Secrets of the Dead: Dogfight Over Guadalcanal

Secrets of the Dead is an investigative history program on PBS. On this episode they recount and digitally reconstruct the famous dogfight between Saburo Sakai and Pug Southerland over Guadalcanal. Southerland was a U.S. Navy pilot and was ultimately shot down by Sakai. The wreckage was found in the late 90's and Ralph Wetterhahn traveled to Guadalcanal to find out why Southerland didn't shoot down Sakai when he had the chance. He finds an old shell, which he calls the "Rosetta Stone" of the accident and then claims that this particular shell was hit by a Japanese bullet, exploded in the wing and jammed the guns. In my opinion it could be true, but it was quite a stretch to prove conclusively, considering this plane was shot down and then rotted in the jungles for 67 years. Even more baffling is why they were investigating that aspect in the first place. Southerland lived thru the experience and reported himself that his guns were jammed. Sakai (pictured) also lived thru the war and wrote a book that looks interesting: Samurai! Besides the investigative conclusions and theatrics, the film was interesting, I enjoyed learning about the dogfight and seeing what remained of Pug's Wildcat.