The war that's determined by sea, air, and heroic actions in the Pacific

At Midway we stopped the Japanese in their tracks by sinking four of their carriers. The blow stunned them and gave us the chance to penetrate deep into areas under their control. We landed on Guadalcanal and Tulagi and have transferred fighter and bomber aircraft to the bases there to protect our supply lines. But already the Japanese navy plans to strike back. Admiral Nagumo and his carriers are moving south, towards us. The forthcoming battle wi be a major test of our navy's air power.

            Aboard the USS Enterprise's flight deck. August 24th, 1942.

             The fleet that had the USS Saratoga and the USS Enterprise was in the Eastern Solomons and each carrier had four destroyers as their escort. The Saratoga was a Lexington class carrier while the Enterprise was a Yorktown class carrier and each of their high speed was 20 knots.

          "Hey Crowe I'm back!", A familiar voice said.

               "Ah Calaham nice to see you.", as they shook hands. (Note: Crowe has a girlfriend and Callaham is married.) "Wait where were you and Eagle Squadron at Midway?"

             "Oh yeah I forgot to tell you about that. I was in an important conference in D.C. with CINCPAC, the President, and our Air Force officers. And the Eagle's are at Guadalcanal giving the marine's air support."

             "Alright, I wonder how the Eagle's are doing right now."

              (Meanwhile at Guadalcanal)

             The Eagle's were flying their SBD Dauntless's that carried 2 100 pound bombs and a 1000pound bomb. They flew to Quadacanal and over the American fleet.

               "You're sure they want us to do this Captain?"

               "Affirmative Joe even Admiral Nimiz said so.", Captain Stone of the 71st eagle squadron said.

               "I'll have fun blowing shit up!"

              "Easy there Frank, one wrong move and you'll miss your target or the Jap's will knock you out of the sky.", Tom said.

           "Tom's right there Frank, you only have only one 1,000 pound bomb and two spare 100 pound bombs.      So use it wisely."

          "Captain's right there Frank.", Joe said.

         "Well we have machine guns as well if we run out of bombs.", Frank said.

             "Yeah but not that effective against heavily armored buildings.", Tom said.

              "The beach is in front of us and the Marine's are landing, get ready!", Captain Stone said.

              "Here we go boys!", Tom said.

              "Split formation and find your own targets!"

               "Affirmative Captain, engaging the enemy!", Joe said.

              U.S. marines unloaded from the landingcraft on the beach and ran to the jungles while dodging gunfire and artillery while the Eagle's flew over them.

                                               (Back at the Enterprise)

               "Hopefully they'll have their fun Calaham."

              "Yeah Crowe we're going to take that island no matter what. It's one of the most important islands in this area."

               "Lieutenant's you have orders to get your squads airborne for scouting." The first Lieutenant on the Enterprise said as he exited out and went onto the flight deck towards them.

              "Affiramative I'll get my squad airborne now!", Lt. Crowe said as he jumped into his Wildcat fighter.

               The mane six were at the Engerprise's bridge and were with the Captain of the Enterprise and Fleet Admiral Nimitz.

               "Why should you have an escort with your carrier? To me it should be fine without an escort.", Rainbow Dash said.

                "If an aircraft carrier is by itself  it's a perfect target and a sitting duck!", Admiral Nimitz said.

                "This Lt.Crowe, me and Wildcat squadron are airborne and are awaiting instructions sir."

               "Patrol the Carriers screen and maintain combat air patrol", Nimitz said.

               "This is FOX to KING what is your status over?", the captain of the USS Saratoga said.

              (FOX is the USS Saratoga and KING is the USS Enterprise)

             "This is KING we have fighters up for combat air and patrol and everything is fine here.", the Captain of the USS Enterprise said.

             "Alright then, we're wondering because it's quiet."

             "Too quiet FOX."

The first Lieutenant took out a pair of binoculars and looked to the Enterprise's right.

              "Enemy 'Val's' inbound  sir!", the first Lieutenant said to Admiral Nimitz.

               "This is Lieutenant Crowe and Wildcat squadron we're ready to engage enemy bombers!"

              "Give them a warm welcome Crowe and Wildcat squadron!" Admiral Nimitz said.

               "We'll give them a warming that they'll never forget!"

              "Sir the bombers are closing fast!", the first Lieutenant said on the Enterprise's bridge.

               The dive bombers were quickly approaching the Enterprise and they dived their noses down.

        "GET DOWN INCOMING!!!!!", a crew member on the Enterprise's bridge shouted out to everyone.

                 The 'Val's' released their payloads and everyone heard a loud whistle in the air. The next thing that happened was a massive explosion.

                 (Boooooom!!!!!!)

                  The explosion rocked the Enterprise and ended in several crew members were wounded and dead with the flight deck on fire and the rudder blocked.

                   "Dammit!", the first Lieutenant said on the bridge.

                   Admiral Nimitz then went to the radio and spoke.

                    "KING leader's flight deck has been penetrated. We've got emergency fire fighters in place but we're listing. All deck operations are on hold while we clean it up. Fighters, stay on top of the enemy. (Listing: When a ship tips to one of its side.)

                       "Roger that. We'll sweep the skies clean of Japanese planes.", Lt.Crowe said.

             "Incoming to the south lieutenant!"

              "I read you Alex!"

                                           Meanwhile back on the Enterprise

             "FOX to KING are you guys hurt?", the Saratoga radioed in.

                 "KING has multiple wounds.", Nimitz said over the radio.

                   "Are you able to continue?"

                    "Carry on as normal FOX. We don't need backup."

                    "Hmm. That was a lucky shot. Our rudder's out. We've lost directional control sir.", the first lieutenant said.

               "That's a big problem son.", Nimitz said.

              "Check your course Enterprise. You nearly hit us.", the captain of the USS Balch said.

                       "We've taken a hit to the rudder. Steering room's blocked by debris. We're working our way through it. The fires are out but we're still tackling the listing.", Nimitz said to the whole fleet and aircraft.

               "Got that, scouts to continue waiting.", the squad leader of the scout group said.

             "Well they hit us hard that's for sure. The rudder's jammed. We've got to circle.", Nimitz said to the fleet.

                "CAP, lend assistance to KING.", the Saratoga radioed in. (CAP: Short for combat air patrol.)

            "Roger that sir. Looking for incoming bandits." Crowe said as he just shot down a Japanese 'Oscar' down.

                     "Enterprise this is SBD squad #1 we're on the way back. Request landing slots.

                 "No can do SBD squad #1. Landing is unsafe at this time. Stand by for status reports.", Nimitz said.

                "Got that Big E. We'll join the CAP and await further orders."

                "Our steering is still out. We're  turning to broadside!", Nimitz said.

               "USS Balch leaving position for safety. Enterprise's course is just too unpredictable."

             "Rudder's repaired and serviceable sir. We have directional control.", the first lieutenant on the Enterprise's bridge said.

             "Nothing keeps the Enterprise down for long.", Nimitz said.

               "Sir the Japanese planes are repelling sir. We've got them on the run!", Crowe said.

               "Nice work you fly boys. Prepare to land on KING.", Nimitz said to Crowe.

              "Affirmative sir!"

               "FOX, everything is control on Enterprise. Prepare to launch attack plane squadrons.", Nimitz said.

                "This is FOX we're launching squads now."

               "Uhuh, we're ready to go everyone!", Calaham said as his squad took off in their SBD Dauntless's.

               "Copy that Calaham.", Nimitz said.

              "Has anybody seen our top cover? We'd kinda like to have some little friends to protect us."

                "Bombers this is your escort. We're in your six, catching up right now.", Crowe said to Calaham.

                  "Well Crowe, that's what we want to hear."

                  "Incoming bandits to the East and West!", Crowe said.

                  "Keep them off of us Crowe!"

                                               Meanwhile onboard the Enterprise's bridge.

             "Sir, USS Wasp had radioed. They're refuels and are heading towards us at flank speed.", the lieutenant said to the admiral.

             "The battle will be long over before they arrive. They should have stayed with us in the first place."

                   After a long and easy fight against Japanese 'Oscar' fighters the American dive-bombers and torpedo-bombers reached their destination.

                 "Enterprise this is Calaham we haven't found the Japanese carrier yet."

                  "Copy that. The carrier has to be here somewhere though.", Nimitz said.

                   "Wow. Would you look at that!", Crowe said.

                "What is  the situation Crowe?", Nimitz said.

                "Sir, a Japanese supply convoy has strayedright in the middle of the battle!"

                 "Well we can't pass an opportunity like that. Attack planes - knock out those ships."

                 "Copy that sir. Commencing runs on the Japanese transports, sir.", Callaham said.

                  The small convoy had 3 transport ships and a destroyer for an escort.

The Japanese ships were:

1. AK: Boston Maru

2. AK: Kinryu Maru

3. AK: Daifuku Maru

4. DD: Tokitsukaze

          "Commencing attack on Japanese destroyer.", Callaham said.

            Callaham's squad dove towards the destroyer and they released their payloads on it. Then the ship began to sink.

              "Destroyer out of commission sir!", a pilot from Callaham's squad radioed in.

             "Nice work that destroyer won't cause anymore trouble for us. Crowe stay with the carriers with the other boys, we got this."

            "Affirmative Callaham."

                After another easy attack the American dive and torpedo bombers completed their objective.

           "Reporting that the attackers all went in. Transports destroyer!", Callaham radioed to the Enterprise.

               "Good very good Lieutenant.", Nimitz said.

            Meanwhile at the American fleet.

                    "Sir, we have our primary target. Enemy carrier in visual range.", the captain on the USS Saratoga said.

                "Copy that FOX. All wing's this is the Enterprise, hit that Japanese carrier with everything that you have!", Nimitz said.

                "Copy that sir. Carrier has a heavy cruiser and a destroyer for escort.", Callaham said.

           "Affirmative eliminate them all."

                  "Affirmative. This is Avenger squad 4 we're going in."

              The Japanese carrier had a Tone-Class heavy cruiser and a Mikazuki class destroyer with it. The carrier was the light carrier Ryujo and already had aircraft to engage the American planes.

             "Enemy forces are inbound.", Crowe said.

               "Keep them off of us Crowe.", Callaham said.

                 "This is Avenger squad 4 were engaging now."

                  The torpedo bombers made their attack run while under AA-fire and their torpedoes made direct hits.

                 "Nice work Avengers, we'll sink the other vessels.", Callaham said while he and his squad destroyed the Tone-class cruiser with their bombs.

                  "She's gone, enemy ship sunk!", a pilot said from the dive bombers squad.

                    "She's going to the bottom sir!", another pilot from the Avengers said as they sunk the destroyer.

                    "Let's finish this flat-top boys, take her out!", Callaham said.

                 The dive and torpedo bombers then finished off the carrier with their payloads and the carrier then began to sink and spilled oil into the ocean.

                 "Enemy flat-top is going down sir!", Crowe said.

                 "Nice work out there Crowe and Callaham! Leuitenant prepare to send a message to CINCPAC."

                   "Saying what sir?", the First Leuitenant said aboard the Enterprise's bridge.

                    "Successful strike on enemy carrier. The Japanese are retreating."

                 "Callaham you're getting the drinks for us tonight.", Crowe said.

                 "Alright Crowe , all of you boys deserve it! Another successful mission for us men."