Torpedo bombers from "Hornet" are the first American planes to locate the Japanese fleet. They attack without fighter protection and are slaughtered by the Japanese Combat Air Patrol. Tom is severely burned when gunfire immolates his cockpit during a dogfight. As the Japanese are preparing to launch their second wave, dive-bombers from "Enterprise" and "Yorktown" arrive. With the CAP out of position, the bombers attack and reduce three of the Japanese carriers — , and — to burning wrecks within minutes.