"Are the 1st Carrier Fleet and 4th Carrier Fleet ready?" Admiral Nimitz asked.
In an extremely short time, he had already made his decision. Although he could not yet be certain whether another German Navy Aircraft Carrier Formation was to their southwest, Admiral Nimitz's instincts told him that a German Navy Aircraft Carrier Formation was definitely lurking there.
Without solid intelligence, Admiral Nimitz decided to take a gamble. If he won, it would be a chance for the American Navy to turn defeat into victory.
"Commander, should we send aircraft to conduct reconnaissance? If we send fighters, they can get there in half an hour," Lieutenant General Halsey suggested.
That would undoubtedly be safer. However, it was not what Admiral Nimitz wanted.
Admiral Nimitz shook his head. "No. Have the carrier-based aircraft of the 1st Carrier Fleet and 4th Carrier Fleet take off. Divide them into two waves and send them out in full force. If they really are German aircraft carriers, then we must destroy them!"
Lieutenant General Halsey nodded. He knew that Admiral Nimitz was placing his hopes of defeating the German Navy on this operation.
"Understood, Commander. I'll give the order for the carrier-based aircraft to take off immediately," Lieutenant General Halsey replied.
At the final moment, Lieutenant General Halsey chose to trust Admiral Nimitz. He also hoped that this attack could completely crush the German Navy, reverse the situation in one stroke, and win this naval battle.
After receiving the order, the four Essex-class aircraft carriers of the American Navy's 1st Carrier Fleet immediately began launching carrier-based aircraft. Originally, each Essex-class aircraft carrier had carried thirty-six fighters. However, to cover the Capital Ships formation earlier, eighteen fighters had already taken off from each of the four Essex-class aircraft carriers. In the end, only eighteen F4U fighter