Unfortunately the topedo squadrons were the bait and they knew that.Thats why the dive bombers arrived later as we knew the combat air patrol would be down on the deck attacking the topedo bombers.Can you just imagine what every jap on those carriers knew was about to happen when the dive bombers pushed over from 10,000 ft? They knew right then they were screwed bigtime.
Yes, I’ve often thought of what it must have been like for those poor bastards. Here they are running around, decks crowded with people, planes, torpedoes and bombs and they’re taking off torpedoes to re-arm their planes with bombs. Suddenly they look up and here are the Americans, literally about to put the drop on them and there is no where to run. Damn. Must have been a lot Japs losing control in the nether regions at that moment, if you know what I mean. Three carriers sunk in about 20 minutes.