Like Three Haystacks on Fire, with special guest Jon Parshall
Like Three Haystacks on Fire, with special guest Jon Parshall  
Podcast: The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War
Published On: Tue Oct 25 2022
Description: Aboard the Japanese CVsWhat is the morning looking like at this point aboard the CVs?What are the Japanese briefed about?When do they launch?Who is the strike leader?Talk about the flight into Midway…Aboard the American CVsReveille for US aircrews is at 0300, breakfast at 0400, ready rooms shortly after thatTalk about the anticipation in the ready roomsNervous energy Aboard Midway islandSearch planes take off around 0415Americans prepare for the battle they know is coming todayPlanes fueled and armedBert Earnest and his two dollar bill At 0545 a search plane sees the incoming strike and radios “Many Planes Heading Midway” PBY search planes sight Japanese CVs at 0552 Because of incoming aircraft and CV sighting, Midway scrambles damn near everything with wings by 0600 Japanese Midway strikeGive us the run-down of the Japanese attack on the island and the aerial encounters with the American fightersBill Brooks and his Brewster engage Japanese as they come into the island around 0616What are the effects of the Japanese strike on the island?Who decides another strike is needed?Why?When does Nagumo get word of another strike being needed?Take us through his decision making here Aboard the American CVs0645 Pilots Man Your Planes!Dusty KleissDon HoffSpruance on orders from Fletcher decides to launch at 0700CV6 launches and orbits the TF awaiting CV5 and her birdsUS CV strike launch is discombobulated and unorganized (clusterfuck is a good term but we shouldn’t say that)“Proceed on mission assigned” flashed to McCluskyHornet’s strikeStanhope Ring versus John Waldron As the American CVs strike is being launched, the first attackers from Midway see the Japanese CVs…Bert Earnest and Harry Ferrier in 8-T-1 attack HiryuThe B26s attack Akagi at almost the same timeTalk about the near miss by the B26 on Akagi’s bridge0800 VMSB-241 attacks Japanese fleetJapanese CAP proves to be incredibly deadly to these attacks While the Midway based aircraft are attacking the fleet, the Japanese are also attacked by a submarine Talk about the effects that the Nautilus attack on the fleet have as far as timing is concerned, and what do the Japanese do Nautilus’ attack, while not successful, is HUGE when it comes to the events that soon followArashi… Around 0840 the American attacks ceaseTalk about Nagumo’s timetable…What does it look like inside the hangar decks of the Japanese CVs right now?US VT attacks on Kido ButaiVT8 and VT6 shortly afterwards Let’s once and for all dispel the George Gay myth… The Flight to NowhereWhere the hell is HAG?What happens to them?Could they have helped?Tease the cover up by Mitscher for Ring to be discussed at length in the next episode EAG flight and McClusky’s decisionTalk about what is happening in the air right now What is McClusky thinkingWhat is happening to the SBD formation?McClusky’s decision to continue the searchSeeing Arashi…Set up the attack of EAG on Kaga and Akagi from Japanese and US sidesWhat is going on aboard the Japanese CVs right now?PLANES ON THE FLIGHT DECKS MYTH!Flash warning to KagaMcClusky breaks doctrine and attacks Kaga Attack on Kaga and AkagiEarl GallaherDusty KleissDon HoffAboard KagaBriefly discuss attacks on SoryuTalk about the damage done to Kaga, Akagi and SoryuJust how bad is it? Discuss the Hiryu strikes on CV5 Afternoon strike on HiryuLots of AAA this time and CAPDusty KleissDon Hoff Wrap up June 4 and tease the next episodeJapanese lossesUS losses