Midway

Although I said it was a bit of luck of Uncle Sam in the Midway Island, it is in fact difficult to tell whether it was sheer luck, or it was some fortunate happenings awarded to those who were well prepared.

The detailed sequence of the event on 4 June 1942 (what a date !) is well know. The Japanese carrier Akagi (赤城) sank for just one bomb, Soryu (蒼龍) for three, and Kaga (加賀) for merely a few more - lost with the carriers were the accompanying aircraft and experienced crews.

Why were these well-armed carriers so fragile ? It was luck: The American dive-bombers arrived at the perfect time to attack the Japanese carriers: armed Japanese strike aircraft filled the hangar decks, fuel hoses snaked across the decks as refueling operations were hastily completed, and bombs and torpedoes were stacked around the hangar, making the Japanese carriers extraordinarily vulnerable.

But, why were the US army so lucky ?

They did their homework. Oh, I mean they broke the code of electric communication between Japanese army some time before the battle, so that the Americans were well informed of the whereabouts of the naval force under Emperor Showa.

Alas, I shall not dwell on the story. Just that next time when you want to complain of having tough luck, make sure you've done your part well.

PS. I learn much about the happenings at the Midway island from a history teacher of mine in the secondary school, who apparently wrote his master thesis on this topic. I must thank (not him but) my headmaster for allowing such kind of irrelevant teaching in his school.