Aircraft comparisons late in the Pacific War must account for how many experienced Japanese pilots have already been lost. Santa Cruz, Midway, and the Coral Sea are cited as battles in which veteran aviators disappear from the force. Repeated deployment exposes the survivors to further risk. The explanation also stresses the US Navy's ability to learn from encounters and pass new tactics to other pilots. The Thach Weave illustrates how mutual fighter support can force an attacker through defensive fire before reaching a target. Confidence and individual skill do not remove the cumulative danger of attempting that attack repeatedly.
Notable Point · 2:23:28-2:25:28
Japanese pilot attrition and American tactical learning
Repeated combat wears down Japan's experienced naval aviators while the US Navy spreads lessons that make later encounters harder for surviving aces.