A story for you. My granddad was a Merchant Marine who was part of the crew of one of the battleships. He was stricken with stomach cancer the year before and was granted leave. He passed away on 12/7/41, back home in Alabama.
I'm not sure if you've ever heard about this or not. I'm from Southwestern Mi. The small town of Decatur as a Murder Mystery that has been all but lost to time. I'm not sure on the date, but it was in the 1800's that a local area farmer & his wife were shot by an unknown person for an unknown reason. The person stole a horse from the farmer and fled to South as the story goes. I think it would be a great story for you to talk about, just asking.
Attacking the airfields at PH first was due to a mixup, not planning. Lieutenant Commander Minoru Genda’s plan for the attack had two contingencies, “Surprise Lost” and “Surprise Achieved.” Each contingency had its own sequential order of attack laid out, based on protecting the Kate torpedo bombers. It was expected (and turned out to be true) that torpedoes would cause the most damage to the ships in shallow water and Genda wanted these planes to be successful and he drew up two different attack plans to insure that. Genda knew, through extensive training and practice with modified torpedoes, that the torpedo drops must be done at 20ft off the water and just above the stall speed of the Kate bombers to keep the torpedoes from diving too deep in the shallow water or skipping like a stone on the surface. Also, the torpedo airplanes also had to be properly distanced side by side and properly spaced front to rear, as well, as splashes from the torpedoes entering the water could knock down the low flying planes beside or following. Flying low and slow and evenly spaced apart made their #1 asset, the torpedo planes, extremely vulnerable to fighters and AA gunners. The shallow water of the harbor made the job exceedingly more difficult and dangerous for the torpedo bomber pilots, but that shallow water greatly aided in the damaging effects of the torpedoes as concussion waves bouncing off the bottom of the harbor caused significantly more hull damage to the ships than if the ship had been struck in deep water. Captured Japanese photos clearly show massive water geysers rise over 1,000 feet high from the torpedo strikes in the shallow water, confirming this. So, there were two contingencies. If total surprise was achieved at the beginning of the battle, that plan called for the Zero fighter planes to shoot forward and attack any US fighter interceptors attempting to take off, while at the same time the four groups of Kate torpedo bombers would separate and lead the attack by simultaneously dropping their torpedoes. Meanwhile, the dive-bombers and high altitude bombers were to circle above the harbor area and wait for the torpedo attack to finish. After all the 40 torpedoes were dropped, high altitude and dive-bombing runs would begin on the airstrips and ships. It was crucial to keep the element of surprise to let the torpedoes drop first, to insure the safety of the planes and crews and insure their success. This is why there were no plans for torpedo planes in wave #2. If surprise wasn’t achieved, Genda’s plan called for the Zeroes to attack the airborne planes over the harbor while all airfields were to be bombed, which would prevent any fighters from taking off. Once the skies were safe, torpedo runs would then take place and after, bombing attacks on the ships would commence. It was the job of the attack leader Commander Fuchida to access the situation as they approached the harbor and signal the planes by flare which plan to use. One flare meant Surprise Achieved, two flares signaled Surprise Lost. As Commander Fuchida’s Kate bomber closed in, he peered through his binoculars at the harbor and saw that there were no fighters airborne protecting the ships in the harbor. He immediately knew that total surprise had been achieved. Fuchida shot off one black flare to signal all his airplanes that the attack sequence would be Surprise Achieved. But the Zero fighters led by Lieutenant Commander Itayay did not immediately respond to Fuchida’s 1st signal flare and take their Surprise Achieved positions in the front of the formation. Fuchida waited but was quickly running out of time so he then fired a 2nd flare, this time directly at the formation of Zero fighters to get their attention. Unfortunately, Lieutenant Commander Takahashi, leader of the Val dive bombers saw the first flare and now saw the second flare and misinterpreted its’ meaning. He took it to mean Surprise Lost. Takahashi and his 27 dive bombers immediately peeled off to attack the airstrips. Meanwhile, the Japanese fighters led by Lieutenant Commander Itayay, seeing the one flare only, followed the Surprise Achieved sequence and also shot ahead toward the US airstrips. The attack sequence and timing was now off. Bombing the airstrips first was a mistake. Explosions and rising plumes of smoke from the airstrips alerted Naval command and the ships in the harbor. It also forced some torpedo planes to attack from the wrong direction, misidentify targets and waste half of their torpedoes. Because of this error, most of the 9 planes shot down in the first wave were torpedo planes. So no, the US reconnaissance PBY’s were not taken out first by plan, it was instead a mistake. And that mistake was significant.
I think the real forgotten history in the air at Pearl Harbour are the *other* fighter planes, both Curtiss Hawks and P40s that got up and fought that day. Some of the pilots died fighting, others shot down Japanese aircraft. A total of five got aloft to resist the Japanese that day. I think this is something you should cover.
Walsh was killed in the crash of the XF-100 Super Sabre. The vertical tail was found to be too small and enlarged as a result of the crash. If you watched the old Bionic Man TV show, the crash in the opening minutes is Major Walsh's incident. On a separate note, the only Pearl Harbor battleship present at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay was BB48 USS West Virginia.
I still release three videos a week. We release podcasts every other Tuesday, to be found wherever you get podcasts. We then post here, as we have viewers who like listen to them on RUclips.
Comments on the History Kids videos are turned off so I can't comment there, but please let your nephews know that my young nephew and I are enjoying their videos and my nephew really liked the one about sweets and the candy drops. Tell them thanks, and great work! Thank you to you too, History Guy.
Okay, my take on this episode. The content is beyond measure, how it is presented isn't so good. Actual recorded of their faces showing reaction speaking with each other would have been an added plus. Please think about it. I did think about why it wasn't presented like that. I'm just saying I think it would have been better. I wrote this about 30 minutes into the video and my mind was wandering while listening to the verbal exchange.
These are podcasts. We release a podcast every other Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts, and then post them a few weeks later here on RUclips because some fans like to get them here.
@@WALTERBROADDUS are you speaking on behalf of the History Guy or yourself? I do not think my comment was chatter but to denote a correction in his copy.
Had the Japanese distroyed the fleet at pearl harbor including the carriers it would have taken us between 6mo to a Year to rebuild the Pacific fleet and would have made our entrance to the eoupean war slower
Too bad this wasn't aired past Dec. 7th. Still worthwhile view..
Good on you, Guy.
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A story for you. My granddad was a Merchant Marine who was part of the crew of one of the battleships. He was stricken with stomach cancer the year before and was granted leave. He passed away on 12/7/41, back home in Alabama.
I'm not an expert, bur I do believe the Merchant Marine don't serve an US Navy combat ships.
I'm not sure if you've ever heard about this or not. I'm from Southwestern Mi. The small town of Decatur as a Murder Mystery that has been all but lost to time. I'm not sure on the date, but it was in the 1800's that a local area farmer & his wife were shot by an unknown person for an unknown reason. The person stole a horse from the farmer and fled to South as the story goes.
I think it would be a great story for you to talk about, just asking.
Text me on telegram☝️
@@thehistorygu I'm not sure what telegram is or where to find it. I can send you my e-mail info if that would help.
Attacking the airfields at PH first was due to a mixup, not planning.
Lieutenant Commander Minoru Genda’s plan for the attack had two contingencies, “Surprise Lost” and “Surprise Achieved.” Each contingency had its own sequential order of attack laid out, based on protecting the Kate torpedo bombers. It was expected (and turned out to be true) that torpedoes would cause the most damage to the ships in shallow water and Genda wanted these planes to be successful and he drew up two different attack plans to insure that.
Genda knew, through extensive training and practice with modified torpedoes, that the torpedo drops must be done at 20ft off the water and just above the stall speed of the Kate bombers to keep the torpedoes from diving too deep in the shallow water or skipping like a stone on the surface. Also, the torpedo airplanes also had to be properly distanced side by side and properly spaced front to rear, as well, as splashes from the torpedoes entering the water could knock down the low flying planes beside or following. Flying low and slow and evenly spaced apart made their #1 asset, the torpedo planes, extremely vulnerable to fighters and AA gunners.
The shallow water of the harbor made the job exceedingly more difficult and dangerous for the torpedo bomber pilots, but that shallow water greatly aided in the damaging effects of the torpedoes as concussion waves bouncing off the bottom of the harbor caused significantly more hull damage to the ships than if the ship had been struck in deep water. Captured Japanese photos clearly show massive water geysers rise over 1,000 feet high from the torpedo strikes in the shallow water, confirming this.
So, there were two contingencies.
If total surprise was achieved at the beginning of the battle, that plan called for the Zero fighter planes to shoot forward and attack any US fighter interceptors attempting to take off, while at the same time the four groups of Kate torpedo bombers would separate and lead the attack by simultaneously dropping their torpedoes. Meanwhile, the dive-bombers and high altitude bombers were to circle above the harbor area and wait for the torpedo attack to finish. After all the 40 torpedoes were dropped, high altitude and dive-bombing runs would begin on the airstrips and ships. It was crucial to keep the element of surprise to let the torpedoes drop first, to insure the safety of the planes and crews and insure their success. This is why there were no plans for torpedo planes in wave #2.
If surprise wasn’t achieved, Genda’s plan called for the Zeroes to attack the airborne planes over the harbor while all airfields were to be bombed, which would prevent any fighters from taking off. Once the skies were safe, torpedo runs would then take place and after, bombing attacks on the ships would commence.
It was the job of the attack leader Commander Fuchida to access the situation as they approached the harbor and signal the planes by flare which plan to use. One flare meant Surprise Achieved, two flares signaled Surprise Lost.
As Commander Fuchida’s Kate bomber closed in, he peered through his binoculars at the harbor and saw that there were no fighters airborne protecting the ships in the harbor. He immediately knew that total surprise had been achieved. Fuchida shot off one black flare to signal all his airplanes that the attack sequence would be Surprise Achieved.
But the Zero fighters led by Lieutenant Commander Itayay did not immediately respond to Fuchida’s 1st signal flare and take their Surprise Achieved positions in the front of the formation. Fuchida waited but was quickly running out of time so he then fired a 2nd flare, this time directly at the formation of Zero fighters to get their attention. Unfortunately, Lieutenant Commander Takahashi, leader of the Val dive bombers saw the first flare and now saw the second flare and misinterpreted its’ meaning. He took it to mean Surprise Lost. Takahashi and his 27 dive bombers immediately peeled off to attack the airstrips. Meanwhile, the Japanese fighters led by Lieutenant Commander Itayay, seeing the one flare only, followed the Surprise Achieved sequence and also shot ahead toward the US airstrips. The attack sequence and timing was now off.
Bombing the airstrips first was a mistake. Explosions and rising plumes of smoke from the airstrips alerted Naval command and the ships in the harbor. It also forced some torpedo planes to attack from the wrong direction, misidentify targets and waste half of their torpedoes.
Because of this error, most of the 9 planes shot down in the first wave were torpedo planes.
So no, the US reconnaissance PBY’s were not taken out first by plan, it was instead a mistake. And that mistake was significant.
Text me on telegram☝️
My dad went to pearl harbour from st Louis in 1942. He was just 18
I think the real forgotten history in the air at Pearl Harbour are the *other* fighter planes, both Curtiss Hawks and P40s that got up and fought that day. Some of the pilots died fighting, others shot down Japanese aircraft. A total of five got aloft to resist the Japanese that day. I think this is something you should cover.
On the contrary, the forgotten aviation story of American pilots at Pearl harbor, are those from the USS Enterprise. Lost to friendly fire
@@WALTERBROADDUS true, that is another good one, as is the story of the B17s that arrived from the mainland. And the story of Cornelia Fort.
Happy Fiftieth Episode .
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Walsh was killed in the crash of the XF-100 Super Sabre. The vertical tail was found to be too small and enlarged as a result of the crash. If you watched the old Bionic Man TV show, the crash in the opening minutes is Major Walsh's incident. On a separate note, the only Pearl Harbor battleship present at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay was BB48 USS West Virginia.
Text me on telegram☝️
My great-uncle was captured on Utah Beach/Crisbecq Battery on the 8th of June. 😢
Love your content - but with all due respect it's YouTUBE not YouAUDIO
I still release three videos a week. We release podcasts every other Tuesday, to be found wherever you get podcasts. We then post here, as we have viewers who like listen to them on RUclips.
Comments on the History Kids videos are turned off so I can't comment there, but please let your nephews know that my young nephew and I are enjoying their videos and my nephew really liked the one about sweets and the candy drops. Tell them thanks, and great work! Thank you to you too, History Guy.
Thank you! I will pass that along. Due to federal regulations, RUclips doesn't allow comments on channels made for children
Okay, my take on this episode. The content is beyond measure, how it is presented isn't so good. Actual recorded of their faces showing reaction speaking with each other would have been an added plus. Please think about it. I did think about why it wasn't presented like that. I'm just saying I think it would have been better. I wrote this about 30 minutes into the video and my mind was wandering while listening to the verbal exchange.
These are podcasts. We release a podcast every other Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts, and then post them a few weeks later here on RUclips because some fans like to get them here.
One does not "win" the Purple Heart Medal 🏅, it is awarded .
Can we please not go with tired internet chatter type posts?
@@WALTERBROADDUS are you speaking on behalf of the History Guy or yourself?
I do not think my comment was chatter but to denote a correction in his copy.
@@anthonyC214 no correction was required. It's a tired posting.
The only way the soldiers in the rear of the plane with the rifles would work, is if; you found hunters that are used to leading the game.
Had the Japanese distroyed the fleet at pearl harbor including the carriers it would have taken us between 6mo to a Year to rebuild the Pacific fleet and would have made our entrance to the eoupean war slower
I'm not sure that's true? We had already adopted a Germany first policy. And there was still a sizable Atlantic Fleet.
Could you do a piece on the history of the American cowboy. TV and movies have blurred the truth somewhat
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What I find fascinating about pearl Harbor is that not one Japanese body was never found.
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Great episode. Now going to check out your coverage of the Battleship Texas
Currently in drydock in Galveston...
37th, 31 January 2023