Mission Beyond Darkness

[JOMiller]

Today is the anniversary of "The Mission Beyond Darkness".
Launched at extreme maximum range the USN aviators knew
some would not have sufficient fuel to return. They also
knew they would have to land at night which was not routione
at the time. They would decimate what remained of the Japanese
Combined Fleet.

ADM "Pete" Mitchner would forever earn the love of his aviators
when he ordered the fleet to "turn on the lights" to better guide
his boys home. Many more men were lost to ditching that were
killed in combat, but most were rescued to fight another day.