They had covered more than half the way to the task force when, coming from behind a very small cloud, Jack let out a howl:
“Torpedo planes in formation, dead ahead!”
“Enemy planes?” Stew rubbed his eyes.
“Easy. They slipped out of the harbor during our stratosphere battles.” Jack gave his ship the rein.
The situation was clear. For many weeks Jap task forces in harbors had been refusing to fight. It had been assumed that they would once again attempt flight. But at least one carrier had sent out its torpedo planes to do battle.
“Get on the radio! Quick!” Jack exclaimed. “Not a second to lose!”
Almost the next breath Stew was droning into his mike: “Twelve enemy torpedo planes approaching task force at top speed. Should strike soon.”
His report exploded on the Black Bee like a bombshell. Having received his earlier report, all carriers had dispatched their dive bombers and torpedo planes, with fighter escort, to the enemy harbor, where they hoped to wreak havoc on the fleet before it could escape.
On the Black Bee there remained only a small fighter squadron under Kentucky’s command. Half the fighters were on patrol duty, the rest were on the flight deck.
“If those torpedo planes hit us it’s just going to be too bad!” Ted exclaimed as he and Kentucky raced for their planes.