First, the attacking force, as they approached Pearl Harbor:
"Under my direct command were 49 level bombers. About 500 meters to my right and slightly below me were 40 torpedo planes. The same distance to my left, but about 200 meters above me, were 51 dive bombers, and flying cover for the formation there were 43 fighters. These other three groups were led by Lieutenant Commanders Murata, Takahashi, and Itaya, respectively."
Next, the sequence of events. I have read elsewhere that Arizona blew up about 0810:
" 0755 Dive bombers at Hickam and Wheeler
0757 Torpedo planes at battleships
0800 Fighters strafing air bases
0805 Level bombers at battleships "
Next, how he describes the deployment of his level bombers:
"All ten of my squadrons then formed into a single column with intervals of 200 meters. It was indeed a gorgeous formation."
This above seems to be where I made my mistake. I read this as all 49 planes forming a single line. After watching your video, I can see that the SQUADRONS formed into a single line (in the V-formation shown in your video) with 200 meters between each V-formation. Those V's came in one after the other, in line, 200 meters apart.
Next:
"As my group made its bomb run, enemy anti-aircraft suddenly came to life."
And:
"My squadron was headed for Nevada’s mooring at the northern end of battleship row on the east side of Ford Island."
And:
"I further saw that it was not wise to have deployed in this long single-column formation. The whole level bomber group could be destroyed like ducks in a shooting gallery."
So, he is flying in a group/squadron, not a line, but the formation is in a column/line. After seeing your video, looks like those V's, each following the other.
Next...altitude:
"Flying at only 3000 meters, it seemed that this might well be a date with eternity."
That is around 10,000 feet up. Again, in a display, not realistic to portray this height in scale.
So, Chris, you will need 5 Kates in a V-formation, pointing from bow to stern, over Arizona in the few seconds before she blew up. Previous Message
This video, although a lower quality than the original helps shed some light on it.
Previous Message
Hello everyone!
I understand that the USS Arizona was not the first battleship to be attacked on that day.
But as for the so called aircraft traffic, there was not to many, or a lot of Japanese planes flying around or even over the USS Arizona just before she blew up?
I have tried to find photos of her just before she blew up,but unfortunately there isn't really any clear, for that time, photos that would show this.
The reason why I am asking this is, that I was planning on building a diorama with planes fling over just minutes/seconds before USS Arizona blew up.
Does anyone know of where I might find such photos?
Thank you.
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