soc.history.war.world-war-ii

In article <0104e5cf-3c3c-4859-b996-0a27dd0816a2@k13g2000hse.googlegroups.com>,
WaltBJ wrote:

>One effect not usually mentioned is the psychological shock - one
>moment the IJN CV force had everything going tis way - the next moment
>they were in the crapper. Genda's comment while he and Fujita were
>looking at burning carriers is a classic - 'Shimatta' - we goofed.
>
The psychological shock was not nearly as great as Fuchida and Genda
wrote. You probably should read "Shattered Sword"; to the best of
my knowledge it's the first good Western book to be based on modern
Japanese scholarship about the battle. Fuchida and Genda were less
than honest.

The Japanese did indeed goof, but it wasn't such a near-run thing
as Fuchida and Genda claim.



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David H. Thornley | If you want my opinion, ask.
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