Two Stories

[Ian Anderson]

I saw this elsewhere and though it would be appreciated here.

I have not tried to verify accuracy and no politicians were killed in the posting of these stories.

YOU NEED TO READ BOTH STORIES.



STORY NUMBER ONE



Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn't

famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy

city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.



Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was Capone's

lawyer for a good reason ... Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's

skill at legal manoeuvring kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.



To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only

was the money big, but Eddie got special dividends, as well. For

instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in

help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large

that it filled an entire Chicago City block.



Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little

consideration to the atrocity that went on around him.



Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he

loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars,

and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object.



And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even

tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a

better man than he was.



Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he

couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good

example.



One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie

wanted to rectify wrongs he had done. He decided he would go to

the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean

up his tarnished name, and offer his son some semblance of integrity.

To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew

that the cost would be great. So, he testified.



Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire

on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son

the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he would ever

pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a

religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine.



The poem read:



"The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power

to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour. Now is

the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in

time. For the clock may soon be still."



STORY NUMBER TWO



World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant

Commander Butch O'Hare.



He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier

Lexington in the South Pacific.



One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was

airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had

forgotten to top off his fuel tank.



He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get

back to his ship.



His flight leader told him to return to the carrier.

Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.



As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that

turned his blood cold; a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding

its way toward the American Fleet.



The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was

all but defenceless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them

back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the

approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow

divert them from the fleet.



Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the

formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 calibers blazed as he

charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another.

Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many

planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent.



Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes,

trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy

planes as possible, rendering them unfit to fly.



Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another

direction.



Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped

back to the carrier.



Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding

his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the

tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his

fleet. He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft. This took

place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the

Navy's first Ace of WW II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the

Medal of Honour.



A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29.

His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade,

and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the

courage of this great man.



So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International,

give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue

and his Medal of Honour. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.



SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?



Butch O'Hare was "Easy Eddie's" son ...

 

[Jeff Young]

Generally true. Eddie O'Hare was Al Capone's lawyer and Butch O'Hare's son. Eddie "turned" on Al Capone in his tax evasion trial and was a major reason why Capone was convicted. Eddie was killed in a drive by shooting probably by Capone's lieutenants in 1939. Not sure if the poem is a true story or not.

Butch O'Hare was one of the early leaders of carrier aviation in the US, along with guys like Thach (inventor of the Thach weave), Wade McCluskey, John Waldren, Ring, etc.

In early 1942, one of the first offensive operations the US conducted were carrier strikes by the Yorktown and Lexington on Japaneses bases in and around Rabaul. I don't think O'Hare had a fuel issue like this story mentioned and I don't think he was alone, but he did shoot down five Mitsubishi "Betty" bombers in a few passes. Whether he saved his carrier or not is debateable as land based bombing from altitude proved pretty unsuccessful against shipping during the war, but it was still an amazing feat in the Grumman F4F Wildcat.

I've walked by the O'Hare Memorial many times at the Airport. There's an F4F and a nice write up of O'Hare's story -- and I think unfortunately he was killed by a mechanical issue, not in combat.

 

[Jim Craik]

Jeff,

Does this mean that I am not the only person who knows about the infamous Stanthorp Ring.

 

[Jeff Young]

He may or may not have flown off in the wrong direction at Midway.....it's still a bit unclear, but he does get slammed for it.

Sounds like you know the story. The attack on the Japanese fleet at Midway was supposed to be coordinate dive bomber/torpedo bomber attack with fighter escort.

Ring was the Air Group Commander for Hornet's Air Group and flew off in the wrong direction (although it may ahve been conveyed to him incorrectly). Waldren, commander of Torpedo 8, the Hornet's torpedo bombing squadron (equipped with slow, outdated Douglas Devastators) tried to signal him he was headed the wrong way but was unsuccessful.

Instead of following Ring, Waldren took his squadron in the right direction and found the Japanese fleet on his own, all alone. He and his men bore the brunt of the Japanese CAP and AAA fire and all except Ensign George Gay were killed. Amazing story, makes you tear up when you read about it. Those guys flew those old crates at 90-100 mph just off the wave tops towards the Japanese fleet with 20 Zeroes all over them.

Their sacrifice was not in vain. They drew the Japanese cap down low on the deck. Enterprise and Yorktown's dive bombers arrived 10-15 min later (McCluskey, CAG for the Enterprise group had missed the Japanese fleet too but at the limit of his fuel range spotted a Japanese destroyer rushing north to rejoin the fleet after depth charging a submarine -- he followed it and found the fleet). The dive bombers -- SBD Dauntlesses -- came in at high altitude unopposed by Japanese fighters (who were all at low level because of VT-8's attack) and sank 3 Japanese carriers, all loaded with armed planes and fuel, in 15 minutes.

Ring and the Hornet dive bombers never found the Japanese fleet.

Miracle at Midway indeed.

 

[Jim Craik]

Jeff,

Thats the story as it has been presented for 50+ years, but now, new heavaly researched books are comming out that are painting a very different picture.

I highly recomend the now book, "Shattered Swords".

This book, using Japanese log books, for the first time lays out a very tight time line.

Among many new revalations: After following Ring for a fairly short distance, Waldron led VT8 straight to the Japanese fleet. As we know, the Enterprise Air Group took some time to find them. Hence it was well over an hour after VT8 made their valiant charge that McCluskey with VB6 and VS6 arrived on the sceen (with the pivital leader and my hero, Dick Best).

Although the story of VT8 drawing the Zeros away does not hold up, that does not diminish their very, very brave sacrafice.

Another interesting change, unlike most Midway stories, the Japanese where well over an hour away from any attack launch. All the photos taken that morning show virtually empty flight decks.

Although the carrier log books were lost that day, some of the Zero fighter squadrons logs did survive, they show landing and launching right up to the end. This could not have happend if the decks were being filled with the attack groups.

As you can guess, Mr Ring comes out very poorly in these new studies.

 

[Jeff Young]

I've read it. There is a lot of debate about the full decks. Most of the research on research concludes that Akagi, Kaga and Hiryu had planes on deck. See timeline here:

Timeline: Battle of Midway

You are right about the timing with McCluskey's arrival though. It was an hour after VT-8 attacked. I shorthanded that, the torpedo bombers (and some Wildcat escort) from Yorktown and Enterprise had been coming in peicemeal over that hour as well, and the Japanese CAP was drawn down low.

The SBDs arrived unopposed at high altitude.

Remember, ONE bomb sank either Kaga or Akagi (can't remember which). Decks had to be full and most accounts from the SBDs recount that fact.

 

[Jim Craik]

Jeff, you are right about the one bomb!

That brings up the great Dick Best.

Mr Best was the leader of Bombing 6.

Scouting 6 (15 aircraft) and Bombing 6 (15 aircraft) arrived over the fleet with VS6 leading, they came upon the Kaga and the Akagi.

Doctrine at the time meant that he lead group VS6 should take the far target (Akagi) and the trailing group VB6 the Kaga.

As Mr Best started to lead the dive on Kaga, suddenly VS6 came diving through them, also heading for Kaga.

Mr Best immidiatly pulled up and tried to call off his groups dive, but it was to late!

Only Dick and his two wingmen pulled up.

So now we have 27 aircraft diving on the Kaga and three heading for the large, flagship, the carrier Akagi!

The 27 aricraft made 4 or 5 hits on Kaga, ending her days.

Dick Best and his two rookies dived alone and Mr Best put his 1,000 pounder right on the midship elevator (the rookies missed).

All the Japanese carriers had their air groups below decks fuled and armed. The one bomb exploded in the hanger bay and that one hit doomed the Akagi.

 

[Jeff Young]

I think the present research is coming around to the conclusion that Shattered Sword is wrong about the planes on deck issue.

For example, this is Dick Best's own eyewitness account of the attack, mentioning that his bomb hit among a group of Zeroes on the Akagi's fantail armed, fueled and launching:

"About that time, my left wingman ran out of oxygen and so informed me by hand transmitted Morse code. I started dropping down to 15, 000 feet where he could be comfortable without the use of oxygen. This put me well below and ahead of the AGC, so that when we sighted the Japanese carriers I was 5, 000 feet under him. He assigned targets by radio, which I didn't receive. When abreast of the nearest carrier, I called him to say that I was attacking according to doctrine (i.e., leading aircraft take the far target and trailing planes take the nearer targets) and thus share the surprise. I turned toward the nearest carrier (Kaga), split to either side of my second and third divisions. When nearly over the target with my division in column, I started to open my dive flaps when right in front of me, and from above, the AGC and Scouting Six came pouring in. Furious at the foul-up, I tried to cause my squadron to rejoin, but without success, and I took my first section of three planes toward the next carrier (Akagi).



"SBDS OVER AKAGI" by R.G. SMITH

This is another view of Lieutenant Richard H.Best and his wingmen immediately after they struck their
devastating blow at the powerful Japanese naval force threatening America's Midway base.

"I was at full throttle nose down so that when I approached the push over point, I was going too fast to open my dive flaps. Horsed up on the stick, I was at 14,000 feet before I slowed down sufficiently to open my flaps. With all of the violent manoeuvring, we were not detected and there was no AA fire or any other sign of awareness. We came in at a 70-degree dive angle, released at 2,000 feet, and were cocked back at a steep climb angle to observe the bombing results. The first bomb hit forward of the bridge and tore up the deck. The second bomb hit the lead fighter on the fan tail of a group of six or seven Zeros, which were in the process of launching (the first Zero ran through my bomb sight as I put my eye to the telescope at 3,500 feet). The third bomb hit among the Zeros, and probably was the bomb that jammed the rudder and had the Akagi mindlessly circling as long as she stayed afloat.

"As we exited, we flew through a covey of Zeros on the reverse course and apparently attempting to get in position ahead of a torpedo squadron still in tight formation. (Ed. This was Yorktown's VT-3 attacking Hiryu) Our exit course was taking us directly to the carrier Soryu further to the east, which was under attack from Bombing Three from the Yorktown. The Japanese only credit four or five hits, though I think it was nine or ten. It was completely engulfed in smoke and flames and erupting explosions as the bombs hit.

 

[Jim Craik]

Jeff,

There is no doubt that there were Zeros on deck, the fighter squadren logs show landing and takeoffs of CAP (Combat Air Patrols) to cover the carriers all morning. The time needed to spot the Full attack group, warm them up and begin launching the 40 to 50 aircraft was 1 to 1 1/2 hours. With the fighter logs showing landings within 15 to 20 minutes of the MCluskey's group arriving, this just was not possable.

Additionally all photos taken that morning, before the hits show nothing more than Zeros. This is confirmed by Japanese sailors (except Fuciada who lied about almost everything in the war).

The reports from the US pilots at the time were quick looks while under fire, they did see aircraft, but they were Zeros.

 

[Jim Craik]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/...e-of-midway-and-the-aleutian-campaign/100137/This was a repeat.

 

[Jim Craik]

Some photos taken that morning, I cant make Lincolin dissapear.
Towards the bottom are clear photos of the Hiryu and Soryu, hoth with empty decks. I know that they were taken earlier that morning, but later photos show nothing but Zeros.

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World War II: Battle of Midway and the Aleutian Campaign

Aug 28, 2011 | 118
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An SBD-3 dive bomber of Bombing Squadron Six, on the deck of USS Yorktown. The aircraft was flown by Ensign G.H. Goldsmith and ARM3c J. W. Patterson, Jr., during the June 4, 1942 strike against the Japanese carrier Akagi. Note the battle damage on the tail. <NOBR>(U.S. Navy) </NOBR>



An SBD-3 dive bomber of Bombing Squadron Six, on the deck of USS Yorktown. The aircraft was flown by Ensign G.H. Goldsmith and ARM3c J. W. Patterson, Jr., during the June 4, 1942 strike against the Japanese carrier Akagi. Note the battle damage on the tail. <NOBR>(U.S. Navy)</NOBR>



<NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT>

2
Aircraft carrier USS Enterprise at Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in late May 1942, being readied for the Battle of Midway. <NOBR>(U.S. Navy) # </NOBR>

3
TBD-1 torpedo bombers of Torpedo Squadron Six unfold their wings on the deck of USS Enterprise prior to launching an attack against four Japanese carriers on the first day of the Battle of Midway. Launched on the morning of June 4, 1942, against the Japanese carrier fleet during the Battle of Midway, the squadron lost ten of fourteen aircraft during their attack. <NOBR>(U.S. Navy) # </NOBR>

4
View showing the stern quarter of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise in the Pacific in 1942. <NOBR>(U.S. Navy) # </NOBR>

5
A Grumman F4F-4 "Wildcat" fighter takes off from USS Yorktown on combat air patrol, on the morning of 4 June 1942. This plane is Number 13 of Fighting Squadron Three, flown by the squadron Executive Officer, Lt(jg) William N. Leonard. Note .50 caliber machine gun at right and mattresses hung on the lifeline for splinter-protection. <NOBR>(Photographer Second Class William G. Roy/U.S. Navy) # </NOBR>

6
The Japanese carrier Hiryu maneuvers to avoid bombs dropped by Army Air Forces B-17 Flying Fortresses during the Battle of Midway, on June 4, 1942. (NARA) # </NOBR>

7
U.S. Navy LCdr Maxwell F. Leslie, commanding officer of bombing squadron VB-3, ditches in the ocean next to the heavy cruiser USS Astoria, after successfully attacking the Japanese carrier Soryu during the Battle of Midway, on June 4, 1942. Leslie and his wingman Lt(jg) P.A. Holmberg ditched near Astoria due to fuel exhaustion, after their parent carrier USS Yorktown was under attack by Japanese planes when they returned. Leslie, Holmberg, and their gunners were rescued by one of the cruiser's whaleboats. Note one of the cruiser's Curtiss SOC Seagull floatplanes on the catapult at right. <NOBR>(U.S. Navy) # </NOBR>

8
Black smoke rises from a burning U.S. oil tank, set afire during a Japanese air raid on Naval Air Station Midway on Midway Atoll, on June 4, 1942. American forces maintained an airstrip with dozens of aircraft stationed on the tiny island. The attack inflicted heavy damage, but the airstrip was still usable. <NOBR>(AP Photo) # </NOBR>

9
A VB-8 SBD lands far off center, flying right over the head of the Landing Signal Officer aboard USS Hornet during the Battle of Midway, on June 4, 1942. <NOBR>(U.S. Navy) # </NOBR>

10
Japanese Type 97 shipboard attack aircraft from the carrier Hiryu amid heavy anti-aircraft fire, during the torpedo attack on USS Yorktown in the mid-afternoon of June 4, 1942. At least three planes are visible, the nearest having already dropped its torpedo. The other two are lower and closer to the center, apparently withdrawing. Smoke on the horizon in right center is from a crashed plane. <NOBR>(U.S. Navy) # </NOBR>

11
Smoke rises from the USS Yorktown after a Japanese bomber hit the aircraft carrier in the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942. Bursts from anti-aircraft fire fill the air. <NOBR>(AP Photo/U.S. Navy) # </NOBR>

12
Scene on board USS Yorktown, shortly after she was hit by three Japanese bombs on June 4, 1942. The dense smoke is from fires in her uptakes, caused by a bomb that punctured them and knocked out her boilers. Panorama made from two photographs taken by Photographer 2rd Class William G. Roy from the starboard side of the flight deck, just in front of the forward 5"/38 gun gallery. Man with hammer at right is probably covering a bomb entry hole in the forward elevator. <NOBR>(U.S. Navy) # </NOBR>

13
Black smoke pours from the aircraft carrier Yorktown after she suffered hits from Japanese aircraft during the Battle of Midway, on June 4, 1942. <NOBR>(U.S. Navy) # </NOBR>

14
A Japanese Type 97 attack aircraft is shot down while attempting to carry out a torpedo attack on USS Yorktown, during the mid-afternoon of 4 June 1942. <NOBR>(U.S. Navy) # </NOBR>

15
Navy fighters during the attack on the Japanese fleet off Midway, in June of 1942. At center a burning Japanese ship is visible. <NOBR>(NARA) # </NOBR>

 

[Jeff Young]

Shattered Sword (and its attacks on Fuchida) have come under a fair amount criticism, just a discussion board but a lot of info their (in particular note the statements about Hiryu arming and spotting a strike in 25 min, and Vals being armed on deck):

Shattered Sword, Fuchida, and the Fateful Five Minutes. in Aircraft Carriers Forum

 

[Jim Craik]

Jeff, I am doing this from memory only, but I'm fairly sure about a few things.

In Fuchidas first book to come out in the early 1050s', he painted a clear picture of the Japanese carriers, with full decks and the first aircraft rolling down the deck when the cry of "Helldivers" went out................

In his story we see them launching their strike and with just a few minutes more, Japan would have won

Thats a great story and paints the Japanese leaders in a good light, just unlucky........only five minutes more............. That is just not true!

Fuchiada said that, and everyone believed him, because he was the air group commender and it made a very, very compelling story. This same story was told and retold in all the "Midway" books until it became "fact".

In Japan in the years after the war, no one wanted to talk about what whent on, (plus calling a leader a liar was just not done) and a Fuchidas account was so thrilling, no one questioned it.

Later over the years Japanese survivers told a much different story, the attack group was not spotted on deck and they were still an hour+ away from any launch. "The fateful five minutes" just a dream!!!

The fact that the strike aircraft were all below decks, fueled and armed, in enclosed hangers, only made the fires worse!

*************

The new book about Pearl Harbor (I can't remember the name) devotes an entire chapter to, and goes into great detail about Fuchidas lies, among them that he was aboard the Missouri in Tokyo Bay.............no chance!

 

[Jim Craik]

To finish of the Dick Best story, later that same day, he led an attack on the last surviving Japanese carrier the Hiyru, and planted another 1,000 pounder on her........... quite a day!

Ironically during this second attack, Lt Commander Bests oxygen system mal-functioned, sending toxic gas into his lungs, he never flew again.

He was retired from the Navy soon after, but remarkably lived in southern California until 2001. What an guy!

On June 4th 1942, we were very lucky to have brave men like Lt Commender Richard Best, Its hard to imagine a more productive day by any one person in any war!

​

 

[Jim Craik]

"I was at full throttle nose down so that when I approached the push over point, I was going too fast to open my dive flaps. Horsed up on the stick, I was at 14,000 feet before I slowed down sufficiently to open my flaps. With all of the violent manoeuvring, we were not detected and there was no AA fire or any other sign of awareness. We came in at a 70-degree dive angle, released at 2,000 feet, and were cocked back at a steep climb angle to observe the bombing results. The first bomb hit forward of the bridge and tore up the deck. The second bomb hit the lead fighter on the fan tail of a group of six or seven Zeros, which were in the process of launching (the first Zero ran through my bomb sight as I put my eye to the telescope at 3,500 feet). The third bomb hit among the Zeros, and probably was the bomb that jammed the rudder and had the Akagi mindlessly circling as long as she stayed afloat.

"As we exited, we flew through a covey of Zeros on the reverse course and apparently attempting to get in position ahead of a torpedo squadron still in tight formation. (Ed. This was Yorktown's VT-3 attacking Hiryu) Our exit course was taking us directly to the carrier Soryu further to the east, which was under attack from Bombing Three from the Yorktown. The Japanese only credit four or five hits, though I think it was nine or ten. It was completely engulfed in smoke and flames and erupting explosions as the bombs hit.[/QUOTE]Posted by Jeff

Jeff, the above article is a very good example of how confusion about the attack comes about.

Although Lt Commander Best was right there and thought he saw his wingmans bombs hit the Akagi (among parked aircraft) that just did not happen.

Nothing against Commander Best, he is after all my hero, but only one bomb (his) hit the Akagi!

His bomb hit just forward of midship, his wingmen hit just off the port side forward and just off the port side aft, perhaps jamming the rudder.

I know he thought he saw a bomb go off among aircraft aft, but there was no bomb hit aft and only a few Zeros. He probably saw the huge splash from the bomb that missed aft and it looked like a hit, but was not.

You have to understand that this was a life and death moment, he was very busy, he was under great stress, he was being shot at, he was looking for Zeros, trying to keep track of his wingmen, action was going on everywhere and he had only split second views, and quite frankly what was on the deck of the carrier was way down his list of priorities!

The Japanese were in the best spot to know, and they say ONE HIT FORWARD, MIDSHIP. It went through the deck and exploded among the air group in the hanger!

 

[Jim Craik]

Here are more photos of what is said to be Akagi, June 4 1942, there were many taken that day and none show an air group aft. It should be noted that these photos have been labeled as Kaga, Akagi, Hiyru and Soryu in different publications, but none have an air group spoted. The top two photos appear to be the same photo, cropped differently.

 

[Jim Craik]

Jeff,

Another long believed story about Midway is questioned in the book.

The story of the heavy Cruiser Tone and it's #4 search plane.

The story has always been told that due to mechanical problems that this plane took off an hour late and as fate would have it the, the Enterprise, Yorktown and Hornet we're in that search sector. The story goes that this act of fate gave the US an extra hour, before being spotted.

The authors make a pretty good case that actually this late take off helped the Japanese.

According to their study, the US ships were actually in another search sector, and that search plane passed very near the US ships without seeing them.

Had Tone #4 taken off on time, it would not have spotted our ships until its return leg, almost two hours later.

By being delayed, it gave time for the US ships to move into position to be spotted by Tone #4 on its out leg, much earlier.

 

[zollis]

It might be a little off topic but perhaps relevant. A well preserved original Zero is displayed in the Auckland Museum. Saw it just the other day.







Z.C.

 

[Jeff Young]

All I am saying is that Shattered Swords has issues to.

For example, the idea that there were planes on deck on Akagi and Soryu didn't orginally come from Fuchida's book in 1955, but rather from the US after action reports as collected and written by Morrison in 49. He reported 40 aircraft on deck on Akagi and Soryu turning into the wind to launch a strike when McCluskey's group arrived over the Kudo Butai.

Note also that the Japanese report from Nagumo lists two hits on the Akagi, one amidships and one on the fantail as reported by Best (the one that landed amongst the armed strike). Go here:

ENEMY ACTION AND DAMAGE SUFFERED BY US

Last, the Shattered Sword theory rests on the premise that the Japanese could not have loaded and spotted a strike in 25 minutes, but rather it took 45 or 50 to do so. But Hiryu was able to arm and spot a strike in 20-25 minutes while under attack from torpedo bombers that very same morning.

Interesting discussion. Shattered Sword adds to it, but is by no means definitive at this point.

 

[Jeff Young]

THose photos were all taken during the high level attack by the B-17s long before McCluskey and Co. got to the Kudo Butai.

Here are more photos of what is said to be Akagi, June 4 1942, there were many taken that day and none show an air group aft. It should be noted that these photos have been labeled as Kaga, Akagi, Hiyru and Soryu in different publications, but none have an air group spoted. The top two photos appear to be the same photo, cropped differently.