Through the Battle of Halfway, a crippled U.S. Army B-26 bomber flew so shut over Japan’s flagship Akagi that its crew believed it was a suicide assault — years earlier than Japan’s personal “kamikaze” missions started.
U.S. Army B-26 Bombers at Halfway
On the morning of June 4, 1942, 4 U.S. Army Air Forces B-26 Marauders from the twenty second Bombardment Group, 18th Reconnaissance Squadron, took off from Halfway Island. Their mission was to launch Mark 13 torpedoes towards the approaching Japanese service job power beneath Vice Adm. Chuichi Nagumo.
The plane had been designed for tactical bombing missions, not for low-altitude naval assaults with torpedoes. They had been additionally closely outgunned, outnumbered and had been attacking probably the most highly effective naval fleets ever assembled. The chances had been slim, however the crews volunteered anyway.
Amongst them was 1st Lt. James P. Muri, pilot of the B-26 “Susie Q.” His crew included 2nd Lt. William W. Moore, bombardier; Sgt. John L. Gogoj, turret gunner; and Cpl. Frank Melo, engineer-gunner. Their mission, a part of Halfway’s opening strikes, was to distract and delay the Japanese fleet so the American carriers might get their planes into place. The assault would turn into one of many battle’s most outstanding shows of American braveness in your complete warfare.
Attacking the Japanese Carriers
Because the 4 bombers descended to wave-top top to assault the service Akagi, they had been intercepted by A6M Zero fighters from the Japanese carriers. A number of Army B-17s had already attacked the fleet from a excessive altitude, failing to attain any hits. The Japanese had been on excessive alert.
Anti-aircraft fireplace from the fleet started to fill the sky. One Marauder was shot down earlier than releasing its torpedo. Muri’s plane was hit repeatedly, wounding crewmen and damaging engines and controls, but he pressed the assault.
Flying at barely 200 ft, Muri launched his torpedo at Akagi. The torpedo missed, however the assault pressured the flagship to show sharply to keep away from it. As an alternative of breaking away, Muri continued straight forward, guiding his crippled plane straight alongside Akagi’s flight deck. His gunners fired because the bomber skimmed the service, and Japanese antiaircraft crews hesitated to proceed firing for worry of hitting their very own ship. Two males aboard Akagi had been killed by the strafing run, throwing the crew into worry and confusion.
One other B-26, piloted by Lt. Herbert C. Mayes, got here in for an additional torpedo run however was closely broken earlier than it might rating a success. Shedding management of the craft, Mayes pressed his controls ahead and almost struck Akagi’s bridge earlier than crashing into the ocean.
Japanese officers on the bridge—together with Nagumo—reported the American bomber passing so shut overhead that they needed to duck for canopy. This horrified the Japanese. They had been taught to consider that the People would keep away from dying in any respect prices and even flee if given the chance. Seeing an American bomber apparently attempt to deliberately ram into them in a suicidal assault was stunning. That impression, recorded in Japanese after-action studies, contributed to the confusion and stress aboard the flagship because the battle escalated.
Of the 4 Marauders that took off, two had been misplaced. Muri managed to return Susie Q to Halfway with over 500 bullet holes, a shot-off wheel, and broken propellers. His plane was barely flyable, however his complete crew survived.
Turning the Tide within the Pacific
The Army bombers’ assaults, together with related torpedo runs by U.S. Navy TBD Devastators from the carriers Enterprise, Hornet, and Yorktown, failed to attain any main hits. Just about each single torpedo bomber was shot down by Japanese planes and anti-aircraft fireplace. It was one of many warfare’s most brave sacrifices.
Although they failed of their assault, they completed one thing decisive: they drew Japanese fighters and shipboard weapons all the way down to sea degree. Japanese crews aboard the carriers had suffered casualties; they had been within the strategy of switching the armament on their planes, and most of their fighters had already sortied out and weren’t prepared for an additional assault.
When U.S. Navy SBD Dauntless dive bombers arrived minutes later, they discovered the skies clear above the fleet and the Japanese carriers totally uncovered. Inside 5 minutes of starting their assault, the carriers Akagi, Kaga, and Sōryū had been sinking beneath the waves, together with a number of different Japanese ships. Surviving Japanese sailors now knew the propaganda that they had come to consider concerning the People being cowards was removed from correct.
For his actions, Lt. James Muri acquired the Distinguished Service Cross, and his crew acquired related decorations.
The assault by the B-26 crews, although tactically unsuccessful, helped safe victory at Halfway. The Japanese fleet was crippled and now knew the People had been a combating power prepared to sacrifice their lives for his or her nation. The decisive victory at Halfway modified the course of the Pacific Conflict and gave the U.S. Navy the initiative going ahead.
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