With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa: E.B. Sledge ...

[super-bee_ski]

It took us 2 years to stop their momentum and gain traction in that theatre.
IMO Midway could well have been the most important Naval battle in history.
Pelelui may well have been the most unnecessary battle in history. Much blood spilled to take an island that should have been bypassed

It was a disaster for both sides but we came out better. with a claimed victory.
(Guadalcanal being our first REAL and MAJOR victory and a definitive turning point in the South Pacific)
The Japanese also lost the heavy cruiser Mikuma.
American losses: 147 aircraft and more than three hundred seamen
(Ps: Landed there a few times in the mid 80s on the Snoopy's)
Wake Island too, so quiet and serene now.
Monuments are visible, sobering.

 

[69Coronetrt]

so, when did YOUR Coral Sea battle take place?
And yes, the P-39 and the P-400 are essentially the same plane, AriaCobra but I thought Boeing jumped in and assisted with production, much like Willy's didn't build "ALL" the Jeeps in WWII but the bulk of production was Ford.

The battle of Coral Sea was 4-8 of May. The battle damaged fleet carrier Shokaku returned to Japan and was unable to give the Japanese a fifth fleet carrier at Midway. The Yorktown limped back to Hawaii, was repaired with Hurculean effort in time to give the US three fleet carriers at Midway a month later.

I don't recall seeing any reference to Boeing building P-400s.

 

[oldbee]

First of all I got real confused thinking I missed the OP, then saw the date! Then.. "ski" pops in with I've been to PI. Immediately I thought to Parris Island! Hang your wet t-shirt on the bunk at night and it's just as wet the next morning(with rust stains on it from the metal bunk frame)!

 

[69Coronetrt]

It was a disaster for both sides but we came out better. with a claimed victory.
(Guadalcanal being our first REAL and MAJOR victory and a definitive turning point in the South Pacific)
The Japanese also lost the heavy cruiser Mikuma.
American losses: 147 aircraft and more than three hundred seamen
(Ps: Landed there a few times in the mid 80s on the Snoopy's)
Wake Island too, so quiet and serene now.
Monuments are visible, sobering.

Within seven months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese lost four fleet carriers of the six at Pearl Harbor leaving Japan with two front line carriers. The US had lost two in the Lexington and Yorktown. The Enterprise and Saratoga were damaged. Both sides needed time to lick their wounds. The US was ramping up its carrier production with the Essex class while Japan was unable to replenish its losses. Japan lost the initiative.

The loss of Japanese carriers at Midway shifted the strategic initiative and the course of the Pacific. Guadalcanal was a battle of attrition. Japan could no longer justify pouring more resources into defending an island that was a hinge point of defense and logistically impossible to supply. Japanese death by starvation and illness was incredible. It was a victory, but the Japanese simply gave up and abandoned the fight.

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

Guys get the Morrison edition of the official pacific naval history of WWII, he was the official writer for the USN.

 

[66Satellite47]

Sorry
You must be confused.
I know my planes
I know the So Pacific campaign.
What is your question?

Is it the question of the "Range" of the Zero with tanks?

Maybe I did not understand your comment about the Zero corectly. I read that as comparing a P-38 as a variant of the Zero, guess that's not what you were saying. I realize both aircraft had long range. Sorry

 

[66Satellite47]

The victory at Midway was an incredible combination of quality intelligence, skill, bravery and plain luck. Those USN dive bombers found the Jap carriers at their most vulnerable time and made the best of it. The US forces gave it their best shot & came out ahead. Then the march across the Pacific began in full force. Many islands, landings and brutal conditions. Hard to imagine how those guys got through it.

 

[69Coronetrt]

Guys get the Morrison edition of the official pacific naval history of WWII, he was the official writer for the USN.

True and it's a good series. However....due to when he wrote it, certain material was still classified or not available to him. It's an essential series to read for a broad overview of the Pacific theater but later writers corrected errors, amplified his work or added information.

 

[super-bee_ski]

First of all I got real confused thinking I missed the OP, then saw the date! Then.. "ski" pops in with I've been to PI. Immediately I thought to Parris Island! Hang your wet t-shirt on the bunk at night and it's just as wet the next morning(with rust stains on it from the metal bunk frame)!

yeah, huh?
Wasn't that something?
I'd shower and still be wet!
Still, a gorgeous Island
We'd hike up to that Mountain outside of Clarke...
Was it called Bagio?
-A magnificent resort

 

[super-bee_ski]

The battle of Coral Sea was 4-8 of May. The battle damaged fleet carrier Shokaku returned to Japan and was unable to give the Japanese a fifth fleet carrier at Midway. The Yorktown limped back to Hawaii, was repaired with Hurculean effort in time to give the US three fleet carriers at Midway a month later.

I don't recall seeing any reference to Boeing building P-400s.

My Post #50 those are the dates I stated 68Coronet
Yeah, Old Sam E. Morrison (Admiral, Ret) did a good job in that ERA though
I don't think he has=d as much access to the Japanese Historians as others that followed in his footsteps
Yes, some errors here and there but the magnitude of his scope was certainly worth a commendation
What do you think?

 

[super-bee_ski]

Guys get the Morrison edition of the official pacific naval history of WWII, he was the official writer for the USN.

That is one of the series of books I have been quoting
Read them all
See Post# 60

 

[69Coronetrt]

My Post #50 those are the dates I stated 68Coronet
Yeah, Old Sam E. Morrison (Admiral, Ret) did a good job in that ERA though
I don't think he has=d as much access to the Japanese Historians as others that followed in his footsteps
Yes, some errors here and there but the magnitude of his scope was certainly worth a commendation
What do you think?

Post 50 shows June 8th for Coral Sea. I'm pretty sure it was a typo and you mean May. Otherwise, you have Coral Sea and Midway as concurrent battles.

I agree on Morrison. It was a hell of an effort. I think it still stands today for the reader interested in a very good overview but not interested in specifics.

 

[super-bee_ski]

Post 50 shows June 8th for Coral Sea. I'm pretty sure it was a typo and you mean May. Otherwise, you have Coral Sea and Midway as concurrent battles.

I agree on Morrison. It was a hell of an effort. I think it still stands today for the reader interested in a very good overview but not interested in specifics.

You didn't see the:Coral Sea: 04 May though 08 June 1942 ?
Perhaps I need to check my computer for "at a drop outs"?
Well, so sorry but I DID type May 4 through 8 June on my computer so maybe its bad.....

Midway: 04 June through 07 June 1942
Guadalcanal: 07 August through 09 February 1943
Those campaigns were ALL NAVY in the early campaigns.

 

[super-bee_ski]

Post 50 shows June 8th for Coral Sea. I'm pretty sure it was a typo and you mean May. Otherwise, you have Coral Sea and Midway as concurrent battles.

I agree on Morrison. It was a hell of an effort. I think it still stands today for the reader interested in a very good overview but not interested in specifics.

Yeah, at the time he did okay
And, as you clearly stated, errors....
Sometimes in my opinion, its better to accomplish a smaller endeavor and be 90% "on target" as opposed to performing a very large project at 66 %

 

[69Coronetrt]

You didn't see the:Coral Sea: 04 May though 08 June 1942 ?

Midway: 04 June through 07 June 1942
Guadalcanal: 07 August through 09 February 1943
Those campaigns were ALL NAVY in the early campaigns.

I did. Coral Sea ended 08 MAY a month before Midway.

I'm sure the Marines and squadron of Army Air Corps planes at Midway and Marines at Guadalcanal would appreciate you giving the Navy credit. ;)

 

[super-bee_ski]

The NAVAL battle was the decisive factor.
How else did the Army get there?
It was all NAVY
And, I'm currently Dept. Of Defense (AF) for 17 years and retired USAF for 20
Give credit where credit is due.

 

[super-bee_ski]

And:
If you dont think the NAVY "fought" with hand to hand and guns/rifles....
Perhaps you had better READ a book or two on the extraordinary accounts of the Sea Bees!
A Marine group including the young Captain at peril untill the Sea Bees arrived amidst Japanese gunfire on the beach
The Marine Captain tried telling the Sea Bees that they were under heavy attack, out numbered...
The crusty old Sea Bees (30+ years of age, Ha Ha) simply told the Marines to relax and the Sea Bees began clearing the Beach with Bull dozers and trucks, heavy machinery all the while "Shooting" the Japanese with Rifles

 

[super-bee_ski]

I'm done with this Thread.
Lets see:
Hmm,
Been to
1. Okinawa many times
2. Guam, many times
3. Saipan & Tinian
4. Midway
5. Wakae Island a few times
6. New Caledonia 2X
7. Fiji
Tahiti 3X
I have ALWAYS thirsted for the knowledge of the War in the Pacific because growing up in RI we were only taught about the European Campaign

 

[GetX'd]

69Coronetrt....It took me awhile... A very good read.....
Also working on Jeff Shaara accounts, also a great read.....
Just started lone Survivor...

Saw this movie - watched it twice. I was great. I'm sure the book will be even better

 

[super-bee_ski]

Yeah, great book!
True story!