Posted on 12/07/2021 5:23:28 AM PST by mylife
I think the thinking at the time was the Japanese would strike our South China Battle Fleet under the command of Admiral Thomas Hart. Hart was a veteran of Asia and as such was more than ready when the time came. He was attacked but did not lose a ship and steamed for the Philippines when he could.
He was relieved for health reasons and his outspoken criticism of the actions taken that day and the strategy employed, later vindicated.
strange times, but we won.
Prop aircraft. He did not have 8 hours of warning, only the intel which he and many like him were allowed to have. This is the point of the entire discussion of the deceit, and for real collusion in the “special relationship”. The Brits caught a whole lot more than the US did, and their own command was kept out of the intel intercepts (for “security” dont you know. sarc).
Since the Japanese in recent years have had missiles fired over their islands by Fat Boy Kim Jong Un (at the behest and direction of the Chi-Coms helping with the nuke development— there has been a sea change in the Japanese military stance and partnership with US. They are gearing up for multi-level response, and have had a LOT of run ins with the Chinese. Neither one has forgotten the other as an adversary, but in the opinion of experts, the Japanese have always had to be resourceful and clever— and better fighters.
Well, sorry, I was confused by what you said. I thought you were saying MacArthur could have sent planes to Hawaii to help out which was impossible in 8 hours since Hawaii is 5,900 miles away and the range of a medium range bomber (B-25) was something like 1,200 miles with a full load.
But yes, 8 hours is plenty of warning time to send a message.
Adm Harr was relieved because our Allies thought him too old and lacking in fighting spirit. Which was ironic, because history shows him to be the most competent of the high ranking allied officers In the area. The only naval victory the ABDA fleet won in the first months of the war was under Hart.
Also he had health problems caused by the need for extensive Dental work. Admiral King was very sympathetic toward Hart and allowed him to keep his rank of full Admiral. Roosevelt met with him and realized Hart knew exactly what he was talking about in how to handle the Japanese. It is terrible sad he was not unitized more in the Pacific War effort. he went upon to become a U.S. Senator from CT.
There was a reason all the Japs in America were intered
My Uncle Bill was an Army Air Corps mechanic stationed at Hickham Field. He had wanted to become a pilot.
He was wounded that day, either a bullet or a piece of shrapnel blew out his knee.
He was in recovery for two years and that ended his hopes of getting pilots wings.
He ended up as a combat engineer with Patton’s Third Army and was wounded again high tailing it out of St. Vith with his unit during The Battle of The Bulge but he made it home ok.
God bless all those young men and women of that day, of that generation.
Hickam got whacked.
Many years ago I read a autobiography of a man, whose name escapes me and who had served on the U.S.S Oklahoma. What happened to the men of the Arizona could be said to have been merciful. Most never knew what it them. What happened to the men of the Oklahoma was horrifying. The Oklahoma was due to have a ship wide inspection by a visiting admiral and so the water tight doors had left opened to allow passage of the admiral and his party. When the attack began five torpedoes hit the Oklahoma on the port side and the ship began flooding rapidly. The crew could almost any of the bulkhead doors secured and soon the Oklahoma rolled on it's port side trapping hundreds of men below decks. Many drowned in flooded compartments. The lights went out and compartments were filling up rapidly. This man and his barely made it out after being trapped for some 12 hours.
Sorry, I meant to say ‘’couldn’t close the doors’.
Middle aged eyesight.
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