alternatehistory.com
Battle of Midway: Scratch One Flattop!
Battle of Midway: Scratch One Flattop!
0641 hours
PBY Peter 2 spots the Japanese Invasion Force 60 miles from Midway and closing. A message is sent to Midway which forwards it to Brown and Spruance.
0645 Hours
The Japanese combat air patrol spots the Marine Corps bombers as they approach and swarm in for the attack. Browning orders his squadron to attack the biggest carrier in sight (the Kaga) and then the Japanese fighters are on him and his attack force. The Japanese down 10 of the obsolete bombers, including the lead aircraft piloted by Captain Browning and the other 8 are shot to ribbons. However Browning, his aircraft in flames, crashes into the middle of 6 Japanese fighters aboard the Kaga getting ready to take off, starting a severe fire. None of the other American Marine Corps bombers score a hit and all 8 of the survivors run right into the Japanese fighters returning from Midway and 6 more are shot down.
However the Marines and their sacrifice clear the way for Bombing 2, and they also aim for the Kaga, as the other carriers are hidden from sight by clouds as the American squadron reaches their target. They only face limited flak as they dive, and the American pilots score 9 more hits on the Kaga, blasting apart her flight deck and starting massive fires as well as a chain reaction of explosions as fully fueled and armed bombers detonate as fires reach them. In less than 5 minutes over 800 Japanese crew are dead or doomed, and the carrier is clearly a total loss.
Browning's family will receive the Medal of Honor in a ceremony in 1942 at the White House and an infant Chevy Chase (of later television fame and his grandson) will be present when a Fletcher class destroyer is launched bearing the name of Browning in 1944.
However, the Navy dive bombers are subject to Japanese vengeance as the combat air patrol pounces on them on their way out. The Japanese down 4 of the 15 bombers, damage 6 more, and all of these end up ditching near Sand Island. Only 5 make it to the Lexington, along with 2 damaged Marine Corps bombers (which are both pushed over the side as total write offs).
0655 Hours
The Lexington launches 15 TBD Devastators and 16 SBD Dauntless dive bombers led by Lieutenant Commander Dixon. Brown orders the Lexington to keep back the remaining 9 Buffalo fighters for combat air patrol.
0700 Hours
Japanese battleships open fire on Eastern Island concentrating on the airfield. Meanwhile the Japanese carriers put 18 Kate bombers into the air to begin a search, while 7 float planes launch from the two Japanese cruisers. The strike by the Hiryu is cancelled and its remaining Kates and all of its Vals are put into the air on search missions as well.
Meanwhile the Yorktown and Enterprise launch 28 SBD Dauntless dive bombers and 30 TBD Devastators on a strike mission against the Japanese Invasion Fleet. Orders are to concentrate on the transports. Spruance keeps back 6 Dauntless for antisubmarine patrol and all 28 of the Wildcats for fleet defense.
0641 hours
PBY Peter 2 spots the Japanese Invasion Force 60 miles from Midway and closing. A message is sent to Midway which forwards it to Brown and Spruance.
0645 Hours
The Japanese combat air patrol spots the Marine Corps bombers as they approach and swarm in for the attack. Browning orders his squadron to attack the biggest carrier in sight (the Kaga) and then the Japanese fighters are on him and his attack force. The Japanese down 10 of the obsolete bombers, including the lead aircraft piloted by Captain Browning and the other 8 are shot to ribbons. However Browning, his aircraft in flames, crashes into the middle of 6 Japanese fighters aboard the Kaga getting ready to take off, starting a severe fire. None of the other American Marine Corps bombers score a hit and all 8 of the survivors run right into the Japanese fighters returning from Midway and 6 more are shot down.
However the Marines and their sacrifice clear the way for Bombing 2, and they also aim for the Kaga, as the other carriers are hidden from sight by clouds as the American squadron reaches their target. They only face limited flak as they dive, and the American pilots score 9 more hits on the Kaga, blasting apart her flight deck and starting massive fires as well as a chain reaction of explosions as fully fueled and armed bombers detonate as fires reach them. In less than 5 minutes over 800 Japanese crew are dead or doomed, and the carrier is clearly a total loss.
Browning's family will receive the Medal of Honor in a ceremony in 1942 at the White House and an infant Chevy Chase (of later television fame and his grandson) will be present when a Fletcher class destroyer is launched bearing the name of Browning in 1944.
However, the Navy dive bombers are subject to Japanese vengeance as the combat air patrol pounces on them on their way out. The Japanese down 4 of the 15 bombers, damage 6 more, and all of these end up ditching near Sand Island. Only 5 make it to the Lexington, along with 2 damaged Marine Corps bombers (which are both pushed over the side as total write offs).
0655 Hours
The Lexington launches 15 TBD Devastators and 16 SBD Dauntless dive bombers led by Lieutenant Commander Dixon. Brown orders the Lexington to keep back the remaining 9 Buffalo fighters for combat air patrol.
0700 Hours
Japanese battleships open fire on Eastern Island concentrating on the airfield. Meanwhile the Japanese carriers put 18 Kate bombers into the air to begin a search, while 7 float planes launch from the two Japanese cruisers. The strike by the Hiryu is cancelled and its remaining Kates and all of its Vals are put into the air on search missions as well.
Meanwhile the Yorktown and Enterprise launch 28 SBD Dauntless dive bombers and 30 TBD Devastators on a strike mission against the Japanese Invasion Fleet. Orders are to concentrate on the transports. Spruance keeps back 6 Dauntless for antisubmarine patrol and all 28 of the Wildcats for fleet defense.
- galveston bay
- Word Count: 530