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Explaining the miracle at Midway (the great movie is on now_
naval aviation news ^ | MAY 3, 2012

Posted on 05/29/2016 7:24:33 PM PDT by doug from upland

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To: Oztrich Boy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cruiser_Tone_(1937)

Yet again, something Hollywood and that crappy movie just made up.

The Tone DID detect the American carriers in time, internal bureaucratic screw-ups kept Nagumo from finding out about it in time on the Akagi.


61 posted on 05/29/2016 9:53:21 PM PDT by Snickering Hound
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To: Telepathic Intruder

Are you sure about that? I’ve watched it many times and don’t recall any.


62 posted on 05/29/2016 9:53:23 PM PDT by pfflier
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To: pfflier

They’re easy to see. Usually a more grainy picture that doesn’t quite look right.


63 posted on 05/29/2016 10:24:55 PM PDT by lewislynn ( Cruz-Fiorina...The tortoise and the harelip)
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To: doug from upland
I'd watched Miracle of the Midway just once but I'd watch the battle of Midway documentaries so many times.

The Japanese empire tried to do trick in to diversion from planned Japanese invasion of Midway island to the battle of Aleutian Islands but U.S. Navy had already cracked IJN-25 that AF was the Midway.

So instead of Japanese imperial navy ambushing the 3 American carriers they lost 4 carriers, from then the Japanese had lost the war in the Pacific.

64 posted on 05/29/2016 10:54:56 PM PDT by hamboy
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To: Fiji Hill

Easy, Red Castle, Increased Joy, Green Dragon, and Flying Dragon. Akagi and Kaga were named for prefectures in Japan as they started life as a battle cruiser and battleship respectively.


65 posted on 05/29/2016 11:06:55 PM PDT by 75thOVI ("The crews of all submarines captured should be treated as pirates and hanged". Sir Arthur Wilson)
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To: doug from upland

barely 6 months into the war, the USA Navy destroyed the Japanese ability to fight us. Don’t poke the bear


66 posted on 05/29/2016 11:20:40 PM PDT by Figment
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To: pfflier

So I’ve been told. I’ve seen the movie and you can tell when they cut to actual footage. Hollywood couldn’t fake stuff like that back then.


67 posted on 05/30/2016 12:18:03 AM PDT by Telepathic Intruder (The only thing the Left has learned from the failures of socialism is not to call it that)
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To: 2banana

Some of the bravest people in America fought that battle. I think of the men of Torpedo 8 who lost all but one of their people


68 posted on 05/30/2016 3:06:30 AM PDT by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
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To: Figment

We destroyed their ability to fight on the open sea, but they still had plenty of fight on the Asian mainland; even when they surrendered they still had over a million troops in China alone.

While I can understand the apprehension of Americans about Japanese intentions throughout the Pacific, the fact is they were fighting with 1930s-style weapons and tactics that worked against obsolete militaries but had no chance against a modern industrialized country. Look at the battleships at Pearl Harbor and the Missouri, and there is a world of difference. While our planes evolved quickly, they were still using wood and fabric four years later (and had run out of pilots to fly them).


69 posted on 05/30/2016 4:04:10 AM PDT by kearnyirish2 (Affirmative action is economic warfare against white males (and therefore white families).)
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To: Oztrich Boy
Because one of the cruiser floatplanes couldn't take off, there was a gap in the dawn search pattern - exactly where the US carriers were.

That's actually incorrect. The floatplane was late in getting off rather than not getting off at all. And the improvised search plan it used actually resulted in the U.S. fleet being spotted earlier than they would have been had the original plan been followed.

70 posted on 05/30/2016 4:23:04 AM PDT by Lower Deck
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To: doug from upland
I would bet that not 10% of those in high school could even place the battle as being in WWII.

I'm in my early 20's, I'd say it's more like one percent.

I was homeschooled, and my parents were born shortly after WW2, so I do know. But most people my age know almost nothing about history. Almost nothing.

There are some great youtube videos about Midway, but I can't offer a specific link, I have to get to work shortly. Search for the non-fiction videos. Maybe produced by BBC?

71 posted on 05/30/2016 4:26:24 AM PDT by Buttons12 ( It Can't Happen Here -- Sinclair Lewis.)
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To: 2banana
We came very close to losing that battle which would have added at least two years to the war in the Pacific

There is a fabulous book by Jonathan Parshall and Anthony Tully called "Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway". It is the battle shown entirely from the Japanese side and deals with everything from tactics to training to ship design to damage control and dozens of other factors as well. Read that and it's clear that the U.S. victory was not miraculous but the result of better ships, better leadership, and a bit of luck thrown into the mix.

72 posted on 05/30/2016 4:28:08 AM PDT by Lower Deck
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To: Maine Mariner

Thank you scr 270...

Tall blades of grass.


73 posted on 05/30/2016 5:01:05 AM PDT by teeman8r (Armageddon won't be pretty, but it's not like it's the end of the world.)
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To: r_barton
Within 3 years and 9 months, America defeated Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.

That was when we had heavy industry. We couldn't gear up the industries to do that today.

OTOH any major war fought today will be won or lost by what assets we have in place on day 1.

74 posted on 05/30/2016 6:01:57 AM PDT by Vinnie
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To: 75thOVI

I love the Japanese naming conventions for their ships, especially the destroyers, which had names such as Moon Over Mountain, Snow Cloud, Young Leaves, Spring Grass and Floral Fragrance.


75 posted on 05/30/2016 6:09:59 AM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: doug from upland

Every time the battle of midway is done via computer simulation the Japs win - always. That is what a prof at the US Naval War college told me.


76 posted on 05/30/2016 6:14:08 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Sasparilla

Ditto for my Dad, he fought in the Philippines under MacArthur, 5 major battles including Corregidor, where he a T/5 and a PFC volunteered to put our Flag back up on a telegraph pole under sniper fire. US Airborne 503rd.

BTW in another time my dad would have been called a WAP as he was first born generation American of Italian decent. His parents and several siblings came over from Italy and became citizens before his birth. His parents allowed no Italian to be spoken, grandpa Joe said you are all Americans NOW Act like one.


77 posted on 05/30/2016 6:16:42 AM PDT by GailA (any politician that won't keep his word to Veterans/Military won't keep them to You!)
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To: elcid1970

The scene of the seaplane getting shot down was from a made-for-TV addendum to the movie that fleshed out the Coral Sea battle in much more detail. I wish they’d make that version available as a bonus feature on DVD because I’d like to watch it again. It’s been years since I’ve seen it, but I remember liking the fictional pilot (a family friend of Admiral Nagumo) and being saddened when he got shot down.


78 posted on 05/30/2016 6:34:16 AM PDT by bus man (Loose Lips Sink Ships)
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To: central_va

Well we all know about computer models from the climate change wars.


79 posted on 05/30/2016 6:37:09 AM PDT by xp38
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To: doug from upland
Midway would have moved from the excellent range to the world class range if they had not written in that ridiculous part about Charleton Heston's son and Nisei (I guess) fiance. I would encourage people to record the movie, then fast forward through each part that includes his whining son. That recorded and edited version WOULD BE world class.

P.S. I am an avid Charlton Heston fan who sees no point to that vomitous addition to the script.

80 posted on 05/30/2016 6:39:30 AM PDT by stevem
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