The follow-up stresses that Midway's emphasis on aircraft did not make it unable to absorb damage. Malta is nevertheless interpreted as placing greater weight on continuing to operate after repeated hits. The expected Malta air group is qualified as probably around eighty to ninety aircraft rather than the larger nominal figure of 108. Midway's active group is described as being around ninety, while totals reaching 130 included additional stored aircraft. Counting every aircraft aboard can therefore make the operational air groups appear more different than this comparison suggests.
Notable Point · 4:06:54-4:08:23
Why a carrier's aircraft total may include many spares
The Malta and Midway comparison separates active air-group size from aircraft carried as stored replacements.