All language subtitles for Battle of Midway The True Story 1080p

(SHIP GUNS FIRING)

\hNarrator: TWO NATIONS
ARE IN A CATACLYSMIC WAR

ACROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

RIGHT BETWEEN THEM,
A DOT OF AN ISLAND.

THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY
WILL TURN THE TIDE.

GET ABOARD THE CARRIERS.

Orr: THEY WERE PUSHING
\h\h\hTHEIR EQUIPMENT

AND THEMSELVES TO THE LIMIT.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: GET
INSIDE THE AIRPLANES.

Toll: EVERYONE HAD TO
\h\hLIFT THEIR GAME.

THEY HAD TO LEARN HOW
TO FIGHT BY FIGHTING.

Narrator: AND MEET
A PILOT FROM KANSAS

\hWHO POURS EIGHT
YEARS OF TRAINING

INTO A FEW TERRIFYING SECONDS.

L. Orr: DUSTY KLEISS IS THE
\h\h\hMOST IMPORTANT PILOT

\hINVOLVED IN THE
BATTLE OF MIDWAY.

(THOUGHTFUL MUSIC)

Narrator: JUNE 4TH, 1942.

THE AIR IS QUIET, BUT TENSE.

\hALONE IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN,

AMERICANS ON MIDWAY
ISLAND SCAN THE SKY.

UNTIL THE SKY EXPLODES.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

\h\hJAPANESE PLANES FROM
NEARBY AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

KNIFE INTO THE U.S. MILITARY
\hBASE, AND IT BLEEDS FIRE.

MIDWAY’S DEFENSES ARE CRUMBLING.

\hHISTORY WILL PIVOT
IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

IF JAPAN TAKES THE ISLAND,

AMERICA COULD BE KNOCKED
OUT OF THE PACIFIC WAR.

\h\hNEARBY, MORE THAN A HUNDRED
AMERICAN PILOTS ARE IN THE AIR,

SEARCHING FOR THE ATTACKING
JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS.

\h\hONE OF THEM IS
JACK DUSTY KLEISS.

MIDWAY WILL GIVE HIS ORDINARY
LIFE AN EXTRAORDINARY CHAPTER.

Orr: DUSTY KLEISS IS THE
INDISPENSABLE UNSUNG HERO

OF THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY.

EVEN IN A BIG WAR THAT INVOLVES
MILLIONS OF COMBATANTS,

\hONE PERSON’S LIFE CAN
MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

Narrator: DUSTY STARTED
WEARING A SAILOR OUTFIT

WHEN HE WAS SIX.

BY AGE EIGHTEEN, HE WAS
\hIN THE NAVAL ACADEMY.

Kleiss: AS A TEENAGER,

\hI WAS SEEKING A
PLACE IN SOCIETY.

\hI WANTED TO SERVE
IN THE ARMED FORCES.

AND IT TOOK BRAVERY TO
BE A PILOT, I THOUGHT.

\h\h\hNarrator: BY 1941, HE’S
TRAINING IN PENSACOLA FLORIDA,

\h\hGROUND ZERO FOR THE NEXT
GENERATION OF NAVAL AVIATORS.

Kleiss: I LIKED
AVIATION FINE,

AND APPARENTLY IT LIKED ME.

I LOGGED 149 HOURS IN THE AIR

\hWITHOUT A SINGLE CRASH
OR PROBLEMATIC INCIDENT.

\h\h\hNarrator: FOR NOW,
DUSTY TRAINS IN BIPLANES.

\hBUT THEY WON’T BE
AROUND MUCH LONGER.

JAPAN IS ABOUT TO SHOW AMERICA
\hWHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE.

\h\hGoodspeed: THE
AIRCRAFT BEHIND ME

IS A JAPANESE A6M
\h"ZERO" FIGHTER,

WHICH IN 1941 WAS ONE OF THE

\h\h\hPREMIERE FIGHTER
AIRCRAFT IN THE WORLD.

\hNarrator: THE ZERO
IS AHEAD OF ITS TIME.

IT RULES THE SKIES WITH
\hITS VERSATILE DESIGN.

Goodspeed: IT WAS AN AIRCRAFT

THAT WAS DESIGNED TO
\hHAVE GREAT RANGE,

AND BECAUSE OF THAT IT
\hWAS VERY LIGHTWEIGHT

AND COMBINED WITH THE EXTENDED
\h\h\hLENGTH OF THE WINGSPAN,

\h\hTHAT GAVE THE AIRCRAFT
INCREDIBLE MANEUVERABILITY.

IT ALSO PACKED A
TREMENDOUS PUNCH.

IT HAD A 20-MILLIMETER
\hCANNON FOR EXAMPLE,

THAT COULD REALLY DELIVER
\h\hTREMENDOUS FIREPOWER.

Narrator: THE JAPANESE DON’T
OUTFIT THE ZERO FOR DEFENSE,

THIS PURSUIT PLANE IS
\hDESIGNED TO STRIKE.

Goodspeed: BY 1941 THEY WERE
ABLE TO DEVELOP THE TACTICS,

\h\hAND DISCOVER WHAT
WORKED AND DIDN’T WORK

\hWHEN IT CAME TO FLYING
THAT AIRCRAFT IN COMBAT.

Narrator: THE ZERO SYMBOLIZES

THE POWER OF THE
JAPANESE EMPIRE,

\hAND IT’S ABOUT TO COME
CRASHING DOWN ON HAWAII.

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

DECEMBER 7TH, 1941.

ADMIRAL CHUICHI NAGUMO

\h\h\hIS IN COMMAND OF SIX
JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

UNLEASHING MORE THAN 350 PLANES.

AT 7:48 A.M., THE
BUZZ OF PROPELLERS

FADES IN OVER PEARL HARBOR.

Orr: THE JAPANESE PLANES
\h\hFLY OVER THE CLIFFS

AND THEN REACH PEARL HARBOR,

THAT IS JUST FULL TO THE
BRIM WITH AMERICAN SHIPS,

\hAND THERE IS NO COMBAT AIR
PATROL ABOVE TO THWART THEM.

(BOMBS EXPLODING)

Toll: THE ATTACK DESCENDED
\h\hUPON THEM SO SUDDENLY

WITH SUCH OVERWHELMING POWER.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

THE JAPANESE AERIAL TORPEDOES
\h\h\h\hRIPPED INTO THE HULLS

OF THE BATTLESHIPS
ON BATTLESHIP ROW.

YOU HAD HUNDREDS OF SAILORS

WHO WERE JUST ROASTED
\h\h\hIN THESE FIRES.

\hNarrator: THE CARNAGE
IS SUDDEN AND SHOCKING.

BUT JAPAN NEVER FINDS
ITS PRIMARY TARGETS.

Orr: THEY EXPECTED TO FIND
THE THREE AMERICAN CARRIERS

\h\h\hASSIGNED TO THE PACIFIC
FLEET THERE AND DESTROY THEM.

Narrator: BY CHANCE, THE
CARRIERS ARE OUT TO SEA.

PILOTS ON THE USS ENTERPRISE

SCRAMBLE TO FOLLOW
\hCHAOTIC REPORTS

OF WHERE THE JAPANESE ARE.

DUSTY KLEISS IS ONE OF THEM.

Kleiss: THIS FLIGHT WAS A
\h\h\h\hNEAR CATASTROPHE.

\hMY COCKPIT LIGHTS AND
NAVIGATIONAL INSTRUMENTS

DID NOT WORK.

Narrator: HE NOT ONLY
CAN’T FIND THE ENEMY,

HE CAN BARELY FIND HIS WAY
\hBACK TO THE ENTERPRISE.

\h\h\hWHEN HE DOES, HIS
TRIGGER-HAPPY SHIPMATES

AIM THEIR GUNS AT HIM.

Kleiss: THEY WERE
\hSHOOTING AT ME!

THEY THOUGHT I WAS A JAPANESE
\hDIVE BOMBER ATTACKING THEM.

Narrator: HE MAKES
\hIT BACK. BARELY.

DUSTY’S WAR IS OFF
TO A ROUGH START.

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

\hPEARL HARBOR IS
ONLY THE BEGINNING

OF A JAPANESE BLITZ
\h\hIN THE PACIFIC.

AMERICAN OUTPOSTS ARE
\hTHE FIRST TO FALL.

Orr: THE AMERICAN FORCES IN THE
PHILIPPINES WERE SURROUNDED.

GUAM HAD SURRENDERED
\h\h\h\hBLOODLESSLY.

\h\hNarrator: TANKS
ANNOUNCE THE ARRIVAL

OF THE JAPANESE EMPIRE.

IT APPEARS UNSTOPPABLE.

IN CHARGE OF AMERICA’S
\h\h\h\hPACIFIC FLEET

IS ADMIRAL CHESTER NIMITZ.

HE’S OLD SCHOOL NAVY,

COMING UP WHEN AIRPLANES
\hWERE AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

L. Orr: AT THE BEGINNING
\h\h\h\hOF WORLD WAR II,

\hAVIATION WAS KIND
OF AN UNTESTED ASSET

\hAND A LOT OF THE ADMIRALS
DIDN’T BELIEVE IN AVIATION,

\h\h\hDIDN’T BELIEVE THAT
PLANES COULD WIN THE WAR.

\hNarrator: THEY’VE BEEN
FIDDLING WITH THE CONCEPT

FOR DECADES.

Orr: THE FIRST SHIPS THAT ARE
\h\hUSED AS AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

AREN’T EVEN ORIGINALLY
\h\hAIRCRAFT CARRIERS.

Narrator: THE EXPERIMENT:
RETROFIT A ROOF ON A SHIP,

\hAND SEE IF PLANES
CAN GET IN THE AIR.

SOMETIMES, THEY CAN’T.

\h\h\hEVEN TRICKIER,
STICKING THE LANDING.

Orr: AND SO THESE ARE IN
\h\hMANY WAYS BABY STEPS

FOR US NAVAL AVIATION.

(SHIP GUNS FIRING)

Narrator: MEANWHILE,
THE NAVY’S BIG BOYS

\hHAVE ALWAYS BEEN
THEIR BATTLESHIPS.

Toll: THE AMERICANS WERE KIND
OF A BATTLESHIP-LOVING NAVY.

THEY BELIEVE IN THE BIG GUNS

\hAND THEY HELD THEIR CARRIERS
BACK AS KIND OF A SUPPORT SHIP.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BUT A
BATTLESHIP HAS LIMITED REACH.

Toll: THE BATTLESHIP MIGHT
BE ABLE TO HIT THE TARGET

FROM A RANGE OF ABOUT 20 MILES.

THAT WILL BE A REALLY GOOD SHOT.

Narrator: YET AIRCRAFT
\hCARRIERS CAN PROJECT

DEADLY POWER ACROSS
THOUSANDS OF MILES.

THE GREAT BREADTH OF THE PACIFIC

DEMANDS A SEA CHANGE
\hIN NAVY STRATEGY.

\h\hOrr: WHEN YOU ADD
CARRIERS TO THE FLEET,

\h\h\hTHEY WILL BECOME THE NEW
QUEEN OF THE NAVY’S CHESS SET.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Narrator: AMERICA RAMPS UP

TO MEET THE DEMANDS
\h\hOF A NEW NAVY.

FACTORIES THAT USED TO MAKE
\hWIDGETS NOW MAKE WEAPONS.

\hNEW AIRCRAFT POUR
OUT OF THE FACTORIES

WITH INCREASING SPEED.

Orr: THE JAPANESE KNOW VERY WELL

THE AMERICANS HAVE AN INCREDIBLE
INDUSTRIAL CAPABILITY.

\h\h\hNarrator: SO THEY
LOOK FOR A KNOCKOUT BLOW

\hBEFORE AMERICA CAN
RISE TO THE OCCASION.

\hToll: AND IT JUST SO HAPPENED
THAT THIS IDEA TO ATTACK MIDWAY

HAD BEEN ON THE DRAWING BOARD.

Narrator: JAPAN PREPARES
\h\hTHE AUDACIOUS PLAN.

SEND A SMALL FORCE

TO NEUTRALIZE AMERICAN BASES
\h\hIN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS.

THEN SEND A HUGE FORCE
TO ATTACK TINY MIDWAY,

LANDING THOUSANDS
TO TAKE IT OVER.

THEIR ULTIMATE GOAL; LURE
\h\hTHE AMERICAN CARRIERS

\h\hOUT FROM PEARL
HARBOR. AND POUNCE.

WITHOUT AIRCRAFT CARRIERS,

\h\h\h\hAMERICA WOULD BE
POWERLESS IN THE PACIFIC.

\h\hAND WITH MIDWAY IN HAND,
JAPAN COULD THREATEN HAWAII.

Orr: AND IF THEY DO THIS,

IF HAWAII IS TAKEN,
\hTHE GAME IS OVER.

\h\h\h\hTHE US HAS NO CHANCE OF
WINNING THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC.

Narrator: MIDWAY IS THE KEY.

FOR BOTH SIDES, IT’S
\h\hWORTH DYING FOR.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

IN JANUARY OF 1942, THE USS
\hENTERPRISE DEPARTS HAWAII

FOR ITS FIRST DEPLOYMENT
\hDEEP INTO THE PACIFIC.

THE WAR IS ONLY A MONTH OLD.

BUT THEY’RE STEAMING INTO IT
WITH THE MACHINES THEY HAVE,

\h\hINCLUDING 82 AIRCRAFT,
AND 750 TONS OF MUNITIONS.

Orr: THEY KNEW THEY WERE ON THE
CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY

THAT HAD YET TO BE TESTED.

\h\hNarrator: MORE
THAN 2,000 SAILORS

\h\h\hHEAD INTO THE
UNCERTAINTY OF WAR,

INCLUDING TWO OLD FRIENDS
\hFROM THE NAVAL ACADEMY.

\hDUSTY KLEISS IS ON
BOARD THE ENTERPRISE

\h\h\h\hWITH HIS BEST
FRIEND, TOM EVERSOLE.

\h\h\hKleiss: WE DID
EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

\hTWO CLOSER CHUMS
COULD NOT BE FOUND.

\h\hWE BOTH GRADUATED
FROM THE NAVAL ACADEMY

AND FLIGHT TRAINING TOGETHER.

\hNarrator: THEY’RE
LUCKY TO BE ASSIGNED

TO THE SAME CARRIER,

\h\hEVEN THOUGH THEY’RE
FLYING DIFFERENT PLANES.

DUSTY IS IN A DIVE BOMBER.

TOM IS IN A TORPEDO BOMBER.

L. Orr: AND THEIR
\h\hFATES BECOME

\hVERY DIFFERENT
BECAUSE OF THAT.

\h\h\hNarrator: IN 1942,
THE DAUNTLESS DIVE BOMBER

IS A NEWCOMER TO THE NAVY,
LARGELY UNTESTED IN BATTLE.

\hITS BIG MOMENT IS
COMING SOON ENOUGH.

Goodspeed: THIS SBD 2
DAUNTLESS IS SPECIAL.

IT IS THE ONLY KNOWN
\hSURVIVING AIRCRAFT

FROM THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY,

AND IT HAS BATTLE
SCARS TO PROVE IT.

EACH ONE OF THESE
METAL PATCHES HERE

COVERS THE NEARLY
200 BULLET HOLES

THAT WERE PUT IN THIS AIRPLANE

WHEN IT ATTACKED
JAPANESE CARRIERS

ON THE MORNING OF
\hJUNE 4TH, 1942.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: REAR
GUNNERS FACE BACKWARDS,

\h\h\hHANDLING THIRTY
-CALIBER MACHINE GUNS

TO FEND OFF ENEMY ATTACKS.

IN FRONT, PILOTS CONTROL A
PLANE NOT KNOWN FOR SPEED,

BUT FOR PRECISION.

ITS 1,000 POUND BOMBS AREN’T
JUST DROPPED, THEY’RE AIMED.

IT’S CALLED "DIVE BOMBING".

\h\h\hGoodspeed: THE TACTIC OF
DIVE-BOMBING WAS VERY IMPORTANT

\hIN NAVAL AVIATION
DURING WORLD WAR II,

\h\h\h\h\hAND THE SBD
DAUNTLESS DIVE BOMBER

\h\h\hWAS THE PRIME
INSTRUMENT OF THAT.

AND THE THEORY WAS, WITH A SHIP
MANEUVERING ON THE SURFACE,

YOU REALLY COULDN’T DROP A
BOMB FROM A HIGH ALTITUDE.

Narrator: FROM 20,000 FEET,

\h\hA CARRIER IS A
SPECK ON THE OCEAN.

HITTING IT WITH A FREE-FALLING
\hBOMB IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE.

\hBUT IN A DIVE, PILOTS CAN
ADJUST THEIR AIM ON THE FLY,

\hAND RELEASE THEIR BOMBS AT
1,500 FEET FOR A BETTER SHOT.

IT’S A TACTIC THAT TAKES ICY
NERVES, AND AN IRON STOMACH.

\hL. Orr: DIVE BOMBING WAS A
DEATH-DEFYING RIDE OF TERROR.

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

IT’S BASICALLY LIKE
\hA GAME OF CHICKEN

THAT A PILOT IS PLAYING
WITH THE OCEAN ITSELF.

\hYOU START AT ABOUT
TWENTY THOUSAND FEET,

\hWHICH IS ABOUT FOUR
MILES ABOVE THE OCEAN.

A HUGE SHIP IS GONNA APPEAR

\h\h\h\hABOUT THE SIZE OF A
LADYBUG ON A TIP OF A SHOE,

SO IT’S TINY.

Narrator: THEY PRACTICE
\h\hOVER LAND TARGETS,

PLUNGING INTO A 70-DEGREE DIVE.

\hOrr: IT IS A JARRING,
NOISY, CHAOTIC DESCENT.

L. Orr: THEY ARE DIVING
\hAT 275 MILES AN HOUR

TOWARD THEIR TARGET,

KEEPING AN EYE ON
THEIR BOMB SCOPE,

THEY’RE WATCHING
THEIR ALTIMETER.

Orr: AND AT THE LAST MINUTE, YOU
GRIP THE BOMB RELEASE LEVER

\h\h\hON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE
COCKPIT, AND YOU JERK IT BACK.

YOU PULL BACK ON THE STICK,

\h\h\h\hAND IF YOU’RE NOT
CAREFUL YOU CAN BLACK OUT

BECAUSE ALL THE BLOOD WILL
BE SUCKED FROM YOUR HEAD,

YOU GET TUNNEL VISION.

\h\h\hNarrator: COMPARED
TO DUSTY’S DIVE BOMBING,

TOM EVERSOLE’S TORPEDO BOMBING
\h\hPRACTICE IS LOW AND SLOW.

Orr: DURING TORPEDO DROPS IT HAD
TO FLY VERY LOW TO THE WATER

\hAND VERY SLOW JUST
ABOVE STALLING SPEED

AND THEREFORE MADE
IT AN EASY TARGET

FOR ENEMY FIGHTER PLANES.

\hNarrator: SO TORPEDO
BOMBERS TYPICALLY GO IN

WITH FIGHTER COVER.

EVEN SMOKE SCREENS.

BECAUSE JUST ONE TORPEDO
\h\h\hCOULD SINK A SHIP.

Toll: IT WAS CLEAR
THAT THE AIRPLANE

HAD BECOME MUCH MORE
POWERFUL AS A WEAPON.

BUT THE QUESTION,

"COULD AIRPLANES SINK SHIPS
\h\hAT SEA CONSISTENTLY?",

WAS ONE THAT HAD TO
BE SETTLED BY WAR.

\hNarrator: WITH THEIR FIRST
COMBAT PROMISED WITHIN DAYS,

TRAINING ON THE ENTERPRISE
\h\h\hHITS A FEVER PITCH.

BATTLE CHOREOGRAPHY IS HAMMERED
HOME, DRILL AFTER DRILL.

\hGUNNERS PRACTICE THEIR
AIM BY SHOOTING AT KITES.

PILOTS PRACTICE LANDING
\h\hON A POSTAGE STAMP,

AND STOPPING ON A DIME.

Orr: WHENEVER LANDINGS
\h\h\hWERE PRACTICED,

THERE WAS ALWAYS A
FILM CREW AVAILABLE

\h\hTO FILM EACH AND EVERY
DISASTROUS LANDING ATTEMPT

TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
CRASHES LOOK LIKE

\h\hAND TEACH A FUTURE
GENERATION OF AVIATORS.

\h\hNarrator: THE LESSON IS
THIS; MISTAKES CAN BE FATAL.

L. Orr: AVIATION TRAINING IS NOT
FOR THE FAINT OF HEART,

\hAND DUSTY LEARNS
THAT VERY QUICKLY.

Narrator: ONE OF DUSTY’S
FELLOW PILOTS, BILL WEST,

\hENDS UP IN THE DRINK
AFTER A FAILED TAKEOFF.

Kleiss: THE SHIP’S MAN
\h\h\hOVERBOARD KLAXON

SOUNDED, AND I RAN
\hTO THE RAILING.

\h\hI WITNESSED THE
HEARTRENDING DRAMA.

\h\hNarrator: DUSTY SEES BILL
STANDING ON THE SINKING PLANE,

ABOUT TO BE RESCUED.

L. Orr: BUT BILL WEST’S FOOT
GET STUCK ON AN ANTENNA WIRE.

\h\hAND HE WAS TAKEN
DOWN WITH THE PLANE.

Kleiss: IN JUST A FEW
SECONDS, HE WAS GONE.

WATCHING A GOOD FRIEND
DIE IN A FREAK ACCIDENT

PRACTICALLY KILLED MY SOUL.

\h\h\hNarrator: MANY WONDER IF
THEY’RE TRULY READY FOR COMBAT.

THEY LOOK SHARP IN UNIFORM,
\h\h\h\hMEN READY TO FIGHT.

AT EASE, THEY LOOK LIKE BOYS.

Toll: IF YOU LOOK AT A
\h\hHIGH SCHOOL CLASS

SAY OF JUNIORS AND SENIORS,

THAT’S THE GROUP OF
PEOPLE ESSENTIALLY

WHO WERE MANNING THE FLEET.

\hNarrator: DUSTY IS IN
HIS MID 20S, AN OLD MAN

COMPARED TO THE TEENAGERS
\h\hIN THE WARTIME NAVY.

\h\h\hToll: THIS WAS THE VERY
BEGINNING OF THEIR ADULT LIVES

AND THEY HAD THE KIND
\hOF TEACH THEMSELVES

HOW TO BE AT WAR, HOW TO FIGHT.

THEY HAD TO LEARN HOW
TO FIGHT BY FIGHTING.

\h\h\hNarrator: ON
FEBRUARY 1ST, 1942,

\h\hTHE USS ENTERPRISE
SNEAKS INTO THE WATERS

OF THE JAPANESE EMPIRE,

\h\hAPPROACHING THE MARSHALL
ISLANDS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC.

Kleiss: I WANTED
\hAN OPPORTUNITY

\h\h\h\hTO FIGHT BACK
AGAINST THE JAPANESE.

\h\h\h\hWE FELT OUTNUMBERED,
CORNERED BY A GARGANTUAN FOE.

BUT I WAS EAGER.

IT WAS THE TIME TO FIGHT
AND I FELT READY FOR IT.

Orr: AND ALL OF THESE
\h\hRAIDS ARE AGAINST

JAPANESE LAND-BASED PLANES,

AGAINST THEIR AIRSTRIPS
\hAND THEIR GARRISONS.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Narrator: DUSTY FENDS
OFF ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE

TO OBLITERATE A PARKED PLANE

AND SCORE A HIT ON
A CRUISER IN PORT.

HIS DIVE BOMBING SKILLS
\h\hARE PROVING DEADLY.

\h\h\h\hDUSTY KLEISS IS
BEGINNING TO STAND OUT.

WEEKS LATER, HE STANDS TALL.

\hCOMING TO FACE HIM IS
ADMIRAL NIMITZ HIMSELF.

Orr: THE MEDAL THAT
\h\hHE IS RECEIVING

IS THE DISTINGUISHED
\h\h\hFLYING CROSS,

WHICH IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST
AWARDS AN AVIATOR CAN GET.

L. Orr: AND ALL HE COULD
\hTHINK AT THAT TIME WAS

"WHY ME? I DON’T DESERVE IT."

Kleiss: I HAD
\h\hJUST LOST

ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS,

AND HERE I WAS ABOUT
TO RECEIVE AN AWARD.

\h\h\hNarrator: BUT WHEN NIMITZ
GETS TO DUSTY, THEIR EYES LOCK.

Kleiss: HIS STARE
\h\h\h\hJOLTED ME

LIKE A SHOT OF WHISKEY, HIS
EYES PENETRATING AND HONEST.

A LEADER HAD PUT THE
\hFIGHT BACK IN ME.

Narrator: AT THIS MOMENT,

NIMITZ KNOWS SOMETHING
\h\h\h\hDUSTY DOESN’T.

\hFOR MONTHS, CODE
BREAKERS HAVE BEEN

PORING OVER INTERCEPTED
\h\hJAPANESE MESSAGES.

\hBY MAY OF 1942, THEY HAVE A
BLURRY GLIMPSE OF ENEMY PLANS.

Toll: THEY COULD BREAK JUST
\hENOUGH OF THESE MESSAGES,

THAT THEY COULD FILL IN THE REST

WITH INFERENCE AND DEDUCTION.

\h\h\hNarrator: THEY DEDUCE THE
JAPANESE PLAN TO ATTACK MIDWAY,

\h\hDEAD CENTER OF THE PACIFIC,
AND CENTRAL TO WINNING THE WAR.

\h\hADMIRAL NIMITZ
WEIGHS HIS OPTIONS.

HE HAS FEWER AIRCRAFT CARRIERS,
AND LESS EXPERIENCED MEN.

BUT HE ROLLS THE DICE

AND BETS THEM ALL IN
\hONE DARING GAMBLE.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

JAPAN SENDS FOUR BATTLE-TESTED
\h\h\hCARRIERS TOWARD MIDWAY.

\hOrr: THE JAPANESE ARE GOING
INTO MIDWAY FAIRLY CONFIDENT.

\hTHEY BELIEVE THE AMERICAN
CARRIERS ARE STILL IN PORT.

\hNarrator: THREE
AMERICAN CARRIERS

\hSECRETLY SAIL TO MEET THEM,
INCLUDING THE USS ENTERPRISE.

\h\hIN THE CAT AND MOUSE
GAME OF CARRIER WARFARE,

SURPRISE MATTERS.

IT PAYS TO BE THE CAT.

Kleiss: THE PRESENCE OF OUR
\h\h\h\hCARRIER TASK FORCE

HAD TO REMAIN A SECRET.

THIS MIGHT BE THE SHOWDOWN
\hFOR THE CENTRAL PACIFIC.

Narrator: ALASKA’S
\hALEUTIAN ISLANDS

ARE COLD, WINDSWEPT, AND BARREN.

IN 1942 THE AMERICAN BASES
\h\hHERE AREN’T MUCH MORE

\hTHAN CREAKY CLAPBOARD,
AND ICE-BOUND EQUIPMENT.

BUT THEY’RE A KEY PIECE
OF THE PACIFIC PUZZLE.

FROM THIS PERCH, THEY
\hCOMBINE WITH MIDWAY

TO CONTROL NORTH PACIFIC WATERS,

AND KEEP JAPAN FROM THREATENING
AMERICA’S WEST COAST.

THAT’S WHY JAPAN WANTS THEM ALL.

Orr: THE NEXT BIG JAPANESE
OPERATION IS TWO-PRONGED,

\hONE SPEAR AIMED
AT THE ALEUTIANS,

AND THEN BIGGER MORE POTENT
SPEAR AIMED AT MIDWAY ATOLL.

Narrator: ON JUNE 3RD,

JAPAN BEGINS ATTACKING
\h\h\h\hAMERICAN BASES

IN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS.

THEIR MASTER PLAN IS UNDERWAY.

MORE THAN A THOUSAND MILES AWAY,

THE AMERICAN ARMADA DOES NOTHING
TO SAVE THE TINY ALEUTIANS.

THEY’RE LYING IN WAIT

FOR THE FOUR POWERFUL
\h\hJAPANESE CARRIERS

EXPECTED TO ATTACK
MIDWAY ON JUNE 4TH.

\h\hON JUNE 3RD, COMMANDERS
TELL EVERYONE TO WRITE HOME,

IN CASE THEY DON’T RETURN.

Toll: THERE WAS A REMARKABLE
\h\hKIND OF SENSE BEFOREHAND

THAT THIS WAS GOING
\hTO BE ONE OF THE

\h\hGREATEST NAVAL
BATTLES IN HISTORY

THAT IT MIGHT DECIDE THE
ENTIRE COURSE OF THE WAR.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE ON

\h\hTHE VERY BEST OF THE
JAPANESE NAVAL AVIATORS,

\hAND THAT A LOT OF THEM
WOULDN’T BE COMING HOME.

Narrator: JACK "DUSTY" KLEISS

WRITES A LETTER TO HIS LOVE,

THINKING IT MIGHT BE HIS LAST.

Kleiss: WOULD I
\hDIE TOMORROW?

\hI HAD TO MAKE IT CLEAR
THAT I LOVED HER DEEPLY.

\hL. Orr: HE JUST
WANTS HER TO KNOW

WHAT HE FEELS FOR
HER AT THIS POINT

IN CASE SHE NEVER SEES HIM
\hOR HEARS FROM HIM AGAIN

AFTER THIS BATTLE IS OVER.

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

Narrator: JUNE 4TH, 1942.

THE AMERICAN BASE AT
MIDWAY IS ON ALERT.

REINFORCEMENTS ARE ON THE RUNWAY
FROM EVERY SERVICE BRANCH.

GROUND FORCES INCLUDE
\h\hMARINE BATTALIONS

READY TO FIGHT OFF
\hA LAND INVASION.

BUT THE FIRST INVASION
\hCOMES FROM THE SKY.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

FOUR JAPANESE CARRIERS LAUNCH
108 PLANES IN JUST 15 MINUTES.

THEY EXPERTLY COALESCE INTO A
SINGLE ROARING ATTACK FORCE.

WHEN MIDWAY’S RADAR
\h\hPICKS THEM UP,

\hCOMMANDERS ORDER ALL
PLANES OFF THE GROUND.

\hBOMBERS LIKE THE B
-17 AND THE DAUNTLESS

\h\hSET OFF TO FIND
THE ENEMY CARRIERS.

FIGHTERS LIKE THE WILDCAT RISE

TO ENGAGE WITH THE
\hINCOMING PLANES.

THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY IS ON.

Toll: THE ISLAND WAS READY.

\h\hYET, THE FIGHTER
SQUADRONS OVER MIDWAY

WERE NOT ABLE TO COMPETE AT ALL

\hWITH THE JAPANESE
ZEROS THAT CAME IN.

\h\hNarrator: ZEROS
SHOOT DOWN VIRTUALLY

\h\hEVERY AMERICAN FIGHTER
PLANE SENT UP TO STOP THEM.

THEN, JAPANESE BOMBERS
\h\hHAVE A FIELD DAY.

Orr: THIS PHASE OF THE ACTION

\hGOES VERY BADLY
FOR THE AMERICANS.

THE JAPANESE CUT THROUGH THE
AMERICAN DEFENSES WITH EASE.

Narrator: THE TINY ISLAND
TAKES PUNCH AFTER PUNCH.

BARRACKS.

AIRPLANE HANGARS.

OIL TANKS.

THE AMERICAN BASE ON MIDWAY

\h\hIS GOING UP IN
THICK BLACK SMOKE.

THE BOMBERS THAT GOT OFF MIDWAY

FIND THE JAPANESE CARRIERS
\h\hFOR A COUNTER ATTACK.

Orr: 51 PLANES GO INTO ACTION
\h\h\hAND THEY GET ZERO HITS.

THE JAPANESE FLEET GETS
AWAY UNSCATHED, NO HITS.

AND FURTHER SOME OF THESE

MIDWAY-BASED SQUADRONS
\h\hSUFFERED TERRIBLY.

Narrator: MIDWAY’S AIR
SQUADRONS ARE SHREDDED,

AND THE ISLAND IS STILL ABLAZE.

BUT RETURNING JAPANESE PILOTS
\hRECOMMEND MORE AIR STRIKES

BEFORE A LAND INVASION.

THE DECISION FALLS
TO ADMIRAL NAGUMO.

Toll: ADMIRAL NAGUMO HAD LED
\hTHE CARRIER STRIKING FORCE

AGAINST PEARL HARBOR.

\h\hHE WAS STILL IN THE SAME
JOB AT THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY.

Narrator: HE’S BEEN HOLDING
BACK TORPEDO-LOADED PLANES

TO FACE ANY AMERICAN
SHIPS THAT SHOW UP.

\h\h\hBUT NONE HAVE, AND HE
DOESN’T EXPECT ANY FOR DAYS.

\h\h\hSO HE ORDERS HIS ATTACK
PLANES TO SWITCH TO LAND BOMBS

FOR A SECOND ATTACK ON MIDWAY.

CARRIER CREWS HUSTLE
TO MAKE THE CHANGE.

Orr: BUT WHILE THAT REARMAMENT
\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT IS GOING ON,

\h\h\hTHAT IS WHEN HE
FINALLY GETS AN UPDATE

FROM ONE OF HIS SCOUT PLANES

THAT THERE ARE AMERICAN
\h\hSHIPS IN THE AREA.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: WITH HIS
FLIGHT DECKS IN TRANSITION,

NAGUMO GETS WORD OF A MYSTERIOUS
FLEET ON HIS LEFT FLANK.

Toll: THE FIRST REPORTS
\h\h\h\hDIDN’T MENTION

THE PRESENCE OF CARRIERS AT ALL.

\hAND SO HIS INITIAL
INSTINCT WAS TO WAIT

AND TO RECEIVE MORE CLARITY

ON PRECISELY WHAT
\hTHIS FLEET WAS.

\h\hNarrator: HE PUTS
THE RE-ARMING ON HOLD,

LEAVING HIS OPTIONS OPEN.

WITH FOUR CARRIERS
\hAT HIS COMMAND,

HE’S GOT FIREPOWER TO SPARE.

NEWS OF JAPAN’S ATTACK ON MIDWAY
REACHES THE AMERICAN FLEET.

THEY COME TO LIFE FOR THE
\hSURPRISE COUNTERATTACK.

ADMIRAL NIMITZ’S BIG
\hGAMBLE NOW DEPENDS

\hON A HANDFUL OF
PILOTS AND PLANES,

INCLUDING THE TORPEDO BOMBERS.

\h\hGoodspeed: THE
AIRCRAFT BEHIND ME

IS A TBF AVENGER
TORPEDO BOMBER,

WHICH WAS INTRODUCED TO COMBAT
\hDURING THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY.

\h\hNarrator: THE AVENGER,
ALONG WITH THE DEVASTATOR,

ARE THE TWO TYPES
OF TORPEDO BOMBERS

\h\h\hIN BATTLE THE
MORNING OF JUNE 4TH.

Goodspeed: THESE TORPEDO
\hBOMBERS WERE DESIGNED

TO DELIVER A TORPEDO ATTACK
BY FLYING LOW TO THE WATER

\h\hAND DROPPING THEIR ORDNANCE
THAT WOULD RUN STRAIGHT AND TRUE

INTO THE SIDES OF AN ENEMY SHIP.

\h\h\hNarrator: BUT THE
TORPEDOES THEY’RE USING

ARE KNOWN TO BE FAULTY.

\h\hSOME GO IN CIRCLES,
OTHERS FAIL TO EXPLODE.

\h\h\h\hEACH CREW KNOWS
THEY’RE ENTERING COMBAT

WITH A BOMB THAT MIGHT NOT WORK.

\hAND DELIVERING THAT
BOMB IS RISKY ENOUGH.

\hGoodspeed: THE TORPEDO BOMBERS
THEMSELVES WERE VERY VULNERABLE.

\hTHEY HAD TO GO TO
RELATIVELY LOW SPEED

AND CERTAINLY DROP
FROM LOW ALTITUDE.

SO WHAT THE TORPEDO
BOMBERS RELIED UPON

WAS A COORDINATED ATTACK.

Narrator: IN AN IDEAL ATTACK,
TORPEDO BOMBERS GO IN LOW,

WITH COVER FROM WILDCATS.

THEN DAUNTLESS DIVE BOMBERS
\h\h\hCOME IN OVER THE TOP,

OVERWHELMING THE ENEMY.

THIS IS THE IDEAL SCENARIO.

Goodspeed: BUT AT THE
\h\hBATTLE OF MIDWAY,

NOTHING WAS NORMAL OR IDEAL.

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

Narrator: ON THE ENTERPRISE,
\h\hCOMMANDERS BRIEF PILOTS

\h\h\h\hON THE MOST IMPORTANT
MISSION OF THEIR YOUNG LIVES.

\hTWO BEST FRIENDS GET
THEIR MARCHING ORDERS.

L. Orr: DUSTY RUNS INTO
\hTOM, HIS BEST FRIEND

ON THE FLIGHT DECK
\h\hOF ENTERPRISE.

THEY STOP AND TALK TO EACH OTHER

FOR JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES,

\h\h\hAND THEY TAKE A
MOMENT TO SAY GOODBYE.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: EVERY DRILL
THEY’VE DONE IS FOR THIS MOMENT.

EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE RISK.

BUT THEY FACE IT WITH A ROAR.

Orr: YOU HAVE THE SQUADRONS ALL
LINED UP ON THE FLIGHT DECK

AND ALL THE ENGINES ARE RUNNING

AND IT HAS JUST AN INCREDIBLE
\h\h\h\hEAR SPLITTING NOISE.

YOU CAN’T HEAR ANYTHING.

Narrator: AMERICANS
HAVE AN ATTACK PLAN,

\h\hSIMILAR TO WHAT
THE JAPANESE CAN DO

WITH THEIR CARRIER FORCES.

\h\hOrr: THEY ATTEMPT TO PUT ALL
THEIR PLANES INTO ONE BIG SWARM.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
\hWORKED FOR THE JAPANESE

\hAT PEARL HARBOR BUT IT
IS A VERY AMBITIOUS THING

AND VERY DIFFICULT TO EXECUTE.

Narrator: THEY STRUGGLE
TO SYNC UP THE AIRCRAFT

OF THREE CARRIERS INTO A
SINGLE COORDINATED RAID.

LAUNCHES ARE DELAYED.

FORMATIONS COME APART.

\hAND THERE’S ONLY A VAGUE
IDEA OF WHERE THE ENEMY IS.

Toll: ON EACH CARRIER
\h\h\hAND EVEN WITHIN

\h\h\h\hTHE DIFFERENT AIR
SQUADRONS ON EACH CARRIER,

THERE WERE DIFFERENT IDEAS
\hABOUT WHAT ROUTE TO FLY.

\h\hAND SO YOU HAD
DIFFERENT SQUADRONS

\h\hESSENTIALLY FOLLOWING THEIR
OWN NOSE TO THE JAPANESE FLEET,

FLYING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

\h\h\hNarrator: AS AMERICANS
FUMBLE THEIR WAY INTO COMBAT,

JAPAN’S MIDWAY STRIKE FORCE
RETURNS TO THEIR CARRIERS.

THEY’RE BACK AT FULL STRENGTH.

NAGUMO NEEDS ABOUT 45 MINUTES
\hTO RE-ARM HIS ATTACK FORCE.

HE DOESN’T KNOW AMERICA’S
\h\hCARRIERS ARE NEARBY,

\hWITH THEIR PLANES IN THE
AIR, HOWEVER DISORGANIZED.

FINALLY, A LONE SQUADRON
\h\hFROM THE USS HORNET

FINDS THE JAPANESE FLEET.

IT’S A TORPEDO SQUADRON,
\hWITH NO FIGHTER COVER,

AND NO SMOKE SCREENS.

BUT THEY POINT THEIR NOSES

\hINTO THE HEART OF THE
JAPANESE IMPERIAL NAVY.

\hTHE BATTLE OF MIDWAY
HAS BEEN A ROUT SO FAR.

JAPAN HAS CRUSHED THE ISLAND
THEY WANT AS THEIR NEW BASE

IN THE CENTRAL PACIFIC.

Orr: BUT THE OTHER ASPECT
\h\h\h\hOF THIS CAMPAIGN

AND THE ONE THAT IS
FAR MORE IMPORTANT

TO THEIR LONG-TERM
GOALS IS THE HOPE

THAT THE ATTACK ON MIDWAY
\h\hIS GOING TO BE A LURE

\hTHAT WILL BRING THE
AMERICAN CARRIERS OUT

FROM THEIR PORT IN PEARL HARBOR.

\h\h\hNarrator: NAGUMO
THINKS HE’LL HAVE DAYS

TO PREPARE HIS AMBUSH
ON AMERICAN CARRIERS.

\h\h\hHE DOESN’T KNOW
THEY’RE ALREADY HERE.

A SQUADRON OF TORPEDO BOMBERS
\hAPPROACHES NAGUMO’S FLEET,

\hFLYING IN LOW AND
SLOW, AND ALL ALONE.

Orr: THEY HAD BEEN
INSTRUCTED TO FLY

AT JUST ABOVE STALLING SPEED
JUST 50 FEET ABOVE THE WAVES

AND THEY ARE TO CLOSE
\h\hWITHIN 500 YARDS

OF THE JAPANESE TARGETS BEFORE
THEY RELEASE THEIR TORPEDOES.

AND TO DO THIS IS BASICALLY
\h\hTANTAMOUNT TO SUICIDE.

Narrator: WITHOUT
\hFIGHTER COVER,

THE LUMBERING TORPEDO PLANES

\h\hARE NO MATCH FOR A
SWARM OF NIMBLE ZEROS.

Toll: YOU HAD ONE SQUADRON
\hAFTER ANOTHER COMING IN

AND GETTING MASSACRED.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: MOST ARE SHOT
DOWN BEFORE DROPPING A TORPEDO.

IF THEY GET ONE OFF, THE FAULTY
WEAPON EITHER GOES ASTRAY

OR FAILS TO EXPLODE.

\h\hOrr: THEY SEND THESE POOR
TORPEDO BOMBERS INTO THE FRAY

KNOWING THAT THEIR PRIMARY
\h\hWEAPON DOES NOT WORK.

84% OF THOSE TORPEDO CREWMEN

\h\hTHAT WENT INTO
ACTION ARE KILLED.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: SO FAR, THESE
ATTACKS HAVE YET TO MAKE A DENT.

BUT THEY ARE MAKING
\h\h\hA DIFFERENCE.

Toll: THESE CONSTANT
ATTACKS ARE KIND OF

\h\hPUTTING THE JAPANESE
FLEET ON THEIR BACK FOOT

\hAND FORCING THEM
TO REACT TO EVENTS

RATHER THAN TO SEIZE
\h\hTHE INITIATIVE.

\h\hNarrator: NAGUMO IS
FORCED TO PLAY DEFENSE.

HE CAN’T LAUNCH ANOTHER
\h\h\hATTACK ON MIDWAY.

\hTHE OTHER SIDE’S OFFENSE
IS LARGER THAN HE THOUGHT.

Orr: AT THIS POINT, ADMIRAL
\hNAGUMO IS PROBABLY TRYING

\h\hTO WRAP HIS HEAD
AROUND THE SITUATION.

HE HAS BEEN ATTACKED BY
TORPEDO BOMBER SQUADRONS

THAT ARE CLEARLY CARRIER-BASED
\h\hAND HE’S PROBABLY STARTING

\h\h\hTO REALIZE THAT HIS
ASSUMPTION THAT THERE ARE

NO AMERICAN CARRIERS PRESENT
\h\h\hIS BADLY MISINFORMED.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: A SCOUT
PLANE CONFIRMS HIS HUNCH.

\hTHE PILOT REPORTS
ONE AIRCRAFT CARRIER

AMID THE MYSTERY FLEET.

\h\hTHEY DON’T YET
SEE THE OTHER TWO.

NAGUMO CHANGES HIS PLAN, AGAIN.

NEVER MIND RE-ARMING PLANES
FOR ANOTHER ATTACK ON MIDWAY.

CHANGE BACK TO TORPEDOES
\h\hAND ANTI-SHIP BOMBS.

MEANWHILE, DAUNTLESS
\h\h\h\hDIVE BOMBERS

\h\hARE LOOKING FOR
THE JAPANESE FLEET.

INSIDE ONE COCKPIT
\hIS DUSTY KLEISS.

\h\h\h\hKleiss: OUR SEARCH
SEEMED TO CONTINUE FOREVER.

AFTER FLYING ABOUT 165 MILES,

WE EXPECTED TO FIND
\hTHE ENEMY FLEET.

WE FOUND NOTHING.

Narrator: MOST
OF DUSTY’S UNIT

IS BELOW THE HALFWAY
\h\h\hMARK ON FUEL.

THEIR COMMANDER, WADE MCCLUSKY,
MAKES A DESPERATE CHOICE.

Orr: MCCLUSKY DECIDES
\h\h\hTO KEEP FLYING

EVEN THOUGH IT MEANS THAT HIS
\hPILOTS MIGHT NOT COME BACK

BECAUSE THEY WILL CRASH
FROM EMPTY FUEL TANKS.

L. Orr: EVERY SINGLE
PLANE IN THE SQUADRON

HAS THAT SAME PROBLEM,

BUT NONE OF THOSE PILOTS DECIDE

THEY’RE GOING TO BREAK
FORMATION AND GO HOME.

THAT’S NOT THEIR JOB.

THEIR JOB IS TO FIND
\hTHE JAPANESE FLEET

AND INFLICT AS MUCH
DAMAGE AS POSSIBLE

\hAND THAT’S WHAT
THEY DECIDE TO DO.

Narrator: FINALLY,
\hAMERICANS CATCH

\h\hTHE FIRST LUCKY
BREAK OF THE BATTLE.

MCCLUSKY SPIES A LONE JAPANESE
\h\hDESTROYER, HEADING NORTH.

Orr: HE ASSUMES THAT JAPANESE
\h\h\h\hDESTROYER IS POINTING

\h\hIN THE DIRECTION OF THE
JAPANESE CARRIER TASK FORCE.

SO HE SIGNALS TO HIS SQUADRON

AND THEY ARE GOING TO FOLLOW IT.

\h\h\hNarrator: NAGUMO IS
STILL RE-ARMING HIS PLANES

TO ATTACK THE ONE AMERICAN
\hCARRIER THEY’VE SIGHTED.

\hTHE DAYS HE THOUGHT HE’D
HAVE TO PREPARE HIS AMBUSH

ARE DISSOLVING INTO MINUTES.

Toll: EACH OF HIS
\hCARRIER FLIGHT DECKS,

\h\hHE HAS FOUR OF THEM,
THEY’RE ALL BOTTLENECKS.

\hOrr: MOST OF THE JAPANESE
ORDNANCE MEN HAVE SCATTERED

ALL OF THE BOMBS ABOUT
\h\h\hTHE HANGAR DECK

IN A CARELESS MANNER,

\hAND THIS BASICALLY
TURNS THESE CARRIERS

INTO POTENTIAL BOMBS.

\h\hNarrator: AT
THIS VERY MOMENT,

DUSTY’S SQUADRON FINDS
\hTHE JAPANESE FLEET.

Kleiss: THERE IT WAS,

THE WHOLE JAPANESE
\h\hCARRIER FORCE,

ARRAYED ACROSS THE HORIZON.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: OTHER
SQUADRONS HAPPEN TO ARRIVE

AT THE SAME TIME, TORPEDO
\h\h\hAND FIGHTER PLANES.

BY SHEER LUCK, THE IDEAL
ATTACK BEGINS TO UNFOLD.

AMERICAN WILDCAT FIGHTERS

FINALLY MATCH UP
AGAINST THE ZERO.

Toll: FOR THE FIRST TIME YOU
START TO SEE JAPANESE ZEROES

GOING DOWN IN FLAMES
\h\h\hIN THE BATTLE.

THAT GIVES TORPEDO BOMBERS A
BETTER CRACK AT THE CARRIERS

AND DISTRACTS THE JAPANESE
\h\hFROM WHAT’S COMING IN

FROM 20,000 FEET.

DUSTY’S SQUADRON BANKS INTO
A DIVE LIKE BIRDS OF PREY,

AND TAKES AIM AT THE JAPANESE
\h\hCARRIER CALLED THE KAGA.

\h\h\h\h\h\hKleiss: THE
RISING SUN ON KAGA’S BOW

\h\hMADE AN INVITING
TARGET, A BULL’S EYE.

(BOMBS EXPLODING)

Narrator: A CHAIN
REACTION BEGINS.

Toll: THE BOMBS, THE TORPEDOES,
THE FUEL ON THE CARRIER ITSELF

EXPLODES AND TURNS THE WHOLE
\h\hTHING INTO A TINDERBOX.

\h\hNarrator: AS DUSTY
PULLS OUT OF HIS DIVE,

THE ATTACKS CONTINUE.

DOGFIGHTS RAGE ALL AROUND.

\h\hMORE DAUNTLESSES
SCREAM INTO THE FRAY,

AND IN JUST FOUR MINUTES

AMERICANS DELIVER MORTAL BLOWS

TO THREE OF THE FOUR
\hJAPANESE CARRIERS.

THE DIVE BOMBERS HEAD BACK,
CONFIDENT IN THEIR STRIKE.

\hBUT NOT CONFIDENT
IN THEIR FUEL LEVEL.

L. Orr: DUSTY IS CONCERNED.

HE DOESN’T THINK HE HAS
ENOUGH FUEL TO MAKE IT.

HE SLOWS DOWN TRYING
\h\hTO USE LESS FUEL

BUT HE’S VERY WORRIED
THAT HE’S GONNA END UP

HAVING TO DITCH AT SEA.

THIS HAPPENS TO A LOT OF PILOTS
ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 4TH.

Narrator: PLANES
BEGIN TO SPUTTER.

SOME HAVE TO DITCH.

\hBUT FLYING ON FUMES,
DUSTY SPOTS HIS FLEET.

\h\h\hL. Orr: HE ENDS UP
LANDING ABOARD ENTERPRISE

\h\hWITH JUST THREE
GALLONS OF FUEL LEFT

\h\hWHICH IS MAYBE FIVE
MINUTES OF FLYING TIME.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE
SQUADRONS ARE DECIMATED.

PLANES RETURN CRIPPLED.

MEN RETURN BLOODY,

AND MANY DON’T RETURN AT ALL.

THE ENTERPRISE LOSES ALMOST
\h\hHALF OF ITS FLYING MEN,

INCLUDING DUSTY’S BEST
FRIEND, TOM EVERSOLE.

\h\h\h\h\hKleiss: THE NEWS
HIT ME LIKE A THUNDERCLAP.

I HELD ON TO A DISTANT HOPE THAT

MAYBE HE WAS FLOATING
\h\hIN HIS LIFE RAFT.

BUT DEEP DOWN, I
KNEW HE WAS GONE.

Narrator: THE DAY
IS ONLY HALF OVER,

AND SOON, THE JAPANESE
\h\h\hWILL FIND THEM.

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

ON THE AFTERNOON OF JUNE 4TH,

\h\h\hTHE JAPANESE FLEET AT
MIDWAY IS DOWN, BUT NOT OUT.

ONE CARRIER, THE HIRYU,
\h\hREMAINS UNSCATHED.

IT FIRES OFF A COUNTERATTACK.

Toll: AND THEY ALL GANGED
\h\h\hUP ON THE YORKTOWN.

Narrator: JAPANESE
\hPLANES SCREAM IN

AT ONE AMERICAN CARRIER,
\h\h\hTHE USS YORKTOWN.

JAPAN IS STILL FIGHTING FOR
ITS PLAN TO INVADE MIDWAY,

\hIF THEY CAN KNOCK OUT
SOME AMERICAN CARRIERS.

THROUGH THE MAELSTROM, THREE
\h\hBOMBS HIT THE YORKTOWN.

Orr: THE DAMAGE IS NOT ENOUGH
\h\h\h\hTO SINK THE YORKTOWN,

THOUGH IT DEVELOPS
\hA LIST, THAT IS,

\hA TILT OF ABOUT 30
DEGREES TO ONE SIDE.

BUT THE OTHER TWO CARRIERS,

USS HORNET AND USS ENTERPRISE

\h\hARE STILL PERFECTLY
CAPABLE OF RETALIATING.

\hNarrator: THEY COBBLE
TOGETHER AN ATTACK FORCE

\hFROM PILOTS AND PLANES
WHO SURVIVED THE MORNING,

INCLUDING DUSTY.

\h\h\hKleiss: EVERYONE
WAS CHAMPING AT THE BIT

TO GET AIRBORNE AGAIN.

Orr: THE TORPEDO BOMBERS
\h\h\h\hCAN’T GO AT ALL

\h\hBECAUSE THEY’VE
ALL BEEN SHOT DOWN.

THEY’RE GONNA GO WITH
ONLY THE DIVE BOMBERS.

Narrator: EACH FLEET NOW
KNOWS WHERE THE OTHER IS.

\hTHEY’RE BATTLING
IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.

BUT THE DAUNTLESS DIVE BOMBERS

USE DAYLIGHT TO THEIR ADVANTAGE.

L. Orr: THEY ARE FLYING
\h\h\h\hOUT OF THE SUN,

\hSO WHEN YOU’RE LOOKING
UP FROM A JAPANESE SHIP,

YOU CAN’T SEE THE PLANES
\hCOMING OUT OF THE SUN.

IT’S A PERFECT POSITION.

THEY START TO DIVE ON THE
HIRYU AND AT THAT MOMENT,

\h\h\h\hTHE HIRYU MAKES A
RADICAL TURN TO THE LEFT.

Narrator: TWO BOMBERS
DIVING AHEAD OF DUSTY

MISS THE RAPIDLY
TURNING CARRIER.

\hBUT DUSTY RE-CALIBRATES
HIS DAUNTLESS ON THE FLY.

Kleiss: AS I PLUNGED
\h\h\h\h\hTOWARD THE SEA

I AIMED FOR WHERE
THE SHIP WAS GOING

TO BE AS IT CONTINUED THAT TURN.

\hNarrator: AT 1,500 FEET, HE
YANKS THE BOMB RELEASE LEVER.

(BOMB EXPLODING)

L. Orr: HE’S AN INCREDIBLE PILOT
TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF

\hMANEUVER HIMSELF WHILE
HE’S DIVING TO BE ABLE TO

\h\hHIT THAT SHIP AND GAIN
HIS SECOND HIT OF THE DAY.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: AMERICANS
WRECK FOUR JAPANESE CARRIERS

IN A SINGLE DAY.

\hTHEY TURN JAPAN’S
AMBUSH ON ITS HEAD.

(THOUGHTFUL MUSIC)

DUSTY KLEISS RETURNS TRIUMPHANT,
BUT WITH A HEAVY HEART.

L. Orr: ON THE EVENING
\h\h\h\h\hOF JUNE 4TH

\h\h\h\hAFTER DUSTY HAD
RETURNED TO ENTERPRISE,

HE TAKES SOME TIME TO
WRITE IN HIS LOGBOOK.

AND WHAT HE WRITES
\h\hIN HIS LOGBOOK

\hIS A REMEMBRANCE
OF HIS FRIEND, TOM.

\hHE WRITES, "BREATHE A PRAYER
FOR OUR SUICIDE TBD SQUADRONS."

THOSE MEN, THEY GAVE THEIR LIVES

\h\hSO THAT THE DIVE
BOMBERS COULD ATTACK

ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 4TH.

Narrator: THE NEXT DAY,
AMERICANS KEEP SWINGING

AT AN ENEMY ON THE ROPES.

\h\hJAPANESE SUPPORT SHIPS
COME UNDER WITHERING FIRE.

DUSTY KLEISS DIVES ON
A CRUISER, THE MIKUMA.

Kleiss: ANTI-AIRCRAFT
\h\hFIRE WHIZZED IN.

\h\h\hTHE JAPANESE STILL HAD
PLENTY OF FIGHT LEFT IN THEM.

\hFOR THE THIRD TIME, I KNEW I
WAS GOING TO HIT SOMETHING BIG.

(BOMB EXPLODING)

\h\h\hNarrator: WITH THIS
HIT, DUSTY MAKES HISTORY.

L. Orr: HE’S THE ONLY
\h\h\hAMERICAN PILOT

\hTO HIT THREE
JAPANESE SHIPS

DURING THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY.

\h\hNarrator: THE JAPANESE
GIVE UP ON INVADING MIDWAY.

BUT THEY DO NOT GIVE IN.

\hAS THE USS YORKTOWN
LIMPS BACK TO HAWAII,

\h\hA JAPANESE SUBMARINE
SNEAKS THROUGH DEFENSES,

AND LAUNCHES FOUR TORPEDOES.

ONE STRIKES THE USS HAMMANN,

THROWING A HUNDRED SAILORS
OFF THE SHIP IN AN INSTANT.

IT SINKS IN JUST FOUR MINUTES.

TWO TORPEDOES HIT THE YORKTOWN.

THE MIGHTY CARRIER GROANS
AND TWISTS FOR HOURS.

\h\hTHE NEXT MORNING, IT SINKS
THREE MILES TO THE OCEAN FLOOR.

\hIT PUNCTUATES THE END
OF THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY.

OVER THREE DAYS, THE
\hUS LOSES 307 MEN.

Toll: WE REVERE THESE PEOPLE AS
HEROES, THEY WERE HEROES.

THEY DIDN’T THINK OF
THEMSELVES THAT WAY.

\h\hNarrator: SOME
ARE BURIED AT SEA,

OTHERS ARE NEVER RECOVERED.

(MELANCHOLY MUSIC)

\h\h\hA WAVE OF TELEGRAMS WILL
ARRIVE AT HOMES ACROSS AMERICA,

INCLUDING TOM EVERSOLE’S HOUSE.

MOTHERS ARE SHATTERED,

BUT THE WAR PIVOTS
ON THEIR SACRIFICE.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

AFTER SIX MONTHS OF
JAPANESE DOMINANCE,

\hAMERICA SCORES ITS
FIRST CLEAR VICTORY.

\hTHE UNDERDOG GAMBLE OF
ADMIRAL NIMITZ PAYS OFF.

Toll: YOU HAVE THIS FIST
FROM THE SKY COMING DOWN

AND IN FIVE MINUTES
ESSENTIALLY KIND OF

BLUNTING THE TIP OF
THE JAPANESE SPEAR.

Narrator: JAPAN’S PACIFIC
\h\hPOWER IS EVISCERATED.

\hFOUR OF ITS SIX
CARRIERS ARE SUNK.

MORE THAN 2,200 OF ITS BEST
SAILORS AND PILOTS ARE DEAD.

Orr: FOR JAPAN, THIS WAS
JUST A SHOCKING DEFEAT.

\h\h\hNarrator: AMERICAN
SHIPS RETURN TRIUMPHANT,

CARRYING DUSTY KLEISS HOME.

Kleiss: ADMIRAL
\h\hNIMITZ SENT

ALL OF THE SENIOR PILOTS
\h\h\hBACK TO THE STATES

\h\h\h\h\hTO TRAIN THE NEXT
GENERATION OF DIVE BOMBERS.

Narrator: HE GREETS A NATION
FEELING MOMENTUM IN THE WAR

FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THEN HE CLIMBS BACK INTO HIS
\hOLD FRIEND THE DAUNTLESS,

AS A TEACHER, NOT A WARRIOR.

Kleiss: EVERY MONTH,

A NEW BATCH OF TRAINEES ARRIVED,
EAGER TO TEST THEIR METTLE.

\hIT WAS THE LAST STOP
FOR ANY NEW NAVY PILOT

BEFORE HEADING INTO COMBAT.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: AND THERE
WILL BE PLENTY MORE COMBAT.

\h\hAMERICA’S GROWING MILITARY
MIGHT WILL CREATE GIANT ARMADAS

UNLIKE ANYTHING THE
WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.

THEY WILL STEADILY PUSH JAPAN
\h\hBACK ACROSS THE PACIFIC,

AND INTO THE JAWS OF DEFEAT,

A THREE YEAR BLOODSTAINED MARCH
ACROSS ISLAND AFTER ISLAND.

BUT THE BATTLE OVER
\h\hONE TINY ISLAND

IS THE TURNING POINT TO VICTORY.

MIDWAY.

��moovlmvhd