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Posted by steve fairbairn on June 5, 2025, 5:21:28, in reply to "Re: There seems to be NO "media" presentation of the event that...."
It's disgraceful the way Fletcher was treated both by King and later Morrison. Fletcher never lost a battle and was by no means inferior to either Spruance or Halsey. Yes Black Shoe Admiral goes some way to righting the wrong. 
Previous Message
You can always tell when a historian favors their sources. The ones who tell the best stories get the best print. In this case it was Turner, and the fact that Fletcher had lost most of his papers in the course of the war and hadn't given much time to talk to Morison.
There's a revealing portrait of him after the war in "Miracle At Midway", enjoying a contented retirement, no axes to grind, secure in the knowledge he'd done his best for the Navy he loved. Previous Message
Fletcher wasn’t liked by King or S.E. Morison both of whom felt he was too cautious, especially when he withdrew the carriers from Guadalcanal. Morison, who tended to be quite judgmental, was especially critical, even years after the war was over. The truth is that he did his best with limited resources. He stopped the Japanese at Coral Sea, and knew when to delegate at Midway. Lundstrom, in BLACK SHOE CARRIER ADMIRAL, gives him the credit that he’s due. Previous Message
Sad that Fletcher is not mentioned in the 2019 movie. He ordered Spruance to "proceed southwesterly and attack enemy carriers when definitely located." Sounds pretty much to me that he was in command. Seems to me he deserved a fifth star for that just like Mitscher deserved a fifth star also. And the army could have given Patton, Eichelberger and Kenney a fifth star as well.
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