Feb. 14
Had chow relief. [Military term for when one person temporarily takes up the duties of another so the later can literally go to “chow” or to eat or to be spelled for a short while. In this instance it seems to be used in an ironic or wry sense, as it is another who must go into combat.]

Feb. 15:
Escorted 22 B-25’s to Rabaul. Bombers separated and it was hard to cover both groups. 6 Zeros made a head on and overhead on run on bombers. We were too far away from the bombers to get the Japs before they hit the bombers. However, [Charles D. “Mother”] Jones shot one down as they were pulling away from bombers. I went through most of the ack-ack with the bombers. It was very heavy and several bursts came close to me but missed. A few bombers were hit but don’t know if one fell or not. Saw about 4 more Zeros but they didn’t come in close to us for a fight. Jones found another one and shot him down. This makes 48 shot down for the sqd. & 3 pilots lost in combat.
One gunner was injured in B-25, so I told bomber to pull out of formation and open his bomber up so he could take the boy to the field to a doctor. My division covered him all the way back.
This afternoon we covered the landings on Green Island. Two bogies reported and I chased one within 15 mi. of New Ireland. Went off patrol at 1915. It was storming & raining all was back to Bougainville. Rain squalls everywhere. When it would come a big flash of lightening I could see the shoreline and followed it all the way home. When I got here I could barely see the field. Made 3 passes at field before I could find it and set the plane down. It was raining, the ceiling was about 900 ft. and it was pitch dark. Wrapped it up on the approach so much I nearly missed the field. Was very happy when I landed. Had to put on brakes to keep from running off end of runway. [Virgil F.] Teeter was sitting on side of runway in his plane and I missed him about two feet. Flew about 7 hrs. in all today. Quite a day!

Feb. 17:
Escorted 60 SBD’s & 30 TBF’s to Rabaul to hit shipping in Simpson Harbor. There were about 25 small craft like our L.C.T. and L.S.T. several hits were scored. One Major got a direct hit on a Destroyer. Got separated from [James A.] Walley. Didn’t see any Zeros so turned around and went back over the rear end of T.B.F.’s. Still didn’t see any of them that was very close. Started back for the rendezvous spot and a Zero pulled up in front of me quite a piece and a little down. He was slipping up on two F4U’s. I dropped in behind him and opened the plane wide open and was catching him just as he was catching the other two planes who didn’t ever see him. Just as I was getting in range to shoot he saw me and pulled up into a Chandelle. I was shooting at him as he did it but could only follow him so far. I nosed it down to keep up speed and keep from stalling. I turned around and the Zero had done the same. We started head-on at each other and I started firing first. He pulled up and I couldn’t follow him. He went straight up and did a hammerhead stall onto my tail. Firing as came down he put 3 holes in my left wing. I dove out so he couldn’t stay on my tail. I headed for 2 F6F’s that had seen us. I went under them and they ran the Zero off my tail. I couldn’t turn my ailerons but a few inches because one bullet bent the tin where the aileron connects onto the wing and the bent tin wouldn’t let it move. Got back and one bullet had hit my guns and a piece of it was still in the gun case. Got it as a souvenir.
This afternoon we were to escort TBF’s to hit shipping again. There was a big front between here and Rabaul and all had to turn around and come back. Tonight 5 Destroyers went right into the Rabaul harbor and shelled it, then came back out. Some more shelled Kavieng on New Iereland.
Walley got one plane today. [Henry M. “Bud”] Turner his 1st. [Donald H. (Stapp)] Sapp got two to make his 8.

Feb. 18:
Chow relief.

Feb. 19:
Patrol Cover Green Island. Could see progress on roads where we had landed.

Feb. 21:
Escorted B-24’s to Lakunai [Rabaul] and hit the field and the strip of land between the field and city. Must have hit an oil dump because a big smoke boiled up close to the city. This was the second day straight no one saw a Zero. The battle at Truk must be taking all the fighters or they don’t have gas to run them. Two ships were sunk that were loaded with gas & oil. They were headed for Rabaul. One fellow counted 30 Jap bombers on one filed. Ack-ack was the lightest it has ever been. Sapp & [Clyde A.] Dingfelter strafed a 250 ft. ship and set it on fire close to shore at New Ireland.

Feb.22
Washed my clothes today in the washing machine across the road. It is cloudy & damp so they won’t dry today.

Feb. 23:
Started to escort SBD’s & TBF’s to Rabaul. Got half way there and had to turn around and come back. We all ran into a rainstorm and couldn’t get through it was so cloudy. Yesterday they got 4 Japs that had given up. They asked each one why they gave up. One said “I was just walking through the jungle with my buddy here and was looking for food. I just said Hell, why don’t we give up so he agreed and here we are.” The other one gave up because he was hungry. The fourth one said they were getting pretty hungry back there and the officers were making them stand up to our artillery fire and lots of them were getting killed. He said the Japs were going to start a big push and try to take back all the land they had lost and he just didn’t want to be killed in the push. He said they didn’t have a chance. I notice our big guns have stated firing more lately so guess they are shelling them more so they can’t “push” very far. Also heard the Japs had brought their big guns over from the Shortland Is. And were going to start shelling us. Woe is me! Hope taint so!

Feb. 24th:
Had a chow relief today. [Jesse M. Jr.] Leach’s motor quit on him over Rabaul (Duke of York Is.). Have been looking for him all afternoon. Don’t know results yet. He called up and gave his position where his motor quit. He makes the 4th man we have lost in combat, and the 8th since we left the states. Turner just came in & said Leach had been found. Very good news!