Yes, Sir." "Captain, we've got Major Parks' frequency." "Rainbow Leader, Rainbow Leader." "Below us, 10 o'clock." "I see 'em, Kirk." "Alright, everybody." "Let's see how many we can drop on the first pass." "Blue 3, Blue 3, under you two bogies !" "Got one, Got one!" "Look at that Jap bastard!" "Get him off me, Someone get him off me !" "Blue 4, on your tail!" "Comin' in on you, three of them!" "I'm hit, Rainbow Leader!" "My God!" "Mayday, mayday!" "Look out, Rainbow!" "On your tail!" "Comin' in on you!" "Three of 'em!" "Look at that Jap bastard!" "My God, they got Major Parks!" "Look out, on your tail!" "Four o'clock, two bogies!" "Rainbow Leader, come in, Rainbow Leader!" "This is Noah's Ark." "Report please!" "What is your condition?" "Report, please!" "Good God!" "Give me the tower." "Andy, they blew right through Parks' fighters!" "Get your people under shelter" " Yes Sir!" "Jesus!" "Come on!" "Attack in squadron order!" "God, they creamed us!" " But we're not out of action yet." "Our landing strip's still operational." "Tomonaga is asking for a second strike." "Sir, this report is a great victory." "We've lost only 7 planes." "We've destroyed more than 40 enemy aircraft, in the air and on the ground." "But apparently the pilots that you chose did not destroy the airstrip, Commander Genda." "Sir, we have 93 planes and our best pilots waiting on our flight decks." "The entire force should be sent out without delay." "The entire force?" "Our planes are armed with torpedoes on Commander Genda's advice." "Hardly suitable for bombing an airstrip." "Correct, Commander?" "They should all be taken below immediately and rearmed with bombs, Sir." "We must make certain that no air attacks against us can be mounted from Midway." "Sir, Lieutenant Tomonaga's request is also a warning." "Midway is still a threat to us." "So are the American carriers, Kusaka." "If they are nearby, yes Sir." "But our scouts have been going for over 2 hours, now they have reported nothing." "You're forgetting, scout number 4 was a half-hour late taking off." "It will not reach it's maximum search range for another hour, yet." "Tomonaga's planes will be returning soon." "When they are recovered, they can be quickly refueled and rearmed for sea action." "In case our scouts sight any enemy ships." "Admiral?" "Very well." "Order our torpedo bombers to be rearmed with contact bombs." "As soon as they are ready, we will launch a 2nd strike against Midway." "57 planes on the line, Sir." "The Hornet will probably launch about the same number." "What's the position of the enemy carriers' ?" " 135 miles, Sir." "If we launch immediately, do our pilots have enough fuel to make the attack and return?" "Yes, Sir." "If this weather holds, if the navigate is perfect and if they don't take too much time over the target." "If we launch now, we just might catch Nagumo like a sitting duck." "But if we take time, to move in close, that will give him time to refuel and reload." "Sir, the PBY reported only 2 carriers." "I know." " Intelligence says he has 4 in his strike force." "If those other 2 suddenly pop up out of nowhere" " Then we'd be sitting ducks." "But there are 2 certain targets 135 miles from here that don't expect us." "Let's get Enterprise and Hornet turned into the wind." " Yes Sir!" "Admiral, Admiral!" "It's from Admiral Spruance, Sir." "Enterprise and Hornet are launching every aircraft they've got, for maximum range." "The air controller reports our Midway strike force will be over the deck in 1 hour, Sir." "Just the time we need to finish arming our bombers for the 2nd strike on Midway." "Your confidence is most reassuring, Kusaka." "Our scouts planes still haven't reported enemy carriers nearby." "They should be starting their homeward leg now." "All except scout number 4." "10 enemy ships sighted." "Bearing: 010 degrees." "Distance: 240 miles from Midway." "Course 150 degrees." "Speed: 20 knots." "Which scout radioed the contact?" " Number 4, Sir." "How far along are we on the rearming?" " Almost half way, Sir." "Order it halted." "Radio scout 4 to ascertain ship types and maintain contact." " Yes, Sir!" "Friendlies, Sir." "Our search planes returning." "They'll be back on board in less than 15 minutes, Sir." "Ask Captain Buckmaster to see to it, Murr." "Our planes from Enterprise and Hornet should hit the Jap carriers in just under 1 hour, Sir." "They're not on the same course?" "We're counting on it, Admiral." "Nagumo has to hold course until he recovers his planes coming back from the Midway strike." "240 degrees ought to get our people to smack right on top of these flight decks full of unfueled aircrafts." "I don't see our fighters anywhere, Sir." "They should've caught up to us by now." "And where's Bombing 8, Skipper?" "With Fighting 8, Dobbs." "They took off together." "Ain't they supposed to be tagging along with us?" "Red Fox Leader to Kit 3." "Red Fox Leader to Kit 3, Skipper!" "Either my compass is all fouled up, or we're not heading 240." "There's nothing out there but empty ocean." "I know where the Japs will be, Mr. Gay." "I think you might let us in on it, Sir?" "I figure they moved since we launched, east, heading out, away from Midway" " Out!" "Roger." " What good's our orders, if the skipper's gonna lead us off on his own?" "I don't like it, Sir." "I need you to know, take it easy, here." "If anybody can find the Japs, Waldron can." "He's part Sioux Indian, for Christs sake!" "Sir, another message from scout 4." "3 additional enemy ships sighted, 250 miles from Midway." "Speed: 20 knots." "Apparently 2 cruisers, a carrier believed to be the Yorktown." "Impossible." "The Yorktown was virtually blown out of the water at Coral Sea." "They can't have repaired her and brought her this far west in less than 10 days." "We must assume that they have!" "If it is the Yorktown, we must destroy her at once, Sir." "I see." "Now suddenly, the threat from Midway's bombers seems less to you than it did when you urged me to switch our planes from torpedos to bombs!" "Admiral, Midway will have to wait, Sir." "We should rearm our bombers immideately and attack that enemy carrier." "Back to torpedoes again, Kusaka?" "More wasted time!" " Lieutenant Tomonaga, this is Commander Genda." "Do you read me?" "Lieutenant Tomonaga, this is Commander Genda." "Do you read me?" " I read you, Sir." " Report please." "Request permission to land, Sir." "Many of my pilots reporting near-empty fuel tanks." "Some have taken anti-aircraft hits." "Urgent we land immediately, Sir." "Sir, Do I have your permission?" "Admiral Yamaguchi advises that we launch an attack on the American carrier immideately and we send our bombers out, however they're armed." "And wile we're launching, Sir, Tomonaga's pilots will be crashing into the sea!" "They're running out of fuel, Admiral." "Alright." "Wait until we've recovered all our airborne aircraft." "While the flight deck is being used for their recovery, rearm our bombers with torpedoes." "Then we'll lauch the attack on the American carrier." " Sir, Lieutenant Tomonaga ..." "That's the last of our scout planes, Admiral." "Tell Eliot to launch everything we've got." " Aye-aye, Sir." "Pilots, man your planes!" "Admiral, all aircraft now on board, Sir." "Tomonaga?" " He was the last to touch down." "I want to close the range on that enemy carrier." "Steer northeast." "Battle speed!" " Yes Sir!" "From Admiral Nagumo, Sir:" ""Enemy force composed of 1 carrier, 5 cruisers, 5 destroyers, sighted 250 miles from Midway." "We are headed for it."" "One carrier?" "Close to Midway." "Not Pearl Harbor!" "Admiral Nagumo will simply destroy it a few days earlier than we had planned." "Oh, thanks, Matt." "Boy, I'd give my retirement pay to know what Nagumo's doing, right now." "The same thing we are, Admiral, sweating it out." "Skipper!" "I see it." "What'd I tell you, Huntington?" "The skipper can smell them out." "Dobbs, see if you can raise Bombing 8 and Fighting 8." "They can't be too far away." "Better coordinate the attack." " Yes, Sir." "Red Fox 8 Leader to Badger 8 Leader!" "Red Fox 8 Leader to Badger 8 Leader!" "Do you read me?" " Clear Sir." "OK, we can't wait all day." "You better get ready, Dobs." "Red Fox Leader to Kits, we're going in!" "Divisions 2 and 4, take the carriers on the left." "Divisions 1 and 3, ram into the other two." "And stay together as long as you can." "I say again: stay in tight!" "Admiral, enemy torpedo bombers off the port quarter!" "They're coming in without fighter protection." "Suicide, mindless suicide!" "Perhaps." "But it's an effective technique." "We can't launch our attack against their carrier while we're busy dodging them." "They're using up all our fighters." "Fox leader to Kit 3, bandits, 11 o'clock!" "Look out!" "Kit 4, two of them." "Shoot Andy shoot!" "This is Kit 6, I got 3 of them on my tail." "For Christs sake, somebody help me!" "Andy, Below you, bandits !" "No, no!" "Oh my God Andy!" "Bail out!" "Bail out!" "Bail out Andy, Bail out!" "Fox leader to Kit, stay in formation!" "Get in." "Close up, you idiots!" "They'll jump us to pieces, close in, close in!" "I'm hit, I'm hit!" "Oh, Jesus!" "Dobbs, behind you!" "Bandits behind you!" "Dobbs, Look out!" "Huntington, 3 of them coming in at 10 o'clock!" "Huntington!" "Huntington, are you dead?" "Close in Mr. Gay, follow me." "Commander Waldron, get your nose up!" "Commander Waldron, Pull up, pull up!" "What the hell happened?" " One of our torpedo groups attacked." "Yeah, but which one?" "I mean, what the hell happened?" "Casualty report, Sir:" "One of our fighters suffered a minor hit, no shipboard damage, no casualties." "A whole squadron. 15 brave crews." "Torpedo 3 going in at 1,500 feet, Sir." "Bombing 3 and Fighting 3 at 19,000." "15 minutes to target." "Who's coordinating the attack?" " Max Leslie, Sir." "He's leading Bombing 3." "Helen Leader to Helen Group:" "Time to arm our bombs." "I say again:" "Arm bombs!" "God damn it!" "This is Helen Leader, keep your hands off that damned electric arming switch!" "Use manual control, use manual control!" "Too late, Commander." "Mine dropped too, Commander Leslie." " Mine dropped too." "Rotten gadget!" "Who the hell invented the electric arming switch?" "Yamamoto, who the hell do you think?" "Now what we are gonna to do?" "Should we drop spitballs on the Japs?" "Alright, knock it off." "The rest of you, use manual control!" "Helen Leader, out." "Skipper, take a look at Chili Bean over here!" "I can feel them!" "Sure, I hope he's right." "Bertha 3 Leader to Mabel 3 Leader," "Bertha 3 Leader to Mabel 3 Leader:" "Japs on the horizon!" "I got 3 ..." "Sweet Jesus, I got 4 Jap carriers!" "Holy hell, we hit the jackpot!" "Yes, sky watch?" " Enemy torpedo planes!" " How many?" "Two separate groups." "Bertha 3 Leader to Mabel 3 Leader:" "How's about that?" "You boys ready up there?" "Damn right, we're ready!" "Let's go Lem, we're running out of fuel!" "Roger." "Bertha 3 Leader to Small Fry:" "Concentrate on the closest flattop." "Push in close and get hits!" "I count 12 coming in from starboard, Admiral." "14 from port side, Sir!" "All these torpedo planes can't be coming from one carrier." "They must be coming from Midway." " Or a second carrier." "Sir, we've heard nothing from Scout 4 since it sighted the one enemy carrier." "I think that Soryu should send out its scout plane for another look." "We must make certain of what we're up against." "See to it immediately." " Yes, Sir." "Lining up to jump us, Thach." "About 12 Japs." "We're right above them." "Mabel 3 to Hustlers:" "Let's break 'em up!" "Score 1 for Commander Thach!" "4 o'clock, Wow!" "Comin' in on you, 3 of 'em!" "That a boy, Tom!" "Run that bastard right into the drink!" "Ramos, 2 o'clock, 2 o'clock!" "Nice shootin' Ramos !" "1 o'clock, Mansen, 1 o'clock!" "You got him!" "Nice goin' Mansen!" "Mabel 3 Leader to Hustler 2:" "3 bandits at 12 o'clock diving' on you!" "Roll out, Tom, roll out!" "Climb, Climb!" "We've quashed every one of their air attacks, and not one torpedo has even come close." "Sacrifice themselves like samurai, these Americans." "Sir, the figher director reports that last attack pulled our entire fighter cover down to sea level." "They are off now, wave-hopping after the survivors." "We have no fighter umbrella over us?" " No, Sir." "We're trying to recall them, get them back up to the patrol altitude." "How many fighters are standing by to cover our attack against the American carrier?" "Barely enough to do the job, Sir." "They're American carriers, no doubt about it, Yorktown class." "Get through to Nagumo's flagship." "Be quick about it!" "What are you waiting for?" "The transmitter isn't working, Sir." "We're not sending out any signal!" "What's that look like to you down there?" "A Jap destroyer!" "Going someplace in one hell of a hurry." "OK, let's follow it." "See where it leads us." "Commander McClusky, look at the fuel gauge." "We have to turn back now." "I know, I know." "The last two attacks were made by more than 50 torpedo planes. 50 Kusaka!" "There is more than one enemy carrier nearby." "There must be!" "Admiral." " Genda, why hasn't the Soryu's scout plane reported?" "We don't know, Sir." "It should have sighted the American ships 10 minutes ago." "Sir, all the bombers are rearmed and ready." "Signal all carriers:" "Launch immediately!" "Raven Leader, there they are, dead ahead." "Sweet mother, look at them!" "Huey, the whole Jap navy!" " This is Raven Leader, pipe down, stay off the air till I report contact!" "Raven Leader to Mother Goose, Raven Leader to Mother Goose:" "Have them in sight." "4 enemy carriers." "I say again: 4 enemy carriers." "Helen Leader to Bertha Leader, Helen Leader to Mabel Leader!" "Come in Bertha, come in Mabel!" "This is Helen Leader." "We have made contact." "Come in Bertha, come in Mabel!" "I'm sorry, Commander Leslie, Torpedo 3 and Fighting 3 don't answer." "Keep trying Wilson." "We're supposed to coordinate our attack." "Maybe the get balled up on their navigation, Sir, or maybe we are not at the right rendezvous point." "Keep trying, damn it!" "Mabel Leader, come in, Mable Leader!" "Raven Leader to flock:" "Looks like they're turning into the wind, getting ready to launch." "Where is their fighter patrol?" "I don't see any Jap fighters, Sir." "Well, let's not wait for 'em!" "Follow me!" "It's no use, Sir." "Commander Massey and Commander Thach do not answer." "OK Wilson, hang on." "We're going in." "Sir, we don't have a bomb!" " We can draw some heat off the guys that do." "This is Helen Leader." "We'll concentrate on that big bastard up forward." "Raven 1 to Raven Leader, Commander McClusky, they've got bombs stacked all over their flight deck!" "Bull's eye, Bull's eye!" "Scratch one flattop!" "Sweet Mother, we caught them cold!" "Raven Leader to Raven 6." "I got a hit, Commander McClusky." "Bring it home, girls, bring it home, cream those bastards!" "Bull's eye, Helen 5, bull's eye!" "Commander Lesley, I got a hit!" "Right down their throat." "Farther than ever!" "Look at that bastard burn!" "Beautiful, Helen 3, dead center!" "My God, we caught 'em flat-footed!" "No fighter cover and the deck is loaded with bombs!" "Sweet Mary, how did we get so lucky?" "Helen Leader to squadron:" "3 enemy carriers burning." "Time to go home." "Admiral, you must transfer your flag." "The cruiser Nagara is close by." "Advise Admiral Yamaguchi." "I can't tell you where to find the enemy carriers, Lieutenant Kobayashi." "Their last position was radioed by scout 4, it's several hours old." "Hasn't the Soryu scout reported, Sir?" " It hasn't been heard from, since it was launched." "Then how do I find them, Sir?" " Lead your group toward their last reported position, here, northeast of us." "Then just trust your luck that somehow you will find them." "Do you hear anything?" " Nothing, Sir." "All enemy ship and aircraft frequencies are silent." "Lieutenant, enemy planes!" " I see them." "Our fighters are forming for an attack!" "Signal them to lay back with the rest of us." " Lay back ..." " Use your light, stay off the radio!" " Yes, Sir." "We'll let them lead us to their carrier." "I count all of Max Leslie's bombers, Sir." " Where's the hell of the rest of Thach's fighters?" "Off the port quarter, Sir." "I'll bring the fighters down first." "They'll be the lowest on fuel." "Jesus!" "He's alive, Captain." "Flight Mission Combat!" " Go ahead, Combat." "Radar has a third group of aircraft, definitely bandits." "020 degrees, 30 miles and approaching, Sir." "Roger." "Bandits, Sir." "020 degrees, approaching, 30 miles." "Sound general quarters!" "Sir, we took a bomb hit down our stack." "The boilers are out." "Admiral, the radio's down." "We can't send visual signals in all this smoke." "You better transfer the flag, Sir." "I suggest to the Astoria." "Matt, you better stay aboard, help Murr with the flight ops." " Aye, Sir." "Lower the barge." " Order the Admiral's barge lowered!" " Aye-aye, Sir!" "This is Zephyr calling Whirlwind:" "Zephyr to Whirlwind, enemy carrier on fire!" "I repeat:" "Enemy carrier on fire." "Returning to base." "That wasn't Kobayashi, voice." "It's Petty Officer Nakoda's, Sir." " Apparently none of the senior officers survived." "Captain, the scout plane from the Soryu is approaching." "He signalled that his radio is out." "He's gonna be OK, Captain." " We gonna transfer him in half an hour or so, Sir." "Hi, Dad." "I'll see you back at Pearl, Tom." "There's a picture of Haruko and me that I'd like you to bring ashore." "Sure, I'll take care of it, Tiger." "Thanks, Dad." "Only 1 boiler lit, Sir." "The other 5 are out." " Can you get 'em on the line again?" "Yes, Sir." "I think I can guarantee you about 15 knots in an hour or so." "Very good." "And Delaney, pass the word along to your black gang:" "We have got the topside fires under control." "Aye-aye, Sir." "Matt, we have more planes than pilots now." "Can you fly one off for me, before you go?" "Sure, Murr." "marine intelligence" "Did you confirm it?" " Yes, Sir." "Admiral Fletcher's reply just came in." ""Fletcher to Nimitz:" "Confirm previous report, 3 enemy carriers afire."" "Hallelujah!" "3 of their 1st-line carriers, Admiral!" "Isn't that worth at least a "hot-diggity-damn"?" "I'll take it under advisement, Joe, but there's still that 4th enemy carrier to deal with." "There is also a message from Captain Buckmaster, Sir:" "The Yorktown's been hit." "Badly?" " Yes Sir, but she's underway again, operational." "I guess, our whole force may be in jeopardy if the Japanese located the Yorktown." "They still got a tremendous fleet out there, Admiral." "But that 4th carrier can't be far off." "We've already won a great victory, Admiral." "Maybe we ought to get our people back out of there." " Break off, run for home?" "Before they can hurt us again?" "Yes Sir." "Hell, that might be the smart play, Commander." "Trouble is:" "I want that 4th carrier!" "What's the matter?" " Your right wing tank, Lieutenant, is punctured." "We haven't had time to repair it." " Is the left tank fueled?" " Yes, Sir." "A few hours ago we filled the sky with our planes." "Now we win or lose with 6 fighters and 10 torpedo planes." "Skipper wants to know, can you maintain this speed, Delany?" " 18 knots, Sir. - 18 knots." "Very good." " The show will ready to launch." "All we gotta to do is find that 4th Jap flattop." "Bridge-phone, Combat." " Go ahead, Combat." "Sir, report from Scouting 5." "Lieutenant Adams has located the 4th enemy flattop." "Good." "Relay our position to Admiral Fletcher." " Aye-aye Sir." "We found him, Delaney." "O.K. just give us all the old lady's got left." "Sir, radar has bandits." "Distance: 35 miles, closing." "This time they're coming in low." " Torpedo attack!" "Sound general quarters!" " Aye-aye Sir." "Let's get everything we have left airborne, while we still can." " That's for you partner." "General quarters, general, quarters!" "All hands, man your battle stations!" "Right 4 rudder!" " Right 4 rudder, Aye!" "Watch out there!" "Get your ass down!" "Whirlwind, this is Zephyr 3!" "Two torpedoes hit the carrier!" "I repeat:" "Two torpedoes hit the carrier!" "Returning to base." "Now it's one against one, Admiral." "Congratulations." "Delaney, what's the situation below?" "No good, Sir." "All boilers are out, there is no hope of relighting them." "Get your people topside, on the double!" " Aye-aye, Sir." "Larry, radio Enterprise:" "We'll land there after we make a bomb run." "Yes, Sir." "Blue Leader to all planes ..." "How many are we sending out?" " 24 dive-bombers, Sir." "We'll have to try it without fighter protection." "What about the Hornet?" " Scraping the bottom of the barrel." "16 dive-bombers left, plus the 3 that Matt Garth is bringing over from the Yorktown." "Signal Hornet:" "We attack immediately." " Aye, Sir." "Sir, it couldn't have been the same carrier, Kobayashi dive-bombed." "She was undamaged and under full steam." "We put 2 torpedoes into it." "Kobayashi said, he left the carrier on fire." "Did you see any smoke?" "No, Sir, it must have sunk." "We didn't see a 3rd carrier, either." "Dive alert!" "Enemy dive-bombers!" "Sir, we must withdraw." "How will we apologize to His Majesty?" "Leave that to me." "I am the only one who must apologize to His Majesty." "Thank you." "That was the LSO, Sir." "Matt Garth is coming in." "His plane is all shot up." "The hell, I wonder if Matt knew how big we won." "I don't know but I think I know what he'd have said:" ""lt doesn't make any sense, Admiral." "Yamamoto had everything going for him, power, experience, confidence ..." "Were we better than the Japanese, or just luckier?""