European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 07, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Japanese precision bombing attitude 2,000 feet the dive bomber release Point prior to Pearl Harbor drills \ the Success of the attack on Pearl Harbor was the result of several months of special training and technical Fine tuning. By dec.71941, the Carrier pilots of the japanese Navy were probably the Best trained in the world. V \ adm. Isoroku Yamamoto decided that aircraft launched torpedoes were the Best Way to attack moored ships. But japanese Aerial torpedoes were designed to plunge to about 14 fathoms 85 feet before running to their required depth and needed to run 600 feet in water before arming themselves. Pearl Harbor however was no More than 8 fathoms deep and ships were moored no More than 1,650 feet from Shore which made a Low approach difficult. Japanese torpedoes would wind up mired in the mud. The torpedo itself was redesigned using wooden fins to keep it shallow running. Even so it had to be launched at 150 knots from 50 feet above sea level to keep it from diving too deep. All told the Pilot had three seconds from the time he crossed \ the Shoreline to line up his target and \ drop his torpedo he then had to Bank steeply upward and to the right to make room \. For the next plane. \ torpedoes alone weren to enough. The american practice was to Moor its larger ships Side by Side so the outward ship shielded the inward one from attack. Dive bombers equipped with special Armor piercing shells were to be used against these inner targets. Even when these were fitted with special stabilizing fins the pilots had to get their release Point Down to around 1,500 feet from the Normal 2,000 feet to achieve maximum accuracy. The View from the cockpit by Dan Biers associated press As a Pilot Lor Japan air lines Yozo Fujita frequently flew the popular Tokyo Honolulu route. And each time the approach to Honolulu would trigger uneasy Complex memories of his first flight Over the hawaiian islands Many years Back. On the partially Cloudy morning of dec. 7, 1941, Fujita piloted a Zero fighter in his country s sneak attack on Pearl Harbor that left More than 2,000 . Solders dead. Quot i knew it was my duty to Fly to Honolulu As a Jal Pilot Quot Fujita said in an interview. Quot but i Felt guilty and sorry in the Back of my  despite those twinges of guilt. Fujita said he does no to regret taking part in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Quot i Only did my duty Quot he said. Quot it s not for me to say whether that strategy was Good or bad. We were just pawns on a  half a Century might have passed but Fujita now 74, recalls the assault in Clear minute detail a strafing Bellows Field engaging a . P-36 in a fierce dogfight and watching a beloved Comrade Pilot his mortally crippled Zero on a suicide attack on an Airfield Hanger Quot i remember the scenes very vividly Quot he said Quot it was my first experience in  in Early november 1941, Fujita then a lieutenant Junior Grade received the Shock of his Young life when he was told of the planned attack against the United states. Quot i thought i was going to fight such a powerful country i thought i was going to die bombing Pearl Harbor Quot he recalled. A the night before the attack Fujita recalled he could t sleep a Wink despite drinking six Large bottles of Beer. Just As Dawn broke the first wave of planes took off. Fujita piloted one of nine fighters that headed the second wave More than an hour later. Soon he was above Oahu catching glimpses of beaches Between the Clouds that assured him he had entered enemy territory. He circled the Island twice and spotted some of the Early damage inflicted by japanese bombers and torpedo planes on the u a Fleet lined helplessly along Ford Island. Fujita s group then sped to the Kaneohe base on the other Side of Oahu where he zoomed Low and attacked three hydroplane with 20mm guns. His group next headed to Bellows and attacked parked p-40 fighters. After two passes the group Leader it. Pusata Lida signalled for his pilots to regroup at a higher Altitude. Using sign language the Leader said he had no fuel left and pointing Down indicated he would make one final suicide run. Quot then he waved goodbye. There was no change of expression on his face. He was very Calm Quot said Fujita. Fujita hearing crackling sounds from behind turned to find nearly a dozen p-36 fighters in hot Pursuit. The eight planes remaining in the group changed into a fighting formation a  plane headed straight Tor him. After watching the suicide attack of his commander Fujita said he was prepared to crash into the . Fighter. But at the last moment the p-36 zoomed upward out of the Way. Quot i know i hit the american plane a he said. Quot the american bullets were hitting my plane As Well Quot knocking out one of the engines cylinders. With the engine sputtering a push push just like that Quot Fujita and two other planes limped Back after making an emergency Landing he glanced at his instrument panel. Oil pressure was Zero. After the Mission he recalled Quot i Felt very relieved. It was Good and that Sall. When you re fighting in a War the Way you think is very simple Quot Sourat part Harter h p. Willmott Gahely books Jana s fighting aircraft at world War tit military pan Wii time life books Prentice hah press6 tha Start and strip saturday Dacambra 7,1991 a Neid Brown