At 5 pm on October 17, a reconnaissance plane sent from Los Angeles discovered the Kakuda Fleet's leading force, and then discovered the main force of the fleet five minutes later.

"Four aircraft carriers, 980 kilometers southwest of Los Angeles? And are moving forward at a speed of 18 knots?" After receiving this telegram, not only did they feel nervous at Arnold, but they also caused huge waves in the command centers of Hawaii and Washington.

"Not only that, our radar also found an unidentified reconnaissance aircraft passing by Los Angeles. After our patrol fighter jet rushed over, the aircraft was already away. There was no possibility except for Japanese reconnaissance aircraft, but no telegram signals were intercepted."

Nimitz and Spruenz were about to explode, and MacArthur was also worried: Los Angeles is not only the largest city and port on the west coast, but also the fleet that has just been formed to transport goods for Hawaii is also there. The two of them thought of a possible possibility, would anyone inform Japan of the information?

We can't blame the two for their random thoughts, because there were many Japanese people in Los Angeles. Although they were isolated after Pearl Harbor and most of the residents were put into concentration camps, it is difficult to guarantee that there were no fish that missed the net or Japanese sympathizers. What's more, in addition to Japanese people, there are also a large number of European descendants in the place, which look like polite, law-abiding and humble Americans. Who knows what to do behind their backs?

"What are the countermeasures for General Arnold?"

"He has prepared some of the fighter jets..."

"He won't send bombers to bomb?" MacArthur was stunned. "1,000 kilometers are within the range of our army's attack?"

"Yes, but the time is not right." Nimitz sighed, "The Japanese are very cunning. They chose this time point to rush into the 1,000-kilometer air defense circle. If our army sends bombers to attack, the sky will be basically dark over the Japanese fleet and it will be difficult to find the enemy. Even if it is not dark, it will definitely be completely black when returning. You said, is it better to turn on the lights at the airport when the return is turned on or not?"

MacArthur immediately understood: if the lights at the airport are not on, the loss of the return plane will probably not be small; if the lights are on, it is equivalent to reminding the Japanese that I am here and here...

He was so angry that he cursed: "Then we are just waiting for the enemy to hit the door?"

"It will be more uncomfortable today. In order to prevent the enemy's night attack, Los Angeles and San Diego (only 180 kilometers from Los Angeles) have been evacuated urgently."

"Can the enemy attack at night?"

"Yes, that's how they attacked New York." Nimitz looked at the map, "They were only 1,000 kilometers away from Los Angeles. It's 5 pm now. The Japanese army can drive 18 knots or even faster. There are still 9 hours to 2 am tomorrow, and they can continue to advance at least 350 kilometers. At that time, the distance was only more than 600 kilometers, and then release the attack group..."

"Why can't our army pilot?"

“Some of them were done before.”

"Before?" MacArthur had been staying in the Pacific Ocean, not very clear about the situation in the country, and asked subconsciously, "What about now?"

Nimitz sighed: "It's basically lost. Now let alone night attacks, being able to fully land with the lights on the airport at night is considered a skilled pilot."

Ingram was also in a hurry at Pearl Harbor: The Los Angeles fleet has basically been prepared, all full of the fuel and aviation accessories that Hawaii needs the most. What if the Japanese flew over and exploded? Not to mention that there are two battleships in the Japanese fleet (Mushashi + King Kong), whichever one of them is enough to sweep the West Coast, but it is useless to be anxious about this. The Pacific Fleet is still 4,000 kilometers away from the Kakuda Fleet, and even if it can fly, it is too late.

Halsey comforted: "If the enemy dares to approach and use naval guns, that is equivalent to suicide! If they really dare to approach and use naval guns, I will try my best to let Luhang leave them. Now I hope the Japanese plane's accurate head is almost done, so don't blow up too much."

"How many days will the Hornet be repaired?"

"3 days!"

"In three days, you will take the main force of the fleet out to wipe out this fleet. It is too disgusting to watch him swaying under his eyes and nose. The West Coast cannot always be exposed to the threat of this fleet." Ingram paused, "It just so happened to bring the transport fleet back."

"I understand!" Halsey was so angry when he knew Ingram was moved: a Japanese fleet wandered on the west coast for three weeks, but the United States had no choice but to make tens of millions of people worried and feared for three weeks, and the navy was completely lost!

Time passed by minute by minute, and the situation became increasingly tense. At 18:37, Los Angeles informed that the Japanese fleet was still advancing. After the news that a close-in-reconnaissance B-17 was shot down, the uneasy atmosphere reached. In fact, everyone knows that Japan cannot cause much damage. Even if four aircraft carriers all came out, there were more than 200 aircraft (actually only 3, one was a watercraft carrier), this situation was really scary.

Dewey felt as if his neck was strangled and he couldn't breathe: only this immersive moment could he truly understand what Turner said, "Our people must adapt to the bomb, we are fighting a world war."

"Sir, it's dark!"

Hearing his subordinates' report, Kakuda Kiyoshi nodded with satisfaction and breathed a long sigh. To be honest, he was actually urging in his heart: the most fear is that the Americans sent bombers to launch a desperate attack regardless of their concern. As long as the Americans are not afraid of sacrifice, no injured warship can escape back alive. Now it seems that the Americans have not yet reached this point.

He didn't know that the US command center has changed now. Turner, who advocated changing tankers with crews, has gotten out. If Turner is still there, he will definitely send the plane out without hesitation. The losses will be lost. It depends on whether you have more ships or I have more pilots? Even if you can't find the airport when you return, it doesn't matter. As long as you are sure it's land, the crew will parachutize. As for the plane, which week does Boeing not build 1,000 aircraft? America lacks everything, but it's not short of money!

Chief Representative of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (now noted in Canada) Marshal Deere commented without emotion with the people around him after Turner's resignation: Turner was born in the wrong place. People like him should not be a general in the United States, but should go to the Soviets to be the chief of staff for Stalin. In terms of ruthlessness, decisiveness in killing and firm will, the rest of the entire Joint Conference are not opponents, and they are simply a perfect match with Stalin.

Is there any reason? Of course, there is. If Arnold could send 500-600 bombers today and 200 P-51s to launch a one-way suicide attack, 80% of the Kakuda fleet would be destroyed on the West Coast. But if the battle was like this, in Nimitz's words, "Apart from victory, America will lose everything!"

In the end, Kakuda won by chance. At around 8 o'clock, he issued an order: "The fleet's course turns to the north and then turns to the west after 3 hours!"

In the early morning of the 18th, Los Angeles was sleepless all night. Arnold sat in the command center personally, waiting for the radar room to report the news of the "discovery of enemy aircraft groups". All fire brigades, ambulance teams, night fighters, and anti-aircraft guns were all ready, and they were waiting for the Japanese aircraft groups to pounce on them, but they waited until the east was exposed to the white spots and there was no movement.

The Washington Association also had all night duty. Nimitz and MacArthur were old after all, and they couldn't hold on until 2 o'clock in the evening to take a nap in the lounge. They agreed to wake them up as soon as there was a situation.

As a result, when Nimitz opened his eyes, it was getting dark (Washington was earlier than Los Angeles). Before the adjutant came to call him, he was very angry about it. He was about to criticize a few words, but the young staff members on duty said in a laughing and crying tone: "Sir, Los Angeles reported that everything is normal, and the Japanese did not come!"

"Didn't come?" Nimitz was stunned at first, and then immediately ordered, "Let General Arnold send a reconnaissance plane to see where is the Japanese fleet?"

At 5:15 a.m., the first reconnaissance plane set off and then took off one reconnaissance plane every 1 minute. The pilots were furious and rushed towards the scheduled direction. As a result, a telegram finally came at around 9 a.m., saying that the Japanese fleet was 1,500 kilometers southwest of Los Angeles (that is, 2,800 kilometers northeast of Hawaii).

Everyone was so angry that they were teased by the Japanese army, but Spruins saw a little unusual from it and asked in confusion: "Why do the Japanese do this? What benefits can they get except for empty fuel consumption?"

"Or let Arnold send a plane to blow it up? Let the other party make trouble on the west coast, for fear of a sharp drop in morale..."

Nimitz agreed with this suggestion. Arnold, who was so pissed, then sent nearly 200 B-29s to attack the airstrike (this distance is not reachable by B-25, but the b-1724 is too slow to use, so he can only use B-29), but the results of the battle splashed cold water on everyone: Musashi and Kwang-Kong each shot 1,000 pound bomb, which was minimally invasive; Yuri destroyer was hit by 2,000 pound bomb, and sank; Rijin watercraft and 1,000 pound bomb, and sank, and the rest were no different.

However, only 96 of the 207 unescorted US bombers successfully returned, with a loss rate of nearly 54%. The Army Airlines originally planned to consume a week of personnel in one day. Although Japan also lost 17 additional fighters, most of the pilots were rescued, and this exchange was not very cost-effective than looking at it.

Although Land Airlines reported that it sank an aircraft carrier on the other side, it was finally judged that it was only an escort aircraft carrier level.

At 4 pm, the depression had not passed yet, and another news came: Panama's land aerial reconnaissance plane discovered the Japanese fleet more than 1,100 kilometers away from Panama. It was judged that it was a Japanese main fleet that disappeared after leaving the port from Lima.
Chapter completed!