Hello, and thank you for listening to the history of World War II podcast, episode 72,

Tarantone Part III.

As the attack from the first wave was coming to a close over the harbor, the second wave

was launching into the wind.

These nine planes would be led by Lieutenant Commander Ginger Hale, but luck wasn't with

the second wave.

As the last two aircraft were maneuvering towards the center line of the deck in preparation

to take off, their wings came together and locked up.

Both pilots experienced enough not to panic, shut down their engines, and the fitters nearby

pushed the planes backwards to unlock their wings.

One plane seemed fine, but the other had a torn wing, through the hole in the fabric

two broken ribs were visible.

The undamaged plane soon took off to join the others, circling overhead, confused by

the delay.

They waited a few more minutes for the last plane to take off, but instead saw the bridge

flashed the more signal to carry on, so the eight planes formed up and headed north.

The damaged craft, L5F, was taken down to the hangar deck, but the pilot and observer

were not ready to be counted out and begged for a quick repair.

As that situation was being discussed on board, the other plane from the incident seemingly

undamaged suddenly had its own situation.

L5Q was now 30 miles from the Lestrius when something began banging against the fuel

salage.

...