Sir, your research and prose are truly outstanding. I very much look forward to the coming weeks' posts. This is not mere flattery, but a valid assessment of your style of writing.
Thank you for helping me to gain a more balanced understanding of Naval History.
Veritas et Fidelis Semper
While I second Deborah's comments about the quality of the writing, I can't say I'm much looking forward to the rest of the series, simply because I know how it ends: the airpower pogues don't contribute too much to the battle. :-p
Also, as far as the B-26 is concerned, there's a reason Gen. Doolittle chose the Mitchell for the raid...
Ah, therein lies the rub...the traditionilsts (i.e. shore-based, high altitude precision bombing vs maneuvering ships) failed (more to follow) but air power was vividly demonstrated in the combined actions of carrier- and shore-based air, not to give the plot away... Better still, it forced a re-think of how to attack shipping, something 5th AF did quite nicely using medium attack bombers in the SW Pacific - but that is another story being worked on for another time 
- SJS
"Better still, it forced a re-think of how to attack shipping, something 5th AF did quite nicely using medium attack bombers in the SW Pacific - but that is another story being worked on for another time"
Now THERE'S a story I'd like to read.
Pappy Gunn seeing how many .50s he could pack in the nose of a B-25...oh, and just becuase, we're gonna throw in a tank cannon as well.
After the "Countdown to Midway" series is complete the next two Flightdeck Friday articles out of the gate will be about the Sparrowhawk/Macon LTA and 5th AF anti-shipping tactics (hint: it ain't all guns...)
- SJS
"5th AF anti-shipping tactics (hint: it ain't all guns...)"
I'll be looking forward to that...something tells me I should be thinking about skipping rocks, perhaps?
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