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Into History.

com. It's December 10th, 1941 in the U.S. controlled Philippines, and the war in the Pacific is underway.

In Manila Bay, just off the coast of the Kavita Naval Yard,

American Lieutenant John D. Bulkely stands on deck of his patrol torpedo boat or PT boat.

One of several floating in the bay, all part of a small fleet

under the lieutenant's command. As Bulkely walked to the edge of his boat and looks out over the horizon,

he knows the enemy is out there somewhere, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Three days ago, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Hours later, and over 5,000 miles away,

Japan also attacked a US air strip 60 miles north of the Philippine capital, Manila. In one fell swoop the Japanese

nearly wiped out America's entire Air Force in the region. Then they turned

south, started scouting for targets in and around Manila Bay.

This morning, in anticipation of an impending attack,

Bulkely ordered his men to board these PT boats,

push out into the harbor, and wait at the ready.

Now as Bockely stares off into the distance, he hears what sounds like a swarm of

hornets.

He looks up to see instead a swarm of Japanese planes flying in a perfect V formation.

As the aircraft soar over the bay, bombs begin to splash and then explode in the water.

Volkily orders his fleet of PT boats to spread out, stay on the move and use

...