Isoroku Yamamoto, known as the "gambler," was a command genius in the Japanese Navy, known for his ability to make bold and even risky decisions. On December 8, 1941, he successfully planned and organized the attack on Pearl Harbor, which basically destroyed the U.S. Naval Air Force stationed at Pearl Harbor, paralyzing Pearl Harbor and killing more than 2,300 naval officers. The Japanese army won a great victory that made the American army shudder. Immediately, the United States, which had always watched the wealth of the war, declared war on Japan. At this point, this global war gradually clarified two fronts, the war between the righteous allies of the United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union against Germany, Italy, and Japan against humanity.
Isoroku Yamamoto was proud of his "genius" plot, because the united States truthfully reported the loss of Pearl Harbor far exceeded his imagination. Triumphantly, he began to further plan, attacking Midway and other islands to eliminate the military operations of the US Pacific Fleet.
At this time, the United States, like a fish in the throat, began to wake up, facing a series of island battles in the Pacific Ocean, under the control of the cunning and bold Japanese officers such as Yamamoto Isoroku, and the unpredictable losses and hardships.
On the evening of April 17, 1943, Major Michelle, the leader of the P-38 Lightning fighter of the U.S. Cactus Aviation Unit, received an order from his superiors to come to the guadalcanal aviation unit war room with two of his most capable squadron leaders, Thomas and Lieutenant Ranfia.
The war room was very secluded, and when Major Michelle and Lieutenant Ranfia walked in, they felt the gravity of the air. All the officers of the island were gathered at the meeting. General Mitchell read Nimitz's orders in public. The task given by the order seemed simple—to kill Isoroku Yamamoto, whom the Americans hated to the bone. But it will not be easy. Michelle understood that with his duties and skills, this task was not his and Lanfia's.
American pilots who participated in the war
Michelle and Ranfia mentally assessed that Bougainville was 520 kilometers away from them, and that the only person who could accomplish the task was a P-38 Lightning fighter. This aircraft is an advanced fighter of the US military, with a maximum flight speed of 576 kilometers per hour and a maximum payload range of about 3600 kilometers . In addition, the P-38 Lightning fighter also has an unusually ferocious firepower, with a 20 mm caliber aircraft gun and 4 12.7 mm machine guns. Attacks of such fighters can be carried out at long distances. In addition, the performance of this fighter is very good, far exceeding the Japanese "Zero" fighter.
Fighter jets used by the U.S. military
After deliberation, Mitchell decided to intercept Yamamoto's plane 56 kilometers north of the airport before landing, in an attempt to annihilate him in one fell swoop! Moreover, Mitchell's military order was like a mountain: "No matter what the cost and sacrifice, we must solve the problem of dropping Yamamoto fifty-six."
Specific arrangements: Major Michelle led 12 aircraft to cover and divert the escort plane protecting Yamamoto; Lieutenant Lanfia took six planes to take cover, and after the Japanese escort plane was led away by Michelle's plane, Lanfia destroyed Yamamoto's aircraft as quickly as possible.
Aerial interception
April 18, 1943 was Sunday, and it was destined to be unforgettable. On this day a year ago, Tokyo, Japan, was bombed by the US aircraft carrier "Bumblebee", and the whole of Japan panicked. Today, one year later, will also be a special day. The time had finally come when the sharp knife came out of its sheath and shocked the world.
Intercept the Yamamoto Route
Yamamoto's fifty-six sense of time is very strong. On the day of departure, early in the morning, he was in high spirits, wearing a grass-green military uniform, a general's badge hanging from his chest, snow-white gloves, and a sword to the airport. He was accompanied by eight staff members of the Joint Fleet Command of Chief of Staff Ugaki and Rabaul. They flew in two separate planes, Yamamoto and Ugaki on aircraft One and Two respectively.
Yamamoto walked into his landline, the "One" land-based attack plane, turned around and instructed any of the Rabaul naval commanders, Kusaka, who had come to see him off: "I will leave there tomorrow morning, and come back at dusk, remember to wait for me at dinner."
At exactly 6 a.m., Yamamoto departed rabaul by plane.
The "One" land-based attack aircraft was famous at the time, and was called "flying cigar" by Japanese pilots. "There are two engines and the range is extremely strong. But it was to improve the endurance that the designers deliberately reduced the thickness of the deck. As a result, such aircraft become vulnerable. The two brand-new "One" land-based attack aircraft flew south at an altitude of 3,000 meters, escorting six Zero fighters over them.
Previously, the Japanese army was also worried that the US army would sneak attack Yamamoto, but now it seems that it is completely unnecessary, because the three-hour flight has been safe, which proves that the Japanese army did not know about this operation. Soon, the Type I land attack aircraft appeared on the island of Bougainville, and the aircraft was ready to lower its altitude, intending to land at Baler airfield.
At this time, the US pilots were also nervous and busy.
In the early morning of April 18, 1943, at Henderson Airport in Guadalcanal, all the American pilots who participated in the event were waiting. They looked solemn and solemn as if they were facing a great enemy. Major General Mitchell rushed to the airport, and after seeing Michelle and his pilot, he issued a final order: "No matter what kind of difficulties you encounter, you must resolutely complete your mission."
At 7:35, the U.S. military began to start the first aircraft, and in the deafening roar of the engine, Michelle flew first. Then, 16 planes assembled in the air, skimmed over Yellin, the mountains, and plunged into the depths of the sky.
The straight-line distance from Guadalcanal to Baler is 480 km. For the sake of safety and prudence, the most important thing was to avoid the Japanese radar system, and the U.S. military decided to take a detour. According to the time calculation, the two sides should meet in the air at 9:35. Michelle estimated that about 3,000 meters should be the altitude of Yamamoto's fifty-six-seater, so the U.S. sniper team should fly at an altitude of 3,500 meters. And 6,000 meters should be the altitude at which its cover team flew.
The US military's 16 P-38 aircraft group flew for nearly two hours, and after flying nearly a thousand kilometers with only a speedometer navigation and a compass, they still arrived at the scheduled ambush site on time, which can be said to have created a miracle, which is incredible. As the U.S. military fleet crossed bougainville's green coastline and hovered over a jungle, Michelle looked at the time and pointed the hour hand to 9:34, only 45 seconds ahead of Yamamoto's landline.
At 9:35 a.m., 56 kilometers north of Baler, Major Michelle's dream target, Yamamoto Fifty-Six's landline, finally appeared. These American pilots had wide angry eyes and angry hearts, and they hated Yamamoto Isoroku, and it was this guy who had inflicted unprecedented humiliation on the United States and caused the Most Severe Blow to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. When they accepted this task, they were determined to die and vowed to kill Yamamoto Fifty-Six.
At this time, Lan Feiya suddenly shouted, "Look, Yamamoto, I'm coming to the appointment on time!"
Just as the U.S. military spotted the Japanese fleet, Japanese fighter jets not far away spotted them. The Japanese Zero fighters, escorting Yamamoto, immediately entered a combat state and threw off the auxiliary fuel tank.
According to the original plan, Michelle immediately led several planes to climb to an altitude of 6,000 meters, and the Japanese "Zero" fighter saw this situation and immediately dropped Yamamoto's landplane and climbed to an altitude of 6,000 meters to fight the US army.
Sure enough, the plan to turn the tiger away from the mountain worked. Lanfia, who was responsible for intercepting sniper missions, saw the Japanese "Zero" fighters and ran to an altitude of 6,000 meters, immediately turned the nose and rushed toward Yamamoto's fifty-six landplane. For a moment, four p-38 Lightning fighters surrounded Yamamoto's landplane. In an instant, the fighter jets piloted by Ranfia and Babal "bit" the two "one" land-based attack aircraft to death.
Seeing this scene, the Japanese "Zero" escort aircraft found that they had been deceived. He hurriedly swooped down with all his might, trying to rush down to cover Yamamoto's landline. But all this can no longer be reversed.
Lambia and Babal flew two P-38 Lightning fighters against two Type I land-based attack aircraft. Aiming at the one in front of him, Ranfia rushed over the throttle and pulled the trigger of the machine gun. Suddenly, the plane in which Isoroku Yamamoto was riding was hit by several rounds of gunfire and began to catch fire. In a moment, the plane with purple flames crashed, and the wreckage scattered down into the jungle below. Babal hit the plane on which the Japanese chief of staff, Ugaki, was riding, and staggered into the sea, and before the plane sank to the bottom of the sea, Ugaki struggled and swam to the shore to survive.
Yamamoto was shipwrecked
Yamamoto's plane was destroyed and the ambush was over. This beautiful ambush took only 3 minutes. At 9:38, the U.S. military returned to Guadalcanal.
The so-called cherry blossoms are the spiritual symbol of the Japanese people
Like most Japanese people, Yamamoto has a strong cherry blossom complex, but the cherry blossoms don't shine forever as he thinks, just stand out for a while.