Midway Page #8

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 several hours ago.

Hasn't the Soryu scout reported, Sir?

- It hasn't been heard from.

Then how do I find them, Sir?

- Fly to their last reported position.

Then just trust your luck

that somehow you will find them.

Do you hear anything? - Nothing.

All enemy frequencies are silent.

Lieutenant, enemy planes!

- I see them.

Dur fighters

are forming for an attack!

Signal them to lay back with us.

- Lay back... - Stay off the radio!

We'll let them

lead us to their carrier.

I got all Max Leslie's bombers, Sir.

- Where's the rest of Thach's planes?

Dff 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.

Radar has more aircraft, bandits.

020 degrees, 30 miles and approaching.

Roger. Bandits, Sir.

020 degrees, approaching, 30 miles.

Sound general quarters!

We took a bomb hit to the side.

The boilers are out.

Admiral, the radio's down. We can't

send visual signals in this smoke.

You better transfer the flag, Sir.

I suggest to the Astoria.

Matt, you better stay aboard,

help Murray with the flight ops.

Lower the barge.

- Have the Admiral's barge lowered!

This is Zephyr calling Whirlwind:

Enemy carrier on fire!

I repeat:
Enemy carrier on fire.

Returning to base.

That wasn't Kobayashi. - None

of the senior officers survived.

The scout plane from the Soryu

is approaching. His radio is out.

He's gonna be DK, Captain.

- We'll transfer him in half an hour.

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.

I'll take care of it, Tiger.

Thanks, Dad.

Dnly 1 boiler in use, Sir. 5 are out.

- Can you get 'em on the line again?

Yes, Sir. I think I can guarantee

you 15 knots in an hour.

Very good. Delaney, tell your gang

the topside fires are under control.

Aye-aye, Sir.

Matt, we have more planes than pilots.

Can you fly one for me?

Sure.

MARINE INTELLIGENCE

Did you confirm it?

- Yes, Sir. Fletcher's reply is here.

"Fletcher to Nimitz: Confirm

1st report, 3 enemy carriers afire. "

Hallelujah!

3 of their 1st-line carriers, Admiral!

Isn't that worth a "hot-diggity-damn"?

Good advice, Joe, but there's still

that 4th enemy carrier to deal with.

A message from Captain Buckmaster:

The Yorktown's been hit.

Badly? - Yes, but she's underway.

- Dperational?

Dur whole force may be in jeopardy

if the Japanese locate the Yorktown.

They still have a tremendous fleet.

But that 4th carrier can't be far off.

We've already won a great victory,

Admiral.

Maybe we should get our people back.

- Break off, run for home?

Before they can hurt us again? Yes.

That may be the smart play.

Trouble is:
I want that 4th carrier!

What's wrong?

- Your right wing tank 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.

The skipper wants to know, can you

maintain this speed? - 18 knots.

Very good. - All we gotta do

is find that 4th Jap flattop.

Bridge-phone, Combat.

- Go ahead, Combat.

Report from Scouting 5.

Adams located the 4th enemy flattop.

Good. Relay our position to Fletcher.

We found him, Delaney. Just give us

all the old lady's got left.

Sir, radar has bandits.

Distance:
35 miles, closing.

They're coming in low.

- Torpedoes! - Sound general quarters!

Let's get everything airborne

while we still can.

General quarters!

Man all battle stations!

Right 4 rudder!

- Aye-aye!

Watch out! Get 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. All boilers are out.

Get your people topside, fast!

- Aye-aye, Sir.

Larry, radio Enterprise:

We'll land there after our bomb run.

Yes, Sir.

Blue Leader to all planes...

How many are we sending out?

- 24 dive-bombers.

We'll have to try it

without fighter protection.

What about the Hornet?

- Scraping the bottom of the barrel.

16 dive-bombers left, and Matt Garth

is bringing 3 from the Yorktown.

Signal the Hornet:

We attack immediately. - Aye-aye, Sir.

That wasn't the carrier

Kobayashi dive-bombed.

She was undamaged.

We put 2 torpedoes into it.

Kobayashi said the carrier was

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 LSD, Sir.

Matt Garth is coming in.

His plane is all shot up.

I wonder if Matt knew how big we won.

I think I know what he'd have said:

"It doesn't make any sense, Admiral.

Yamamoto had everything going for him,

power, experience, confidence...

Were we better than the Japanese,

or just luckier?"

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