Yokoto Hakegui looked out the window of his Zero fighter as his squadron of aircraft approached Pearl Harbor. The landmarks matched up perfectly. The radio was quiet as he watched the torpedo bombers peel off towards the ships. His squadron would provide support for the bombers and torpedo planes. He began to count the seconds as he waited for the planes to finish their first run. Not too long now. He circled above the clouds, waiting. He knew that by now the American ships should be burning from torpedo and bomb hits, and he desperately wanted to see, but at the same time, his duty was to protect the bombers from any stray American fighters that got off the runway.
His radio crackled, and he expected to hear that the attack was successful, what he heard next made his stomach churn, "Where are the ships? There are warships docked here! The American fleet is gone!" Hakegui waited, hoping to hear better news from the airfield attack group, "There are no aircraft here! No bombers! No fighters!" The fighter pilot cursed, they had no doubt been spotted, and the attack group had already strafed the airfield. Suddenly, a thought flashed into his mind, if there were no fighters on the runway, where were they?
The question was answered a second later, as he heard the chatter of machine-guns and tracers fly by his nose. He turned his head, just as an American fighter went screaming by him in a fast dive. He realized suddenly that the Americans were coming out of the sun. Pulling up and around to face into the flight of enemy fighters, Yokoto saw one of his squadron-mates explode as an American F6F Hellcat fired a burst into the Zero. As he looked up at the sun, squinting to see, he was amazed at the sight that stretched out. All across the sky were the large blue shapes of F4F Hellcats. He had been briefed about the Hellcats, and knew that they were formidable fighters, capable of taking more damage than a Zero, and armed to the teeth. Th F4F couldn't turn with his Zero, Yokoto knew, but if one got a bead on him, that would be it. He pulled up and around again, following an F6F that had dived after him.
As he flew below the cloud layer, Yokoto could see why the Americans were so confident at this altitude: the air was filled with anti-aircraft fire from the ground. He watched as a B6N was shot down by a ground machine gun, and narrowly avoided getting caught in a flack cloud himself.
The fighting was furious, and Yokoto was happy to down two F4Fs in the fighting. Even though they were heavily armored, a burst into the canopy could kill the pilot and take down the aircraft. Getting that shot, was the issue. The torpedo bombers and dive bombers had suffered incredible losses from the F6Fs and the ground fire. Yokoto knew that if they could hold on for just a little longer, the other waves of the assault could swarm the Americans. Over the radio, Yokoto heard the second wave pilots radio their position, and knew they would be engaging shortly.
******
"This is Pearl Harbor Air Defense and Attack Command, all fighters alert, we have more incomings." Peter Lazarus scanned the massive board in front of him. It showed the rough positions of the aircraft groups that Pearl Harbor ADAC was tracking. The airspace was getting increasingly crowded, and the incoming Japanese fighters weren't helping anything. Keying his microphone he adjusted the frequency on his transmitter, "Carrier Group Alpha, where the hell are those fighters?"
The radio spat static for a moment, then, "This is Enterprise ADAC to Pearl Harbor ADAC, bear with us. Aircraft are closing."
"Pearl Harbor ADAC to Enterprise ADAC, we have two more enemy waves incoming. We need those fighters."
"Roger Pearl, aircraft can only fly so fast."
On this receiving frequency, he heard one of the F6F pilots shout, "They're here! The carrier aircraft are here!"
Peter turned his chair to look out the window and had to grin, the eastern sky was filled with F6F Hellcats,
"Enterprise ADAC, nevermind, they're here."
"Pearl, be advised, P-51s from Honolulu ADAC are fifteen minutes out."
******
Yokoto heard a swear over the radio and scanned the horizon, his heart sinking as he saw the swarm of American F6F Hellcats. If the Wildcats were dangerous, the Hellcats were murder. More maneuverable, with better armor and guns, a Hellcat could incinerate a Zero in one burst, while taking almost an entire magazine to destroy. He turned after a Wildcat in front of him, trying to get a bead on the cock-pit to take down the pilot. More Zeros were inbound from the carriers, but he had a suspicion that the Americans had more of their own aircraft on the way.
He fired, taking down his third F4F with a well aimed shot into the canopy. If they could just hold the Americans for a little longer, they had a chance to escape.
******
"Christ! Where are these Jap planes coming from?!" Peter was getting worried, the Japanese fighters could swamp the F4Fs and F6Fs at this rate. The Japanese were taking extremely heavy losses, but no one knew how much they would take before retreating, or if they would retreat at all. Peter keyed his microphone, "Charlie Arrow Niner Three, land on runway two, north face." Charlie Arrow Niner Three was an F4F that had been deployed from the Pearl Harbor airbase, and had taken severe damage from a Japanese Zero, and it wasn't the only one. Severely damaged fighters were landing constantly and the air traffic control crews had been swamped, leading ADAC to also direct in aircraft.
Switching back to the combat frequency, "All fighters, be advised, Japanese third wave incoming." Glancing at the RADAR, he cursed, another flight, muting his microphone he shouted to the officer in charge of identifying the aircraft: matching the radio calls to the RADAR images, "Who's aircraft are those? A Jap fourth wave?"
"Sir, I have no darn clue."
Taking a risk, Captain Lazarus keyed his microphone again, "Unknown aircraft, approach bearing four, identify."
A distinctly mid-west voice answered, "This is Golf Spear Five Two, we're incoming on approach four, request permission to engage those Jap aircraft."
Lazarus smiled, "Permission granted, give 'em hell for us."
"We will. Five Two out."
******
Heart sinking, Yokoto watched the gleaming silver war-birds diving into combat. Naval intelligence had little information on the brand new US P-51 fighters. All he knew was the rumors that had circulated on the carrier. They were fast, maneuverable, and just as heavily armed as the Hellcats. He banked hard, falling in behind two of P-51s, aiming for their wings. Suddenly, one split to the left, the other to the right. Following his instincts, Yokoto broke after the one on the left.
******
"Schwartz, he's breaking on you."
Lt. Robert Schwartz shifted to look out behind him at the Japanese Zero, shifting back he radioed, "Roger, coming back."
Pulling back and to the right, Johnson counted the seconds as his plane turned. He winced as the Jap fired, and the cockpit was filled with the "pinging" sound of bullets striking the P-51. As he straightened out, he heard the pitch change to the deeper thud of .50 caliber machineguns from his wing-mate. At the same time, he hauled up hard on the stick and pushed the throttle full forward, feeling the entire plane vibrate as the huge Merlin engine roared to full power. Glancing behind, the Jap was still following him, Schwartz's own wingmate hot on the Zero's tail.
******
Cursing, Yokoto realized what had happened. The Americans had broken apart, and whichever one he followed, the other would be sitting on his tail. The zero was climbing after the P-51, and Yokoto watched as his airspeed started to slow. He pulled back hard, feeling the aircraft starting to stall, even as the P-51 climbed higher. Pulling back over his head, and flipping over towards the ground, Yokoto turned his head, eyes following the first P-51 as it flipped over and dived after him.
Yokoto saw the wings of the P-51 sparkle as the .50 caliber machine-guns fired. Pulling up hard to avoid the ground, the Japanese pilot felt his aircraft shudder from the G-forces. Then a second later, he heard the sound of metal tearing as .50 caliber slugs tore into his right wing. The Zero reacted almost immediately, suddenly starting to roll to the right. Yokoto pulled back on the power as he struggled to keep the aircraft level as it began to descend into the bay. The two P-51s flew over his head, one of them doing a full roll as they climbed back towards the cloud layer. Yokoto glanced at his altimeter and swore, any lower and he was in the water.
The aircraft bucked, and began to skip as it hit the water, the propeller coming loose and flashing by the cockpit glass. The aircraft bounced a couple times, the already weakened right wing flying loose after the third bounce, before coming to a stop. Yokoto opened up his canopy and jumped out onto the left wing, pulling out his Nambu pistol as an American patrol boat sped towards him. Just as they reached him, he placed the pistol to his head and pulled the trigger.
It jammed.
*******
Robert lined up behind another Zero, squeezing the trigger and landing a direct hit on the Zero's fuel tank. The Japanese aircraft bursting into flames as the incendiary rounds punched into the tank. He absently counted four in his mind, another one and he'd make ace on the first day of the war. He rolled over, diving down beneath the cloud layer, and right into the massive dog-fight below. Everywhere US aircraft were engaging Japanese aircraft. He could see to his right another group of P-51s out of Honolulu, still in formation, diving on a group of Japanese torpedo bombers. Off to his left, he could see a Zero trying to get a clean shot on an F4F. Rolling upright, he reduced power and dropped in behind the Zero, close enough to see the pilot concentrate solely on the F4F in front of him.
With a squeeze of the trigger, the six .50 caliber machine-guns roared to life, ripping into the thin skin of the Zero and sending it spiraling towards the ground. As he slammed his throttle to full, and buzzed by the F4F, the other pilot flashed him a salute and peeled off to engage a group of dive bombers that had recently arrived. Schwartz counted off in his head, 'Five' with a smile. Ace on the first day.
*******
"This is ADAC Pearl Harbor, the Japanese aircraft are retreating. All American land based fighters, assume Combat Air Patrol around Pearl Harbor, carrier aircraft, return to your carriers for re-arm and refuel."
Peter turned to the communications officer, "Send to Washington, 'We have engaged enemy fighters. Alert Midway and Wake garrisons. Enemy aircraft have been defeated. Minimal fighters losses, minimal damage to base. Aircraft returning."
*******
As Robert touched down his aircraft on one of Pearl's run-ways, he counted off as his squadron landed. All aircraft. Good.
An Army officer was running up to his aircraft, a flight crew short behind. Pulling open the canopy, and turning off the engine, Lt. Schwartz had to wonder what was going on. The army officer shouted above the sounds of emergency sirens, aircraft engines, and the few ack-ack guns still firing at retreat Japanese aircraft, "Lt. Schwartz. You and your squadron and to get airborne immediately. You are being redeployed to Guam to assist our forces there. We will refuel you and get drop-tanks fitted." The Army officer handed him the flight packet, "Now get airborne Lieutenant. We have a war to win."