For the past six hours, undersea explorer Robert Ballard’s team has been operating a remote controlled submersible, as they search for the wreck of the Japanese aircraft carrier “Akagi,” sunk on June 4, 1942, by my friend the late Richard H. “Dick” Best and his two wingmen during the Battle of Midway. That Dick was able to fly the most accurate dive-bombing attack in the entire war, hitting Akagi in her most vulnerable moment with her airplanes fully fueled and armed - with the ordnance they had loaded and unloaded that morning as their potential target kept changing surrounding each plane and turning the ship into a floating bomb - completely changed the course of history as regards the battle.
Like the Duke of Wellington said of Quatre Bras (Waterloo), Midway was a near run thing. Mostly serendipity, pure dumb luck, changed the course of the war in the PTO. The pictures are amazing and the final results should be almost as revealing as the discovery of the Lexington some years ago.
Amazing to "see" the search on live camera. What technology -- submersible and links. What skill -- Ballard and his team. AND your ability to convey the skill, danger, and drama of the pilots in the air, the vessels on the sea, and what it all means...... You too are amazing!
Like the Duke of Wellington said of Quatre Bras (Waterloo), Midway was a near run thing. Mostly serendipity, pure dumb luck, changed the course of the war in the PTO. The pictures are amazing and the final results should be almost as revealing as the discovery of the Lexington some years ago.
Quite a view. And amazing to have nailed the Akagi at such a moment. Another genuine war hero!
This is amazing!
The resolution is absolutely incredible.
Wow! How cool!
Holy crap is right! By my calculation it is 3.3 miles deep.
The constant swinging of the camera is making me dizzy, but that's okay.
TC, how do you find all this stuff? This is great internet.
I hang out with the Boys Who Never Grew Up. :-)
Amazing to "see" the search on live camera. What technology -- submersible and links. What skill -- Ballard and his team. AND your ability to convey the skill, danger, and drama of the pilots in the air, the vessels on the sea, and what it all means...... You too are amazing!
Amazing on all levels! Thanks for posting.
赤木(Akagi) “Red Tree” I really appreciate you telling this history 😊