Having the Attack Aircraft Group turn during their flight was a common tactic, nothing to be surprised about.
In fact, the real thrill lay earlier than that.
Around 4:50 AM, when it became known that there was an Enemy Fleet to the southeast and the Seaplanes had yet to locate the enemy carrier, Bai Zhizhan hesitated whether to start preparing the ship-borne aircraft for the attack in advance. It was a Reconnaissance Aircraft flying from the southeast that dispelled his hesitation.
It was an enemy carrier's Reconnaissance Aircraft!
Although the lookout hadn't spotted the enemy aircraft—after all, Reconnaissance Aircraft flew at no small altitude, and it was night—they could hear it. The lookout even determined it to be an SBD.
Upon receiving the lookout's report, Bai Zhizhan took a sharp intake of breath.
Fortunately, the Reconnaissance Aircraft did not discover the Battleships on the water.
One had to admit, it was indeed luck.
