004 - The Aviators

During World War I, aircraft carriers were barely effective in an age called the dreadnought era, where battleships ruled the oceans. However, as aircraft (and aircraft carrier) technology evolved, so did the outlook of Naval Aviation. A fighter pilot named Minoru Genda would help influence the future of war in the open seas.

Genda, a skilled biplane pilot, formed “Genda’s Flying Circus”, a group of Navy stunt pilots who toured Japan to recruit Navy pilots. Genda also gained flying experience in the Sino-Japanese War against China. That experience led to his appointment as the Navy’s flight instructor.

In the early years of World War II, Genda traveled to Europe as a Navy diplomat to observe aerial warfare at the Battle of Britain. While he observed the battle, he also secretly took notes on the flying capabilities of both German and British fighter planes. Genda felt that the Japanese fighter planes were much faster and more maneuverable in the air. He also saw a great potential in a Navy-based air corps.

Genda had heard of Yamamoto’s plan for attacking Pearl Harbor. While Yamamoto was focused on sinking battleships, Genda considered this the “old way of thinking”. Since the dreadnought era, warplanes became much more effective at delivering precise strikes at enemy targets. Genda was convinced that using an overpowering air force to strike the American aircraft carriers. After much discussion, Yamamoto agreed.

Around that time, British forces attacked the Italian Navy at the Battle of Taranto. During the battle, torpedo bombers sunk over 3 ships at port, including 6 battleships. This further increased the belief that battleships were less effective and air superiority was the key to winning the war.

Genda continued to train fighter pilots to provide air cover for bombers. Meanwhile, a skilled torpedo bomber pilot named Mitsuo Fuchida trained the bomber squadrons to use a new type of torpedo designed especially for the shallow waters of Pearl Harbor. Together, Genda and Fuchida’s combined force would inflict legendary damage on the American ships.