Dan K wrote:
Just to put this point to bed - I didn't note the specific page in Shattered Sword, but three eyewitness survivors are cited as to identifying the object in question as clearly being the forward elevator.
One more eyewitness from the USN side:
Lt jg Norman Kleiss was interviewed about his bombing of the Hiryu and in regard to his Bomb hitting the edge of the forward elevator and blowing it up and out toward the island, was recorded as saying this :
"... like a taco, rolled it back on top of itself."
For those interested in a possible Dio...
Seems like these 2 photos do show it bent almost in half and resting just forward of the island. The 2 bent segments of the elevator supporting the entire assm to keep it upright. I do not believe it shifted in any way between the taking of the two known photos. The different 'Look" of the 2 photos is due to reflections of portions of the elevator and other debris in my opinion.
Try making a cutout of the elevator in the same scale as your model. Bend it almost in half and place it on the deck. It does not need to lean against the island to remain upright. It does, however, seem to lean in toward the island. Note that the white deck stripe is visible on a section of the elevator and can give you a point of reference.
My take on this photo: