THE ROUNDTABLE FORUM
Official newsletter of the Battle of Midway Roundtable
"To promote awareness and understanding of the great battle and to
honor the men who fought and won it."
28 August 2005....................Issue No.
2005-33....................Our 8th Year
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AROUND THE TABLE ...............................................
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1.
Breaking the Japanese Code: Who Knew?
2.
Coral Sea: Getting It Right
3.
Last Muster for Walt Grist
4.
The Saga of Norman Pichette
5.
Chaplain Linzey With President Bush, 30 August
*
* *
"Breaking the Japanese Code: Who
Knew?" (see
issues #29, 30, 31, 32)
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25
August 2005
From:
Mac Showers macrain@att.net
(BOM vet, Combat Intelligence Unit, Pearl Harbor)
When I talked with GEN Anderson and CAPT Crawford about Midway last week, I
asked them about any intelligence briefings they received on the Yorktown prior
to the battle. Each told an interesting story. GEN Anderson, a
member of Yorktown's Marine detachment, rode her back to
Pearl and then on to Midway. He said that, while enroute from SoPac
to Pearl, a special briefing was given to all ship's officers. They were
assembled in the wardroom, and the Marines had to post guards at each entrance
to control access. He said that the briefing was then given by the
communications officer and was about the anticipated Japanese attack upon and
occupation of Midway, including the composition of the force, etc.
CAPT Crawford had orders to the Yorktown, and was awaiting her
return at Pearl Harbor. When she returned from Coral Sea with extensive damage,
he was told she'd be there under repair for up to four months, and he was
retained in his temporary duty assignment. He then heard that she was
going to get underway one day hence, and he scrambled to get his detachment
orders so he could report on board. He accomplished this about 10 PM the
night before she sailed to Midway. He recounted that while underway
to Point Luck, a ship's publication was issued with all the details about the
Japanese attack, including the names of ships in the Japanese force. He
claimed this so impressed him that his memory of the list of ships is still
vivid.
My
assessment of these two stories is that the all-officer briefing recounted
by GEN Anderson probably was based on the ULTRA message that would have been
received by RADM Fletcher, who quite possibly authorized his
communications to provide the info to the officers. This would have
been sometime during the second half of May 1942. Then, I would guess that the later information that CAPT Crawford
recalls having been published by the ship would have been based on the
non-codeword summary that ADM Nimitz had sent to all the forces involved.
That occurred after Yorktown sailed from Pearl, which was 30 May
1942. CAPT Crawford said that, at the time he saw
this information, he assumed it had resulted from our reading of the Japanese
code, a reasonable assumption.
I thought these two accounts presented an interesting comparison between two
briefings on the same ship at different times and under different circumstances.
I'm not attempting to prolong discussion of this topic, but I believe with
what we now know, these two stories serve to give a better explanation of what
occurred.
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22 August
2005
From: John
Lundstrom
I
must take issue with the assertion that the reason behind ADM. Nimitz's trip to
Midway on 2 May 1942 was that he knew that Midway was about to be
attacked. The idea that Nimitz knew as early as 2 May or even earlier
that the Japanese were going to invade Midway is one of the most persistent
myths of the battle. In fact, it was not until around 8 May, as the
Battle of the Coral Sea wound down, that CDR Rochefort and LCDR Layton became
suspicious that the Japanese were not reinforcing their South Pacific offensive
but might instead head to the east toward Midway or Hawaii. This is clearly demonstrated in the original
radio intelligence documents, notably in a lengthy message Rochefort sent Washington
on 1 May entitled "Hypo's Evaluation of the Picture in the
Pacific" and in Layton's "CINCPAC Enemy Activities File"
(which Nimitz called the "scorecard").
In mid to late April, Nimitz, reacting to radio intelligence
regarding major Japanese threats to the southwest and south Pacific island
bases, conceived a plan to commit all four of his carriers for an extended
period to those imperiled areas to stop what he thought would be widespread
Japanese attacks against the line Port Moresby-Noumea-Fiji-Samoa. Nimitz
presented his plan to ADM King on 25-26 April during their conference at San
Francisco. King eventually approved, but was wary of committing so much
strength away from the central Pacific. He asked Nimitz on 26 April whether
Midway would be secure against a "major attempt." Nimitz
replied that Midway would need help from the Pacific Fleet to weather attacks
by two or more carriers and promised to look into the matter of Midway's
defense. That was the genesis of Nimitz's inspection trip, not any belief
that there was a direct, immediate threat to Midway. Nimitz also went to
Midway to raise morale and decorate those involved in shooting down a Japanese
flying boat on 10 March 1942.
It was King, not Nimitz, who was concerned the Japanese might take advantage of
the situation and move against the central Pacific while all the U.S. carriers
were down south. On 2 May, King admonished Nimitz and MacArthur not to
get too wrapped up in the southwest Pacific.
Acceptance of Nimitz's strategy "must not be construed as
eliminating the possibility that enemy may attack Hawaii-Midway line or launch
attacks against our line of communications via Gilbert-Ellice-Samoa
line." The great irony is that after 8 May when Nimitz became aware
of the impending threat to Midway-Hawaii, he couldn't get King to accept it!
This is discussed in my 1976 book, First South Pacific Campaign, which
will be reprinted next year, and also in the Fletcher book to be published next
year. RADM Layton read and helped me with my 1974 MA thesis which became The
First South Pacific Campaign, and also read and commented on the [book]
manuscript. As I can show in his letters to me from 1973-77, he also
agreed that CINCPAC did not know the Japanese offensive against Midway was
in the works until after the Battle of the Coral Sea had nearly ended.
Regarding the strange events of the evening of 7 May 1942 in the Battle of the
Coral Sea, I invite those interested to check out the discussion in The
First Team. The Fletcher book will also deal with that episode
in detail.
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John (author of The First Team, one of our favorite Coral Sea and
Midway references) has provided valuable and informative insight as to the set
of facts ADM Nimitz had before him when he visited Midway on May
2nd. The comment that John is responding to in Forum #32
was in the context of probable speculation resulting from (1) CINCPAC's visit
to Midway, followed shortly thereafter by (2) a massive buildup of defensive
and offensive arms on the atoll. That very likely could have led to
the sort of accurate speculation (but just speculation nonetheless)
previously suggested by RADM Showers that a serious Japanese thrust at Midway
was imminent; all without anyone mentioning or even knowing about
codebreaking....and, as John points out, even without Nimitz knowing much
about Japanese plans himself during his visit. --RR
*
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"Coral Sea: Getting It Right" (see issue #32)
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23 August
2005
From:
James Bowen jamesbowen2@bigpond.com
(Australia)
This response is for Pete Newberg who witnessed the extraordinary attempt
by a Japanese air group to land on USS Yorktown (CV-5) at nightfall on
7 May 1942.
Pete's account of the attempted Japanese landing is very close to that given to
me by Otis Kight and our greatly missed friend and Roundtable member, Bill
Surgi. It is taken directly from the Coral Sea section of the Pacific War
website. To round out the story, I have also added a Japanese pilot's
account of his shocked realisation that he had been about to land on an
American carrier.
I will email or post the full text of any part of the Battle of Midway, Coral
Sea, or USS Yorktown sections of the Pacific War website to any
Roundtable member who may be unable to access it on the Internet. I
am also happy to make available any photographic images that I have improved or
repaired using the "Photoshop" image editor.
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I recommend that everyone read the narratives cited above by James at this
URL......
http://www.users.bigpond.com/pacificwar/CoralSea/May.7th.html
The account by Japanese veterans of actually (almost) landing on Yorktown is especially interesting. And the
reminisces of Bill Surgi and Otis Kight are very close to that of Pete
Newberg's in the last Forum. --RR
*
* *
"Last Muster for Walt Grist" (see issue #32)
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22 August
2005
From:
Ed Fox efox81@sbcglobal.net
(BOM vet, 6th MarDefBn, Midway)
I am saddened about the news of Walter's passing. I and my wife shared
emails with him several times each month.
He
will even be missed by my students, as I often speak to them of the BOM vets
who contributed so much in WW2, Korea, and Vietnam.
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26
August 2005
From:
Ron Werneth epfan12000@yahoo.com
I was very saddened to hear about Walt's passing. I got to know him
through the Midway Roundtable and met him along with his son during their
Chicago visit [last September] for the Midway airport SBD Dauntless rollout.
Walt was a super fine gentleman and went out of his way to answer my questions
about his wartime experiences and life as a mechanic. I feel lucky to
have known him. I am sure that he is now in a better place, joined by so
many of his comrades who went before him.
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The latest word from Walt's son is that Walt's cremated remains will be
interred in a new VA cemetery at Dixon, CA (east of the San
Francisco Bay area) when it opens next spring. Formal ceremonies
will be conducted at that time, and I'll be sure to notify all when they are scheduled.
Meanwhile, I made up a custom condolences card from the Roundtable and
mailed it to Walt's family. You can see it at this URL:
http://www.midway42.org/temp/card-grist.jpg
(Thanks to Bill Vickrey for the graphic.) --RR
* * *
"The Saga of Norman Pichette" (see issue #32)
Ed. note: in the last Forum, Johan Lupander asked about
posthumous decorations for Seaman Pichette. Here's the answer from
Robert Cressman:
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22 August
2005
From: Robert
Cressman
Norman
Pichette, Seaman 2d Class, USNR, was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal,
posthumously, in 1968.
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...which raises the question, why the 26-year delay in awarding the
medal? And why did Cal Calvacante at the Naval Historical Center find no
other awards for Pichette, i.e. Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon, Purple Heart,
etc.? Additionally, I'm reminded of the DSM application for Joe
Rochefort--by Admiral Nimitz, no less--ten years earlier that was denied
by SECNAV partly on the grounds that the statute of limitations for WWII awards
had passed. Does anyone have any answers for those questions?
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25
August 2005
From:
Stan Linzey slinzey@juno.com
(BOM vet, Mu2c, USS Yorktown)
On Tuesday, 30 August at 9:00A.M., PDT, there will be a celebration in honor of
World War II veterans at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego,
CA. President George W. Bush will be the speaker for the occasion.
I will share the platform with the President to give the invocation. It will be televised. Blessings to
all.
One never knows which TV network will televise the President's day-to-day
travels and speeches, but Fox News Channel is probably a good guess in this
case. I'll set my VCR to start at around 9:00 AM and we'll see what it
catches. It might be a good opportunity
for some of you to see Chaplain Linzey, a Yorktown vet and one of our long-term Roundtable contributors,
for the first time. --RR
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................................................. NOW
HEAR THIS! ..................................................
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NEWS
& INFO IN THIS ISSUE
--Last
Sortie for Bill Leonard
--Midway,
the Decisive Battle?
--TV
This Week
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LAST SORTIE FOR BILL LEONARD
It is a regrettable fact of life in an organization centered on men in their
eighties and nineties that we will occasionally be required to salute one of
them as he passes into a better life. It is also a cruel fact of
statistics that as the months and years continue to go by, those salutes
will become more frequent. I think most, if not all of us accept that,
however reluctantly.
Such is the case this week when another of our honored BOM vets left us only
twenty-four hours after the passing of Walt Grist. Rich Leonard called me
with the sad news that his dad, Rear Admiral William N. Leonard,
USN-Ret, departed on his final sortie on Sunday, 21 August, at the age of 89.
RADM Leonard, then a LTjg, was a fighter pilot with VF-42 at the BOM, serving
as XO of the combined VF3/VF42 squadron led by LCDR Thach. Promoted to LT
after the BOM, Leonard was deployed to Guadalcanal with VF-11, after which he
had recorded a total of six victories in aerial combat. He flew a total
of 170 combat missions during the war.
Leonard was also instrumental in evaluating "Koga's Zero," the
Japanese fighter recovered in the Aleutians. We covered that in detail in
Forum issue #10 this year and on our web site (click Link 4 on
the Image Board page).
After the war, Leonard served in several naval aviation training and leadership
billets, including VF-171, the first USN jet squadron to qualify for carrier
operations. He also served as XO of USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31),
CO of USS Salamonie (AO-26), and CO of USS Ranger (CVA-61),
and as Commander, CarDiv 14 aboard USS Wasp (CVS-18). He retired
in 1971 after a 33-year career in which he earned two Navy Crosses (Coral Sea
and Midway) among his many awards.
In recent years, RADM Leonard has resided with his son Rich, who has
facilitated his participation on the Roundtable. During that time the
admiral has provided us with a wealth of insight on the naval air aspects of
the Midway era, much of which you won't find in the history books. We
will miss him very much, and to the extent possible with this format, honor his
memory in every way we can.
Internment
will be at Arlington National Cemetery with full honors on 16 November
2005. Assembly will be at the administration building near Memorial
Bridge. A reception will follow at the Ft. Meyers Officers'
Club.
In lieu of flowers, the family
requests that memorial donations be made to the Naval Aviation Museum
Foundation, 1750 Radford Blvd, Suite B, NAS Pensacola, FL 32508; 800-327-5002.
*
* *
MIDWAY, THE DECISIVE BATTLE?
That's
the title of an article by British historian Geoffrey Till in the latest issue
of Naval History, and by the question mark at the end, you can
probably deduce that he doesn't think it was. While giving due credit to
the victors at Midway for the usual reasons, Till's underlying thesis is that
Guadalcanal was more of a turning point than Midway, and the BOM should be
considered merely as the second element in a three-stage campaign that
consisted of Coral Sea, Midway, and Guadalcanal.
Whether Midway was "decisive" or a "turning point" is
largely a semantics exercise that has been frequently argued, including more
than once here on the Roundtable. But neither Till nor anyone else
who, in my memory, has advocated Guadalcanal as more decisive than Midway has
bothered to take into account the fact that had the Japanese won at Midway, there
would have been no Guadalcanal. At least not in 1942.
I could go on as to the snowballing effect of a U.S. defeat at Midway, but
we've been down that path in abundance before. If you'd like a review,
see the "Battle of Midway" synopsis page on our web site (click the
link on the home page).
Still, the article is an interesting read for its in-depth review of truly
decisive battles in the past (e.g. Jutland, Tsushima, Trafalgar, etc.) and what
makes them so; or in some cases, doesn't. Till misses the boat in
denigrating the BOM's decisiveness, but he scores enough other points for me to
recommend his article to all. If you're not a Naval History subscriber
or buyer, you may be able to catch Till's tale on the Internet
soon--as of this writing, the USNI hasn't yet loaded the current issue onto
their web site. I'll watch for it and let you know when and if it becomes
available.
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TV THIS WEEK
Here are television listings of possible interest for the week of Monday
through Sunday, 29 August - 4 September. The times shown below
may not be the same in your area--be sure to check your local guide.
(Thanks to Greg Gaynier for help in compiling this list.)
Channels:
AMC = American Movie Classics, DC = Discovery Channel, HC = History
Channel, TCM = Turner Classic Movies
Schedule
note: "12:00 AM" means the start of
the date shown (0000 hours). "12:00 PM" means noon.
Monday, 29 August
4:00
PM (HC) Secret Japanese Aircraft of World War II
Tuesday, 20 August
8:00 AM (HC) Shootout: Guadalcanal
9:00 AM (see above) President
Bush at NAS North Island (invocation by Chaplain Linzey)
2:00
PM (HC) Shootout: Guadalcanal (repeated)
Saturday, 3 September
12:00 AM (HC) The Three Wars of the Battleship
Missouri
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For a glossary of abbreviations, acronyms, and terms
used in The Roundtable Forum, click the following URL or go to our home page
and click "The Roundtable Glossary" link.
http://www.midway42.org/glossary.htm
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