Existing comment:
Dawn Operations, 1996:
The Japanese used seaplanes to compensate for the lack of suitable land bases in the Pacific. One such seaplane base was near Shortland Island in the Solomons. Here, as dawn breaks on Shortland in October 1942, a Mitsubishi F1M2 floatplane readies for a reconnaissance mission, while Mitsubishi A6M Zeros pass overhead on a patrol and two cruisers prepare to sail. |