Wing and a Prayer Page #4

[Machine Gun Fire]

[Machine Gun Fire]

The last thing I saw

was theJaps diving to strafe Gus

after his plane

hit the water.

He didn't have

a ghost of a chance.

When they dived at him,

each of the three planes

opened up

with everything

they had.

Gus' plane

was still burning.

I could see the flames.

Never mind that.

Let's get back

to theJap planes.

Did you see anything

which might have

indicated the presence

of an enemy task force?

I'm afraid

I wasn't watching.

What was your approximate position?

In my area of search,

it was possibly

150 miles southeast.

Possibly?

I'm pretty sure.

I got out of there

as fast as I could,

according to orders.

Are you sure there were

only three enemy planes?

Could there

have been more?

How can I tell you

what I didn't see?

I saw the three of them

make a pass

at Gus' plane,

coming down

out of the sun.

You're not certain

they were Zeros?

Did you notice the shape

of their wings

or whether they had

single or multiple engines?

I can't remember

exactly, sir.

Oh, come on now, Scott.

Pull yourself together.

Yes, sir.

I'm trying

to tell you, sir,

that this oneJap,

the frst,

came in and made his pass

under Gus' tail,

then rolled over on

his back and began to shoot.

Gus' engine

began to smoke,

and the plane

went into a dive.

Scott, from what direction

did the enemy planes approach?

I told you,

from out of the sun.

That can mean anything.

Sorry. That's the best

I can tell you.

What was your altitude?

I think it

was about 2,500.

What was

theJaps' altitude?

I don't know, sir.

They were diving

when I saw them.

If only I could have

gone back to help Gus.

Look, Scott...

let's forget

about Chisholm.

You understand that?

Very well, sir.

I'll try.

[Knock On Door]

Come in.

Sir,

a destroyer

is coming

alongside.

All right.

We'll go on

with this later.

Yes, sir.

Is that all, sir?

That's all.

[Brakes Squeal]

[Alarm Sounds]

Now hear this.

The smoking lamp is out

throughout the ship.

The smoking lamp is out

throughout the ship.

Hey, Paducah,

the smoking lamp.

I heard it. I heard it.

Do you think I'm deaf?

[Chattanooga Choo-Choo Plays]

Is that the best

you can do?

Yeah. That's

the best I can do.

I'm no hero.

I haven't got any citation

from the admiral.

I haven't

shot down any Zero.

Look here, Scott.

I'm sorry.

Well, then, shut up.

Wait a minute, you two.

Take it easy.

What is this?

Sorry. I guess

we're all a little jumpy.

Relax. As for you, Scott,

there are no stars here.

This isn't Hollywood.

When it's time for you

to take your bows,

we'll turn

on the spotlights.

Now you're just a part

of a team,

and you'll play as

the team plays. Understood?

Yes, sir.

[Chattanooga Choo-Choo

Plays Loudly]

[Blows Whistle]

Now hear this.

Now hear this.

The captain will address

the personnel of the ship.

Men, ever since

Pearl Harbor,

our country

has been asking,

"Where is our navy?

Why don't they fght?"

Because of our

unorthodox maneuvers,

I know you've been

asking the same question.

I must confess,

so have I.

We've suffered many

casualties, dead and wounded.

We've been humiliated.

We've had to avoid combat

and run away from the enemy

when we've been aching

to knock them

clean out of the sky.

We asked ourselves why

we're not permitted to fight,

why we could not

avenge our dead,

strike back in our defense.

Five minutes ago,

I received a message which

answers all our questions.

After Pearl Harbor,

our country was faced

with its greatest disaster.

The situation

was desperate,

and only a desperate and

brilliant strategy could save us.

Our navy pinned its hope

on one thing...

theJapanese inability

to deviate from a plan

once it had been made.

We knew their next move was

to capture Pearl Harbor,

but first they'd

have to take Midway.

We deceived theJaps

by making them think we'd

scattered over the ocean,

that Midway

would be a pushover.

In the meanwhile,

we secretly concentrated

our entire naval strength

at Midway.

That was our trap.

You men, this carrier,

and her escort

were the bait

to that trap.

It was a nasty job.

It has cost us heavily

in men and equipment.

TheJaps thought they saw

four of our carriers

at widely separated places.

They only saw one.

That was us.

Three times Tokyo

reported us sunk.

Twice, we nearly were,

but we're still afloat.

I'm happy to tell you

the strategy has worked.

The trap has been sprung.

Believing us scattered

over the ocean,

the mainJap fleet

is headed for Midway.

They're going in

for the kill. So are we.

We're through

running away.

We're through

pulling punches.

Our mission

is accomplished,

and from here on in,

we fight.

- Yay!

- Yay!

TheJap fleet is headed for Midway

in three columns.

One is here

with the carrier Soyu.

One is here

with the carrier Kaga.

One is with the carrier Hiru.

Now, their rear is protected

by a formation

headed by the cruisers

Mikuma and Mogami.

Our heavy ships

are hopelessly outnumbered.

TheJap fleet

mustn't be allowed

to get

within range of them.

The battle of Midway

must be won in the air

by this carrier's planes,

two that will join us,

and the fortresses

on Midway.

When theJaps fnd out

what they've run into,

they're going

to come after you

with everything they've got,

but this is the battle

we've been praying for.

We've got it...

on our own grounds,

on our own terms.

Good luck.

Pilots...

stand by

to start engines.

Stand clear propellers.

Start engines.

B.G., all set?

Ready, sir.

O'Neal, got your

recognition code straight?

Yes, sir.

One for this morning

and one

for this afternoon.

We'll celebrate tonight

with a nice,

fresh vegetable salad.

The frst

from my seagoing farm.

Sir, last enemy position,

bearing 2-1-5 true,

150 miles.

Molton to Squadron,

there's our target.

Molton to Squadron,

remember, when you think

you're in close,

go in closer

before you drop that fsh.

Molton to Squadron,

join up.

Come on, join up.

Lacobson, rendezvous,

join up.

I can't.

There's a Zero on your tail.

There's one on yours, too.

Ioin up.

You all right, Hale?

Yeah, Mr. Molton.

Relay this

throughout the ship.

Radio Room?

Relay these messages

throughout the ship.

Wassum's out

like a flower.

Stand by for anything.

There ought to be fighters.

Watch that Zero

up there.

He won't budge.

He's an old-timer.

What's that Zero

doing, Hank?

He ain't saying.

Lust hanging there.

They'll

make a pass soon.

They tagging

our outfit?

Are you kidding?

Shut up. Never mind

the crystal ball gazing.

Come on, you...

Shut up!

12 o'clock! Something coming

through the formation.

Wait till they come in.

Where's our fighters?

Watch the ponies

up there.

All right,

all right.

[Gunfire]

Criminy! There's

another batch coming!

All right,

I've got him!

You take him, Joe!

Two more at 2 o'clock

over your right wing.

Get him!

[Gunfire]

Got him.

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