I watched a documentary on Pearl Harbor several years back, it was actually quite informative.
Apparently, due to a big storm, a U.S. aircraft carrier was near Pearl Harbor right before the attack on December 7th, but not actually at Pearl Harbor. This aircraft carrier was carrying some of the U.S.'s most technologically advanced planes. Two of the planes even ran into two Japanese Zeros before the attack. Since it was peace time, the U.S. pilots were astonished to see the Zeros. But one of the Japanese pilots fired and hit an American plane in the engine, so they got into a dogfight and the Americans won.
Right before the Pearl Harbor attack, as the Japanese naval aircraft were bearing down on the island, the U.S. aircraft carrier began launching planes. However, they ran into another storm, and had to recall all of its planes. These planes could have really saved us at Pearl Harbor.
I think the documentary ended there. I'm not sure what happened to the carrier, I think it helped us out in some other battles. But anyways, while most people think the Germans were the first to use jets in combat, I have to disagree. I think this documentary proves that the US Navy first used jets in combat (albeit on a limited scale due to storms) as early as 1941.
