| CONFIDENTIAL
WAR
DIARY
MARINE
FIGHTING SQUADRON TWO TWENTY TWO,
MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP ELEVEN
FIRST MARINE AIRCRAFT WING, NAVY NO. 140 (ONE FOUR ZERO)
C/O FLEET POSTMASTER, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
| From:
September 1, 1943 |
To:
September 30, 1943 |
|
|
Copies
to: |
Original
to Commandant, U. S. Marine Corps,
Commander Air Force, Pacific Fleet,
Commanding General, Marine Air Wings, South Pacific,
Commanding General, Marine Air Wings, Pacific
|
|
|
| Composition
of Flight Echelon |
| Major
M. J. VOLCANSEK Jr.
Commanding Officer |
Major
A. N. GORDON
Executive Officer
|
| Divisions |
First
Division
VOLCANSEK, M. J. Jr, Major
REID, W. O., 1st. Lt.
WILLIAMS, J. B., 3rd., 1st. Lt.
CRAIG, J. 3rd. 1st. Lt. |
Fourth
Division
GORDON, A. N., Major
MORRIS, J. P., 1st. Lt.
YEAGER, S. J., 1st. Lt.
WILSON, R. W., 1st. Lt. |
Second
Division
SAPP, D. H., Major
JONES, C. D., 2nd. Lt.
TURNER, H. M., 1st. Lt.
HOBBS, R. L., 1st. Lt. |
Fifth
Division
CARNAGEY, P. W., Major
GHER, W. C., 1st. Lt.
MOORE, I. E., 1st. Lt.
SCHAEFFER, R. A., 1st. Lt. |
Third
Division
MOORE, W. D., Capt.
CARRELL, W. B., 2nd. Lt.
KOETSCH, J. F., 1st. Lt.
HAZLETT, W. W., 1st. Lt. |
Sixth
Division
NEWLANDS, J. P., Capt.
NUGENT, J. T., 1st. Lt.
PANKHURST, F. L., 1st. Lt.
WITT, J. W., 1st. Lt. |
| Spares |
| McLEAN,
C. T., |
1st.
Lt. |
| LEACH,
J. M., |
1st.
Lt. |
| HUGHES,
F. E., |
1st.
Lt. |
| FOSTER,
J. M., |
1st.
Lt. |
|
| Flight
Surgeon
BRITTINGHAM, J. T., Lt. USN |
Intelligence
Officer
SCHAEFER, G. C., Jr., Mar. Gun. |
|
|
|
September
1 |
|
| |
Flying
secured, preparations made for moving up. |
| |
|
| September
2 |
|
| |
No flying.
Officers meet, with luggage, for chow; and transportation
to "SCAT" at 2330. |
| |
|
| |
|
At
0330, |
the
Flight Echelon takes off and proceeds, via "SCAT",
to CACTUS where they land at 0715. Major VOLCANSEK reports
to Col. MANLEY, the S.N.A.F. for further orders. |
At
1300, |
the
officers are briefed by Col. TYLER, Fighter Command, during
which a condition red has twelve of the pilots manning F4F's
to stand by on scramble alert. Take off was unnecessary before
the all clear. |
| |
|
| September
4 |
|
| |
No flying,
the officers prepare to move up to SHAG [Munda Airfield,
New Georgia] to relieve VMF-215. |
| |
|
| |
|
At
0615, |
Major
VOLCANSEK's First Division, and Major SAPP’s Second
Division, escort, flying F4Us, three "SCAT” planes
carrying the other officers and luggage, to SHAG. They land
at 0750 and VMF 222 relieves VMF 215. |
At
1105, |
Majors
GORDON's and SAPP's, and Capt. MOORE's Divisions are scrambled
during a condition red but pancake at 1125, no contacts. |
At
1315, |
Major
CARNAGEY's Division, with HUGHES substituting for SCHAEFFER,
takes off on observation and possible strafing of VILA Airfield.
Lack of targets excluded strafing. They drew some A.A. from
well-hidden emplacements on the hill north of the strip, on
their second run. They pancaked at 1415, |
At
1320, |
Lt.
SCHAEFER is sent on a lone search over KULA GULF for missing
plane but he pancaked at 1415, negative.
Lt.
WILLIAMS takes over the lead of the First Division as Major
VOLCANSEK develops a stiff neck. Lt. McLEAN fills in while
Lt. REID leads in the Second Section. This Division plus
CARNAGEY's Fifth and NEWLANDS' Sixth, takes off at 1630
on "Moonbeam" patrol over VELLA LAVELLA and pancake
at 1830 with nothing to report. |
| |
|
September
6 |
|
|
GORDON's
Fourth Division goes on a strafing mission of Kolombangara
but land at 1745 after finding nothing to strafe.
SAPP's
and MOORE's Second and Third Divisions, are scrambled at
1615 and after making no contacts, continue with "Moonbeam”
patrol over VELLA LAVELLA. They pancake at 1830 after an
uneventful patrol. |
| |
|
September
7 |
|
At
0605, |
WILLIAM's
First, and CARNAGEY's Fifth Divisions, take off on "Moonbeam"
patrol which turns into task force cover as they patrol
over the shipping, leaving it almost at BARAKOMA before
landing at 0750. |
| At
0700, |
SAPP’s
Second Division takes off and lands at 0900 after a two-hour
task force cover flight. |
|
Lt.
MORRIS, the only one of the Fourth Division not to have trouble
with his plane, joins up on some P-39s and patrolled over
the task force from 0830 until 1030. |
|
Major
VOLCANSEK comes off the sick list assumes lead of the First
Division and a Seventh Division is formed of the spares with
McLEAN leading. This newly formed Division takes off at 1000
patrolling between BAGA I. and GONONGGA I. returning at 1215
with a negative report. |
At
1130, |
VOLCANSEK's
First Division takes off protecting the task force by patrolling
over northern VELLA LAVELLA until 1400, negative. |
At
1130, |
until
1345, CARNAGEY'S Fifth Division patrolled over VELLA LAVELLA,
protecting shipping. |
At
1300, |
SAPP's
Second Division patrols VELLA LAVELLA until 1515. |
At
1300, |
NEWLANDS'
Sixth Division goes on patrol and is relieved over the GONONGGA
area at 1515. |
At
1600, |
MOORE's
Third Division takes off and patrols the BAGA I. to GONONGGA
I. area until 1800. (Capt. MOORE made a beautiful "Dead-stick”
landing after his engine quit close to the field.) |
At
1630, |
GORDON'S
Fourth and McLEAN's Seventh Divisions, take off on task force
cover. They land, with the safe return of the shipping to
report, at 1830. |
|
|
September
8 |
|
|
VOLCANSEK's
division scrambled to search for regiment of Jap Troops
reported to have landed near KUNDURUMBANGARA PT. They flew
at tree level altitude four times and pancaked at 1200 with
a negative report. They did observe a barge near ROPA PT.,
KOLOMBANGARA. |
At
1330, |
the
First Division is sent back to strafe the barge they observed
earlier. The action
report explains its destruction fully. They also
searched the north coast of VELLA LAVELLA again for signs
of the troops but this was negative. They pancaked at 1520. |
At
1600, |
MOORE's
Third Division is sent out to strafe a launch reported in
DOLO BAY, KOLOBANGARA. The target could not but found as they
searched the entire S.W. coast. They returned flying low over
VILLA Airfield, drew some light A.A., but reported no other
signs of life around there. They landed at 1720. |
At
1615, |
SAPP's
Second Division, and GORDON's Fourth Division at 1630, take
off on "Moonbeam" patrol. They all pancaked at 1830
with a negative report, |
At
1640, |
CARNAGEY’s
Fifth Division (minus I. E. MOORE) sent out to strafe targets
on the shores of KOLOBANGARA. They destroyed a barge in KUKUNDU
BAY, (see
action report), and landed at 1730. |
|
|
September
9 |
|
0610, |
NEWLANDS'
Sixth Division sent up on local patrol, land at 0850, no observations,
poor weather. |
0815, |
KAHILI
strike, in which VOLCANSEK's Division (REID, WILLIAMS, CRAIG),
SAPP's Division (JONES, TURNER, HOBBS), GORDON'S Division,
(MORRIS, YEAGER, WILSON); and CARNAGEY's Division, (GHER,
MOORE, SCHAEFFER) are sent to act as a fighter sweep in the
rear of the bombers [Ed.: 18, 13th AF B-24s. 2 coastal guns
are hit too]. Contact was made with 6 to 15 Zeros and Lt.
REID was credited with a probable. We lost four
F4Us with no pilots hurt when Lt. REID, Lt. WILIAMS, and Lt.
MORRIS were forced to make water landings, and Lt. CRAIG had
to bail out of a badly shot up plane. Complete
details in the attached combat report. They landed
at 1050. |
0920 |
take
off, MOORE's Third Division, scrambled to intercept reported
bogey headed south near CHOISEUL. The Division pancaked at
1100, no contact. |
1315 |
take
off, SAPP's Second Division search for missing plane in the
VELLA GULF with negative results, they pancake at 1540. |
1615 |
take
off, MOORE's Third Division, "Moonbeam" patrols
over VELLA LAVELLA. Returning, observed several barges in
coves, KOLOMBANGARA and were fired on by light A.A. from
RINGI COVE. Land, 1815. |
1825 |
take
off, MOORE's Division cleared to strafe barges seen on previous
flight. MOORE and CARRELL only able to get off and they
leave three barges smoking at KOLOMBANGARA COVES
before Landing at 1910. |
|
|
September
10 |
|
1615 |
take
off, GORDON’s Fourth and SAPP's Second Divisions, "Moonbeam”
patrol. GORDON takes a triangular course from KOLOBANGARA
to NW tip of CHOISEUL and back over to VELLA LAVELLA but no
contacts made and they pancake at 1815. SAPP's Division patrolled
over VELLA LAVELLA observing the BARAKOMA strip to be good
only for wheels-up emergency landings and then they burn a
barge in PELIELI BAY, KOLOMBANGARA on returning, landing at
0845. |
1200
|
take-off,
CARNAGEY's Fifth Division, and NEWLANDS' Sixth Division, cover
SBDs on a strike
at DOLO COVE, KOLOMBANGARA. No intercepting planes
appeared as the cover observed good bomb pattern on the target.
Pancake, 1445. |
1400 |
take
off, SAPP's second and GORDON's Fourth Divisions, scrambled.
(McLEAN substituting for MORRIS in the Fourth Division) The
Second Division patrol between ARUNDEL and RENDOVA, no contact
and land at 1535. The Fourth Division stationed over KOLOMBANGARA
made no contact and pancake at 1550. |
| |
[Ed.:
Lts. Craig and Williams return this date to the squadron and
tell their story] |
|
|
September
11 |
|
0735 |
take
off, SAPP's second, CARNAGEY's Fifth, and MOORE's Third Divisions,
provide cover for eight F4Us retiring from a strafing mission
of KAHILI airfield. Rendezvous with the staffers was made
over TREASURY ISLAND and they were escorted to base. No contact
with enemy. Pancaked 1000. MOORE's Division sighted a barge
in KOUKUNDU BAY, KOLOMBANGARA, made two passes from 200 feet
and set this barge loaded with ropes and barrels, on fire.
Lt. HAZLETT set some drums on fire, which were buried, on
shore. Pancaked at 1015. |
1055 |
take
off, NEWLANDS' Sixth Division, all forced to return because
of engine trouble, and GORDON's Fourth, (McLEAN, YEAGER, and
WILSON) furnish
high cover for bomber strike on KAHILI. McLEAN
observed 8-10 Zekes scissoring behind he and GORDON, and as
GORDON started into a shallow dive McLEAN shot a Zeke off
his tail. He is credited with a probable on this as termination
of the tight spin the Zeke was in could not be observed but
he was hit many times during the 6-8 bursts McLEAN got in.
McLEAN landed with shots in the tail surfaces. YEAGER and
WILSON encountered heavy A.A. over BALLALE when misjudgment
brought them over that point. Pancake at 1320. |
1150 |
take
off, WILLIAMS' First Division, (CRAIG, REID, and LEACH) furnish
cover for strafers of coves on northern VELLA LAVELLLA.
Forced to land at SEGI, because MUNDA closed in, at 1430.
Returned, took off 1525, landed 1555. |
1636 |
take
off, WILLIAMS' First Division (LEACH again substituting because
Major VOLCANSEK sick with fever and dysentery), search for
missing TBF in KULA GULF. Negative search. Pancake, 1840. |
1655 |
take
off, MOORE's Third Division, escort PBYs, KULA GULLF, search
for TBF pilots. Negative search, pancaked 1830. |
1731 |
take
off, SAPP'S second Division (JONES, TURNER, HOBBS) volunteered
strafe of KAHILI airfield without cover. Mission
well planned and executed according to plan.
The field, and surrounding revetment and camp area were hit
hard by the staffers initiating their attack from 200 to 300
feet. It is estimated that at least seven aircraft were destroyed
or damaged, at least one A.A. position silenced, injury to
personnel in a large building and camp area as well as damage
to a Destroyer anchored just off the strip, was accomplished.
The staffers retired under very heavy A.A. fire but landed
at 1940 without injury to themselves or aircraft. |
| |
|
September
12 |
|
| |
Japs
expected to evacuate VELLA LAVELLA this day so a continuous
patrol is kept over that point. |
0605 |
take
off, GORDON's Fourth Division, patrol. Pancake, 0840. |
0610 |
take
off, WILLIAMS' First Division, patrol and search KULA GULF
for missing TBF pilots. Pancake at 0815. |
0730 |
take
off, NEWLANDS' Sixth Division, patrol and search KULA GULF
for missing TBF pilots. Pancake at 1000. |
0740 |
take
off, MOORE's Third Division, patrol. Pancake, 1000. |
0745 |
take
off, CARNAGEY's Fifth Division, patrol. Pancake, 1015. |
1045 |
take
off, GORDON's Fourth Division, patrol. Pancake, 1240. |
1230 |
take
off, WILLIAMS, alone, test hop, land 1300. |
1600 |
take
off, MOORE's Third Division, and SAPP's Second Division, patrols
over VELLA LAVELLA. MOORE'S Division land 1730, SAPP's Division
pancake 1830. |
1715 |
take
off, CARNAGEY'S Fifth and NEWLANDS' Sixth Divisions, patrol
VELLA LAVELLA and pancake 1845. No contacts made during the
whole day's operations. |
|
|
September
13 |
|
0610 |
take-off,
CARNAGEY'S Fifth and MOORE'S Third Divisions, "Moonbeam"
patrol over VELLA LAVELLA. Contact
made with a Jap striking force estimated at 15 to 30 Zekes
and Tonys and at least 8 Bettys. Major
CARNAGEY's Division of GHER, MOORE and SCHAEFFER hit the attacking
force first and managed to swing it away from the target,
BARAKOMA, toward the central part of VELLA LAVELLA where Capt.
MOORE's Division, (CARRELL, KOETSCH, HAZLETT) met them and
turned the Japs for home. They pancaked at 0900 after Lt.
I. E. MOORE shot down 1 Zeke, Lt. HAZLETT 1 Tony and Lt. W.
D. CARRELL 1 Zeke. Our losses, Capt. W. D. MOORE, missing
in action, and Major CARNAGEY's F4U, when he was forced to
bail out over the field because his hydraulics and C02 system
had been shot away making his flaps and landing gear useless. |
0805 |
take
off, SAPP's second, WILLIAMS'S First, and GORDON and MORRIS
of the Fourth, Divisions, scrambled. No contact. SAPP pancaked
0955, WILLIAMS pancaked 0935, and GORDON and MORRIS at 1010. |
1200 |
take
off, CARRELL leading the Third Division, HUGHES' filling in,
searches the north coast of VELLA LAVELLA for Capt. MOORE.
Negative search, pancaked 1330. |
1515 |
take
off, NEWLANDS' Division (NUGENT, PANKHURST, WITT), GORDON's
Division (MORRIS, WILSON, FOSTER),
scrambled to VELLA LAVELLA where 16 Zekes were intercepted.
Major GORDON shot down 2 Zekes,
Lt. WILSON downed 1 Zeke, all three confirmed by Lt. Foster
who saw them crash. Our loss, one F4U, Lt. MORRIS forced to
bail out over MUNDA with landing gear and flaps shot away. |
| 1700 |
take
off, SAPP's Second, WILLIAMS' First, and McLEAN's Third (McLEAN
now leading in the place of the missing Capt. W. D. MOORE’s
Divisions), "Moonbeam" patrol, VELLA LAVELLA. No
contact, pancake 1845. |
1745
|
take
off, NEWLANDS and WITT to strafe targets on KOLOMBANGARA one
barge strafed in BAMBARI HARBOR. Pancaked 1930. |
|
|
September
14 |
|
| 0730 |
take
off, Major VOLCANSEK's First Division, (REID, WILLIAMS,
CRAIG; SAPP's Second Division, (JONES, TURNER, HOBBS); maintain
high cover for bombers striking KAHILI [30+ 13th AF B-24s].
GORDON's Fourth Division, (NUGENT for MORRIS, YEAGER, WILSON);
McLEAN's Third Division, (HUGHES for CARRELL, KOETSCH, HAZLETT);
medium cover and CARNAGEY'S Fifth Division, (GHER, MOORE,
SCHAEFFER), close cover. Contact
Made with an estimated 50 fighters by all Divisions,
The score after the fight.
| Major
VOLCANSEK |
1
Zeke |
1
Probable |
| Major
SAPP |
2
Zekes |
|
| Lt.
YEAGER |
1
Zeke |
1
Probable |
| Lt.
McLEAN |
1
Tony |
|
| Lt.
CRAIG |
|
1
Probable |
Our losses, none. The bombers were escorted back down the
slot and the cover pancaked at 1000
|
| 1220 |
take
off, NEWLANDS and WITT, high cover for bombers KAHILI strike,
No contacts made pancake, 1450. |
1400
|
take
off, SAPP's Second Division plus McLEAN and KOETSCH of the
Third Division, scrambled over VELLA LAVELLA. No contact,
land 1530. |
|
|
September
15 |
|
0915 |
take
off, SAPP's Second Division, scrambled over KOLOMBANGARA.
No contact, landed at 1000. |
1030
|
take
off, VOLCANSEC's First and SAPP'S Second Divisions furnish
high cover and GORDON's Fourth (LEACH for MORRIS, WILSON,
WITT for YEAGER) Division gives medium cover for a bomber
strike on KAHILI [13th AF B-24s], No contact made over KAHILI
but Lt.
REID returned and shot down a Hap over BALLALE
after accompanying VOLCANSEK back to VELLA LAVELLA. The mission
pancaked at 1220. |
1045
|
take
off, CARNAGEY'S Fifth (GHER, MOORE, SCHAEFFER) and McLEAN's
Third (HUGHES, KOETSCH, and HAZLETT), furnish high cover for
a bomber strike on BALLALE. Contact an estimated 12 enemy
fighters. Division gives medium cover for
a bomber strike on KAHILI, of which Lt.
McLEAN shot down 1 Zeke. The mission pancaked
at 1240. |
1445 |
take
off, Lt. JONES, radar calibration flight, pancake 1710. |
1550
|
take
off, McLEAN's Third Division, cover LSTs to ARUNDEL. No contact,
pancake 1815. |
1730 |
take
off, CARNAGEY'S Fifth Division, local patrol, pancake after
no contact at 1830. |
| |
|
September
16 |
|
0510 |
take
off, VOLCANSEK's First and NEWLANDS' Sixth, Divisions, furnish
cover for bombers on KAHILI strike. Bombers not at rendezvous
point, weather very bad, no contact with enemy. Land 0710. |
0920 |
take
off, CARNAGEY’s Fifth Division, McLEAN’s Third
Division and GORDON's Fourth (CARRELL for MORRIS, and WILSON),
scrambled over VELLA LAVELLA, pancaked 1115, no contact. |
| 1430 |
take
off, GORDON's Fourth (HUGHES for MORRIS, WILSON, YEAGER);
McLEAN's Third (CARRELL, KOETSCH, HAZLETT); TURNER leading
the second (HOBBS, JONES, LEACH); and CARNAGEY'S Fifth, Divisions,
escort "Dumbo" in search between VELLA LAVELLA and
SHORTLANDS. Results of search not observed, pancaked at 1715. |
2130
|
take
off, Major SAPP patrols over MUNDA area as night fighter but
makes no contact, pancakes 2340. |
|
|
September
17 |
|
0545 |
take
off, CARNAGEY's Fifth Division, "Moonbeam" patrol,
no contact, pancake 0830. |
0750 |
take
off, GORDON's Fourth (MORRIS, YEAGER, WILSON) Division, furnish
escort for "Dumbo". Negative search, pancake 1000. |
|
VMF-214
relieves VMF-222 and 24 F4Us are ferried to the RUSSELLS
by the six divisions. Lt. LEACH, FOSTER, AND HUGHES as well
as DR. BRITTINGHAM and Mar. Gun. SCHAEFER are transported
via "SCAT".
Major
VOLCANSEK reports to Colonel HOPPER for duty. The officers
are assigned quarters and because there are no planes in
commission, no flying for the rest of the day. |
|
|
September
18 |
|
|
No flying. |
|
|
September
19 |
|
0910 |
take
off, Lt.' s. LEACH, WITT, and KOETSCH, test flights. LEACH
and FOSTER pancake, 1010. KOETSCH lands at 1045. |
1010 |
take
off, Lt. HAZLETT, test flight. Pancakes, 1110. |
1050 |
take
off, Lt. FOSTER, test flight, lands 1310. |
1300 |
take
off, Lts. McLEAN and CRAIG, to CACTUS. Pancake there at 1330.
Returning 1345 to 1415. |
|
|
September
20 |
|
0930
|
take
off, Major VOLCANSEK, to CACTUS, pancake at 1015. Return flight
from 1325 to 1410. |
0915 |
take
off, Lt. MORRIS, test flight investigates bogey, no contact,
pancaked at 1030. |
0930 |
take
off, Lt. FOSTER, test flight. Lands 1015. |
1615 |
take
off, Lt. I.E. M0ORE and Lt. SCHAEFER, scrambled. No contact.
Pancake 1630. |
|
|
September
21 |
|
0905 |
take
off, test flight and radio check, Lt. J0NES pancaked 1010.
Lt. CRAIG pancaked 1010 and Lt. FOSTER landed at 1045. |
|
|
September
22 |
|
0905 |
take
off, Lts. LEACH, HUGHES, and WITT, ferry survey planes to
CACTUS. Returned via "SCAT”. |
0910 |
take
off, Lt. YEAGER, familiarization flight. Pancakes 1015. |
1440 |
takeoff,
GORDON's Fourth Division (MORRIS, WILSON, PANKHURST), escort
five R4Ds to MUNDA. Pancake there at 1555. |
1630 |
take
off from MUNDA; GORDON's Division escorts R4Ds back, landing
at the RUSSELLS at 1745. |
|
|
September
23 |
|
0720 |
take
off, VOLCANSEK'S First and McLEAN’s Third (HUGHES, for
CARRELL), Divisions,
furnish medium cover for SBDs attacking JAKOHNIA MISSION
A.A. positions near KAHILI. Bombing good and cover very effective
as 10 trailing Tonys failed to attack as the cover weaved
over the bombers through their dive and as they retired. They
pancaked 1115. |
|
|
September
24 |
|
1100 |
take
off, CARNAGEY'S Fifth and NEWLANDS' Sixth Divisions, furnish
cover to a task force from the RUSSELLS to BURAKU. Pancaked
at 1345. |
1510 |
take
off, Lt. CARRELL, test flight. Land 1630. |
|
|
September
25 |
|
0555 |
take
off, GORDON's Fourth and NEWLANDS' sixth, Divisions, go to
MUNDA for a days operations to cover shipping. They land there
at 0655. |
0730 |
take
off, GORDON's Fourth and NEWLANDS' Sixth, Divisions, patrol
VELLA LAVELLA. No contacts pancake 0930. |
1310 |
take
off, Lt. SCHAEFFER, test flight over RUSSELLS. Pancake 1430. |
1700 |
take
off, GORDON's Fourth and NEWLANDS' Sixth, Division, return
from MUNDA. Pancake 1800, RUSSELLS. |
|
|
September
26 |
|
0940 |
take
off, Lt. JONES, test flight. Land 1035. |
0940 |
take
off, Lt. KOETSCH, test, and pancake 1140. |
1305 |
take
off, Lt. REID to CACTUS land there, 1335. |
1700 |
take
off, Lt. REID, from CACTUS landing at RUSSELLS, 1730. |
|
|
September
27 |
|
0630 |
take
off; SAPP's Second Division, escort eight R4Ds to MUNDA and
returned landing at 0830. |
1230 |
take
off, Lt. LEACH to CACTUS. Land 1300. |
1320 |
take
off, Lt. LEACH, from CACTUS. Land 1400. |
|
|
September
28 |
|
0645
|
take
off, NEWLANDS' Sixth and WILLIAMS' First (LEACH for VOLCAKSEK),
Divisions, covered task force from BURAKU to RUSSELLS. Pancaked
0940, |
0940 |
take
off, Lt. CARRELL, test flight, land, 1140. |
|
|
September
29 |
|
0715 |
take
off, GORDON's Fourth and SAPP’s Second, Divisions, cover
task force from RUSSELLS to TULAGI. Pancake 1015. (Major GORDON
has blowout on take off and makes a beautiful landing in spite
of the flat tire). |
0940 |
take
off, Lt. CARRELL, to CACTUS. Land 1020. |
1145 |
take
off, Lt. CARRELL, from CACTUS to RUSSELLS. Land at 1215.
Lt. LEACH ferries an F4U to the north strip, RUSSELLS. |
|
|
September
30 |
|
| 1105 |
take
off, GORDON's Fourth and NEWLANDS' Sixth (LEACH for WITT),
escort R4D, containing the remainder of the squadron, to
MUNDA. Arrive there at 1230,
VMF-222
relieves VMF 214 at 1300. 1440 take off, CARNAGEY's Fifth
(GHER, MOORE, SCHAFFER) and NEWLANDS' Sixth (NUGENT, PANKHURST,
WITT), Divisions,
furnish close cover for [16, 13th A.A.F] B-24s on strike
at KAHILI. Lt. GHER, MOORE, and SCHAEFFER ran
into between 8 and 16 Zeros, GHER shooting down one, between
VELLA LAVELLA and the SHORTLANDS. We suffered no loss and
the pilots landed 1615. |
1730
|
take
off, VOLCANSEK'S First DIVISION, local patrol over MUNDA.
No contact pancaked 1645. |
|
SUMMARY
|
| Name
of Pilot |
Date
|
Type
Plane |
Sure
|
Probable |
| Lt.
W. O.REID |
9, September |
Zeke |
|
1 |
| Lt.
C. T. McLEAN |
11, September |
Zeke |
|
1 |
| Maj.
A. M. GORDON |
13,
September |
Zeke
|
2 |
|
| Lt.
W. W. HAZLETT |
13,
September |
Tony |
1 |
|
| Lt.
I. E. MOORE |
13,
September |
Zeke |
1 |
|
| Lt.
R. W. WILSON |
13,
September |
Zeke |
1 |
|
| Lt.
W. B. CARRELL |
13,
September |
Zeke |
1 |
|
| Maj.
M. J. V0LCANSEK |
14,
September |
Zeke |
1 |
1 |
| Maj.
D. H. SAPP |
14, September |
Zeke
|
2 |
|
| Lt.
J. CRAIG |
14,
September |
Zeke
|
|
1 |
| Lt.
C. T. McLEAN |
14,
September |
Tony
|
1 |
|
| Lt.
S. J. YEAGER |
14,
September |
Zeke
|
1 |
1 |
| Lt.
C. T. McLEAN |
15,
September |
Hap |
1 |
|
| Lt.
W. O. REID |
15, September |
Zeke
|
1 |
|
| Lt.
W. C. GHER |
30, September |
Zeke
|
1 |
|
Total
|
|
|
14 |
5 |
|
Missions
In Combat Zone: |
104 |
Individual
Flights In Combat Zone: |
533 |
Individual
Contacts With Enemy: |
54 |
Barges
Destroyed: |
4 |
Barges
Left Smoking: |
4 |
|
| |
| |
| |
|
