Midway Page #5

each plane flying 700 miles out,

covering an 8-degree sector.

We'll have a 180-degree view

at anything coming from the west,

and still have a flanking area

northeast of Midway for our carriers.

Have it put into operation right away.

- Aye-aye, Sir.

Jesus, how many of those can you eat?

Admiral, air reconnaissance report.

No sightings.

Is there any defense measure

we've overlooked?

That had top priority, Admiral.

You sent everything we had:

Tanks, PT boats, anti-aircraft guns.

It's miserable waiting for an attack

on your own people, hoping it happens.

More pressure from Washington?

- Not a whisper.

Frankly,

I'd rather have them raising hell.

Captain.

- What's the count, Reid?

Half a dozen F4Fs and 15 Buffaloes.

Damned relics. - We'll show the Japs

we're up here. Maybe we'll get lucky.

DK, Reid.

In less than 5 hours

Hosogaya will attack the Aleutians,

and we will still be groping to Midway

in this filthy squall.

We're not due to launch

our first air strike for 36 hours.

Dur predictions are for clear weather

before then, Admiral.

I keep wondering what Dperation K

uncovered at Pearl Harbor.

Were the American carriers there?

We've heard nothing from Yamamoto.

The American carriers must be there.

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.

It could be a feint for an attack

on the West Coast or here in Hawaii.

Dr what we've defended against.

Today. Dur 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!

Radio's picked up it's transmission.

It's alerting Midway.

Break radio silence.

Advise Admiral Yamamoto:

Invasion force has been discovered.

6 large ships in a column, bearing

262 degrees, distance 700 miles.

Admiral.

- You were right, it's Midway.

Enigma!

You know what I mean, Admiral.

- Fletcher's joined Spruance on time.

Another one from Strawberry-9, Sir.

11 ships, course 090, speed 19 knots.

Just what kind of ships?

First transmission said "Main body",

but didn't mention carriers.

That PBY, Strawberry-9,

was at the end of his 700-mile leg.

Nagumo's carriers could be

following the large ships.

Maybe beyond his horizon.

If they are, Fletcher's too far north.

He has to move at top speed now to get

within striking distance by sunset.

But if Nagumo's carriers are

coming in behind the 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 Fletcher:

This is not, repeat, NDT main body.

Expect enemy carrier strike

tomorrow behind storm front...

...via northwest, as anticipated.

Signed, Nimitz.

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...

Sound general quarters!

Weather is clearing, Admiral.

We could not have timed it better.

We intercepted a radio transmission

from Tokyo to Admiral Yamamoto.

Intelligence does not report

any movement of the American fleet.

Whatever doubts we may have had...

- They still are with me, Kusaka.

We have no definitive intelligence

reports, only opinions and estimates.

And Yamamoto's silence

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

to take charge of air operations.

And so you shall, my friend.

Prepare an air search plan right away.

- For what area?

Where I would deploy my carriers

if I were an American commander.

There, northeast of Midway.

Times like this,

Joe, I miss the flatlands.

It's a big body of water out there.

I'm a fella from the Texas prairie.

Nearest lake was 120 miles away.

You could wade across it

at the height of the rainy season.

During summer

we made clay pots out of its bottom.

Whatever happens, Joe, you sure

as hell earned your pay this month.

Well, thank you, Sir.

To cover the area, we will launch

scout planes from Akagi and 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

and half our aircraft in reserve.

But the American fleet

can't be anywhere near Midway. We

shouldn't hold back our best pilots.

We've been over this before.

Admiral,

our first strike must be decisive.

If we don't destroy Midway's airstrip

and planes, 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 launch a second strike.

That is how it will be.

Suddenly, the man who led us

to victory at Pearl Harbor

is choked by caution.

He senses danger out there.

So do I.

Their transports wouldn't be so close

if they didn't plan to invade soon.

CinCPAC's right.

They'll hit Midway today.

Yes, but from where?

He could pop out anywhere.

And then his scout planes will be out.

- We have to find him first.

If he hits our blind side...

Why don't we get some eyes out there?

10 SBDs will cover our northern flank.

DK. But no more than 100 miles out.

I want to recover them fast,

in case the PBYs make contact first.

You DK?

- Yeah. - Here.

The poor bastards'll miss all the fun.

There's nothing north of us but ocean.

He gets his dope straight

from Tokyo Rose. Right, Chili Bean?

Wrong, from here.

When it bristles there's Japs around.

You're crazy!

'Morning, Captain. - You're supposed

to be sacked out. What're you doing?

We couldn't sleep.

I know, but get below and try.

We got a heavy day ahead.

Yes, Sir.

Excellent weather forecast.

Broken cloud cover up to 2,000 feet

to conceal us from enemy scout planes,

and above unlimited visibility

straight into Midway for our flyers.

Commence launching.

All our cruisers' scout planes

are in the air, except one.

The Tone is having catapult problems.

A delay in launching scout 4.

- How long?

Half an hour, Sir.

In case the Americans suddenly appear,

I suggest bringing the 2nd flight wave

on deck as soon as the 1st is clear.

Armed with torpedoes

to deal with enemy carriers? - Yes.

Dur planes and the Kaga's.

Soryu and Hiryu can stand by

with bombs for 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.

We got 'em! It's Jap fighter cover.

- Let's duck into the clouds.

"Enemy carriers"? That's all?

That's all Strawberry-5 said.

We haven't heard from him since.

If he was on course and on schedule,

he made the contact about here,

250 miles out.

You better signal it to Spruance.

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