Spruance’s Carrier Raids on the Japanese Home Islands with Jon Parshall-Episode 414

This week Seth and Bill welcome back good buddy Jon Parshall to talk about the first American carrier raids on the Japanese Home Islands since the Doolittle Raid in April 1942. In February 1945, just before Iwo Jima, Task Force 58 under the command of Marc Mitscher sails to within 60 miles of Honshu to launch the first US Navy carrier raids against Tokyo. Fighting the Japanese as well as terrible weather, the results are less than spectacular. A month later Spruance and Mitscher return, this time to Kyushu, to hit the birthing grounds of the kamikazes. In the two-day fight, American pilots ravage Japanese installations, but the fleet takes a beating in return, with 6 carriers suffering damage. Tune in to hear this oft-forgotten series of strikes in the latter stages of the war in the Pacific.
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[@lagoodman3349]

Bill this was your best episode as a presenter. Well spoken. Seth your editing has improved significantly. John you continue to be a excellent guest speaker. I truly enjoy the three guys sitting in the bar talking. Thank you.

[@mkt6060]

Yup I usually don't have the time to listen al the way through the longer videos, but I listened all the way through this one, because I kept learning new things.

[@PalleRasmussen]

Every video with Jon is a treat.

[@LordJuan4]

For real, Seth and Bill (and any of the other guests) are amazing hosts in their own right and I tune in for every episode, but Jon really is a pleasure to listen to

[@unbreakable7633]

My father, a signalman on the USS Hornet (CV 12), was with Task Force 58. One of his jobs was a plotter in the Combat Information Center (he also manned a radar station and radio as other jobs he was trained for) and the Hornet time and again served as the flagship. He told me that Admiral Mitscher was a good guy; he also liked Clark but thought Halsey was an arrogant behind. When I bought a Japanese car once, all he said was, "They tried to drop bombs on me." When he was very old and visiting my sister in San Francisco, she asked him if he wanted to go see the Hornet, which was docked there as a museum ship; he said, "I've seen it."

[@jesscarver9882]

Bill, thank you for the 9/11 video.

[@markterribile6948]

Full frontal nerdity--I love it!

[@billgrider4448]

I look forward to each & every episode. Thanks!

[@おだいふく-x6t]

日本では、月を眺めて秋の深まりを味わう習慣があってこれを中秋の名月と言いますが、秋の月夜の下こちらの濃密なお話を聴きながら美しい月をぼんやり見てるのもなかなか風雅でいいものです。

[@MinnesotaGuy822]

When I was a kid, I was fortunate that my family lived on the north side of a lake in Minnesota with a dock that also had a sitting bench. In the summer, when the wind was from the south, it was such a gently magical experience to sit on the bench at night and look at the moon as it traversed the southern sky. I like this Japanese custom you mentioned, to take the time to just sit under the stars and appreciate the autumn moonlight. Best wishes from Minnesota. :)

[@おだいふく-x6t]

@@MinnesotaGuy822 ご返信ありがとうございます。静かな夜の湖水の波音と南の空にに現れる月の幻想的な姿見が目に浮かびます。月夜を愛でることは古今東西の人々を慰め心を癒すものであると思いますね。

[@sulevisydanmaa9981]

​@@おだいふく-x6t YOU NIPPONESE are a piece of work : the cruellest and the most poetic ones. Watch the film THE LAST SAMURAI again. Shows the mental split purr-fectly. Even the SAKAI SABURO film from 1974 ZERO PILOT reflects it. What a nation of reveries and katanas. . . Arigato for Hasegawa, Tamiya, ...the Hanami of autumn ... 🇫🇮

[@おだいふく-x6t]

@@sulevisydanmaa9981 ご返信ありがとうございます。確か三島由紀夫も日本人は優雅さと残酷さを併せ持つ民族だと言ってましたが、僕としては、人間誰しも二面性はあるもので、一人の人間でも色々な側面があるものではないのかなと思います。一方でイエスキリストやブッタの様な清らかな心持ちでいるときもあれば、意地の悪い性分に陥ることもありで、状況によって、人はいくらでも顔を変化させるものではないのかなと感じますね。そこが人間の一筋縄でいかないところなのでしょうけれど。なにがあってもイエスキリストやブッタのような寛容な優雅な人間でいたいものです。

[@sulevisydanmaa9981]

​@@おだいふく-x6t PRAY FOR PEACE. THE DOGS OF WAR are running rampant all over once again. Greeting from Tsurunen Marutei ' s homeland. Recommend search Mt. Koli National Park = Our Fujiyama - it s view is my logo. Namaste. Nippon ichiban in many ways ! 🇫🇮

[@xbubblehead]

At 80 years of age, I still have trouble wrapping my head around how short a time it was between the Doolittle Raid and the surrender of Japan. It's about the same length of time between the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and now.

[@peterallman8474]

@@xbubblehead those were exactly my thoughts. I was already shaking my head at the logistics of that ship-building schedule (at the same time building aircraft, artillery, tanks, munitions etc., etc.) when it became the theme of the conversation. And all this going on, if to a lesser extent, in Japan, Russia, Germany, Britain too.

[@gregcollins7602]

Fantastic Torpedo Tuesday. I could have nerded out for another hour just on the night fighter and radar development. It's always fun when the 3 amigos are together. Has anyone ever noticed the patterns on Jon's shirts make it difficult to determine his range and course?

[@jammininthepast]

Thank you Gentlemen, I value and enjoy your excellent work.

[@salonicah]

Thanks for the great information, from Guadalcanal,

[@richardbennett1856]

Cheers! Feel free to chime in, anytime. Stay cool, mate.

[@robertwatson9359]

I know you have a list of stories that you have not covered that you value, but my Dad was on a Destroyer Escort, USS Barber, not many stories from that ship, they picked up sailors from the water of two Destroyers while on the coast of le Shima, USS Twiggs and USS Hadley. He recounted the stories, saying we knew what was going on, the kamakazes were raining havoc on the US Fleet and felt the threat they represented. There were many DEs sunk from attacks and they delivered the underwater swimmers to clear or scout landing beaches before the invasion fleets came in. He said his service did not have mush effect on the war but many did. The flyers and sailors they picked up had a different opinion of his service..

[@scrambledganglia6946]

Shiden. A redesigned floatplane. Nasty suprise.

[@douglaskillock3537]

Great to see Jon back on board. A relatively restrained shirt by his standard but contrasts nicely with the legendary wallpaper

[@CarnageDogg]

I'm a Seth guy. Seth's the glue.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Many thanks

[@m.r.donovan8743]

Another fantastic lecture from all three of you. The world is learning from you. I'm praying that history does not have to repeat itself.

[@lafouche345]

The big 3 ……. always a treat !

[@Paul-zf8ob]

You 3 are perfect as a group! Have learned so much.

[@SoonerDan77]

I never cease to be amazed at how much of a damage piñata the Saratoga was. It's probably the unluckiest ship to survive the war.

[@sethparidon8654]

Damage pinata. I really like that one.

[@warwatcher91]

Only Intrepid and Birmingham really come close.

[@Rocketsong]

As a converted Battle-cruiser Saragoga had better torpedo protection than the newer carriers. Good thing for her given how much of a torpedo magnet she was.

[@sulevisydanmaa9981]

THE EVIL EYE is a close companion-competitor. I got the book on her.

[@cragnamorra]

Another absolutely superb episode. One of the things I've most enjoyed about this channel is how you bring out so many of these lesser-known (to many, even "unknown") but very significant operations. To even relative aficionados who've read a lot of Pacific War history and are quite familiar with the "big" battles (Marianas, Leyte, Iwo, etc), it's easy to form a general - perhaps even subconscious - false impression of "not that much happening" in between those intense, costly, but relatively short events. You guys are really highlighting the CONTINUOUS daily grind of arduous combat operations, with the very important implication that these sailors and aircrew are ENTERING the big battles like Leyte Gulf already fatigued and ground down from weeks or even months of hard fighting without let-up. Fantastic job.

[@jesscarver9882]

Tuesday is truly the best day of the week! Bill Seth Thank you guys!!

[@kepple83]

I agree Tuesdays are the best day

[@pablolugo2615]

As always great information, knowledgeable and entertaining.

[@bobnewby9129]

I'm really liking the trend toward longer shows. I'll take all you have to give!

[@jeffreymartin8448]

They can take a story like this, perhaps mundane in the Hollywood vein, and make it absolutely enthralling and electric. Master historians. Including you too Capt. Toti !

[@jammin4372]

Love when John is on👍👍

[@theodoreolson8529]

I've watched many of your episodes now. In fact it's to the point where I start dropping the term "cats" into my casual conversation. "Yea, those cats were the best at what they did" Thanks for the bonus.

[@marchuvfulz]

Great vid. The discussion of the US Navy buildup highlights our remarkable industrial mobilization, but even more amazing to me is the human mobilization--all of those ships needed officers, pilots, and crews, and all of those people had to be recruited, trained, and deployed after Dec. '41. Think of the investment in schools, training facilities, instructors, etc., to get to this point. Pretty astonishing when you think of it.

[@rangerlongshot]

The thing that astounds me the most is what we did with logistics and building infrastructure as we crossed the Pacific. Everything single thing and every person and every nail or can of Spam had to come from 6000-8000 miles away. It's mind boggling.

[@Rocketsong]

The numbers stagger the mind. For example, we had 20,000 aviators killed in training accidents alone, during WWII.

[@MadLudwig]

Great episode gents! I don't recall having read about or seen any video production on these raids. Very informative and interesting. Thanks!

[@richardbeard5593]

Thank yall for all yall do bring out the heroes in this war... This is the first time I've heard or seen of this engagement. Thank ya for bringing it out.. Continue ya good work and may God's blessings be upon yall...

[@Titus-as-the-Roman]

Thanks again. Ugaki was an enlightening read, Vice Admiral Chūichi Hara is another good read, how accurate I can't say, it sounded good.

[@joeyartk]

The MacArthur airfield joke was pretty good.

[@davidlee8551]

Excellent! Thanks to all three.

[@paulrugg1629]

Again, a most informative episode about a subject not often presented in the world of pac history. These guys are in the weeds on a subject not often visited.... Thank you guys

[@73Trident]

Great episode as usual guys. Thank you for this wealth of information that you share with us.

[@stephanshemenski6348]

I was an ET from 1979 until 1992 and had extensive exposure in my uncle's TV repair shop prior to joining the Navy and realized that the small screen you described was a CRT vacuum tube used in oscilloscopes. It was the same diameter and with sweep circuits in the display it could provide the pilot with the information he needed to locate the home in and destroy the enemy aircraft. Incidents, my 1st radar, the AN/FPN-63 PAR had mechanical movement of the waveguide to cause the rf beam to sweep back and forth or up and down as needed to produce a glide path and center line for ATC to guide a plane into to land

[@thomassanchez9693]

My Father served on the Wasp during this time. It was nice to hear You talk about the different operations. I looked at My Dads yearbook from the Wasp and could see photos, and see how rough it must have been. Thank You!

[@OMMgreenshirt]

Good morning gentlemen, I awoke to see the clock showing at 4:02am here in Oregon and said to myself, "It's time!" so up with my first cup of coffee listening in. I am very excited to hear what is next due to my father being aboard USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) at that time. He was a signalman "skivvy waver" at the Flag Boards station.

[@unclemikedoyle]

You and me, both. My grandfather was a Bosun aboard Bunker Hill. He never talked about Okinawa (or any of the actions he was in), but the photo of the crew on the pier in front of her hung front and center in his den.

[@unbreakable7633]

My father was a signalman on the USS Hornet (CV 12), which was also with Task Force 58. And I was glad to find this video.

[@SamAlley-l9j]

Thank you Bill Seth and Jon!

[@Titus-as-the-Roman]

The story that goes with Secretary Stintson's removal of Kyoto from the bombing list is also interesting. Was watching a Documentary on the Chaos Theory/Butterfly Effect when mathematicians used that story as an analogy, it was the reason Nagasaki was eventually chosen for the 2nd A-bomb.- Guys I knew that Flew would call that Cluster-Puck over Tokyo as "Fly Soup"

[@KennanKlein]

Thanks for another great episode. I think it's really cool the video interludes. Thank you so much for what you do!

[@lwilde]

Excellent presentation. Bravo Zulu.

[@toroon]

Just want to say . Well done!!!

[@Perfusionist01]

I realize that these videos are prepared quite some time before air date, but could Jon speak to the Japanese Judy dive bombers and their crews? These were quite the "carrier killers" late in the Pacific war. To my knowledge it was conventional bombing from Judys that got the Princeton, Franklin and Bunker Hill among other victims. Also, could Bill address the story that the Japanese were able to board and examine the wreck of USS Darter off Palawan. Reportedly, the radar and signals equipment had been destroyed, but the recovered information about the USN IFF systems that allowed the Judys (and others) to get closer to the carriers. Thanks again for producing such a fine series of video podcasts.

[@craigplatel813]

While the planes weren't designated as F/A, in January of 1945 squadrons started to be designated as VBF. At the start of the Okinawa campaign there were 6 squadrons assigned to TF-58 that were designated as VBF. A good book concerning the high percentage of new pilots is twilight warriors by Robert Gandt who was one of those new pilots assigned to airwing 10 during the Okinawa campaign.

[@matthewnewton8812]

Great episode. These fellas are my favorite guys on the whole internet. I would give anything to hang out with them and, as Seth says, “nerd out” for an afternoon. Can’t wait for the episode on Franklin! She really got whammed. Also, I’m so so so so hoping that you guys are planning on doing a couple of episodes on the British Pacific Fleet, which you mentioned once or twice today- that’s one of the very last things I ever learned about the War, one of the last gaps in my knowledge and although I know a great deal more about it now I still find it absolutely fascinating how the British were able to put together this giant fleet even after all the attrition they had suffered throughout the war. Amazing- please dedicate a few episodes to this fascinating moment in the War!!

[@rayschoch5882]

I don't know that they had radar direction yet, but when the 3rd/5th fleet attacked Formosa/Taiwan in the run-up to Leyte Gulf in October, 1944, my dad's F6F-5 took 3 25mm hits raiding an airfield, including 1 to the engine. The squadron history says they were 40mm, but A) that was an uncommon caliber for Japanese AAA; and B) not even a Hellcat would likely stay together if it took 3 40mm hits. I've seen photos of the mangled plane after it landed, and while it managed to get dad back to the Lexington, it was deemed "unrepairable" and pushed over the side after a bit of cannibalization of guns and parts. Low-altitude runs against the Japanese could be lethal by this point in the war, and even more so by mid-1945.

[@christopherqueen3194]

An Essex class carrier being commissioned every other month! Wow! Steve Rogers: “I can do this all day.”

[@MM22966]

Carrier pilots: "Cool! We're doing missions over Japan's Home Islands!" Also Carrier pilots: "Don't get shot down or have to crash land there."

[@JohnLane-h4r]

Entertaining as always thanks 😊 for your service to those who were there off shore on the ships and aircraft…….truly the greatest men our country ever had in service to its citizens

[@DanColley-qy3wi]

Hellcat Ns were a picnic to fly when compared to what the pilots of today's single-seat fighter pilotshave to deal with.(eg. F15 and F16) Taking NOTHING from those Hellcat drivers. They did AMAZING things with the small toolbox they worked from. I feel obligated to add that you guys are doing a tremendous job. Your programming serves to fill in blanks were info is lacking. Example : I knew that there were "some" raids on Tokyo in this time frame, but there is a dearth of any printed or electronic data that I have any access to. Today was a VERY informative day. Thank you.

[@ThePlebicide]

Excellent work Gentlemen

[@timandellenmoran1213]

Hi, great job on the Navy, Marines, Army. Could you do a reminder that a lot of our carrier pilots received training on the Great Lakes. Also, if you have not, and I am saying this from a point of not knowing if you may have already done so, mention the role that the Coast Guard played in the Pacific. Thank you.

[@waynesmith8431]

Exceptional episode of a little regarded action of the Pacific.

[@DalonCole]

i come for Jon’s shirts i stay for the content

[@davidbonnici8786]

I come for Jon’s wallpaper. 😂. And stay for the content.

[@wkbigfish]

Another great episode. As Bill says…”See you again next week”. Wouldn’t miss it. Thanks

[@FlyingDutchmanPodcast]

Okay I’m really enjoying this . I’m an airplane guy post WWII but this channel has opened my eyes to a whole new area of interest. Thank you

[@uberduberdave]

I wish I had the luxury to sit through these two to three hour episodes, but I don't. I have take them in 20 to 30 minute pieces in between household chores and other activities. Even so the excitement generated by learning a new episode is out only wanes at the end. I always discover details about wartime events I thought knew fairly well, and I'm always left wanting more. I first stumbled upon these podcasts about a year or so ago, and binge watched until I ran out, much like binge watching a favorite TV show on Netflix or the like. Now I must wait what seems for ever until the next episode comes out. I truly wish all of you the best of health, so you will continue the podcasts for years to come. Life would go on without them, but I would be seriously less enjoyable.

[@josephnason8770]

My dad had 760 hrs of stick time before his first combat mission on Kanoya March 18 1945 from Wasp, which was bombed the next day along with Franklin. This agrees with your 600 hr. figure at 39:17.

[@bobnewby9129]

Yay, Jon Parshall again.

[@billechols7136]

Great show gentlemen.

[@petervandyk7173]

Tuesday has become my favourite day, since you guys started this brilliant series. Thanks for yet another great episode. T.G.I.T. 😁

[@gnuspudguns]

Y'all are awesome.

[@christopherj.osheav5807]

50° 27' 0.0036'' N and 30° 31' 23.9988'' E Gentlemen, Well done. Another poignant trip down memory lane. Keep those cards and letters coming. Thank you. V/r - IB An American in Ukraine (2019 - Present)

[@slimeydon]

Great episode guys, and Jon, I love the contrast of that shirt with that wallpaper.

[@Jon.A.Scholt]

The best thing about Tuesdays!

[@briancooper2112]

Again another great episode!

[@BernardMann-nf1ks]

Another great episode thanks my brothers

[@denniswiemer72]

Thanks again for another great episode. So looking forward to the Franklin show.

[@alowry2002]

Thank you. Excellent material and so educational.

[@NathanPoe-h7f]

My Great Grandpa was on the Franklin. Only thing I remember him talking about is climbing up the uptakes to get out of the ship. Looking forward to that episode. He didn't talk about it much. There is a great book called Inferno by Joseph Springer that is pretty excellent talking about the ordeal of the men on the ship, its quite shocking. Awesome episodes, always enjoy the channel.

[@unbreakable7633]

My father served on the USS Hornet (CV 12) and was on its deck to witness the Franklin get hit. He said it was the worst thing he saw in the war.

[@andrewnlarsen]

Another well done presentation again and it definitely matches up with what I have read in the past about the early 1945 carrier strikes. Two things I want to bring up is that the strikes I believe on March 19, 1945 also included impromptu strikes against the remaining ships of the Combined Fleet, which were in the Inland Sea at the time as well as the clarification that the Japanese 343 Air Group had both the N1K1 Shinden and the N1K2-J Shinden Kai (which most of the pilots flew during that deadly encounter on March 19,1945). And rightfully so the trial of USS Franklin deserves its own video. Finally the Japanese definitely gave as good as they got and it would serve as a prelude to the horrors of Okinawa.

[@EricByrd-ex2pc]

Great episode - the slow build! Spruance’s patience and planning are always astonishing. He and Grant overlap in many instances. Parshall lives in Minneapolis, and I’ve wondered if he stops in at Magers & Quinn, a local bookstore whose naval history section is deeper than you would expect. Lots of Naval Institute Press titles.

[@ziggle314]

Thanks for the note on the bookstore. I live in the Minneapolis area and am looking for good local bookstores to patronize.

[@EricByrd-ex2pc]

Midway Books, in St Paul, is another good one for WW2, and for anything really. A deep collection - the booksellers have very fine taste.

[@TheFUZEMAN]

One vote for keep talking! 😊 Another informative, entertaining high quality video!!!

[@OMMgreenshirt]

Awesome episode and thanks for the teaser of starting "Operation Iceberg" next week.

[@gchoquette299]

I really appreciate your telling the under told history of the Pacific theater. Keep up the good work.

[@davidbonnici8786]

Love your work and thank you for all you guys do. Keep us in the loop for when you present in person I keep missing you. I visited New Orleans for the incredible WW2 museum in February and Fredericksburg for the Pacific War museum a year ago based on your work.

[@DalonCole]

live watching this channel grow

[@JohnnySmithWhite-wd4ey]

Some carrier skippers refused to use the SB2C aboard their ships . They used the F6F as fighter bombers.

[@carrabellefl]

Thanks!

[@chuckhillier4153]

Much appreciated.

[@scottjohnson136]

Gentlemen, once again well done!

[@BlackHawkBallistic]

Great episode as always gentleman, I can't wait for next weeks, keep up the good work

[@plastichistory9148]

Seeing Jon on here after growing up with seeing him on battle 360 and many other things is crazy. Fantastic work fellas

[@rohan1970b]

Bill mentioned (26:15) that they were still building mechanical driven fighter based radar in the early 2000's. I served in the Air Force from 91-97 as a radar technician. However, mine was ATC. We had ASR that was mechanical and PAR that was electronic so it was very slow in adapting, but if you've been in, it's not surprising.

[@antonrudenham3259]

@@rohan1970b The RAF's Op Blackbuck to bomb the runway at Port Stanley during the 1982 Falklands war used Vulcan bombers fitted with a nav radar based on the H2S of WW2 vintage.

[@rohan1970b]

@@antonrudenham3259 Yes, and the new PAR I worked on was actually from the 60's. :)

[@therealuncleowen2588]

I wish I'd known half as much about the war in the 80s growing up as I do today. I'd have tried to find out what every middle aged man in my hometown had done in the war. I didn't and I have no idea today. Even if they didn't want to talk about it, I wouldn't have pressed them, and I'd liked to have just said thank you.

[@NateWilliams190]

I was just thinking something similar. My Dad was in the Marianas then in the occupying forces in Japan, of 2 of his friends, 1 was a B17 ball turret gunner in Europe & the other, the shooter in a .50 cal machine gun squad up the Italian boot. I wished I'd asked all of them a lot more than I did.

[@therealuncleowen2588]

@@NateWilliams190 Thanks for sharing. To your dad and his buddies, thanks for standing up to tyranny.

[@mkaustralia7136]

I too wish I had spoken more to our veterans. My dad and mum wouldn’t talk of it. My uncle avoided it until near his end when he recounted stories of being inserted on northern PNG ahead of the landings and then the hair raising exfiltration. His view of the (in)effectiveness of the RAAF and USAAF in their strafing of his canoe was apparently in his report back to HQ. I also had the privilege of talking to a Changi, Burma Railway and Japan based POW, after he gave his oral history to the Australian War Museum. He was by then approaching his mid 70s and had finally been persuaded to tell his story. It was subsequently published as “A Guest of the Emperor” (Russell Savage) What a generation!

[@brovold72]

Right - Or just my grandpa's niece and nephews that served n theater.

[@Cuffsmaster]

great job guys

[@forrestsory1893]

Excellent discussion of a subject not often discussed. Everybody knows about the B29 campaign. Navy suppression raids are forgotten.

[@robertmoffitt1336]

1:23:35 Bill: "Pretty good shootin' " 😄

[@iainharding1992]

Outstanding presentation! 👏👏👏👏

[@infomericalfactory596]

A show on these late war Japanese’s fighters and other military technology the Japanese developed would be great. Also one on USA radar Technology. Thanks guys this show was one of your best.

[@denniscahill9683]

Bill's windup is shockingly reminiscent of November-December 1944 in Europe...Hubris is deadly.

[@GeorgePhillips-g2v]

Ruby, Tuesday now has a new meeting to me, Steph and Bill and Jon. I likewise love Tuesdays now

[@shooter2055]

My uncle, Clarence Gnadt, was a plank holder on Randolph. --never talked about the war.

[@cjohnson1469]

I've heard you say on several occasions that the U.S. could not produce materiel at the rate of late WWII levels. I agree. It would be interesting to have the reasons why detailed in a future episode if possible. Is it the complexity of the newest weaponry and time required? The dependence on other countries for the raw materials and/or technology? The will of the people to spend, commit and man these weapons? A different political climate? I've been hearing about how long it takes to turn around the mid-life maintenance on a modern nuclear carrier - years! I've enjoyed this latest episode as all the others. Thank you.

[@ReverendScaleModeler]

Another great episode as always! Have read some on this over the years but this deep-dive made me realize how serious our losses were during these raids and the effectiveness of Japanese tactics and abilities. Makes sense given the information in Richard Frank's book Downfall. Overall Japanese forces in the home islands were substantially more than planners originally thought. Japan would have been defeated but the losses on both sides in the event of an invasion would have absolutely devastating and horrendous.

[@alganhar1]

You know, thats something a modified Fairey Fulmar might have actually been good at. Carrier launched Night Fighter. This is 1945, so slap one of the new Griffon engines in, add a radar, remove the MG's, put in 4 cannons, or maybe 6 .50's. Its not going to have the performance of a Corsair, but its got the advantage of a second seater who could be the radar operator, so guide the pilot to the target, which would speed up target acquisition, identification and engagement. Plus Fulmars were Fighter/recon aircraft, so they had a good range even clean, which means plenty of loiter time. It may have actually made the Fulmar useful!

[@bughunter1766]

Okay, no more excuses. I want all those emails returned by the end of the day!😂

[@ph89787]

Oh Boy! Oh Boy! Oh Boy!!

[@kingcrazymani4133]

Thank you, gentlemen, for this video. Timely in a few different ways to me. The surprises encountered may have motivated Curtis LeMay’s thought process. Probably did.

[@stischer47]

Once again, the US procedure of sending the best pilots back to train others had been a key to American success in the Pacific War. That reward for skilled pilots only boosted morale among them and the new pilots.