Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.

Let's get to it.

Gamerman22: Missouri will definitely be using her Harpoons in this battle.

Chapter 32- First Attack

(North-west of Midway)

In the cockpit of his P-38 Lightning, Richard Bong watches as the clouds begin to thin out. He's definitely feeling a bit nervous. Based on his calculations and his observations, and according to the report on the location of the Japanese fleet, they should be reaching the Japanese fleet soon.

Suddenly, Bong sees a hole opening in the clouds. Approaching the opening in the clouds, he gets a look through it, and smiles a bit as he sees the Japanese fleet through the hole in the clouds.

"We got the fleet in our sights. Start your runs!" Bong calls out through his radio. He and the rest of the P-38s push the throttles forward a little bit, advancing ahead of the B-17s. The TBMs and B-25s descend to just above the ocean, while the Corsairs come down to 1,500 feet to help cover the torpedo bombers.

Finally, the strike force comes through the clouds completely into full view of the Japanese fleet. On board the ships, Japanese gunners shout warnings and begin to train the guns in their direction.

A force of almost 60 Zeros is patrolling over the Japanese fleet, with more Zeros ready on the decks of the carriers ready to go. The Zeros swarm towards the incoming bombers, ready to intercept.

However, as the Zeros head for the torpedo planes and SBDs (the B-17s escaping their notice), Bong calls out on his radio, "Let's jump their a****!" The P-38s nose down and dive towards the Zeros.

The Zeros don't notice the P-38s until the Lightnings start firing their machine guns and cannons at them. Five Zeros go down in flames before the P-38s pull out of their dives and start climbing again. Thirty two Zeros turn and climb after them, thinking they will be able to best the Lightnings. The remaining 23 Zeros continue towards the torpedo planes.

However, they quickly realize that things will not be so easy. As the Zeros approach the torpedo planes, the escorting Corsairs turn straight towards them to intercept them. Sixteen of the Zeros break off to engage the Corsairs, while the remaining 7 head for the torpedo planes.

However, the Avengers and Mitchells are ready for them. As the Zeros start firing at them, they start returning fire with their tail gunners. The Zeros start performing slashing attacks, hoping to minimize their exposure to return fire. Several Avengers fall, as well as a Mitchell, but the American planes also succeed in downing three of the marauding Zeros.

As the Avengers and Mitchells begin their runs, the SBDs nose over and begin their dives on the Japanese fleet. Unlike in the original version of history, these SBD pilots from Midway are all well trained in dive bombing, and many of them have combat experience from the New Britain campaign. Most of the SBDs dive towards some of the small carriers, but some target some of the escorts.

As the bombers are beginning their runs, the P-38s and the Corsairs are trying their best to fend off the Zeros. Though outnumbered, the American pilots are determined to keep the fighters occupied, and are using their fighters' specific strengths to keep the Japanese on their toes. Particularly their advantage in speed and vertical manuevers.

Japanese sailors are torn between two different sights: the sight of the dogfights going on, or the bombers making their runs. The gunners, of course, focus on the incoming bombers, firing every anti-aircraft gun they have. Many exploding shells miss, but some send shrapnel into the incoming bombers. One unlucky SBD takes a direct hit and goes down in flames, another soon following.

The torpedo bombers, not wishing to get too close to the carriers for fear of getting shot down, target some of the outlying escorts, mainly destroyers. The surviving planes, numbering 11 Avengers and 8 Mitchells, roar in at low altitude before dropping their torpedoes and pulling away. Japanese ships begin evasive manuevers as they see the torpedo tracks streaking through the water towards them.

The first 10 torpedoes miss their mark. Then, one torpedo hits the destroyer Tachikaze directly amidships. The torpedo explodes well below the waterline, and the explosion breaks the back of the destroyer, almost splitting her in two. The destroyer quickly begins sinking, and the forward motion remaining from her engines and the downward force of her sinking finishes the job, breaking her in two. The bow and stern rise into the air and each sinks within a minute.

Many of the remaining torpedoes miss their mark or malfunction. However, the last torpedo, dropped by a Mitchell, scores a direct hit on the light cruiser Oi. The torpedo explodes level with the forward gun turret, opening a hole in her starboard bow. Damage control crews desperately try to contain the leak. They are able to stop the leak from spreading, but the cruiser is left settled 5 degrees at the bow and listing nine degrees to starboard.

As the torpedo bombers attempt to escape, the SBDs begin releasing their bombs. Of the 20 remaining SBDs, half of them target the escort carrier Akitsushima. The first four dive bombers to dive at the carrier miss with their bombs. Then, the fifth SBD scores a direct hit with its 1,000 pound bomb, the bomb striking right in the middle of the rising sun on the bow. The bomb penetrates down three decks before exploding, causing heavy damage and starting a fire belowdecks.

The next SBD barely misses, but the bomb explodes in the water close aboard, causing rudder damage and opening a small hole from the concussion. The next two SBDs miss. Then, the last two bombers score direct hits within seconds of each other. The first of them scores a hit with his 1,000 pound bomb near the stern. Like the first, it plunges down multiple decks before exploding. It explodes far enough below decks that it opens a small hole in the hull to let in water. Finally, the last bomber, equipped with a 500 pound bomb and a pair of 250 pound bombs under its wings, drops its three bombs amidships. The two wing mounted bombs explode on the flight deck, blasting holes in the flight deck, while the 500 pound bomb explodes on the hangar, destroying the two Vals still aboard the ship and starting a fuel fire.

As the ten SBDs are attacking the Akitsushima, five more attack the battleship Hyuga. Three of the bombers miss, but the last two score direct hits. One 1,000 pound bomb explodes against the bridge, causing heavy damage to the bridge and killing much of the bridge crew, while the second penetrates the upper deck and exploding on the second deck, starting a small fire.

Three more SBDs target the carrier Zuikaku, but all of them miss. The last two bombers attack the Oi, having spotted the torpedo hit. One of them misses, but the other manages to hit the cruiser with a 500 pound bomb, causing moderate damage to the stern and disabling the rearmost gun turret.

The SBDs pull out of their dives and attempt to escape. Zeros pursue them and are able to destroy a few. However, Corsairs are able to help keep the losses down.

As the SBDs and the torpedo bombers, the B-17s make their bombing runs. Each B-17 is carrying six 1,000 pound armor piercing bombs. Completely untouched by the fighters or from anti-aircraft fire, the B-17s line up on their targets and begin dropping their bombs. The bomber crews wait until the bombs have all been dropped before turning around to return to Midway. To the crews, it seems almost like a practice bombing run, as they've been completely unopposed.

The bombs fall towards the Japanese fleet, which begin evasive manuevers. Most of the bombs miss, but one lucky bomb hits the bow of the destroyer Yukikaze, penetrating all the way to the keel before exploding. Massive holes are blown in the hull, and the ship's bow begins to sink. It will take 23 minutes before the ship slips beneath the surface.

The Lightnings and Corsairs hang back as the bombers retreat, still fending off the Zeros. Bong watches the B-17s carefully. Once the bombers get far enough away, Bong gets on the radio and calls out, "All fighters, let's get out of here."

The surviving Corsairs and Lightnings turn to follow the bombers back to Midway. The attack had not been as successful as the commanders hoped. The bombers had sunk the Akitsushima, Tachikaze, and Yukikaze, while damaging the Hyuga and Oi. In return, the Americans had lost 5 TBMs, 2 B-25s, 5 SBDs, 4 Corsairs, and 4 P-38s. However, the fighters had also claimed 27 Zeros, helping clear the way for future attacks.

Aboard the Akagi, Admiral Nagumo is feeling very frustrated. It's clear that Midway is still a threat. He orders all of his carriers to accelerate the preparations for the second attack on Midway.

(Third Fleet)

"Get 'em in the air!" Halsey orders.

"Yes, sir," his communication officer responds with a grin.

After lots of preparation, the three Allied carrier fleets are ready to launch their attacks. While many bombers will not be ready until later, the first attack wave will still be well equipped to cause heavy damage to the Japanese fleet.

The strike force has already started to be launched. The Lexington is already launching 30 of her F6F Hellcat fighters, which will be winging their way towards the Japanese fleet ahead of the rest of the strike force to help clear the way of Zeros.

On the deck of the Enterprise, Vice Admiral Mitscher's flagship of Task Group 38.1, the first F6F Hellcats begin launching. This strike force will be comprised of a larger number of fighters compared to the numbers of bombers, in order to help clear out the Zeros protecting the Japanese fleet.

Halsey watches from the bridge of the New Jersey as the Hellcats begin to take off from the carriers. Next up are the Avengers, followed by the SBDs and SB2Cs.

Across the rest of the fleet, Hellcats, SBDs, Helldivers and Avengers launch from their carriers and climb into the sky to form up.

It takes about 20 minutes for the Third Fleet to finish launching its aircraft. The strike force from Halsey's carriers is comprised of 72 Hellcats (not counting Lexington's Hellcats already on their way towards the Japanese fleet), 60 SBDs, 24 Helldivers, and 60 Avengers.

At the same time, Spruance's carriers of the 5th Fleet are finishing launching their strike force, comprised of 50 Hellcats, 50 SBDs, and 42 Avengers. About 50 miles from the third fleet, the British are finishing launching their strike force. Given their Seafires and Martletts don't have the range needed, they'll be kept back on CAP duty. Therefore, the 18 Barracudas and 36 Avengers flying from the British carriers will be escorted by the Corsairs from the Illustrious and Hellcats from the Indomitable. The British aircraft will be reaching the Japanese fleet after the American planes, and are expected to begin their attacks as the US planes are finishing up theirs.

As Halsey watches the aircraft taking off from the carriers, he feels a sense of satisfaction. This is only the beginning. His next airstrike will be even bigger, and will devastate the Japanese fleet and send their carriers to the bottom.

(South of Midway)

About one hundred miles south of Midway, a single E-2 Hawkeye is cruising at 10,000 feet. In the back, controllers are watching their screens. While some are monitoring for aircraft, others are looking on their surface search radar.

One controller, as he's watching his screen, spots dots appearing on his screen. The controller monitors the screen, then calls out, "I've got multiple surface contacts. Distance 100 miles from Midway, on bearing 2-2-0 from Midway. Multiple warships on transports. One of them is bigger than any target I've ever seen except the Nimitz."

"Alright. Calling it in," the pilot says. He then calls in to the Nimitz and reports the presence of the fleet.

On board the Nimitz, Yelland hears the report as it comes in. He instantly recognizes, based on submarine reports, that this is the invasion fleet. He also just received word from Midway about a report from a PBY Catalina on the location of the main Japanese fleet.

Yelland thinks about this for a second, then makes a decision. "Prep all aircraft. I want our Hornets and Intruders to attack the main fleet. Scramble the Hellcats, Helldivers, and Avengers from all three carriers and send them after the invasion fleet south of Midway, and send the Tomcats with 'em," Yelland orders. He then thinks to himself, The Japanese won't know what hit 'em.

And, I'll end there.

So, the Midway aircraft have hit the main fleet, but it's only the beginning. The Japanese are gonna be in for a nasty surprise.

Also, I got a review in a previous chapter asking about Nimitz running out of air to air missiles. Given Nimitz has been in the past for over 2 years by now, the US has reverse engineered the air to air missiles on the Nimitz and produced more of them to resupply the magazines on the carrier.

Next chapter should be up soon. Until it is, pleas leave a review, and stay tuned!