When 64 Japanese Aircraft Attack One P-40 Warhawk — The Pilot's "Speechless" Solution Shock Everyone скачать в хорошем качестве

When 64 Japanese Aircraft Attack One P-40 Warhawk — The Pilot's "Speechless" Solution Shock Everyone

This is the true story of Boyd Wagner's impossible attack. On December 8, 1941, Wagner faced 64-to-1 odds and discovered a fatal weakness in Japanese formations. His solution: attack from directly behind and below the bomber formation—the blind spot where rear gunners can't fire without hitting their own aircraft. He dove through American anti-aircraft fire, threaded himself into position, opened fire at 100 yards. First bomber's engine exploded. He zoomed away using dive speed (P-40 faster than Zeros in straight dives). Climbed back to 8,000 feet. Dove again. Second attack: hit two bombers, they collided mid-air. Third attack: one more bomber destroyed despite taking 23 bullet hits. Total: 3 bombers confirmed destroyed, formation discipline shattered, Japanese bombing run delayed enough for other American P-40s to scramble. Wagner survived, landed at emergency strip with 23 bullet holes in his aircraft. His tactic—diving THROUGH formations rather than around them, exploiting tight spacing that made Japanese vulnerable to disruption—became foundational to American Pacific air combat. "Pulling a Wagner" became slang for attacking overwhelming odds. He became America's first WWII ace (9 confirmed kills). Promoted from 2nd Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel in 10 months. Died November 29, 1942, age 26—spatial disorientation crash in weather on routine patrol. Survived 64-to-1 combat, killed by clouds. The irony crushed everyone. His legacy: aggressive tactics even when outnumbered, formation disruption over coordinated attacks. Japanese formations never regained early-war discipline. Wagner proved audacity could overcome numbers. #WWII #P40Warhawk #PacificWar #ZeroFighter #ww2stories #ww2history