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Form ACA-1
Sheet 1 of 5
 AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT CONFIDENTIAL

 
I. GENERAL
(a) Unit Reporting
 .....VMF-222
(b) Based on or at:
 .....Green Island
(c) Report No:
01

(d) Date of Action:

5 Oct. 1944
(e) Take off: Time:
love
(Zone)
Lat.
4' 32' S.
Long.
154' 14' E.
0750

(f) Mission:

Cover and Strike Tobera #36
(g) Time of Return:
love
(Zone)
gun positions, revetments, supply areas.
 1025

 
II. OWN AIRCRAFT OFFICIALLY COVERED BY THIS REPORT.

(a)
TYPE

(b)
SQUADRON
(c)
NO. OF
SORTIES
(d)
NO. ENGAGING
ENEMY A/C		 (e)
NO. ATTACK-
ING TARGET		 (f)
BOMBS AND TORPEDOS
CARRIED PER PLANE		 (g)
FUZE SETTINGS
FG-1A VMF-222 8 0 8 1 x 500 GP inst.
         
         

 
III. OTHER U. S. OR ALLIED AIRCRAFT EMPLOYED IN THIS OPERATION.


TYPE


SQUADRON

NUMBER
BASE
TYPE
SQUADRON
NUMBER		 BASE
F4U-1 VMF-218 11 Green Island SBD-6 VMSB-341 1 Green Island
SBD-6 VMSB-244 17 Green Island        
SBD-5 VMSB-244 18 Green Island        

 
IV. ENEMY AIRCRAFT OBSERVED OR ENGAGED (By Own Aircraft Listed in II Only).

(a)
TYPE

(b)
NO.
OBSERVED
(c)
NO. ENGAGEING
OWN AIRCRAFT
(d)
TIME ENGAGED		 (e)
LOCATION OF
ENCOUNTER 		(g)
BOMBS, TORPEDOES CARRIED
GUNS OBSERVED		 (g)
COMOUFLAGE AND
MARKING
None    
(GCT)
      
   
(GCT)
      
   
(GCT)
      

(h) Apparent Enemy Mission(s)_________________________________________________________________________

(i) Weather and Clouds at Location of Encounter(s)__________________________________________________________

____________________________ (j) Sun or Moon___________________________ (k) Visibility_____________________

 
V. ENEMY AIRCRAFT DESTROYED OR DAMAGED IN AIR (By Own Aircraft Listed in II Only).

(a)
TYPE
ENEMY A/C
(b) DESTROYED OR DAMAGED BY
 (c)
WHERE HIT ANGLE		 (d)
DAMAGE
CLAIMED
TYPE A/C SQUADRON PILOT OR GUNNER GUNS USED
None            
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
 
 
 
Form ACA-1
Sheet 2 of 5
 AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT CONFIDENTIAL
 Report No. 01

 
VI. LOSS OR DAMAGE, COMBAT OR OPERATIONAL OF OWN AIRCRAFT (of those listed in II only).

(a)
TYPE OWN A/C

(b)
SQUADRON
(c)
CAUSE, TYPE ENEMY A/C
TYPE OWN OR OPERATIONAL CAUSE
 (d)
WHERE HIT, ANGLE		 (e)
EXTENT OF LOSS OR DAMAGE,
REMARKS
1 None
       
2
        
3
       
4
        
5
        
6
        
7        
8        
9        
10        
11        
12        
13        
14        

 
VII. PERSONNEL CASUALTIES (in aircraft listed in II only; identify with planes listed in VI by Nos. at left).

(a)
NO.
(b)
SQUADRON
(c)
NAME, RANK, OR RATING
 (d)
CAUSE		 (e)
CONDITION OR STATUS
  None      
         
         
         
         
         
         
         

 
VIII. RANGE, FUEL, AND AMMUNITION DATA.
(a)
TYPE A/C		 (B)
MILES OUT		 (c)
MILES
RETURN		 (d)
AV. HOURS
IN AIR		 (e)
AV. FUEL
LOADED 		(f)
AV. FUEL
CONSUMED
(g) TOTAL AMMUNITION EXPENDED, PLANES RETURNING
NO. PLANES .30 .50 20 MM MM
FG-1A 160 180 2.6 344 185 8 - 400 - -
                     
                     

 
IX. COMPARITIVE PERFORMANCE, OWN AND ENEMY AIRCRAFT (use check list at left)

SPEED CLIMB
at various altitudes

TURNS
DIVES
CEILINGS
RANGE
PROTECTION
ARMAMENT

 

 

 

 


None

  
 
 
 
 
Form ACA-1
Sheet 3 of 5
 AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT
CONFIDENTIAL
 Report No. 01

 
X. ATTACK ON ENEMY SHIPS OR GROUND OBJECTIVES (By Own Aircraft Listed in II Only).

(a) Location of Target(s)

(b) Time Over Target(s)
love
(Zone)
Tobera airfield, Gazelle Peninsula, New Britain.
 0930-40

(c) Weather and Clouds Over Target

.....2/10 cumulus 3-8,000'
(d) Sun or Moon
 .....Dull sun
(e) Visibility
 .....50 miles

XI. TARGETS, RESULTS OF ATTACK.

(a)
DESCRIPTION OF TARGET (List All Ships In
Group, Whether Or Not Attacked)
(b) A/C ATTACKING
 (d) BOMBS AND AMMUMINITION
EXPENDED, EACH TARGET		 (e)
ALTITUDE OF ATTACK		 (f)
HITS
(c) SQUADRON

1 500 x 300 yard supply area
8, FG-1A
8x 500 GP and strafing
3-4,000'
all in area
VMF-222
2
        
 
3
        
 
4
        
 
5
        
 
6
        
 
7
        
 
8
        
 

(f) RESULTS: FOR SHIP TARGETS DRAW DIAGRAM, TOP OR SIDE VIEW OR BOTH AS APPOPRIATE, SHOWING TYPE AND LOCATION OF HITS FOR ALL TARGETS. GIVE LOCATION AND EFFECT OF HITS WITH DIAGRAMS OR CHARTS WHERE DESIRABLE. DESCRIBE TARGETS FULLY IN (a) AND IN REPORTING DAMAGE OR DESTRUCTION, IDENTIFY BY NUMBERS AT LEFT. USE ADDITIONAL SHEETS IF NECESSARY.

(1) All bombs hit in the target area but no specific results were observed because of dust and bomb smoke covering the area.

No fires were observed in the target area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(h) Were Photographs Taken?___No____ Photographs of Damage, When Taken, Should Be Attached.
 
 
 
Form ACA-1
Sheet 4 of 5
 AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT
CONFIDENTIAL
 Report No. 01

 
XII. TACTICAL AND OPERATIONAL DATA. (Narrative and commentary. Describe action fully and comment freely, following applicable items in check list at left. Use additional sheets if necessary.)
ENGAGEMENT WITH ENEMY
 
   
OWN AIRCRAFT
   
Disposition
   
Altitudes
   
Speeds
   
Approach Tactics
   
Use of Cover, Deception
   
Angles of Attack and
...Their Effectiveness
   
Distance of Opening Fire
   
Defense Tactics and
...Their Effectiveness
       
ENEMY AIRCRAFT
   
Method of Locating, Distance
   
Disposition
   
Altitudes
   
Speeds
   
Approach Tactics
   
Use of Cover, Deception
   
Angles of Attack
   
Distance of Opening Fire
   
Defensive Tactics
       
COMMENTS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
   
Own Weaknesses
   
Enemy Weaknesses
   
Offensive Tactics, Own
   
"   "  
, Enemy
   
Defensive Tactics, Own
   
"   "  
, Enemy
   
Flexible Gunnery, Own
   
Escort Tactics
   
Fighter Direction
   
Use of Radar
   
Night Fighting
   
Recognition, Aircraft
 
 
ATTACK
       
OWN TACTICS
   
Method of Locating Target
   
Approach to Target
   
Altitudes, Speeds
   
Approach
   
Dive
   
Release
   
Pull-Out
   
Dive Angle
   
Strafing
   
Retirement
   
Defensive Tactics
   
Use of Jamming
       
DEFENSE, ENEMY
   
Evasive Tactics, Ships
   
Concealment
   
Searchlights
   
Night Fighter Tactics
   
Use of Jamming
       
COMMENTS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
   
Bombing Tactics
   
Torpedo Tactics
   
Effectiveness of
...Bombs, Torpedoes
   
Selection of Targets
   
Fuzing
   
Strafing Tactics
   
Defensive Tactics
   
Use of Radar
   
Reconnaissance
   
Photography
   
Briefing
 
 
OPERATIONAL
   
Navigation
   
Homing
   
Rendezvous
   
Recognition, Ships
   
Communications
   
Flight Operations
   
Search and Tracking
   
Base Operations
   
Maintenance

.....The F4Us took off without incident and completed rendezvous with the SBD's at 2,000', 5 miles west of base and proceeded on course at 0820. The SBD's had climbed to 14,000' as they entered the channel with VMF-222's planes, flying low cover, scissoring over the SBD's at 16,000'. At the Warangol River mouth, the entire flight turned west over New Britain and the SBD’s flew north to hit the target while the F4U's broke away and orbited over the target at 12,000'.

.....VMF-222's planes immediately bombed by divisions as soon as the last SBD's cleared the target, pushing over at 10,000' and releasing from 3,000' to 4,000' in a south-north run.

.....Anti-aircraft fire encountered included meager inaccurate light and medium received by last two divisions, from known M/G positions west of target and auto position north of target; one inaccurate puff of heavy AA was observed at 6,000' over Ralum on the retirement.

.....The SBD's were observed to have gotten good coverage of the target area.

.....The Corsairs retired due north over Blanche Bay, joined-up just east of Gredner Island, and took station over the SBD's, who were at 2,000', 10 miles south of Duke of York, escorting them back to base.

 
 
 
 
Form ACA-1
Sheet 5 of 5
 AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT CONFIDENTIAL
Report No. 01

 
XIII. MATERIAL DATA. (Comment freely on performance or suitability, following check list at left. Use additional sheets if necessary.)
ARMAMENT
Guns, Gunsights
Turrets
Ammunition
Bombs, Torpedoes
Bomb Sights
Bomb Releases
COMMUNICATIONS
Radio, Radar
Homing Devices
Visual Signals
Codes, Ciphers
RECOGNITION
 
IFF
Signals
Battle Lights
Procedures
PROTECTION
Armor, Points and Angles
... of Fire Needing Further ... ...Protection.
Leak Proofing
EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
Parachutes
Life Boats, Life Rafts
Safety Belts
Emergency Kits
Rations, First Aid
NAVIGATIONAL EQUIPMENT
Compass
Driftsights
Octants
Automatic Pilots
Charts
Field Lighting
INSTRUMENTS
Flight
Power Plant
OXYGEN SYSTEM
CAMOUFLAGE AND ...DECEPTION DEVICES
STRUCTURE
Airframe
Control Surfaces
Control System
Dive Flaps
Landing Gear
Heating System
Flight Characteristics at ...Various Loadings
POPWER PLANT
Engines
Engine Accessories
Propellers
Lubricating System
Starters
Exhaust Dampers
HYDRAULIC SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Auxiliary Plant
Lights
FUEL SYSTEM
FLIGHT CLOTHING
MAINTENANCE
BASE FACILITIES
Plane Servicing Equipment
Personnel Facilities

 

   

MISSION LOG:

 
 
PILOT

 PLANE NO. REMARKS
 
GEIGER
 50052  
 
RIX
 14123  
 
HOTT
 14160  
 
MILLER
 14218  
 
   
 
REEDER
 14267  
 
VITTONE
 14236  
 
HANSEN
 14039  
 
SMITHEY
 14026  
REPORT PREPARED BY: APPROVED BY:
M. M. ROSEN 1stLt. USMCR,
ACIO, VMF-222		 R. T. SPURLOCK MAJOR, USMCR,
C. O. VMF-222		 5 Oct. 1944
 
SIGNATURE RANK AND DUTY
SIGNATURE
 RANK AND DUTY DATE

 
 
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