More than 350 aircraft embarked on the six carriers of the Hawaii strike force. Concentrating the largest carriers there left the Southeast Asian offensives dependent on land-based aviation and three smaller carriers. Aircraft based on Taiwan were assigned to suppress American air power in the Philippines, with Zero fighters crossing the sea ahead of the bombers. Adjustments to engine and propeller speeds and fuel mixtures extended the fighters' range for that mission. Bombers operating from occupied French Indochina covered the invasion fleets bound for Malaya, while aircraft in the Marshall Islands prepared to attack isolated Allied outposts.
Notable Point · 9:12-11:48
Japanese air deployments across the opening offensives
The Hawaii carrier concentration depended on other air forces covering simultaneous offensives, including a long-range Zero mission from Taiwan to Luzon.