Just watched the Pearl Harbor episode and was very disappointed. Especially by that guy who runs the Pearl Harbor tour exhibit as he argued with an ex-Admiral. No respect for someone who actually experienced the battle of Midway. The thing that surprised me the most was the underlying message that Pearl Harbor was a “fortunate occurrence”. I agree that it was good in spurning the American people to intervene in World War 2; however, I think there could have been a much lower impact on material and human losses if several key decisions were made. The world was 2 scenario was also very unrealistic- I thought that it was hilarious when the Pearl Harbor tour guide was trying to argue with a battle hardened veteran. Anyways, I would say that situation was unrealistic and instead the United States should have mounted a strategic defense of Pearl Harbor. Instead of blindly hunting aircraft carriers, the battle ships should have remained in the harbor on full defense. Moreover, they should have had multiple torpedo nets to protect the battle ships from the “dive bombers” and should have also erected hundreds of air balloons on metal cables. This is a cheap and effective way to hamper low flying fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo planes. Also, the battle ships were all lined up for inspection that day. All of the windows and hatches were opened because several officers were going to be given tours. This made all of the battle ships sitting ducks and allowed torpedoes and bombs to penetrate lower bulkheads and eventually strike magazines. Anyway, if the US had one hour of notice, they could have mounted a successful defense. Especially if they had multiple air balloons and all the air defense gunners on alert, they could have shot down a lot more enemy fighters. Contrary to some of the commentators, I believe that the scores of American fighters could have had much more of an impact than by sitting out there wingtip to wingtip. A good percentage of these were P-40 fighters and could have least interfered with the attacking bombers and caused attrition. If Pearl Harbor had one hour of notice and if their command was integrated, they could have taken a toll from the attacking Japanese. At worst case, the US would have lost one or two battle ships but could have shot down a large percent of the attacking aircraft. With one hour notice, a well trained force could have launched all aircraft and rendezvoused 20 minutes north of Pearl Harbor. As the Japanese Force attacked the battleships, a prepared anti-aircraft force could have mounted stiff resistance (as could all the troops manning all anti-aircraft guns on the battle and support ships). The Japanese aviators would have their tasks complicated by the multiple torpedo nets and barrage balloons. Finally, the entire group of P-40s, P-36’s, and all other fighter/trainer aircraft could jump the Japanese flight group from altitude. Even though there would be some losses, the plan would be to make slash and run attacks on Zeroes and to also make Japanese “dive bombers” and torpedo planes miss their targets. All of these considerations would have increased the toll of enemy aircraft and decreased the number of US serviceman lost. I think we need some of our old commentators back-

Also that Pearl Harbor guide kept using the repulse as the example to why the US battle ships would have been sunk. The Repulse was first of all maneuvering in Open Ocean. The 87 aircraft that attacked it did not have to worry about other ground fire and could attack it from high altitude. The American battle ships would have been surrounded by air defense barrage balloons and torpedo nets. It is not the same situation. Also, that guy tried to argue that the Repulse and its sister ship were better battle ships. I think the Nevada Class battleship offered better AA protection with its 21 5’’/51 guns. Some ships had another 8 5’’/52 guns added. This was better than the Renown class battleship’s 4 in over magazines, 1 - 2.5 in over boiler room, and 3 in over engine rooms, and 3.75 - 4 in slope to side. Also add in the fact that all 4 ships could have been manned, would have had nets, and all the ground based defenses(not even including the fighter aircraft) and we realize that the guy does not know what he is talking about. The battleship was long ago obsolete. It was obsolete the day Do-little sunk a battleship in a ww1 aircraft. Still, I think some of these observations were lacking.