NARRITIVE
ACCOUNT:
.....The
mission was delayed on takeoff as Major Sapp and Lt.
Jones both had to exchange ships because of trouble
with those originally assigned. The other section
circled the field until Sapp and Jones were airborne
again at 1750. This necessitated increasing the speed
to the target to arrive on schedule. They ran into
bad weather just after takeoff and proceeded partially
on instruments. Major Sapp navigating the flight precisely
because, although they did not see Treasury I., their
turning point, they still hit Bougainville at the
exact predetermined spot.
.....They
proceeded at tree-top altitude inboard of the coastline
but approximately parallel to it, then gained a little
altitude (200 to 300 ft.) just before sighting strip.
.....Major
Sapp saw he was 500 yds. northwest of strip so had
to make a hard wing over turn to right and come over
parallel to field on northeast side. He observed tracers
eating into four large low revetments and apparent
planes therein, and kept firing down the edge of runway,
turning off about 3/3 the length of the strip into
camp area, proceeding northeast, still firing into
another area which was cleared and apparently had
tents around the edge. Then retired passing approximately
800 yards from first cove northeast of strip in which
he saw a destroyer. Proceeding on the pre-mapped course
back to base alone. Major Sapp expended 1600 rounds
of ammunition.
.....Lt.
Turner was flying south of Major Sapp about 200 feet,
and observed very accurate A.A. passing between him
and Major Sapp but slightly astern, just before reaching
the Vagimo River.
Turner could not turn with Sapp, so went under him,
made a sharp flipper turn to right, came over south
end of strip. He fired all the way across the runway
and observed what was apparently aircraft on the southwest
end into which he was firing, as well as an A.A. emplacement
in the same area. He retired out over the coast and
saw very heavy A.A. all along the coast.
.....Lt.
Hobbs was in-line to strafe going directly across
field, but as the others turned into him, he had to
climb over them and make a sharp turn after passing
the strip. He then returned, passing over the coast
and observing a DD just off the southwest end of the
strip, he headed directly for the destroyer and saw
his tracers climb right up the freeboard amidships
and across the deck between the stacks. He made a
turn and observed a two engine, single tail bomber
at about 1500 ft., wheels down and apparently attempting
to land. He could not bring his guns to bear on this
target as he was receiving very heavy inducement to
continue home at top speed from the destroyer and
A.A. all along the coast. He joined with Turner and
they pancaked together at 1940.
.....Lt.
Jones was a little behind Sapp and to the north of
him when he saw his position in relation to the field
and the others start their turns, he immediately kicked
it over hard and was able to come down the west side
of the runway, seeing his tracers going into a large
building at the north end and continuing down the
revetment area. He also saw the planes at the south
end of the runway reported by Lt. Turner and he says
he must have hit them as well as the A.A. emplacement
at the southwest end of the strip. He retired over
the water, joined with Turner and Hobbs, but lost
them in a thunder-head and home on the beam from Cactus,
for which he was very thankful. He landed at 1950.
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to 11 September, 1943 War Diary
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