The Battle of Midway Roundtable Opening Remarks
Welcome to the March 2020 Battle of Midway RoundTable. First of all I hope everyone is safe. Unprecedented times indeed!
This month we are not as firmly packed as last month but still have some interesting new things. First I found a video of Roger Spooner that was published on March 6th, 2020. Do not know when it was shot but not long ago as far as I can tell. Ron Russell gives his impressions of the Midway Movie after watching it again and Duke Brooks Radio show interviewed Jon Parshall back in November but I did not received a copy of the broadcast till just recently.
Hope everyone is staying safe and now is a good time to read that one book on Midway that we all never got around to.
Enjoy.
Midway 2019 - What they got right
From Ron Russell March 30, 2020
The 1976 version of "Midway" got a cold reception on the Roundtable during its early years. The members, including this one, were harsh on the film for its gross visual errors and that silly soap opera sub-plot about a VF-3 pilot and his Nisei girlfriend. But after trashing it for years, I went contrarian in 2009 and watched it yet again, this time looking for things that the 1976 producers actually got right. I was pleased to find a respectable number of them, and you can read about it in our archives. Click this link and scroll down to "Return to Midway":
http://www.midway42.org/Backissues/2009/2009-16.htm
In the end, I'd actually enjoyed sitting through Midway-76 one more time, even though I'd done it maybe a dozen times before.
Enter Midway-2019. You've seen the criticisms in recent Roundtable newsletters, especially the last issue. But remembering my 2009 experience, I decided to give it another chance. I popped the DVD in the player and sat back with a notepad, expecting to tally a number of well-dones as in '09. But when the film ended, I had a grand total of ONE thing on the paper: the attack on Akagi by Best, Kroeger, and Weber. Everything in that sequence seemed spot-on, down to where each of the three bombs hit. Sadly, nothing else in the entire production merited any ink on my notepad. Unlike 2009, I was not glad I'd sat through the rerun, and this was only the second sitting.
I should qualify that by citing the fine characterizations by a few of the actors, particularly Patrick Wilson and Woody Harrelson, but that's already been done. A movie like "Midway" needs great actors, a historically true script, and accurate special effects--eminently easy to do in the CGI era. But Midway-19 only nailed one of those and that's a real shame.
Speaking of characterizations, this was totally unexpected. If you watch the movie again, notice especially Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano, who played Admiral Yamaguchi. I was astounded at how much he resembles Bill Murray--yes, Bill Murray! The attached photos give you a clue, but it's even more apparent in the video. Check out this short Youtube clip and you'll see what I mean:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m084Eb_aW5Y
Yamaguchi was a very serious warrior, but it's really hard to watch Bill Murray in that role!
--Ron Russell
Editors Note: Thanks. I have to agree. Many things they really messed up. A lot of it had to do with the CGI which for all intents and purposes should have been the easiest to get right. But all or most was done in China so you get what you get. Emmerich had a vision and nobody was going to talk him out of it. Found that out in the first phone call with him. In my opinion the script languished far to long on events leading up to Midway and then it seemed like the actual battle was rushed. For everything they did to get the props correct they failed on many other things. But the story was not about Midway. It just happens to be how the movie ends.
Messerchmitt type fighter
From Brock Howe March 13, 2020
Thanks again for putting together the newsletter. I appreciate it.
I have a question about what is meant by Messerchmitt type fighter in the Scouting Squadron Six Action Report?
"Although several Japanese fighters were observed overhead in position to attack, no attacks were pressed home against 6-S-1 and 6-S-2. A Messerschmitt type fighter was seen to attack 6-S-8 and the fighter was seen to crash into the water in flames.”
Brock Howe
Editors Note: The reference was pretty common early in the war for a few reasons. Despite the fact that the Zero was operating in China before the war little attention was paid to any reports about the fighter. Many still believed that the Japanese had purchased fighters, or the plans to build them, from the Germans and thus the planes the US airmen were encountering were bought from Germany or of German design being produced in Japan. In other words the US was reluctant to believe the Japanese could produce a fighter with the kind of performance they were seeing. Other factors that played into the reports were the unfamiliarity with the Zero in terms of recognition. So the reports continued to reference the airplane they knew that looked similar to the one they saw. This despite the fact that the Zero looked nothing like the ME109, except of course when one of them is shooting at you. Then they all tend to look alike.
Bottom line it was the lack of any intelligence on the Zero that led to the continued use of a ' Messerschmitt type fighter ' referenced in the reports. This was not the only one and not the last. Reports continued well into late 1942 and I think even 1943 as the US started to encounter the Tony, which really did look like a Me109, or at least slightly more than the Zero did.
Catalinas
From Paul Turner March 14, 2020
I am reading the book on Wade Mcclusky and in it he says that the cats picked up American and Japanese survivors. l don't remember seeing anything about Japanese survivors can anyone confirm this?
Great newsletters. Regards Paul Turner
Editors Note: Thanks for the question. I'll add it to the next newsletter and see if anyone has any information. I don't think any Japanese survivors were picked up by the Catalina's but they did spot the 35 survivors from the Hiryu on the 14th and then again on the 19th. Although the Catalinas did not pick up any of the men as they were in a boat and of course there was no room for 35 in a Catalina, they did direct the seaplane tender Ballard to the area and she picked them up. Outside of the two the Trout picked up from the Mikuma on the 9th those were the only Japanese rescued by American forces.
A question about the "Avengers at Midway" pdf file
From Paul Sidle March 23, 2020
Good evening, I am currently doing research on the battle of Midway and felt like doing research on one of the veterans. I chose Harry Fisher who was (as you know) one of the only survivors of Torpedo Squadron 8 (specifically the VT-8 Detachment on Midway Island). I checked out their “story page” and it led me to a pdf file of an article that Earnest and Harry wrote about their experience during the battle (the one titled “Avengers at Midway”). However I could not find the original “paper” that they wrote this article for and was wondering if you guys could give me the source so that I can look it up and maybe get more information
Thanks,
Paul
Editors Note: Thanks for contacting me. The article was originally written for Foundation magazine. Specifically Foundation Magazine - Fall 1996 Naval Aviation Museum Volume 17 Number 2. I think that's what you need but if not let me know. I don't have a copy of the magazine. However I see there are copies of the magazine for sale on ebay. Not sure if this volume is among them currently available but one was just sold a month ago. But a library might have a copy.
From Paul Sidle March 23, 2020
I thank you for the information and will take a look at it. I would like to see any links to any articles about those men to see if there is any that I missed that I can pick up and add to the story. So if you don’t mind that would be great. I think I can find their records on the roundtable through the roundtable archives which shouldn’t be that much of a problem.
Again, I thank you for your time and information!
Thanks,
Paul
Editors Note: Here is a link to the page on the RoundTable when Harry Ferrier passed away. It has some links to articles. Just what I can track down in a jiffy as I knew where they were.
http://www.midway42.org/Backissues/2016/20160501.aspx#Link5
Midway Movie Devastator
Editors Note: Here is a nice little story about the Midway Movie Devastator Replica at the USS Midway Museum.
This Film Replica of the Douglas Devastator Could Pass for the Real Thing
Roger Spooner
Editors Note: Here is a short YouTube posted on March 6th about Roger Spooner who recounts his experience during the Battle of Midway from his post on Yorktown during the battle. Click on the image to watch.
Jon Parshall audio "MIDWAY" review
From Duke Brooks April 3, 2020
Here's an aircheck of the on-air discussion and review that Jon and I had Friday afternoon on the Emmerich film Midway. I have reviewed it on Rotten Tomatoes.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/user/id/978394690/
For some inexplicable reason, this email gathered dust in my 'drafts' folder since the day I quit smoking. Literally.
I remain perplexed by those who say the "original" 1976 Midway was better than the Roland Emmerich film, which, obviously, had more than enough of its own flaws. But, in a way, movies like these are like Gettysburg: one would need 7 or 8 hours to even scratch the surface.
Anyway, I'm still going to have to wait until November 23rd, 2021 at 11:47pm to qualify as a non-smoker again!
Sincerest apologies, and I hope you and yours will stay safe and healthy!
--
Sherwood "Duke" Brooks
On-air host, Radio Free Delmarva NEWS RADIO WGMD 92.7 & WGMD.COM
Jon Parshall audio "MIDWAY" review
Editors Note: Well things happen. I had wondered where our communication broke down on this exchange. Glad we can now give it a listen.
Announcements and Questions
Unloading my Library
From Randy Bedore March 6, 2020
Is there a venue to offer these books for free? Lundstrom, etal...
Editors Note: I'm not sure if you are looking to unload all the books in one place or a few to different people. If you could provide a list some of our members would be interested in any number of them I'm sure. If you have a list I could post it here on the RoundTable and if any member wants any or all of what you have I can provide contact info.
How ready were the Japanese Carriers
From William Longton April 9, 2020
In regards to Mr Parshall and Mr Wohlrab's comments on "How ready were the Japanese Carriers", I just want to say "Thank you". I in NO way wished to give Mitsou Fuchida any credibility for just how prepared the Japanese carriers actually were (and if my original discussion came across that way, please accept my apology). I merely was attempting to generate conversation.
Again, thank you.
Bill
Barrett Tillman comments about the last Newsletter
From Barrett Tillman March 12, 2020
Wow, you stuffed 12 lbs in a 10-lb seabag with the current issue!
A couple of notes:
Ref. USMC Medals of Honor. The list omits LCOL Harold "Joe" Bauer, mentor to so many VMF types including Marion Carl and Joe Foss. I know his son via Golden Eagles, himself a distinguished USMC aviator, test pilot and O-6.
The list also omits then-Major Bob Galer, CO of 224. Like DeBlanc (THERE was a character!), Bob's MoH was a Navy Cross upgrade though Bob's occurred during the war. Got to know him tolerably well--not at all what you'd expect of a Marine ace & general, a lot like Marion in that regard. But he surely got the job done.
(Note: I hope to publish a 2nd edition of my 2002 Smithsonian Press volume Above & Beyond: The Aviation Medals of Honor, including the three subsequent--retroactive--awards since then. SIP tanked a couple years later, and authors were left in the cold. IIRC the publisher was allowed to take the back list and start over, apparently due to connections in "the castle" where the Smithsonian kahunas held sway. Casting about for a likely publisher.)
FDOs and communication: I cannot find a representative date but in the first half of 44 many/most CV aircraft seemed to have four-channel VHF. Maybe Rich Leonard has some insight. Anyway, it was of course a huge factor in improving fleet air defense.
Barrett sends
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