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Ramgator
It all started in 1976 (WHEN I BECAME A RAMS FAN TOO!!) when my Dad took me and my Brother to see "Midway". I was hooked. Over the years, I have been very fascinated with the WWII carrier war. Have read "Miracle At Midway" a couple of times (One got me an "A" on a 12th grade book report) I also read "Shattered Sword", the Japanese point of view. And my favorite.."Sole Survivor", about Ens George Gay of Torpedo Squadron #8, off the USS Hornet. I have been a model builder for most of my life and have a large Midway collection, including the Japanese carrier, Akagi. The old Monogram kit of the TBD Devastator is my favorite.My biggest thrill was meeting Bill Roy. He was the USS Yorktown's photographer. He showed me and my boys many original copies of the battle, including the Yorktown sinking.
This Fall, I plan to fulfill my #1 thing on my bucket list.....A flight on a SBD Dauntless. There's one in Peachtree City Georgia, just SW of Atlanta.
Midway brings together so many things. Remarkable strategic planning and the breaking of the code, persistence and bravery, bad luck that turned into good luck (eg. as you know when the torpedo planes arrived ahead of the dive bombers they brought all the zeros down and gave the divebombers clear skies), and so on and so on...including great improvisational ability and tactical skill (the lost divebombers following the japanese destroyer back to the japanese fleet). The great fortune of catching the japanese carriers with all the loaded and fueled planes on deck.
A desparate battle that was turned into a great victory in 5 minutes.
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