“The Outsider” - Decades before ‘Flags of our Fathers’ this 1961 film follows Ira Hayes from basic training, to Iwo Jima, and the years following the war. Gain an appreciation of Ira’s demise as survivor’s guilt is thrust into the hero’s spotlight.
Hidden Gem: One of the best accounts of just how happenstance the second flag raising was.
Battle of Midway at the Coral Sea?
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What if, instead of planning the Battle of Midway and the Battle of the Coral Sea, Yamamoto preserved his units until June 1942, when, instead of choosing Midway at the decisive battle, he chose Port Morseby.
This would have numerous advantages. Firstly, obviously the carriers Shokaku, Zuikaku, and Shoho would all be available at full strength as part of the Kido Butai.
More importantly, however, was that since Port Morseby was a prime IJA target, the IJN probably wouldn’t have needed to invade the Aleutians at the same time, freeing up the carriers Junyo and Ryujo.
If the Japanese also planned to include the Zuiho light carrier, this would bring Japanese carrier strength in this hypothetical battle to 10. Meanwhile, the US could probably only field 4 carriers (Yorktown, Hornet, Enterprise and Lexington). While the Saratoga could’ve been added, this would’ve delayed the American response, potentially leading to a loss of surprise (and fitting Japan’s plan).
Assuming some of the more egregious mistakes committed by the Japanese leadership were rectified (particularly concentrating their forces, including all their battleships as carrier escorts into one unified fleet that could support each other), how would the battle have turned out? Would the IJN have won the naval battle? Could the IJA have captured Port Morseby? What would’ve been the outcome of the New Guinea campaign?
How would the Pacific War turn out for the rest of 1942? Obviously the US would still win the overall war, but I’m curious how the local situation would’ve changed in the short term.
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Ya looks like Port Mosby gonna be it !
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