Here's a little treat. A photo-history of the Mother of all Battles from Japanase perspective (None of the reporters on the other side survived[;)]).
7 June 1944
6:13 - One of many floatplanes launched on a naval search mission.
6:36 - In anticipation of conatact with the enemy fleet, the aircraft are on decks in a state of readyness and the CAP is already in the air.
7:28 - Enemy carrier sighted! In short time, news of additional sightings confirm the USN fleet has stayed together on the presumed course.
7:42 - After a quick briefing the Shokaku CAG oversees last minute preparations before take off.
7:48 - The Zuikaku strike is ready for launch.
7:54 - The crew wave their last goodbyes to all who will not be returning.
8:33 - One of 79 Ki-84a Frank modern fighters takes off from Kuisae airstrip as escort for a strike against the american fleet. Only two were to come back safely...
10:01 - After a fierce air battle in which Kido Butai's CAP downed mroe 500 enemy planes, part of the bombers break through and attack the fleet. To no avail. Their only success was two bombs hitting the light carrier Ryujo.
10:02 - Triple-mounted 25mm AA guns in action. This weapon en masse proved decisive in saving carriers under attack by more then 50 Avengers.
10:44 - Japanese carrier strke punches through and carnage ensues. First to be hit was Bunker Hill.
10:57 - Next to be hit was Wasp. Fires are soon uncontolable and she begins listing to starboard. During the next 20 minutes hell rains down on this task force and Royal Navy carrier Illustriuos and light carriers Independence, Cabot, Monterey and Langley all suffer multiple bomb and torpedo hits.
13:33 - First Japanese strike returns to home carriers. Most fighters didn't return, but most bombers did! A soon as the last plane is returned, planes are refueled and fitted with bombes and torpedos.
17:48 - Japanese afternoon strike rolls over the remain of CAP and directs its attention to another carrier task force. One of the first to be hit is the escort carrier Suwannee.
17:59 - Essex class fleet carrier Franklin after a couple of hits. Cruiser Astoria comes to aid but she herself will be hit by a bomb in a few minutes.
18:01 - Beginning of the destruction of Lexington. This is an Essex class carrier, the first Lexington being sunk near Noumea in 1942.
18:13 - In very short period Lexington is hit by 20 bombs and 6 torpedos!
19:30 - On urgent briefing on board Musashi, Yamamoto analyzes the day's developments. He doesn't confirm the rumors of great success, but congratulates Nagumo, Kido Butai's commander. Admirals commanding the Combinend Fleet's 5 surface combat task forces recieve orders to proceed at flank speed to 5 different locations in which Yamamoto expects to find enemy ships. Yamamoto will personaly command the Musashi task force.
19:48 - Upon the admirals' return to their respetive flagships, Combined Fleet's finest divided in 5 task forces head southeast at flank speed to catch the enemy at night.
8 June 1944
2:29 - First in contack with the enemy is the Yamato task force. Old battleship Yamashiro finds herself under heavy fire but the opposing USN cruisers didn't stand a chance.
2:40 - A strong cruiser force comes into contact with the escort carriers. Heavy crieser Haguro turns to launch her Long Lances.
5:36 - With a thick smoke screen layed out by destroyer escorts, the fleets begin to move away from each other.
10:41 - The first airstrike of the day found the cripled Independence. One torpedo hit was enough to cause it to capsize.
11:23 - The main carrier strike locates an untouched USN carrreir taskforce. First to come under attack was the veteran Hornet. The picture shows a Kate from Shokaku just after the torpedo was dropped.
11:25 - Although the previous torpedo missed, the Japanese torpedo bombeing tactics call for a multiple angle attack to decrease the chance to evade the torpedos. As a consequence, this one didn't miss.
11:35 - Intrepid on fire. The second fleet carrier of the task force is one of the brand new Essex class carriers. A short career indeed...
11:38 - One of the ships hit is also a light carrier Princeton.
11:54 - A strike by land-based IJNAF from Kuisae finds an escort carrier task force. One of the torpedoed ships is an escort carrier St. Lo.
