Alright, my range is off.....
Originally posted by Ken King
While I can agree that Japan did not have radars of that type during the early days of WWII, I don't share the same about the radio information.
First, Tokyo to Honolulu is only 3800+ miles, not 7000+ miles as you contend. Next, the B-25 had HF radio capability (BC-375 Tx and BC-348 Rx). While I am not saying that it did happen, I believe that it could have happened, just ask any ham operator about HF range. Besides it adds to the theatrics of this movie to add the drama of those scenes.
However, if you noticed, the bomber crews were talking amongst each other, ie, inter-plane radios - very short range. And in addition, you didn't see or hear any of the crews talking to Pearl, on HF or any other type of communications equipment. I don't believe they had SATCOM in those days, either.
Another funny thing I saw was the depiction of the Japanese Fleet(besides the radar screens); all the Jap carriers were converted cruisers at that time, with the flight deck supported by huge girders/beams, for lack of Navyspeak, about 15-20 feet above the main cruiser deck. You could see through the other side. But not in this movie, they were solid hulls. One guy told me, I didn't notice this, but there was a Los Angeles class nuke sub in a few of the shots of the Japanese fleet. Uh-huh!
One more for ya: I would have never noticed this, but apparently they way this movie portrayed the first wave or so of Zeros and Kates(?) coming in over the island was all wrong. The valleys and mountain features shown would not have led them into Pearl Harbor, they were flying the wrong way!
penn