Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
The battle of Midway was so close that anything could have swung it. A single pilot tripping and breaking his wrist a day before the battle could have changed the outcome.
Later in the war, Aichi D4Y3 Judys were carrying 500 kg bombs.
Just think what might have happened at Midway if the Hornet had had an effective air group? That wild goose chase of the Doolittle Raid may have been a lucky break for the Japanese.
Without Doolitle raid, would there be the Midway battle? (not that I claim it would not, just asking)
I think that the Doolittle stunt caused the Japanese to plan the Midway attack is a myth cooked up by apologists for that Raid. The Japanese were much smarter than that. The fact is that FDR liked the idea essentially for political reasons. The war was going badly and the administration wanted something positive to bolster the president's image. A big gamble which they were lucky to get away with except for the cost at Coral Sea and Midway. You can bet that Nimitz would have not gone along if he had any choice.
Without the Doolittle publicity stunt the USN would have 4 CVs at Coral Sea rather then two. Instead of a propaganda victory we might achieve a real victory by sinking the two newest and most capable Japanese aircraft carriers. We might also have gotten the IJA amphibious force after overwhelming their naval escort.
An A-36 carrying a 2,000 lb bomb cannot defend itself any better then a Ju-87D carrying a 1,000 kg bomb. All bombers carrying a payload require fighter escort.
. . . Thach's TBD escort also performed superbly despite being under strength. (At the last minute, Fletcher pulled two of his weave-trained F4F escorts and assigned them to CAP; perhaps his only mistake in the battle.)
I don't think a A-36 can deliver the bomb load in a steep dive, so it is no dive bomber.
cimmex