New carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku drew some of the best leaders from land-based air groups for the Hawaii operation, leaving many crews in the 11th Air Fleet assigned before their training was complete. The Navy also neglected transport aircraft, spare parts, theater maintenance and repair, and the engineering equipment needed to build more air bases. Its own estimates put aviation fuels and lubricants at only about eighteen months of combat operations. Early victories concealed these shortages while Allied air defenses were weak. Once the advance stalled at the distant perimeter of Japan's conquests, inadequate logistical support restricted the air power intended to defend it.
Chapter · 16:50-19:19
Sustaining Japanese naval aviation beyond the first advance
Elite carrier groups drew scarce personnel from land-based aviation while spares, maintenance, transport, airfields, fuel, and lubricants remained inadequate for a sustained advance.