The American fleet put up its combat air patrol of twenty one planes, seven from each carrier. These would be replaced as their fuel ran low. The other planes were armed and ready for launch with the fighters spotted first for quick takeoff. In case of an air attack they would take off to reinforce the CAP and the bombers would go without fighter cover. With everything ready the fleet waited. Their orders were explicit. They could not fire until fired upon and they could not scout beyond one hundred miles from the fleet. They must not provide an excuse for the Japanese attack they had been advised would come.

Lieutenant Boise was tail end Charlie in his unit, the last Combat Air Patrol fighter to roll down the deck of the Enterprise. As he pulled up he looked out to his left he saw a fighter lift off another carrier, the Saratoga was launching her CAP. He formed up on his wingman who then joined with the other fighters. He had slept only about two hours, he had just taken off and already he was yawning. It would be a long day.

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World War II – a Novel Chapter One

World War II 8

World War II – A Novel Chapter 10