How One Commander's "Matchstick" Trick Made 4 Wildcats Destroy Zeros They Couldn't Outfly скачать в хорошем качестве

How One Commander's "Matchstick" Trick Made 4 Wildcats Destroy Zeros They Couldn't Outfly

Why Lieutenant Commander John Thach made two Wildcats fly directly at each other during combat in 1942 — and turned a 0.4-to-1 kill ratio into 2.1-to-1 against Japanese Zeros. This World War 2 story reveals how a pack of matches became the deadliest fighter tactic in the Pacific. February 10, 1942. Lieutenant Commander John Thach, commanding Fighting Squadron Three, watched six Zeros diving toward his four Wildcats over Wake Island. The Zero out-turned every American fighter. Forty-three Wildcats had been shot down in one-on-one dogfights. Thach ordered something that violated every US Navy doctrine: two Wildcats turn toward each other and cross paths while Zeros chase them. Every manual said fighters split up in combat. His pilots called it insane. They were all wrong. What Thach discovered with two matchsticks wasn't about speed. It was about mutual protection in a way that contradicted everything the Navy taught. By June 1942, squadrons across the Pacific Fleet executed what pilots called the Thach Weave. And they survived. This technique spread pilot to pilot, saving over 2,000 American aviators before appearing in any training manual. The principles discovered at Wake Island continue to influence US fighter tactics today. 🔔 Subscribe for more untold WW2 stories:    / @wwii-records   👍 Like this video if you learned something new 💬 Comment below: What other WW2 tactics should we cover? #worldwar2 #ww2history #ww2 #wwii #ww2records ⚠️ Disclaimer: This is entertainment storytelling based on WW2 events from internet sources. While we aim for engaging narratives, some details may be inaccurate. This is not an academic source. For verified history, consult professional historians and archives. Watch responsibly.