(0) ROGUE ZER0 (0)

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Rogue-0
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ROGUE [a dishonest or unprincipled man:] modern usage, badass what ever
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I/we should forget about this whole epoch. Both sides had their failings. Yes, good people
died. Maybe needlessly but this is who we are. Aggressors in every single way !
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=== Of course you don't dwell on it. But most final scenarios have been played out
in your mind. You've seen it happen to all your friends so the vision is very sharp.
Most agree an "on/off" switch would be best. Burning for a few moments-
- just too excruciating ! Bleeding out while descending in a death spiral, while waiting to
smash into Terra-firma, is hated. Your imagination would be working overtime. Because
you lost control of your beloved ND machine.
Fantasizing about the perfect death of the Red Baron was much admired.
Horrors of being in a disabled craft, not being able to bail out, is probably the worst.
Because you have time to see your impending demise, maybe 20 seconds of panic.
You saw through all the honorable death Samurai bleep.
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As a prime candidate for his draft, 18 year old Petty Officer Yoshikazu Nagahama would
not settle for just any military designation. It was fighter pilot or nothing. He foresaw
some recruiter trying to fill a quota for his needs. He knew he could outsmart them.
And if it meant using all his fathers friends influence, politness be damned. Besides, his
math abilities should be trump. Much of which he could do in his head. And a fighter pilot
he became.
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--- The Imperial Japanese Navy estimated they had 6 months before the Allies could mount
a counter offensive due to the damage inflicted at Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor was a turkey shoot.
Kazu strafed 20 or so planes still on the ground. He felt something was wrong, he kept looking
over his shoulder expecting to be jumped, didn't happen. He felt invincible yet dishonorable.
--- 8:00 am Dec 7, 1941 Japs attack Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. And 2:00am 8 Dec. 1941 Philippine time,
[the same day but delayed by bad weather]. 500 planes were staged at Formosa [Taiwan] to assault
the Philippines. Maj. Gen. Lewis H. Brereton urged Gen. MacArthur to bomb Formosa, but it seemed
to fall on deaf ears.
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--- Now was the time to pick cherries regarding gathering natural resources and gold reserves !
Timor and Java islands were next. But they were being supplied by Australia, specifically the
port at Darwin. The Philippines fell 22 Dec. 1941. After a 13 day invasion. There was plenty of
shame to go around. Generals unprepared, Presidents wanting, not be the aggressor. It took 13
days to suppress the game Filipinos. But that's what happens when the enemy has full air superiority !
And it was almost 6 months to the day that an Allies task force confronted the Imperial Japanese Navy
planning an invasion at Port Moresby.

-19 Feb. 1942 The Bombing of Darwin, Australia

--- Lt. Robert Oestreicher [33rd Pursuit Squadron] leading 10 P-40 Warhawks to Timor but had to
turn back due to horrific weather. Though Darwin had been told a large group of airplanes were
headed toward Australia they were ignored due to other sorties expected soon to arrive. By the
time Lt. Oestreicher got the alarm he was only able to just start his taxi when bombs reported.
As only 4 other pilots were available, they soon met their doom. Petty Officer Yoshikazu Nagahama
[Kazu] who left the main formation to strafe a seaplane came across the P-40s no more than 100 feet
above the runway when the attack parabola jumped in his head. He could start a gradual bank and
hook above the P-40s and spray all of them ! Kazu thought for a second his Shinto was smiling on him.
Kazu lead the first P-40 poorly not accounting for it's current slow speed. But it didn't matter he flew
right into the stream. Lt. Granger shocked for a split second blasted his guns in frustration. His plane
shuttered and burped black smoke ! He knew it was over, his second mission over, before it began. It
was still flying straight so he looked for a smooth landing area. He looked for his assaulter but couldn't
see him. He crash landed, still alive.
--- Lt. Hadley wasn't as fortunate, Kazu's spray raked his cockpit. Hit 3 times. It was best to give
it up. Being with his family was his last memory.
--- Lt. Ramon saw Hadley's plane fray and banked left hard. With only a couple hundred feet
above the ground he had to straighten out and get his speed up. It didn't matter to Kazu he was
a split second from lining up for his guns. Kazu's spray folded Ramon's right wing. Lt. Ramon tried
to flatten out but it didn't help, he curved hard into the ground. Why didn't that wing catch fire, wondered
Kazu ?

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---- There wasn't much Lt. Oestreicher [Ostrich] could do but try and get away. He wanted to contact
Lt. Picket, his last flyer. But what would help ? He thought about an about-face, a sudden turn
to face the enemy but without speed and altitude he would stall. He looked around and saw a huge
formation at 1 o'clock. They didn't assault Pick, where was the attacker ? The noise in his cockpit
wouldn't let him hear to his advantage. Still he loved the masculine drone of his v12, 1000 hp engine.
He caught sight of Lt. Picket trying to avoid the Zero assault. But it was over moments later. Knowing the
Zero was behind Pick he turned to spray him. He saw no damage. He saw pieces fray from Pickets plane.
Ostrich wanted that Zero but he couldn't catch him. Finally at attack speed he flew straight for
the big formation. Now closer he could see they were Betty Bombers. [G4M] At least 25, he looked
for the escort. They were diving right at him ! Ostrich filled the first Betty with a 50 cal. burst until
both engines were smoking. Then his plane was riddled with lead and riddled again. That sound he
heard, multipal thaps and tinks. He had just got up now he needed to dive. Ostrich released his canopy
inverted his plane and bailed out. He would survive the war and died in 1998.
--- Kazu was down to 2 seconds of ammo and maybe enough fuel to reach the I.J.N. Zuikagu aircraft carrier.
He could use some rest but doubted he would get any. The assault was thorough. Darwin was caught
with their pants down ! Kazu thought command was pretty darn good. For the next 4 months it was business
as usual escorting bombers unopposed.

- http://www.pacificwar.org.au/Philippine ... tacks.html
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--- May 4-7, 1942, the battle of the Coral Sea, 6 months to the day after Pearl. American counter-espionage
learned of the Japanese invasion of Port Moresby. Admiral Nimitz split his carrier group in two, normally not
a good idea. He sent the Lexington and Yorktown carrier groups to the Coral Sea. About 150 planes including dive
bombers and torpedo bombers. As it turned out the match-up was about equal. Kazu's Zuikagu and the
Shoho carrier group went toe to toe with the Allied forces. Kazu won his matchups but saw too many
of his friends catch fire and drop in the sea. On his third sortie he was forced to take a dive bomber as
his Zero needed maintenance. Normally he would've complained as he has no experience as a dive bomber.
But the carriers needed to be sunk. He was only 19. Kazu knew the bombs had to be dropped at a low
altitude because even large carriers were quite adroit at dodging bombs. Fortunately, he had fighter
escort and no Wildcats interfered with his bombing run. Though tracer fire did. He placed 2 bombs on
the flight deck of the Lexington. As he escaped, he looked back to admire his work and get an estimate
of damage done. He thought it was out of commission. The fires were massive as the flight deck was loaded
with ammo. He also saw another flattop on fire not far away. He would report them both out of commission.
After 3 days of spending each other's assets there was little each group could muster. Both sides had
to lick their wounds. For the first time the Japanese war machine was stopped before they could ravage
another island.
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--- As the Zuikagu was sent back to Japan for repairs, Kazu thought he would get some rest. He got 24
hours before command heard of his deeds and wanted him for the Akagi, Admiral Nagumo's flagship.
Kazu caught a D3A1 "Val" to the Aleutian Islands where Adm. Yamamoto was feinting for his assault on Midway.
Adm. Nagumo rewarded Kazu with the rank of 1st Lieutenant. Still exhausted Kazu shared some valour with the
guys. But was concerned why Japanese planes caught fire and U.S. planes didn't. They have rubber insulated gas
tanks, someone reported. Ours don't. Japan has no rubber. Well, we need to get some he thought out loud !
--- 4-7 June 1942 Midway: At this time I think it should be noted the U.S.A. had usurped the spying, sneaking
espionage crown from England. Although English deciphered the Enigma machine. U.S.A. stole it. Then while
deciphering Jap radio transmissions Allies sent bad intel and watched it return good intel.
U.S.A. was ready for the Midway attack.
--- Yamamoto would wait about a month before attacking Midway, a stronghold about half way to Japan from
America. He assumed he would have numerical advantage having sunk two carriers. The I.J.N. had several more
carriers but Yamamoto didn't bring them. Little did Yamamoto know, Allies knew his plans ! The Yorktown made sea
worthy in 3 days after having been towed 800 miles back Pearl, made it to Midway in time for the battle. Imagine Kazu's
surprise had he recognized it ! Kazu was back in a Zero for the battle of Midway. His job would be to protect the
Akagi from dive-bombers and fighters. Not torpedo bombers as they would come in much lower.
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--- Admiral Nimitz was careful, as much radio silence as possible. He wanted to hit Yamamoto before he knew what
hit him ! He had to keep the Task Force location secret. Now USS Yorktown though seaworthy received a full compliment
of aircraft from, under repair, USS Saratoga. Strangely the Yorktown initiated the attack. USS Yorktown got all her planes
off but confusion coordinating with the fighter escort, she lost most of her torpedo and dive bombers. Adm Fletcher could
read the tea leaves. But what could he do ? Swing until he went down. Allow Enterprise and Hornet to flank the Jap carrier
group while he provided misdirection. Sounds kamikaze* to me !
Planes from Hornet and Enterprise would sink all four I.J.N. carriers. But not with out a high price.
--- Kazu dropped a couple SBD* bombers but when it was time to refuel and rearm he found the Akagi flight
deck being refitted for torpedoes. So he ditched it about 50 yd. from the Akagi. He was quickly rescued by a couple
of snipes. There was no questioning of procedure, he was told to grab a ready plane and go. He was told where
a flattop was and go torpedo it. There was no time to argue the strange activities of command and it was beyond his rank.
--- In the smoke and confusion Kazu barely recognized the Yorktown. Several of the torpedo bombers in Kazu's flight were
dropped on the approach. But Kazu got through and his torpedo hit the target. And he couldn't believe he was battling with
the Yorktown again ! [the enemy has pictures of all enemy assets] By the time Kazu returned to Akagi it was burning badly.
He asked for the nearest carrier, there was none ! Just wonderful, ditching twice in one day.
--- He didn't care about the danger of hitting water at low speed, it was the waste of a perfectly good plane. He thought
about sneaking up on Midway and blowing/shooting stuff up. But a cruiser came along and he ditched near it.
--- Kazu gave his sad debriefing and wondered how long before he could get in a Zero again. He was mad with command, he
thought he could do better ! He hoped he could get back on Zuikagu but knew the party was over. American intelligence was
better, their planes were better and their seamanship was better. It was a gloomy future. Kazu would get to Zuikagu and you
can be sure he spent his last ounce of energy and his last bullets damaging Allied assets.
--- We've heard of guys like this many times. A war can't kill them. Many become leaders of their country because now they
are fearless and exalted.
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-Fin-
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*Scout Bomber Douglas
*It means "Divine Wind", in this case suicide. Hari-Kari is a form of suicide.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0Mu4jJ0S0s