Session 12

Points of Convergence: The American Flights Over Oahu

On the morning of December 7th, there were three air groups headed towards Oahu. One was the Japanese strike force, and the others were American aircraft from the carrier Enterprise and B-17’s winging their way to Oahu from California. What is not known to the public are the intricacies of the fateful aerial ballet that took place over the island of Oahu. Mr. Cressman, noted author of the book Steady Nerves and Stout Hearts and Mike Wenger, noted historian and editor of The Emperor’s Sea Eagle l provided a fresh look at the American air experience as they converged on Pearl Harbor.

 

Speakers: Mike Wenger - Mr. Hyland was a sailor aboard the flagship USS Pennsylvania. As a radioman, he served in the ship’s communications. On that day he went to his battle station and was a loader on one of the three-inch anti-aircraft guns. He was later grievously wounded and nearly lost his life. After months of hospitalization, Everett was returned to service. After the war, Mr. Hyland became a school teacher and is currently one of the Pearl Harbor survivor volunteers at the USS Arizona Memorial.

Robert Cressman - Mr. Cressman is a historian with the Ships Histories Branch of the Naval Historical Center in Washington D.C. Mr. Cressman is considered one of the preeminent experts in WWII naval history and his outstanding publication, Steady Nerves and Stout Hearts, is a definitive study of what occurred to the air groups of the USS Enterprise on December 7, 1941.

Related Books: The Emperor's Sea Eagle (Zenji Abe, Edited by Michael Wenger)

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