The Greater Baseball Co-Prosperity Sphere

[legendsport]

May 3, 1943 - Camp Charlie, Oahu, Hawaii:

"C'mon, Rosen! Fire it in there!" Hiram glanced over his shoulder at the shortstop - a rangy kid from the Marine Detachment who just. wouldn't. shut. up.

Hiram turned his gaze back on the catcher who was flashing signs. Watanabe stood stoically at the plate, the bat poised over his shoulder - and like the rest of the Japanese shortstop's body, was completely still.

Rosen rocked into his windup, brought ball and glove back, spun on his right leg and fired a straight fastball with all his strength.

The ball streaked toward the plate where Watanabe's bat met it with a solid "thwack" and Hiram whipped his head around as the ball zipped past the shortstop and into left-center.

"C'mon kid, you shoulda been shading that way!" Hiram shouted mean-spiritedly. The Marine ignored him, trotting into the outfield to grab the throw from the left-fielder.

Hiram glanced at first base, where Watanabe grinned at him.

He turned to head back to the mound when a huge explosion from the airbase caused everyone to first duck, and then turn towards the south.

"It's the invasion!" the Marine shortstop shouted, dropping his glove and sprinting towards the fence.

After a second's hesitation, Hiram joined the crowd - including the Japanese prisoners - streaming towards the center of the camp. The only difference was that the Japanese were smiling while all the Americans wore grim looks.

[legendsport]

May 8, 1943 - San Francisco, California:

"...Radio Tokyo reported early this morning that the garrison of Oahu has surrendered to Japanese forces. The War Department confirmed the report later today. This leaves the Japanese in control of the entire Hawaiian archipelago and removes the most forward base of the U.S. Pacific Fleet."

Dr. John Carey felt like crying. If his wife and son weren't sitting beside him, he felt that he would have. As it stood, he knew he needed to keep up a strong front for their benefit.

"Wow, looks like the West Coast is now the front line, huh Dad?" Johnny asked.

John looked at his son, noting how Johnny - like himself - was trying to put a brave face on things.

"I guess so, Johnny. Keep in mind that the Hawaiian Islands are pretty far from California, so the enemy will have a real hard time hitting us here."

His son mulled this over for a moment before responding, "But we don't have much here, either. Most of the Army's over in Africa and things aren't too promising there."

The radio was talking about the reception the USS Yorktown had received upon the big ship's arrival at San Diego. The Navy Department had pushed training ahead so that the carrier could into the Pacific as soon as possible.

"When's Intrepid due to launch, dear?"

John frowned before replying, "Well, they're supposedly pushing construction, but it'll be late fall before she's ready."

"Things could get hairy around here long before then," Johnny said glumly.

John could only hope his son was exaggerating.

May 22, 1943 - Camp Charlie, Oahu, Hawaii:

Ironic it certainly was - but enjoyable? Not a chance. Camp Charlie, which had housed Japanese POWs for six months or so, was now housing American POWs. Lt. Hiram Rosen, once a jailer, was now the jailed.

"Things are pretty grim, heh, Hiram?" asked Captain Will Talbot, another pilot who had had the bad luck of being shot down on a mission over Hawaii before the invasion, and after spending four months jailed on the Big Island, was now on Oahu with everyone else.

"You can say that again, sir." Hiram replied, then began ticking items off on his fingers. "Let's see - Hawaii is completely conquered, so we've got nothing in the Pacific. The latest reports say the Aussies took a licking at someplace called Guadalcanal, the Germans have crossed the Suez Canal and are driving towards Palestine, and the Russians are falling back all across the line with the Germans probably in Moscow by the end of summer. All in all, I'd say we've lost this war."

Talbot looked skeptical. "I wouldn't go that far. The mainland hasn't been touched, and even though the cussed isolationists kept us from getting geared up, the factories have to be churning by now. There's not a country on this Earth can keep up with our factories. We'll be turning things around, pretty pronto, I figure."

"Sir, I sincerely hope that your assesment is dead-on. If not, we're going to be here a long, long time."

Talbot took a look around the camp. "Yeah, we may be in paradise, but our hosts aren't exactly the most hospitable bunch in the world."

Hiram thought about Watanabe. That little guy was, all things considered, not a bad fellow. I wonder how he's doing now that he's been "liberated?"

May 30, 1943 - aboard IJN Hiryu, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii:

The work of clearing the debris of the U.S. Pacific Fleet from the big base at Pearl Harbor was progressing with typical Japanese efficiency. Watanabe, rescued on the second day of the invasion, was back with his unit aboard Hiryu.

Captain Toda had Watanabe firmly locked in his unpitying gaze. "I have heard disturbing reports of fraternization with the enemy, lieutenant."

I guess he means the baseball games, Watanabe thought, but didn't say a word.

"You understand that you are already disgraced. Capture is not an option for a servant of the Emperor."

"I was knocked unconcious after ejecting from my aircraft. I attempted seppuku several times but the Americans prevented me from success."

Toda frowned. "Yes, I know of their so-called 'respect for life.' Because of your value to the Emperor as one of our most-experienced pilots, your capture and failure to end your life has been forgiven."

Watanabe inwardly relaxed - until Toda continued, "There is the matter of your playing baseball with the Americans, however."

Watanabe waited patiently, none of his nervousness showing. Surely a game of baseball does not constitute fraternization?

"I am inclined to recommend at least a demotion in grade to ensign for this stupidity," Toda began, then added, "However, you did successfully escape from the camp when the invasion began and no harm to our cause was done. So you may return to the squadron. We still have much work to do."

Watanabe, much relieved - though showing none of it - saluted and headed for the flight deck. A reunion with the A6M5 was awaiting and only his love of baseball could compare with the great joy of flying.

[legendsport]

1943

June


* June 2 - German U-Boat U-108 sinks the aircraft carrier USS Essex in the Caribbean. The Essex was on its way to join its sister ship, USS Lexington, in San Diego.
* June 5 - Massive demonstration in Washington D.C. by "Peace Now" organization, urging negotiated settlement with Germany and Japan. President Bricker responds via radio speech indicating that the United States will not negotiate with the aggressors.
* June 8 - Japanese Navy tests the new Kawanishi N1K1 as the successor to the Zero fighter; the "Shiden" will debut on IJN carriers by early 1944.
* June 19 - German armored spearheads reach the outskirts of Moscow, the furthest they have come since November 1941.
* June 27 - The Battle of Moscow begins
* June 30 - German troops occupy the Kremlin


July


* July 4 - U.S. and British forces under the command of General Dwight Eisenhower land in Morocco where opposition from Vichy French forces exceeds expectations.
* July 9 - Moscow falls to German forces. Stalin and Soviet government flee east to Gorky
* July 13 - Allied forces in Morocco suffer defeat south of Rabat, and retreat to beach head near Casablanca
* July 27 - Soviet Foreign Minister Vladimir Molotov requests cease-fire and negotiated settlement with German forces.
* July 30 - A large Japanese task force, including five aircraft carriers, under Admiral Yamamoto, attacks the Panama Canal, severely damaging the lock systems.

[legendsport]

August 3, 1943 - San Francisco, California:

The knock on the door was the first in a day of surprises for Dr. John Carey.

He opened the door, expecting at worst a door-to-door salesman. The last thing he expected to see was an Army Colonel - and not a lieutenant colonel, but a full colonel, what servicemen would call a "bird" colonel.

"Dr. Carey?" the colonel asked immediately.

"Yes, I'm Dr. Carey. Something I can do for you Colonel?" John replied, his mind churning with the ramifications of this unexpected visit.

"I'm Colonel Willoughby, U.S. Army Medical Corps," the Colonel states and John finally noted the Medical Corps caduceus pinned on the man's uniform.

"Nice to meet you Colonel - or should I say, doctor?" John asked, stepping aside and waving the man in.

The Colonel entered the house, nodding at the simple elegance of the living room and said, "Colonel works for our purposes, Dr. Carey."

John nodded and said, "And what would our purposes be today, Colonel?"

The Colonel had sauntered over to the wall and was gazing at the Johnny's graduation photo, which hung with pride of place over the mantle.

"Good looking boy," he said and then turned to John.

"Dr. Carey, I'll stop beating around the bush. I'm here for one purpose - to recruit you into the service of your country."

To say that John was surprised by this bit of information would be a gross understatement. Why would the Army want a 42-year-old M.D. whose most military experience was a stint as scout master for his son's Cub Scout troop ten years earlier?

His surprise must have shown on his face, for Willoughby continued, "We're amazingly short on doctors of all types, Dr. Carey. I know you're a GP, not a surgeon - which is our greatest need - but we'll take what we can get."

John was nonplussed. What to say?

Willoughby filled the sudden silence: "Look, I know this is coming out of the blue. I also know you have a wife and son you'd rather not leave. I have some good news for you there. You'd be posted to the Presidio. With the situation on the Pacific side being what it is, this is essentially a front-line posting anyway."

John took a deep breath and released it slowly. "I'm going to have to get back to you Colonel. I have to talk to my wife."

Willoughby nodded. "Sure. Time is of the essence though, so please don't take too long."

The colonel looked over at the graduation photo again. "I've heard your son is a fair ballplayer. He's with the Seals, right?"

John dipped his head. "Yes. For the time being. He turns 18 in a few months."

Willoughby patted John on the shoulder. "Your service could help save your son's life. Every lit bit helps, Doctor."

"I can't argue with that, Colonel. You'll have my answer soon."

[legendsport]

1943

August


* August 7 - The Soviet Union officially surrenders to Germany. As part of the agreement, all European territory east of the Ural mountains is ceded to Nazi control.
* August 10 - German testing of the V-2 rocket begins
* August 13 - The Afrika Korps launches a large-scale attack on British and U.S. defenses on the so-called "Lawrence Line" in southern Palestine
* August 30 - The Japanese launch Taiho, which is the first of a three-ship class of aircraft carrier, and which will prove the equal of the American Essex-class carriers


September


* September 3 - Adolf Hitler, in a speech to the nation upon his return from reviewing a military parade in occupied Moscow, calls upon the British and Americans to "make peace before they are utterly destroyed."
* September 4 - Popular sentiment leads to a General Election date of November 11 being set for the United Kingdom. Discontent with the conduct of the war was a primary factor in the scheduling of the first general election in eight years.
* September 11 - The aircraft carrier Taiho is the centerpiece of the largest Japanese carrier-based raid of the war to date, an eight carrier strike on Australian and British forces in Sydney, sparking fear of a Japanese invasion of Australia.
* September 20 - British and American bombers conduct their largest bombing raid of the war, pounding Berlin in an around-the-clock attack, with American bombers striking during the day and the British following with a night attack.
* September 30 - In retaliation for the Berlin bombings ten days earlier, the Luftwaffe launches a large raid against London, suffering large losses. This is followed up by a barrage of V-1 "buzz" bombs, which do little damage, but cause great concern among Londoners.


October


* October 2 - A second, and larger, anti-war demonstration takes place in Washington. Carrying placards reading "The War is Lost" and "Make Peace Now!" the marchers converge on the White House and have to be dispersed by the U.S. Army
* October 7 - The prisoners of Camp Charlie, a temporary POW camp on Oahu, are loaded on ships bound for a newly constructed camp on the Japanese home island of Honshu.
* October 10 - The Japanese finish clearing the wreckage from the Pearl Harbor Naval Base which becomes a staging area for future offensive operations of the IJN
* October 14 - Germany completes redeployment of Eastern Front forces to the West, strengthening the garrisons in France, the Low Countries, Denmark and Norway and also sending sizeable forces to Italy, bound for North Africa.
* October 20 - German and Italian forces arrive in Libya, bound for Morocco.
* October 24 - In the "October Mutiny" U.S. General George S. Patton disobeys orders and attacks Vichy forces in Northern Morocco
* October 29 - Patton is court-martialed by General Eisenhower and sent back to the United States for trial.

[legendsport]

November 3, 1943 - San Francisco, California:

The nurse's head poked into the office, "Major, your son is here."

Major John Carey, U.S. Army Medical Corps, nodded his head and motioned for her to send him in.

Johnny's familiar frame filled the doorway, then his son crossed the short expanse of carpet and plopped with teenage ease into the chair across the desk from his father.

"So, how is the big baseball star?" John asked, with more than a bit of pride in his voice.

Johnny, who had played a bit role for the Seals in their 1943 championship run after joining the team in June as a reserve outfielder, smiled at his father and replied, "Well, I thought we should talk options."

"Options for what?"

"I turn eighteen in three weeks, as you well know, and I'm debating which branch of service to join. Seems that as a professional ball player, I get a little bit of special treatment."

John raised an eyebrow. "Special treatment? What do you mean?"

"Well, you know all the big stars are in the service. DiMaggio, Williams, Feller - all those guys have signed on."

John nodded, all of that was common knowledge.

"OK. So it seems that some of them have it, for lack of a better word, easy. Doing some rah-rah stuff, going around recruiting, playing exhibitions for the boys, and so on."

Johnny saw that his father was about to protest and quickly added. "I said some - I know that Williams is a pilot and Feller's serving on a Navy ship escorting convoys in the Atlantic. I won't name names, but I've heard from some of my team mates that some ballplayers are lounging around in easy billets - far from where any bullets might be flying."

John frowned. None of this was particularly surprising, but he wondered how his son viewed this preferential treatment. "So, what does that have to do with you. I know you're a decent player, but you're no Joe DiMaggio or Ted Williams."

Johnny laughed. "True. A bit role on the Seals is a world away from starring on the Yankees or Red Sox, Dad, and I know it."

"Ok, so what are these options as they apply to you, then?"

"It's more of what I want to do. I'm leaning towards the Navy right now. We've got some carriers building and once they're done, we'll take 'em out against the Japanese."

John agreed and said so.

"So I have your blessing to join the Navy?" Johnny asked.

"Sure. You'll get drafted regardless. Might as well do what you think will be a good fit for you."

"Thanks, Dad. I'll need your support when I tell Mom."

John nodded again and then said with a gleam in his eye, "Better hope you don't get seasick."

[legendsport]

November 8, 1943 - Mitsushima Camp #2, Tokyo, Japan:

Camp Charlie this was not.

Hiram Rosen had never been so miserable. The guards here were brutal - and were all incapable (or unwilling) to speak English. The food was simple rice and some small pieces of raw fish. Apparently enough to live on, but all the prisoners were in a perpetual state of hunger.

Still, it could have been worse. Some of the other guys had been captured in the Phillippines - the stories they told made Hiram's skin crawl. He counted his blessings - he was alive and safe (even if someone wanted to bomb Tokyo, the nearest bomber was thousands of miles away).

"Hey, Rosen," said a scarecrow of a man.

"What is it, Philson?" Hiram responded wearily. Rex Philson was a Marine who had been part of the Wake Defense Force - he'd been here for over a year, and it showed.

Philson shot a look at the Japanese guard standing just feet away - and stoically ignoring the filthy and bedraggled prisoners. "I heard you was a baseball player."

Hiram gave a rueful chuckle. "Not really. I mean sure, I played some, but I'm no Bob Feller."

"Yeah, but I heard the Japanese are real suckers for baseball. Maybe you could get us some better food or something." The desperation in Philson's voice was apparent.

"Well, I do know that there is baseball here, but I don't think these guys," a nod at the guard, "are all that interested in American ballplayers."

Hiram shivered and added, "Besides - it's November. A little cold for baseball, don't you think?"

Philson frowned at him and limped away, passing another man who was busily chasing a cockroach with a stick, while several others looked on.

Hey, it passes the time, Hiram thought, and went back to what he had been doing before Philson came by - picking lice out of his hair.

[legendsport]

1943

November


* November 11 - United Kingdom holds General Election and due to general unhappiness with the continued reversals in the war, Clement Atlee's Labour Party wins the election, and Atlee will replace Winston Churchill as Prime Minister.
* November 20 - In a conference with Hermann Goring and other top Luftwaffe officers, Hitler is convinced to begin construction of long range bombers for the "eventual attack on America."
* November 24 - The Afrika Korps punches a hole in the "Lawrence Line" in southern Palestine, and Field Marshal Erwin Rommel begins to pour tanks through the gap.
* November 30 - Under cover of darkness and U.S. and British combined fleet removes Allied forces from Morocco and steams toward Gibraltar and the Mediterranean.


December



* December 7 - On the 2nd anniversary of Pearl Harbor, President Bricker calls upon the nation to "remember the dastardly attack and never waver in the search for retribution" against the Japanese and their German and Italian allies.
* December 10 - British Field Marshal Montgomery cables London that he has ordered his forces in Palestine to retreat north to a line anchored on the port of Beirut, leaving the Holy Land open to Rommel's forces
* December 18 - The USS Intrepid is commissioned in the Norfolk Naval Yards. In a controversial decision, the carrier is held in the Atlantic, pending the completion of two of her sister ships, USS Hornet and USS Franklin. This decision leaves the USS Yorktown (anchored in San Diego) as the only Pacific Fleet carrier until mid-1944.
* December 25 - Rommel offers Allied forces a Christmas cease-fire, in deference to "our presence in the holiest of all lands." Though the offer is refused by Montgomery, Rommel is still reprimanded by Hitler for his unauthorized offer.


1944

January


* January 3 - Reinforcements (from Morocco) are landed in Beirut to bolster Montgomery's position. Monty is replaced in operational command by General Eisenhower, who arrives with the reinforcements.
* January 10 - A revolt in St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) is put down with extreme brutality by the German occupation forces, leaving over 1000 Russians dead. Hitler cites this an "example of what becomes those who challenge the supremacy of the Aryan race."
* January 11 - USS Hornet leaves the Newport News naval yard and joins her sister ship, USS Intrepid for training and anti-submarine warfare cruises along the East Coast of the United States.
* January 19 - A Japanese task force of six carriers conducts air strikes on the U.S. Naval Base at San Diego. Luckily for the United States, the lone Pacific carrier, USS Yorktown, escapes damage, though her air wing is decimated in ill-fated attacks on the Japanese task force.


February


* February 6 - Hitler approves construction of the Junkers Ju-390 as the 'Amerika Bomber' - the aircraft selected to be able to reach North American targets from Europe. Full-scale production will begin by mid-April.
* February 19 - Eisenhower launches a counter-offensive against Afrika Korps positions in Palestine with initial gains of several miles along most of the front
* February 29 - Rommel springs his trap on Allied forces in Palestine, using redeployed units from the Eastern Front to hit the Allied flank. By March 7, the bulk of Allied forces in Palestine are encircled.


March


* March 3 - The Atlee government, desperate to show some positive momentum in the war effort, convinces the U.S. to resume large-scale bombing raids on German cities, concentrating on civilian populations. The first raid, on Dresden, will commence on March 7
* March 7 - Over 500 Allied bombers pound the German city of Dresden with incendiary bombs, causing huge firestorms and killing tens of thousands of civilians. In a rage, Hitler orders and immediate retaliatory raid on London.
* March 10 - The largest German air raid of the war hits London. Though the Luftwaffe suffers heavy bomber losses, the large-scale destruction convinces Atlee to abandon the terror-bombing campaign he had advocated just a week earlier.
* March 19 - Hitler orders the use of the V-2 rocket against British targets, specifically the air bases of the U.S. Army Air Force and Royal Air Force. The launch sites along the French channel coast have been operational for three months, but had only been test-flying the new rocket.
* March 30 - British Prime Minister Clement Atlee and U.S. President John Bricker meet aboard a British battleship off Iceland. Topics of discussion include a British request for more U.S. troops in Britain to stave off the expected German invasion. Bricker informs his counterpart that the U.S. will do what it can, but the priority in Congress has become the war with Japan.


April


* April 3 - The U.S. sends the four newest Essex-class carriers on a long trip around South America to reinforce the Pacific Fleet. The ships - USS Intrepid, USS Hornet, USS Franklin and USS Ticonderoga, will arrive in San Diego in May. Joining them are the two newest U.S. battleships - USS Iowa and USS New Jersey, and a fleet of over fifty other ships varying in class from destroyer to cruiser. These ships will form the backbone of an all-new US Pacific Fleet.
* April 9 - Reports from spies in the United States reach Tokyo of the large fleet heading for the Pacific. Admiral Yamamoto convenes a top-level meeting to discuss plans for dealing with the new threat.
* April 19 - The surrounded Allied forces in Palestine surrender.
* April 22 - German forces pour into Persia from the former Soviet Union, meeting only token British and Persian defense forces.
* April 29 - Advance elements of the Afrika Korps link up with their countrymen advancing through Persia.


May


* May 3 - Rommel assumes command of all German forces in the Middle East and orders an advance on the Persian Gulf, with the goal of securing the oil fields.
* May 6 - PM Atlee addresses Parliament and for the first time recommends seeking a negotiated settlement with Germany, saying "we must accept that with all of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East under Hitler's thumb, the war can not be brought to a successful conclusion."
* May 7 - Ernest Bevin, British Minister for Foreign Affairs, contacts German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop to begin peace talks.
* May 9 - The new US Pacific Fleet nears San Diego.

[legendsport]

May 10, 1944 - Aboard USS Hornet, southwest of San Diego:

"Carey! Change out the altimeter on 243, will you? Lt. Yates said it went wonky on his last flight."

Seaman John Carey Jr., assigned to the maintenance arm of VF 15, trotted over to the Grumman F6F Hellcat, one of his charges.

The crew chief of 243, a gruff CPO named McCaskey, pointed to the cockpit as Johnny approached. "The lieutenant said the altimeter went out on him on approach this morning. Can't have that; we get soupy weather and he could put the bird into the drink without an altimeter."

Johnny nodded and propped a maintenance ladder against the fuselage, then climbed into the cockpit. As always, he was momentarily surprised at the tight fit of his frame inside the cockpit. It was obvious he wouldn't be a good fit for a pilot - he was too big.

He unscrewed the altimeter, pulled it out of the dash, and unhooked the connectors. He had learned that the instrument worked using air pressure somehow - the connectors fed air from the outside into the altimeter where it was translated to a reading for the pilot. He didn't need to understand the science, just how to swap the thing out when it was bad.

After finishing the switch, he climbed down out of the cockpit and signed the maintenance sheet for McCaskey, then grabbed his tool bag and headed back to the ready room. He had crossed about half the distance when klaxons started to blare, calling all hands to battle stations.

One of the pilots rushed past him, shouting to another, "The PBY just reported wakes to the west! Probably Japanese flattops! Time to get some pay back!"

Johnny grabbed his helmet and headed for one of the waist guns, where he would help serve the gun when not needed for aircraft maintenance. He wondered if he'd even see a Japanese ship, figured he wouldn't, and then realized what he probably would see - Japanese torpedo and dive bombers from those carriers, with the Hornet firmly in their sights.

[goroyals]

Well, at least we've got decent aircraft now. Whats the IJN flying against our Hellcats?

[legendsport]

Originally Posted by goroyals

Whats the IJN flying against our Hellcats?

That's coming in the next post - which will go up this afternoon...

[legendsport]

May 10, 1944 - aboard IJN Hiryu, southwest of San Diego:

"So, are you excited to take the new aircraft into battle?" One of the replacement pilots, Ishii or something (Watanabe had learned early in the war not to get attached to the replacements right away - they tended to be the first to go down in flames), was asking him.

"I'm always grateful to go into battle for the Emperor," Watanabe replied, as if by rote. Toda was somewhere nearby and it never hurt to say the right things.

The new aircraft to which Ishii was referring was the A7M2 Reppu, which the Americans called "Sam." The new aircraft was replacing the Zero among the fighter wings aboard the Japanese carriers, with the Taiho getting the first squadron in February and Watanabe's own unit aboard Hiryu first flying the new aircraft only in late March.

Watanabe loved the Reppu - it was powered by a new engine called the Nakajima Homare. The upcoming battle with the American carriers was to be the baptism of fire for the Reppu, just as it would be for the Americans' Hellcats.

Toda stepped into the ready room waving a piece of paper. "This is a report from our scout aircraft. The American carriers have been spotted to the east, steaming on a north-by-northeast course for their anchorage at San Diego. The admiral has ordered a full-strength strike, even though it is already midafternoon."

This caused a stirring among the assembled pilots. Toda waved them down and continued, "This is necessary because by morning the Americans will be within range of land-based air, and we don't have the numbers to take on five carriers as well as the land aircraft out of San Diego."

At the mention of five carriers several pilots uttered audible gasps. Intelligence had not been correct - they had been told only three American flattops were in the Pacific. Toda noticed this and said, "Yes, they have five carriers. But I'd like to remind you all that we have six carriers, including the Taiho."

He stopped and gave them a rare grin. "The presence of five carriers just means more targets for our bombers." Cheers rang out.

"I have posted individual assignments on the board. The bombers will be forming up at 1530, and we are expected to have our escorts ready by 1510. One third of the fighters will be held back to fly patrol over the fleet. I will personally lead the patrolling fighters. I would like Lt. Watanabe to lead the Hiryu's escorts." He nodded at Watanabe, who managed - barely - to control his immense surprise. He had expected Toda to lead the escort fighters, leaving Watanabe to fly CAP over the fleet.

"I trust we will all do our duty for the Emperor. That is all, gentlemen."

Watanabe glanced at his watch - 1430. Time to head for the flight deck. He grinned despite himself.

[legendsport]

May 10, 1944 - 20000 feet over the Eastern Pacific:

"By the Emperor! These Hellcats are good!" Watanabe said aloud as he fought his Reppu into a steep bank. Options flashed through his mind - maybe a quick Immelman could turn this fight around.

Flak from the wildly manuevering ships below burst below the twisting planes. Watanabe caught a glance of some B6N3 torpedo bombers going into a run on one of the American carriers. He fervently - and quickly - hoped for a successful run, then reconcentrated his efforts on saving his own skin.

He completed the Immelman, and watched as his nose slowly - too slowly? - swung around on the Hellcat, which was now twisting into a steep banking turn. Watanabe grunted as the g-forces mounted, then barked a short laugh as his sight came level on the Hellcat. He depressed the trigger and watched the tracers walk across the distance, ripping into the American's fuselage.

"Yes!" he gasped as the Hellcat nosed over, streaming black smoke. "Scratch one Hellcat!" he yelled over the radio as he levelled out and sought another target.

May 10, 1944 - aboard USS Hornet:

"Get some more HE rounds up here, now!" the gun chief screamed. The gun pumped out several more rounds as the Japanese bombers bore in on the ship.

Johnny Carey grasped the rail as the huge ship spun, trying to provide as difficult a target as possible. The gun chief punched him in the shoulder. "You! Seaman! HE - now!"

Johnny ducked inside the hangar deck and headed for the ship's magazine. He had nearly crossed the space when he encountered one of the weapon masters, rolling a dolly full of rounds towards the gun.

"Hurry! The gun's almost out and the enemy's not slowing down the attack!" Johnny yelled at the man, then recoiled when he saw that the other was a petty officer. "Sorry," he muttered, but the man waved him off and continued to push towards the bang of the guns.

He followed along, and was busy off-loading shells when a shout from above caught his attention. He looked up and saw three Japanese dive bombers heading directly for the Hornet. His stomach rolled and bile rose in his throat as he saw the bombs drop from the planes' undercarriages.

"Get down!" the gun chief screamed a split second before the first of the bombs hit the flight deck, penetrated, and exploded on the hangar deck. The huge explosion rocked the ship, but was small when compared with the second and third explosions, the last of which lifted Johnny off his feet and flung him into the ocean.

[legendsport]

May 10, 1944 (late afternoon) - over the Eastern Pacific:

Watanabe was tired, this being his third mission of the day. He had personally downed five enemy planes - two Hellcats, two SB2C Helldivers who had been caught without escort, and one land-based P-38 Lightning - this last on the most recent mission, and ominous because it meant the fight was now within range of San Diego's large land-based air forces.

An "ace" worth of aircraft in one day, he thought proudly. His personal tally now stood at twelve enemies downed, so he had already been an ace, but almost doubling his number of kills in one day showed the enormous scale of the battle.

He had spoken briefly with Captain Toda on his most recent return to the carrier for refueling. The short, barrel-chested man had himself recorded three kills, and reported to Watanabe that the bomb groups had claimed four U.S. carriers sunk. "Of course," he continued, "the bomb pilots tend to exaggerate, but if we sink two or three, we can count this a victory."

Watanabe had asked about the Japanese carriers and Toda grew somber. "Zuikaku is gone and Ryujo has taken heavy damage," the captain reported.

Now his Reppu once again neared the American task force - or at least the largest portion of it - the battle had scattered the task force as individual ships sought safety from the unrelenting aerial assault. He spotted at least two American carriers, meaning that at most three were out of action. Typical exaggeration, he thought, then his breath caught as he spotted a flight of Hellcats bearing down on him.

He radioed his flight, "Enemy Hellcats, bearing 077, angels 22." He clawed his fighter up, trying to gain some valuable altitude on the enemy as the planes closed at seven or eight hundred miles an hour.

The pilots fired as the distance closed, the fronts of the Hellcats wings sparkling as the Americans fired, the Japanese tracers arcing back at the Hellcats. Then the planes were through, both sets of fighters banking, trying to line up on the tail of an enemy.

The eight fighters swirled around each other, all seeking an advantage. Finally, Watanabe got enough of an edge to snap off a short burst, ripping into the wing of one of the Hellcats and causing the American to dip and fall out of the fight. Watanabe dove after him, lining up for the killing shot. He fired again, this time hitting the fuselage, setting the Hellcat on fire. He chalked up another kill as the enemy spun down towards the distant waves.

Watanabe banked left and began to climb, shooting a quick glance over each shoulder just in case one of the other Hellcats had followed him. None had, though he did see, with dismay, that one of his Reppus was spiralling down in flames. So the fight is still even, he thought grimly and refocused himself on the fight ahead.

May 10, 1944 (late afternoon) in the Eastern Pacific:

Safely floating in his "Mae West," Seaman John Carey Jr bobbed gently in the waves, watching the air battle rage above - and seeing his task force steam away from him.

He fought back tears, grimly reminding himself that he wasn't dead - just alone and afloat in the ocean. At least it's warm, he reminded himself - I could be in the North Atlantic freezing my can off.

Johnny had had a front-row seat for the death of the Hornet. The mighty carrier, not even six months old, had had its guts torn out by the third bomb, which had penetrated the magazine and set off a series of explosions which ripped the mammoth ship apart. She had sunk in minutes, carrying thousands of men to a watery grave.

Again he fought back the tears - this time thinking of his friends and shipmates, and remembering that what he thought was disastrous - being blown overboard in the explosion - had, at least for the time being, saved his life.

Now I just need someone to happen along and find me, he thought, peering around looking for another survivor, a ship, anyone who might be able to help me out. I'd even settle for being picked up by the Japanese, he thought.

[legendsport]

May 10, 1944 (early evening) - over the Eastern Pacific:

Watanabe's Reppu was out of ammunition, his wing had taken some moderately serious damage from his last tangle with the American Hellcats, but all things considered, he couldn't be happier. He had downed two more Hellcats in the most recent dogfight, raising his total for the day to an incredible seven aircraft - all confirmed. So far as he knew, no pilot had ever put up such an incredible tally in a day's work.

He led his wingman (having lost the other two Reppus of his flight to the Hellcats) back towards the Hiryu, looking forward to a long night of rest in his bunk - and also to the inevitable praise he would draw for his day, possibly even from the ever-sour Captain Toda.

"Lieutenant, I am unable to raise the ship," his wingman reported on the squadron frequency. Watanabe frowned, then dialed the ship's frequency and attempted contact himself.

No response.

"Ensign, perhaps our radios are damaged. We will continue to fly on the last known heading of the ship." Watanabe's voice betrayed none of his worry - they should be well within radio range of the Hiryu by now.

He looked in his radio book, and spun the radio to a new frequency. "Taiho, this is Reppu 727, inbound to Hiryu. We are unable to locate our ship, please advise."

He heard only static for a few seconds, then the controller aboard Yamamoto's flagship responded, "Reppu 727, your ship has been sunk. Repeat, the Hiryu has been sunk. You and all remaining aircraft are to recover to this ship. Repeat, recover all aircraft to Taiho. Do you copy?"

"Yes, Reppu 727 copies."

He radioed the information to his wingman, then felt an incredible sadness wash over him. He wondered about his shipmates - how many had been onboard when the ship had gone down?

May 11, 1944 - San Francisco, California:

A knock on the office door snapped Lt. Col. John Carey, MD, out of his reverie. He had been thinking about the news his wife had given him over breakfast. He was about to become a father - again - at the unexpected age of 45.

"Colonel Carey? I've got a Commander Benson here to see you," his assistant, an attractive, mid-20s WAC named Susan Hooks reported.

"Oh, okay, Sergeant, send him in," he responded.

John got to his feet as the Commander entered - their ranks were equal, but John was a firm believer in politeness and respect.

"Colonel Carey, I'm Skip Benson, glad to meet you," the Naval officer said as he crossed the office, hand extended.

After shaking, John motioned his guest to a chair and then sat across from him.

"So, what can I do for the United States Navy today, Commander?" he asked, then noted the grim look on the other's face.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news, Colonel," Benson said and opened a manila folder he was holding in his hand.

He looked down and read from it: "Seaman John Carey, Jr. has been reported as lost at sea. The USS Hornet was lost in action yesterday during a large battle off the coast of San Diego." He looked up and met the stunned eyes of John Carey. "Sir, I regretfully inform you that your son is believed to be killed in action."

John Carey didn't respond, just stared blankly at Benson.

"Colonel?" Benson asked quietly. Still no response. He rose and tapped the intercom on Carey's desk. "Sergeant, get a doctor in here, please."

"Colonel Carey is a doctor, sir," was the response from the WAC in the outer office.

Benson shook his head and fought to control his voice, "The doctor is FOR Colonel Carey, Sergeant. Do it now, please."

"Right away sir!" came back from the speaker.

John Carey was in another place and time. He was tossing a baseball with Johnny, noting how his son, only twelve years old, already could throw the ball with more velocity than he himself could.

"Come on Dad! Fire it in there!" Johnny yelled.

John wound up and threw with all his strength. He watched the ball streak toward - and then through - Johnny and yelled his name as his son vanished, like the fog over the city when the sun bursts through.

John Carey, in his office at the Presidio, burst into tears and collapsed from his chair onto the floor.