The Kido Butai [literally “Mobile Force” (but better translated as “Striking Force”) was the operational component of the First Air Fleet that comprised a combined carrier battle group comprising most of the aircraft carriers and carrier air groups of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), during the first eight months of the Pacific War] was allocated to the attack against the main Pacific Fleet base at Pearl Harbor. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto conceived the Pearl Harbor attack and Captain Minoru Genda planned it. The following article, featuring excerpts from Mark Stille’s book Pacific Carrier War, gives a detailed description of the Second Wave Attack on Pearl Harbor. CLICK HERE to read the story of the First Wave Attack on Pearl Harbor.
The first of the 167 aircraft of the second wave arrived over their targets approximately 25 minutes after the last aircraft of the first wave had departed. The centerpiece of the second wave was the 78 dive bombers from Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, and Hiryu. These were flown by the best dive bomber pilots in the Imperial Navy. Against stationary ships in Pearl Harbor, the Japanese expected impressive results. The force was led by Lieutenant Commander Egusa Takeshige from Soryu who was considered to be the finest dive bomber pilot in the Imperial Navy. Since there were no carriers present, and the 550lb bombs carried by the dive bombers were unsuited for attacking heavily armored battleships, the prioritization plan called for attacking cruisers. However, only 17 dive bombers attacked cruisers, while some 30 selected battleships, and as many as 16 attacked destroyers, and 12 attacked auxiliaries. Japanese after action reports were inaccurate at best and misleading at worst. Using American after action reports, it remains difficult to account for the attacks of all 78 dive bombers. However, it is clear that the dive bomber attack was unfocused and failed to live up to Japanese expectations.
