Where exactly did the American support fighters go? They flew in the wrong direction and wasted 10 minutes on the vast sea before finding the right course.

So, when these American P-40 fighters flew over the U.S. Second Fleet, they saw the battleship USS North Carolina that was tilting sideways.

There is also a group of Japanese Type 97 carrier-based attack aircraft that surround this battleship like flies.

"Spread out! Disperse! Zero fighter! In the headphones of the fighter pilots of the US Army Air Corps, there was a hasty reminder from his companions.

At the same time that they saw the Japanese Type 97 carrier-based attack planes, the Japanese Zero fighters escorting the aircraft at high altitude also saw these US Army fighters coming from afar.

The Zero fighter was somewhat better than the P-40 fighter in terms of performance, but the United States had developed new tactics against the Japanese fighter, so the battle between the two sides tested the skill of the pilot.

At this time, the Japanese fighter pilots had not yet reached the state of waning. Among them, there are many veterans who have been in a hundred battles, and their combat effectiveness is quite strong.

Therefore, even if they are not numerically superior, these Zero fighters dare to attack the numerically superior US fighters.

Soon, the fighters of the two sides became entangled, and some American fighters even took advantage of the chaos to infiltrate the ranks of the Japanese Type 97 carrier-based attack planes, disrupting the formation of the other side.

Standing on the smoke-filled deck, the sailors aboard the battleship North Carolina waved their fists at the sky and cheered like mountains at friendly fighters.

"They're finally here...... Bastard! Through the thick portholes on the bridge, Spruance finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the news just came that the most advanced battleship under his feet could no longer be salvaged and was about to sink, he was still very happy in his heart.

In any case, the rest of the fleet was already safe, and the Japanese attempt to completely annihilate his second fleet seemed to have failed.

As long as his fleet is not completely annihilated, no matter how many victories Halsey's fleet achieves, the United States will be invincible in this battle.

Soon, a Type 97 carrier-based attack aircraft was shot down by American land-based aviation. Although the performance of the Type 97 carrier-based attack aircraft is good, it is still too bulky compared to professional fighters.

What's more, in order to achieve a better attack effect, the Japanese attack aircraft unit deliberately saved its own ammunition.

When the American fighters joined the battle group, half of the Japanese carrier-based attack planes were still hanging bombs and torpedoes under the belly.

In this state, it is simply a fool's dream to avoid the pursuit of fighters. Therefore, although the Zero fighter tried very hard to cover his allies, he could only watch his comrades being shot down.

When the second Japanese carrier-based attack plane was shot down, the pilots of the Japanese naval aviation began to waver in their determination to fight to the death.

The first to attack, the first to join the battle, after a series of involvement, there is not much fuel left.

With the pursuit of American fighter jets, the opportunity for them to drop bombs has almost disappeared, and it seems that there is no other use for staying here except to increase casualties.

Although there were crazy Japanese pilots who were desperate to crash into the American battleship, which was already heavily rolled, most Japanese pilots thought it was time for them to retreat.

The Japanese dispatched a total of 30 Type 97 carrier-based attack planes and 12 Zero fighters to escort the escort.

In the attack just now, Japan lost 3 attack aircraft and severely damaged the American battleship USS North Carolina.

If the Japanese planes had retreated at this time, they would not only have sunk the battleship, but also kept themselves in small losses.

It's a pity that there is no if...... They were entangled in American fighter jets, and when they were running out of fuel, they were shot down 8 Type 97 carrier-based attack aircraft and 1 Zero fighter.

Before the first wave of attack echelons returned, they had already lost 12 fighters, which can be said to be a heavy loss.

You must know that the US land-based fighter still has a lot of fuel and can chase and kill for a long distance, and the Type 97 carrier-based attack aircraft, which has a slower speed, is likely to lose even more.

What is even worse is that because of the US attack, the second batch of attack planes originally planned by the Japanese Air Fleet did not take off, which made the possibility of the Japanese Navy expanding its results disappear.

Sure enough, when the Japanese carrier-based planes were retreating, the American fighters chased after them, and under the watchful eyes of the American sailors on the sea, they shot down six other Type 97 carrier-based attack planes and two Type Zero fighters that turned back and broke off.

As a result, as many as 20 of the 42 carrier-based aircraft that took off from the first batch of Japanese troops were shot down. Each of these pilots was a treasure to the Japanese army, and now they have fallen into the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

It's just that the current Yamamoto Fifty-six, as well as Nagumo Tadaichi, have no time to take care of the loss of these valuable carrier-based pilots.

All their attention now has been drawn to the south, how to meet those American carrier-based aircraft going north.

"Your Excellency! The Zero fighter plane, which took off urgently, is heading south to meet those approaching American attack planes! We have plenty of time and shouldn't have any problems! The liaison officer reported the results of the air fleet's response to Isoroku Yamamoto, who was waiting for news.

This is good news for the Japanese fleet, as long as these US fighters can be intercepted, the Japanese Navy can take advantage of the time difference to take off attack planes and chase them along the return route of the US planes.

Once the US aircraft carrier fleet is found, the main Japanese force will be pressed by the whole army, and the Americans will be able to be annihilated before the US aircraft carrier fleet is fledgling!

In this way, it can buy the Japanese Navy another one to three months of respite, and at that time, the carriers Kaga and Hiryu, which have returned to the factory for repair, can return to the front line.

At that time, the First Air Force will still have five aircraft carriers, plus the battleship Yamato, and its combat strength will return to the level of the Battle of Midway.

More importantly, taking advantage of this period of lack of U.S. troops, the Japanese army can continue to attack, occupy the Marshall Islands and the Solomon Islands, and complete the strategic encirclement posture against Australia.

At that time, whether Australia surrendered or not will not be mentioned for the time being, it will only cut off the supply line between the United States and Australia, and strategically it will also be of great benefit to Japan.

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