I'm wondering why they didn't ALL head for Vladivostok... seems a
safer alternative in my mind...

The object was to get the planes to China, where they would have
joined the CATF. They failed because of the early launch (a Japanese
fishing boat / picket boat? spotted the task force), which stretched
the flight beyond their capabilities. Directing them to Russia would
have been to throw away both planes and crews. (Russia was obligated
to intern them, and did so for a time.)

It certainly was a screw-up. What I don't understand is that if the
formation had launched later in the morning, they would have gotten to
China later at night. What chance did they ever have of a safe
landing?

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put CUB in subject line)

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