Original subtitles

(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.

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