Yes, Tom, and that Aleutians excursion confirmed to Japanese military that they couldn't win the war when a piece of their engineering from a wrecked Zero fighter in the Aleutians turn up as an American fighter modification THREE months later. Japan had antiquated, second-rate industrial capacity entering the war. Invading another continent from a resources-weak island would be an impossible logistical task, and Canada---mobilized, already two years at war---was between Alaska and the US and still is. Please consider also that Japan was aware that the British signed a contract for 320 Mustang P51 aircraft with North American Aircraft on 29 May 1940 (18 months before Pearl Harbour) and five months to the day the first one was off the assembly line. RAF Mustangs entered combat in May 1942. Japan knew it couldn't match that design, engineering and production capacity. Its best fighter entering and at the end of the war was the Zero.
Last edited by King Brown; 09-23-2011 at 11:20 AM..
Reason: clarity
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