Zhou Zhihan and Kimmel rode military motorcycles and arrived at Hickam Airport, which was relatively lightly damaged.
At this moment, the Americans showed a fighting style that was different from their usual laziness. In a short time, they cleared a relatively well-preserved airport runway.
Seven B17 Flying Fortresses are parked on the runway, and two fuel trucks are refueling the last two aircraft. The ammunition has been filled, and technicians are quickly and carefully checking various indicators of the fighter planes.
After the Japanese left, the seven B-17 Flying Fortresses that flew from the land base and escaped the sneak attack landed safely. When they arrived at the airport, the Japanese were attacking. The seven pilots chose to climb to an altitude of 10,000 meters to avoid the Japanese. Machine, preserve strength.
Parked next to the flying fortress were three P40s with bullet marks on their fuselages. It was Second Lieutenant Kenneth Taylor and the others. Their clothes were soaked with sweat. They were holding compressed biscuits brought by the ground crew. Eat voraciously.
Seeing the arrival of Zhou Zhihan and Kimmel, Lieutenant Taylor and the others immediately went up to them. After the military salute, they said eagerly: "General, Colonel Zhou, our three planes only have some bullet marks on their outer shells, but the overall structure is fine. We request to take off. Go find revenge against the Japanese."
Kimmel: "Everything is at Colonel Zhou's discretion."
Zhou Zhihan nodded: "Eat first, and after the mechanic completes the inspection, we will take off immediately."
Lieutenant Taylor and the other three were overjoyed: "Yes!"
The signal soldier said: "There are still 4 B25 bombers and 3 P40s at Wheeler Airport, and there are 5 Wildcats at Ford Island Airport that can take off."
Kimmel's eyes were full of pain. He saw that the entire airport was devastated, with aircraft wreckage everywhere and fires everywhere. His heart felt like a knife was cutting through him, and something seemed to be stuck in his throat. After a long time, he asked: "Everything." At this?"
The communications soldier looked gloomy and his eyes were red: "It's all here. Hickam Airport has the least damage among all airports."
Kimmel did not speak. There were more than 400 fighter planes, but less than 20 could take off. How could he explain to the people, how to explain to the president, and how to explain to the families of those soldiers who died in the war?
"Woo..."
Suddenly, the air defense siren over Pearl Harbor sounded again, and a rapid voice sounded from the loudspeaker: "Attention all units, enemy planes have been spotted, enemy planes have been spotted, prepare to defend..."
Zhou Zhihan's scalp exploded violently. Could it be that he had made a mistake in his judgment and that the Japanese had a third wave of attacks, or did they return after the second wave of attacks left?
Thinking of this, he quickly searched in the air, and sure enough, a group of aircraft appeared in the south.
Suddenly, Zhou Zhihan broke out in cold sweat. At this time, the entire Hickam Airport was the most conspicuous. The seven air fortresses were parked among the scrapped aircraft that were blackened by fire. They were as bright as seven pearls. The Japanese glanced at them. You can see it.
What's even worse is that Kimmel was also there.
Several communications soldiers looked panicked and pulled Kimmel and ran towards the military motorcycle. Once the Japanese launched a bombing on the flying fortress, everyone near the aircraft would suffer. The fuel of the flying fortress was comparable to a small explosives depot. It can destroy everything within a radius of 150 meters.
Kimmel wanted to throw away several soldiers and shouted: "Let me go, I will fight the Japanese to the end."
Several soldiers ignored him and dragged Kimmel to the motorcycle. In times of crisis, their responsibility was to protect Kimmel.
All the reconnaissance planes at the airport had been destroyed by the Japanese, and there were no empty outposts. Several flying fighter planes had just been found from the ruins. The few surviving members of the Flying Tigers and Second Lieutenant Kenneth Taylor had already run out of fuel. Early warning, the ammunition is also used up, so it can only be replenished by landing.
Zhou Zhihan quickly opened his flight helmet, and then he was overjoyed. He shouted loudly to Kimmel, who was being dragged by several soldiers and ran towards the motorcycle: "They are one of our own, reinforcements flying from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise."
At this moment, a voice came from the loudspeaker: "Clear the alarm, clear the alarm, it's our own people flying in. Say it again, it's our own people flying in. Clear the alarm, cancel the alarm..."
It turned out that Lieutenant General Halsey, the commander of the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier, immediately ordered McCluskey and Lindsay to each lead a squadron of Wildcats to quickly support Pearl Harbor after receiving the news that Pearl Harbor had been attacked.
After a slight pause, his "bull" temper came up, and he ordered Dick Best to lead a squadron of Dauntless to Pearl Harbor. In case there was a Japanese aircraft carrier, the appearance of the Dauntless would be a deterrent to the aircraft carrier.
As mentioned before, the Japanese plan to attack Pearl Harbor was not flawless. The U.S. Chief of Staff had sensed the crisis of war and warned the navy, army and air force about it. However, the Japanese were deceived by their negotiation-led stratagem. It caught the eyes of most senior US military officials, so Marshall's warning was not taken seriously by commanders including Kimmel.
But Lieutenant General Halsey, the commander of Task Force 8, nicknamed "Bull", smelled the smell of war.
But he knows that intuition alone cannot convince Kimmel. What Washington wants is evidence, otherwise it will be suspected of disrupting negotiations.
In order to give the Japanese spies in Hawaii the illusion that the USS Enterprise of Task Force 8 was out for routine training, Lieutenant General Halsey thought it was necessary to have the battleship set off with the fleet when he went out.
But the reason why he did not let the battleship set off with the team was because he concluded that the Marine Corps fighter jets must be transported to Wake Island as soon as possible.
Secondly, if a battleship with a speed of only 17 knots and an aircraft carrier, cruiser, and destroyer with a speed of up to 30 knots sail together, it will only get in the way. If it encounters the Japanese fleet in a narrow road, the battleship will be almost unable to protect the American ships, because the biggest factor in ensuring safety at sea is It's speed.
Shortly after Lieutenant General Halsey led the fleet to leave Pearl Harbor, he ordered Captain George D. Marley, the captain of the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier, to issue "Battle Order No. 1", announcing that the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier battle group would begin from now on. Get into combat mode and watch out for enemy submarines.
At the same time, Lieutenant General Halsey ordered all aircraft of the Eighth Task Force to carry bombs or torpedoes, and replace the warheads used for exercises on the torpedo aircraft with actual warheads, and the pilots were ready to take off for combat at any time.
When Operations Staff Officer William H. Blake held the battle order in his hand and was about to issue it to the entire fleet, he approached Vice Admiral Halsey with a puzzled expression: "Commander, do you agree with this order?"
Lieutenant General Halsey: "Agreed!"
Operations Staff Officer William H. Black: "Do you know this order means war?"
"Know."
"However, your commander cannot personally decide to start a war. If something goes wrong, who will be responsible?"
"I'm responsible, okay? If you find the enemy coming, strike preemptively. Any arguments will be discussed later." Lieutenant General Halsey's answer was like his nickname "Bull", and he spoke at a very high decibel level.
"Yes!" William H. Blake said and handed the order to Lieutenant General Halsey for his signature, and then issued the order to prepare for combat.
After receiving the order to prepare for live ammunition combat, the officers and soldiers of the entire fleet were extremely excited. The young people were gearing up and eager to try. Everyone knew that war would come sooner or later.
Next, Halsey ordered the fleet to stop all wireless communications, send out anti-submarine patrol aircraft on alert during the day, and dispatch aircraft twice every morning and evening to search for enemy aircraft and ships within a 483-kilometer radius of the fleet. Therefore, it can be said that if at that time If the keys and submarines of the Japanese advance force attacking Hawaii are discovered, then the United States may be the first to launch the Pacific War.
