Pearl Harbor Defense

The Hawaiian Air Force had 64 P-40s and 20 P-36s in
commission that morning

Every air force that is surprised is overwhelmed. Pearl (nor Manila
either) isn't an example of how the U.S. army and navy aircraft fared
against the Japanese versions, but of how badly you fight when the
ammunition is locked up and you have been partying all night and, more
important, your tactics are premised on peacetime conditions.

As posted, the Wildcat pilots fought the Zero pilots to a draw over
the first six months. In Burma, the AVG in P-40Bs did better than
that. Neither plane (Wildcat nor Tomahawk) was anything to be ashamed
of, and the Zero and the Hayabusa were far from being invincible.


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

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