On the 22nd, after the battleship "Kaga" sailed into Danguan Bay, the mobile forces were assembled.

On the 23rd, taking the opportunity of the joint operational meeting, each ship separately conveyed to the crew of the mobile unit the intention of the air attack on Pearl Harbor. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor made the crew feel very sudden, and it may have been a mixture of joy and sorrow for them personally. But in general, they did not waver in the slightest and were not so excited. Through the preparation for the battle, they already felt that the time for war was not far off. They had expected that they might have to go to war in the south; There may also be talk of air strikes in Singapore and other places. However, the mobile force came to the northernmost point of Shan Guan Bay. I didn't guess, so they guessed again, is it going to be a war with China? However, it was soon announced that the air raid on Pearl Harbor was going to be carried out. The officers in charge of each ship repeatedly enumerated to their subordinates the old and new hatreds of the United States and tried their best to make them share the same hatred and hatred of the enemy in order to raise morale.

On the second day of the joint combat meeting, that is, on 24 July, the captains of each flight gave an account of their combat missions to the pilots on the aircraft carrier where they were located in accordance with the attack plan. On that day, all the flight crews of the aircraft carriers participating in the attack on Pearl Harbor took turns to come to the "Pancheng" as a flight team to visit the sand table models of Oahu and Pearl Harbor. The commander-in-chief, Mitsuo Fuchida, stood next to the model, pointed with a whip and explained the terrain and the essentials of the attack. For example, he explained to the pilots of the torpedo fleet: "The torpedo fleet received the order to attack here, rushed into the valley into the col, and then made a detour like this, passing the obstacle in the factory area at a height of 50 meters to the shore." It's the same as when I was in Kagoshima Bay. As soon as you fly to the shore, immediately reduce the altitude to 20 meters, and immediately drop mines. This is Ford Island, where the targets may be side by side. Note that this distance is only 500 meters. The depth of the water here is only 12 meters. It was here that we carried out our hard-trained shallow sea torpedo attacks. Be especially careful, otherwise the torpedo will go to the bottom of the sea. Start with the vanguard squadron and attack from right to left in turn. Don't just pick the best targets and concentrate too much in one place. A squadron attacks a warship. ”

From morning to night, he explained more than 40 times in a row. From the torpedo squadron, the horizontal bomber squadron, the dive bomber squadron, and the air supremacy fighter squadron, they all fully explained their respective tasks in the light of the sand table. By the evening, Fuchita's voice was a little hoarse.

The soldier is in the situation. When the pilots heard that they were going to fight at Pearl Harbor, their will to fight was immediately aroused. The number of days and nights of intense training, the hasty preparation for the division, and the ensuing voyage all made them feel that the action of the mobile unit was by no means an ordinary voyage, but a departure for war. Such tense movements, as well as the influence of the historical atmosphere and traditions of the Navy, have given them full confidence in the upcoming combat operations.

Fuchida, who stayed at the flight command post, felt deeply about the fighting spirit of the team members. He was relieved of their mental state and thought it should be.

"However, if we fight like this, can we win?" In Fuchida's mind, such a question could not be suppressed.

As a soldier, you are bound to fight on the battlefield, and you must win the battle. For the sake of victory, he himself had a different view on the fundamental issue of operational guidance. However, on the battlefield, what can be done if there is a disagreement with the order, the only way to do it is to fight to the best of your ability.

This attack on Pearl Harbor, as a first move, is the best operational scenario. Although he was not satisfied with the fundamental focus, there was no way. In terms of operational guidance, he believed that the U.S. Pacific Fleet should be annihilated from the beginning, and then occupy the Hawaiian Islands and advance toward the U.S. mainland. You shouldn't stretch your hand too long all at once, like the Philippines, Malaya, Guam, and so on. Resources are important, and they can fight a protracted war, but they can't compare to the resources of the United States. Militarily, the South is a vacuum forgotten by the world, and as long as the war in the Pacific goes well, it will be within reach. Isn't it okay to fight against the United States and not advance eastward, didn't Chief Yamamoto once say, "You can't bear the responsibility for more than a year"? In that case, isn't there a kind of combat scenario that will end in a big fight and victory in a year?

Of course, in any case, the US Pacific Fleet must first be completely annihilated. Now that the task was given to him, he decided that he had to do it. But what if Pearl Harbor had no enemy ships?

Thinking of this, Yuantian's heart couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive.

Speaking of a decisive battle with the enemy, what if the US Pacific Fleet was encountered during this sortie voyage? What if this happens tomorrow? At the moment, the two sides have not officially declared war, and what should be done in the event of a meeting between the two fleets? Do you pretend to be indifferent and order to return?

No, no! From now on, as long as you encounter the Pacific Fleet, you must immediately pounce on it and wipe it out!

Fuchida thought to himself, this is like a war. If it were me, we'd do it. If Nagumo is hesitant, I will definitely make a suggestion to him.

At this time, Fuchida was full of thoughts. He had secretly made up his mind. Now his whole idea is, from a purely military point of view, to win this war.

Soon, the fleet was lined up in sailing formation. 8 large aircraft carriers were in the center, lined up in two columns. On the outer four corners of the aircraft carrier there were 4 battleships and 8 heavy cruisers, and behind the aircraft carrier were eight tankers. Around these ships, groups of destroyers were on guard. Directly in front of this circular formation. About 200 nautical miles ahead of the circular formation, there are three submarines, which are tasked with patrolling the route. This is a majestic fleet that puts the stormy waters of the North Pacific out of bounds. The fleet sailed to the standby sea north of Hawaii at a speed of 14 knots. On November 30, five days after departing from Single-Crown Bay, the fleet had sailed to the 170-degree east longitude line and completed its first refueling at sea.

In view of the possibility of US submarine patrols, the mobile unit has implemented 24-hour vigilance against submarines since its departure from Shan Guan Bay. At the same time, it is estimated that the patrol circle of the US patrol aircraft is 600 nautical miles, and in order to avoid the patrol planes, the mobile force sails in the waters between the Aleutian Islands and Midway.

Since its departure, it has been covered with thick clouds, and this natural curtain has obscured the mobile unit, making it difficult for patrol planes to detect it. On the days when refueling was scheduled, the sea was relatively stable, and on November 30 the fleet carried out the first refueling operation: then on the 6th and 7th the two days in a row the refueling was smoothly refueled. The sea was relatively calm and did not appear in the rough waves that often set off during the season, so the refueling operation was not only carried out smoothly, but also the preparation of equipment was relatively easy. This is also beneficial for maintaining the physical strength of the crew, especially the flight personnel.

In order to keep the secret attempt, the attacking fleet imposed strict radio control on the mobile units that continued their voyages smoothly under favorable meteorological conditions - they only received and did not transmit. In the radio room of the USS Pancheng, dozens of radio soldiers on duty listened attentively to the radio in Tokyo with headphones, and did not miss radio movements on the Hawaiian side or telegrams sent from other places.

For several days, the entire fleet moved at full speed, leaving a thick, wide, long, and conspicuous snow-white trail on the sea. The flight deck of each aircraft carrier is lined with planes with their wings outstretched. The engine rumbled. Some planes carried large bombs, others hung torpedoes. Those torpedoes hanging under the fuselage shimmered with a cold light from the lead-gray mine shell.

The planes on each aircraft carrier that are ready for attack are lined up on the take-off line in the order of fighters first and then attack planes. Pilots assemble in the pilot's standby room and wait for orders. The waves were very large, and the aircraft carrier, traveling at high speed, swayed quite violently. In the dark sea, a long white trail was drawn behind the stern of the ship, gradually spreading wider. From time to time, large waves hit the flight deck. The ground crew, who were responsible for securing the aircraft, tried to keep the aircraft from the rocking of the warship and to keep the aircraft moving.

Mitsuo Fuchida, who served as the commander-in-chief of the air raid flight team, wore a flight suit and came to the war room.

"Report sir, we're on our way."

"Oh."

Nagumo Zhongyi stood up, held Fuchita's hand tightly, and said, "It's all up to you!" He followed Fuchida down to the pilot's standby room. The captain of the "Iwajo", Kiichi Hasegawa, also arrived from the bridge. The lights in the standby room are dim. The cramped standby room was packed, and some flight personnel stood in the aisle. A blackboard hanging on the wall of the standby room reads the location of the flagship at 1:30 a.m.: 230 nautical miles north of Oahu.

"Stand upright!" Fuchida shouted the command and saluted Captain Hasegawa.

Captain Hasegawa raised his voice and ordered: "Set off according to the original order!" ”

Pilots run directly from the standby room to their respective aircraft. Fuchida was the last to leave the standby room. At the flight command post, the captain of the "Iwajo," Masago Masuda, was giving instructions to the take-off and landing crews, and the wind was whining on the bridge. From time to time, big waves hit the flight deck. The sky was pitch black, and there was no water antenna in sight.

The aircraft engine began to turn. The aircraft carrier turned the rudder and began to sail against the wind. After the test run, the aircraft turned on the navigation lights. Under the vibration of the aircraft propellers, the tiny lights of the navigation lights flickered.

The blue signal lights of the flight command post indicating take-off are constantly drawn in circles. The fighters in front of the flight deck began to take off.

The engines rumbled, and the plane began to glide slowly. The aircraft carrier still swayed violently, and the flight deck swayed with it. With each shake, the people who saw them off looked nervously at the plane. However, before the next swing arrived, the plane had already taken off. The same goes for the next plane. Immediately a stormy cheer rang out from the aircraft carrier. People waved their hats, waved their arms, and some waved small flags to see off the pilots.

Soon the silence of dawn was broken by the roar of planes taking off, and the first plane glided smoothly and watched as it picked up speed and flew briskly from the mothership. Then, the second, the third...... Looking up at the sky, the blue and red lights of the plane's navigation lights fly in the flashing lights everywhere. It was the plane assembling after liftoff. Soon, a formation group of 276 aircraft successively took off from 8 aircraft carriers and appeared over the fleet.

The time is 5 a.m., or 1:30 a.m. Tokyo time on December 8.

Under the guidance of the commander-in-chief, the formation of the first attack wave circled over the mobile force and then flew over the flagship "Pancheng" in the direction of Oahu.

Behind the commander-in-chief aircraft were 78 aircraft of the horizontal bomber fleet led directly by Fuchida. In the air on the right, 500 meters, 200 meters lower than the horizontal bomber fleet, it was commanded by Murata's naval major. Torpedo fleet of 60 aircraft. In the 500-meter air on the left, flying 200 meters above the horizontal bomber fleet, there was a dive bomber fleet of 72 planes under the command of Admiral Takahashi. Commanded by Itaya Navy Rear Shozo. The air supremacy fighter squadron, composed of 66 aircraft, served as a guard and cover 500 meters above the formation group. Dense clouds are 200 meters high. The formation group gradually rises and flies over the clouds to facilitate shade. Soon, the eastern sky began to dawn, and the sea of clouds in the black stream cave under his feet gradually turned white. The sky gradually turned blue. After a while, a round of red rose from the east, and the edge of the sea of clouds with white flowers was golden.

"What a glorious dawn!" Fuchida couldn't help but shout.

He opened the windshield and looked back at the formation group. From the plane closest to him, the squad leader, Captain Iwai, waved and smiled at him. The planes were particularly dazzling in the morning light.

The hands of the speedometer point to one hundred and twenty-five knots. Quite a tailwind. In less than an hour, the formation group could reach Oahu.

Since the sea surface cannot be seen through the clouds, it is impossible to measure the deflection current. In this case, flying towards Oahu will unwittingly deflect the plane. Flying on the clouds, it is easy to make such mistakes. Just after 7 o'clock in Honolulu time, Fuchida turned on the direction finder switch and receiver to receive radio waves from Radio Honolulu.

Fuchida turned the dial, and immediately received a relaxing jazz music program, and the sound was very loud. Fuchida listened to jazz music with his ears and watched with his eyes, and he was single-mindedly thinking about how to command this battle. The reconnaissance aircraft has so far not reported the situation.

It was 3:10 a.m. The formation had already taken off for 1 hour and 40 minutes, and it was about to reach Oahu, but the clouds were still continuous, and the shadow of Oahu could not be seen. It's time for reconnaissance planes to fly over enemy areas, did they reconnoiter well? Fuchida Nakasa thought left and right, staring ahead.

At this moment, the clouds under his feet suddenly thinned, and he looked through the gap in the clouds to see the long white band of shore waves below.

Coastline!

"Captain Matsuzaki, look down. Like the coast. Fuchida shouted.

"Yes, it's the coast!"

Fuchida hurriedly unfolded the air map of Oahu and judged the terrain. Now, the fleet has accurately reached the skies over Cape Kahuku at the northern tip of Oahu.

"Captain Matsuzaki, this is Cape Kahuku at the northern tip of Oahu. Now turn right and follow the coast to the west side of the island. ”

"Yes, turn right."

The commander made a sharp turn to the right, and the follow-up formation group also turned back to the west side of Oahu. When turning, the follow-up formation group can be clearly seen from the commander's aircraft. Fuchida Nakasa opened the windshield, stood up and counted. It's good that not a single plane is left behind.

"Captain Matsuzaki!" Fuchida Nakasa shouted to the driver through the microphone.

"Yes!"

"Enemy aircraft may appear in the sky above the left of Oahu. Watch out! ”

"Yes!"

Fuchida Navy Nakasa also kept his eyes wide open, paying attention to the sky over Oahu, for fear of missing a little black shadow.

There is no shadow of enemy aircraft anywhere. There were just clouds over Oahu. The ground is not visible except for the coastline. But it was almost time to give the order to unfold.

Fuchida Navy Nakasa asked the radio soldier through the microphone: "Mizuki Hyocao, did the reconnaissance plane report the situation?" ”

"The situation has not been reported yet."

Fuchida Navy Nakasa said to the pilot again: "Captain Matsuzaki, the reconnaissance plane has not reported the situation yet. It seems that the surprise attack is not a problem. ”

"Yes, I think it does."

"Okay, then let's give the order to unfold. The horizontal bomber fleet just made a detour to the west. ”

"Yes!"

Fuchida raised his flare gun and fired a flare out of the plane.

A fiery dragon dragged the smoke and cut through the sky.

This is the signal that ordered the troops to deploy.

At this time, it is 8:3:10 Tokyo time (7:40 July Honolulu time).

And that's when the first accident happened.

"Reconnaissance aircraft report! Spot enemy fighters! Spot enemy fighters! Mizuki Bingcao's anxious voice came.

"What?!" Fuchida couldn't help but be surprised.

"Could it be that the news has leaked?" Matsuzaki was also shocked, "Or have the people of the United States discovered us?" ”

"No matter! No matter what, this battle will be fought! Fuchida gritted his teeth, looked at the air supremacy fighter group above the formation, and said loudly.

At this time, Fuchida did not know that the American fighter planes were able to take off in time to intercept them, and it was the American radar that discovered them when the northern tip of Oahu was still shrouded in night. Two U.S. Private Logard and Lewis said goodbye to their sweet dreams and went to the Opana mobile air defense radar station, where they were both on duty today.

Lokad and Lewis are both more experienced radar soldiers and are proficient in radar skills. Time flies. According to the regulations, they will turn off their phones at 7 o'clock. At 7:02, Lokad was about to turn off the phone and leave, when he suddenly noticed a light spot on the radar scope. Lokad was surprised: it was a bit of an anomaly, and there were very few planes flying in the early hours of the morning. Lokad guessed that there was a problem with the air defense radar components. He began to inspect the equipment, but after checking it out, he found nothing wrong. He finally decided: it was an airplane! He had already been mentally prepared in advance, and it immediately occurred to him that these planes flying towards them might be enemies.

(To be continued)