Sometime read the real story about the Americans at Clark Field. They were taking extraordinary measures including keeping the planes in the air.
They had to land to refuel and it was right then when the Japanese attacked.
I did!
Brereton, the base commander, repeatedly called Sutherland, MacArthur’s Air Chief, to get MacArthur’s approval to attack but he was DENIED—nine hours AFTER Pearl. Brereton had them up flying around all morning waiting for the signal for Mac to come. He landed them around at 10:30 AM to refuel—only THEN did Mac authorize the mission and that’s when the Jap planes hit.
Had we gone in after we heard about the attack at Pearl, we would have? Who knows? Probably still lost the Philippines but at least done some damage.
What a mess. we lost 18 B-17s on the ground.