Quote:
Originally Posted by Falcon Jun
For this what if, let's just focus on the radar warning that was historically ignored though I do appreciate the very thoughtfully stated points on what could've been if the Japanese were spotted earlier.
That's a good suggestion of comparing the air defense of the Philippines with Pearl Harbor. I'm going to take a second look. Thanks.
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With a hours warning? Just getting the ground crew and pilots rounded up would have been a problem. Standing up the interceptor control would have been 'Difficult'. As it was less than a dozen fighters got into the air, and shot down maybe that many Japanese aircraft. Possiblly less. So if thirty disgrunteld and unbeliving pilots are aloft or ready to sortie then perhaps another two dozen Japanese planes would be lost to air interception.
On the ground side the same problem occurs in getting the AA guns manned. No one will want to believe it serious, and will think a drill conducted in such a half assed manner should be taken seriouslly. Of course that attitude vaporizes about the moment the second or third bomb his the deck.
So on there will be more guns manned sooner. A extra ten minutes of effective AA fires may destroy another ten aircraft (Japanese & US).
The largest variable to look at is the Japanese plan B. There was a alternate action for he commander of the lead wave to take were suprise to be lost. If he percived that soon enough then the US scramble might be negated by Japanese actions. Unfortuanly I dont recall the plan
