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JamesJM
'circumstances' that led to, or forced, 'on the fly' decisions.... but as to what you describe - how is it that they weren't aware that the torpedo planes before the dive bombers was a suicide mission? Or DID they and and simply sacrificed them thereby forcing the Japanese to land to refuel knowing that this would create a window for the dive bombers? - JamesJM
The torpedo planes just pressed the attack...I am not sure they were consciously thinking of it as a sacrifice or suicide mission. They saw the Japanese ships and simply attacked. I am not sure they were capable of coordinating with the dive bombers anyway and weren't in a position to know if they were there or not. The likelihood of them knowing they were clearing the air for the dive bombers is very slim. It was like dogs with a car. See car, chase. See carriers, attack. That's my understanding anyway. Japanese accounts continually say that while that phase of the battle was taking place, their officers commended the bravery of the torpedo plane crews.
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2019 01:20PM by zn.
