CONFIDENTIAL

MARINE FIGHTING SQUADRON 222, MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 14
FIRST MARINE AIRCRAFT WING, Navy No. 140 (One Four Zero)
C/O FLEET POST OFFICE, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

WAR DIARY

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PANKHURST’s eighth, and WITT leading the sixth divisions, were airborne but ran into a front which PANKHURST did not get through so the division pancaked at 0955. WITT got around the front and was over Torokina at 1018 but the weather was so bad, they sent him back and he pancaked at 1115.

SAPP’s fifth and DAILEY’s seventh, divisions ware airborne to cover Torokina, but once again bad weather sent them back and they pancaked at 1115.

GORDON’s flight and McLEAN’s third divisions were airborne to cover Torokina where they patrolled from 0600 to 0830 at 10,000 feet. No contacts made on patrol or during Matchin Bay area search. They pancaked at 0945.

REID, leading the second division was airborne to escort “Dumbo” to Torokina over which they patrolled at 10,000 feet from 1145 to 1320 when they escorted “Dumbo” back. No contacts and they pancaked at 1435.

SAPP’s fifth and DAILEY’s seventh divisions were airborne to escort seventeen B-25s striking Chabai, Bougainville. After rendezvous over Baga they proceeded to target, which the bombers attacked from 17,000 feet at 1020. Results observed to be fair with heavy caliber AA of medium intensely encountered, No contact with enemy fighters and they pancaked 1215.

WITT, leading the sixth division was airborne and on station at 1045 to form an air cover for SBDs and TBFs on continuous strike of targets on southern Bougainville. They made no contacts and pancaked 1935.

the eighth division, led by GHER, and the sixth division led by WITT was airborne and on station at 1550 for patrol over Torokina at 12,000 feet. They were off station, after a negative patrol, at 1800 and received some light AA from Cyprian Island on the way back to base. WITT and PERINO took over patrol, from members of his own squadron low on gas, of a downed pilot 4 miles off shore near Monotu Mission. As "Janie I" effected rescue, she was opened up on by shore batteries which WIIT and PERINO promptly silenced by strafing. The rest of the flight pancaked at 1840, WITT and PERINO at 1915.

DAlLEY leading the seventh division, TURNER for WALLEY, were airborne, scrambled over Barakoma but after making no contact, pancaked at 1840.

GORMAN's first and MORRIS' second divisions were airborne and on station over Bougainville at 0815, negative patrol and off at 1015. "Charlie" search by first division negative and all but LEVINE and LASSITER, who landed 1015 at Barakoma, landed 1145 at Ondonga to refuel at 1510,

GORDON's division plus MORRIS and FOSTER, were airborne, Ondonga to Barakoma, where they pancaked at 1325.

the third division, without McLEAN, was airborne, Ondonga to Barakoma where they landed at 1700.

the seventh, FOXWORTH for DAILEY, and the eighth, GHER for PANKHURST, ware airborne and on station over Bougainville at 0630. After a negative patrol until 0815, they pancaked at 0915.

McLEAN left Ondonga for Barakoma where he landed at 0800.

the sixth division, NEWLANDS leading, was airborne to escort B-25s to Tarlena, NEWLANDS landed because of engine trouble at 0930. The rest rendezvoused over Baga at 1000 and proceeded to target. Fighters lost the B-25s who were supposed to strafe after their bombing run, so they escorted nineteen B-24s back to Kieta where F6Fs caught up, and landed, after making no contacts, at 1830.

SAPP's fifth and PANKHURST's eighth divisions were airborne to patrol Bougainville. On station at 0740, off station after a negative patrol 0945. After performing negative search in Matonin Bay area and up to Buka, they pancaked at 1100.

WILLIAMS' fourth, PERINO for CRAIG, division and YEAGER leading the second division were airborne to fly to Torokina for a day's operations. They pancaked at Torokina at 0645.

the second and fourth divisions were airborne for a negative patrol over Bougainville, they landed there at 1215.

GORDON's first division was airborne to escort to TBFs to Bougainville. No contacts and they land at Torokina at 1345.

the first division without GORDON was again airborne to escort the TBFs back to Barakoma where they pancaked at 1645.

the second and fourth divisions were airborne to patrol over Bougainville until coming off station at 1730. They made no contacts on the patrol and landed at Barakoma at 1815.

GORDON departed for Torokina for Barakoma where he landed at I850.

NEWLANDS' sixth and DAILEY’s seventh, WILLIAMS for WALLEY, divisions were airborne to Bougainville Patrol. On station 0615, patrolled until 0720. They pancaked at Torokina.

the sixth and seventh divisions were again airborne to patrol Bougainville from 0800 to 1000. Negative patrol and they pancaked at Torokina at 1020.

SAPP’s forth division was airborne to escort DC-3 to Bougainville. No contacts and they pancaked at Torokina at 1140.

the sixth and seventh divisions, without WILLIAMS, were scrambled over Torokina but made no contact and landed at 1400.

the eighth division, PANKHURST leading, was airborne to cover SBD and TBF strike on Kieta, Bougainville. They rendezvoused with the bombers over Baga and proceeded to target, Kieta and Makiki, which the bombers hit with good patterns. The fighters made no contacts and pancaked at 185.

the sixth and seventh divisions, without NEWLANDS whose plane is out, took off from Torokina and landed at Barakoma at 1830.

GORDON's first and McLEAN's third divisions were airborne in a pre-dawn take off and on station over Torokina at 0645. The scheduled patrol was cancelled and they were told to land at Torokina. WILSON crashed on landing but he was not badly injured as his plane went on its back in the ditch alongside the runway. The flight landed at 0650.

these same divisions, without WILSON, took off to patrol and were on station from 1000 until 1200, except KOETSCH who landed early, 1020, because of engine trouble. Flight was negative and landed at 1225.

the seven planes took from Torokina and returned to Barakoma landing at 1755.

CRAIG performed a test flight landing at 1750.

PANKHURST's eighth division took off and were on station over task force, after having difficulty finding it because of its location which was far from the point they were briefed on by Fighter Intelligence, at 0845, The Task Force consisted of nine LSTs, six destroyers, and one Corvette and was picked up 230° Baga Island, 40 miles and was left at 1000, 210° Baga Island, 16 miles. The flight landed at 1015.

NEWLANDS' sixth division was airborne to cover the Task Force. They were on station from 1340 until 1600 and left the Task Force 8 miles, 240° from Rendova. The flight landed at 1650. WALLEY returned early, 1335, with engine trouble.

DAILEY’s seventh division was airborne to furnish night cover to the Task Force, which they covered from 1355 until 1600 leaving it within sight of Rendova Harbor. The flight landed at 1630. HUIDEKOPER landed early, 1440, with fumes in the cockpit.

GORDON flew to Munda where he landed at 1300. At 1530, he took off Munda and returned to Barakoma landing at 1615. Plans were made at the meeting attended, for the fighter sweep on Rabaul scheduled for 17 December 1943.

SAPP’s fifth division plus MOORE ferried five F4Us from Guadalcanal to Barakoma landing at 1800.

WALLEY flew a test flight landing at 1705.

GORDON’s first and McLEAN’s third divisions were airborne for a pre-dawn take-off for Torokina where they landed at 0540. During this flight they sighted a plane, or two planes, with red lights on both wings but before they could be identified satisfactorily in the air, the lights were extinguished and planes lost sight. HUGHES was sure the one he saw was a “Rufe”.

after refueling, both divisions were airborne for the first fighter sweep to Rabaul. BEKINS of GORDON’s division was forced to return early 0910. The F4Us, of which there were 32 led by Major Boyington joined up nicely and immediately began to climb as they were assigned the high level. At medium level were 24 F6Fs and low, between 10 to 16, 000 feat, were P-40s. Our fighters arrived over the area at 1015 and were at 30,000 feet looking for interception. Heavy AA fire was delivered from several sections but most of it was inaccurate. The enemy was either caught flat-footed or the force looked too formidable because no planes were sent aloft to engage our fighters.

One F6F was observed heading down, smoking, toward Cape St. George. After a complete circle of the area they finally left the area at 1050 and all but CARRELL, who landed at Torokina 1220, landed at Barakoma at 1245.

WILLIAMS' fourth division took off to escort DC-3 to Torokina. They landed there at 1010.

WILLIAMS' division took off Torokina escorting DC-3 to Barakoma where they landed at 1215.

BEKINS returned from Torokina, landing at 1245.

CARRELL returned from Torokina, landing at 1550.

SAPP's fifth division took off and escorted DC-3 to Torokina landing there at 1040.

SAPP's division returned from Torokina, escorting DC-3 to Barakoma where they landed at 1430.

McLEAN leading SAPP and KOETSCH and JONES; WILLIAMS, leading CRAIG, REID, and JOHNST0N; MORRIS leading FOSTER, YEAGER, and LASSITER were all off to Torokina the first stage of cover of B-24s striking Rabaul City. They all landed at Torokina by 0720.

the above three divisions took off to rendezvous with the B-24s but SAPP was forced to return early, 1155, because of hydraulic trouble. The B-24s were escorted to the target area but clouds caused some of the fighters to lose the bomber formation. McLEAN and JONES stayed with the bombers and received light, accurate, AA of heavy caliber from Lakunai and Rabaul City. Many bombs exploded in the water but a 280-foot ship was burning and left sinking. After leaving the target, JONES and McLEAN spotted two Zekes below them, they each shot one down as they dove on then, JONES zoomed right back up to 22,000 feet but McLEAN leveled off. JONES shot down his second Zeke of the day when he picked off one of four chasing another Corsair. All the fighters joined up over the B-24s after leaving the target and all but two landed at Barakoma by 1510.

SAPP, YEAGER, and LASSITER took off from Torokina and landed at Barakoma at 1710. GORDON made a round trip to Munda on squadron business.

PANKHURST’s eighth and DAILEY's seventh divisions take off to furnish medium cover for four destroyers returning to Rendova from activity near New Ireland. They were on station from 0930 until 1130 then relieved. Negative patrol and they landed at 1160.

SAPP's fifth division took off to escort DC-3 to Torokina. They landed at 1040.

SAPP's division took off from Torokina and escorted DC-3 returning from there and landed at Barakoma at 1335.

NEWLANDS' sixth division took off to patrol over Bougainville landing there after a negative patrol at 1200.

NEWLANDS' division took off from Torokina and patrolled until dusk then returned to Barakoma where they landed at 1320.

WILLIAMS’ fourth and MORRIS' second divisions take off for Torokina on the first stage of a Rabaul strike. They landed at 0920.

after refueling, WILLIAMS leading REID and LEACH, CRAIG had trouble with his plane and could not take off, and MORRIS leading LEVINE, FOSTER and LASSITER all took off to rendezvous, as close cover, with eighteen B-24s for a strike on Rabaul. They encountered intense, accurate, heavy AA over the target area and some 35 enemy fighters were observed attacking various groups. Of those observed, WILLIAMS shot down two Zekes and damaged the third when only two guns operated! REID shot down one Tony and damaged a Zeke; LEACH damaged a Zeke in a head on run. MORRIS, LASSITER, and LEVINE got good shots into three Zekes but damage was unobserved. The bombers were escorted back as far as Barakoma where five of our fighters landed at 1500.

WILLIAMS, CRAIG, and LEACH took from Torokina and returned to Barakoma, landing at 1820.

McLEAN's third division took off to cover a Task Force of two cruisers and eight destroyers moving toward Treasury from Vella Lavella. They were on station as high cover from 1600 to 1830 and performed a negative patrol landing at 1910.
Major GORDON flew a round trip to Bougainville during the day.
This completed operations for the flight echelon from Barakoma, Vella Lavella.

Christmas dinner at the "Hotel de Gink", Guadalcanal and then boarded "SCAT" for the flight to Espiritu Santo where GORDON reported to the Commanding Officer of Marine Aircraft Group ELEVEN for further orders.

Malaria and blood count tests taken this date by Doctor BRITTINGHAM following a medical order in preparation for trip to Sydney,
The following officer received and accepted temporary appointment to Major with rank from 15 October, 1943: NEWLANDS, John P., Major, USMCR.

The following officers received and accepted temporary appointments to Major and First Lieutenant respectively with rank from 1 December, 1943; FITTING, John Jr., Major, USMCR, and LASSITER, Charles P. Jr., First Lieutenant, USMCR.
The remaining officers, except the intelligence officer depart via ’SCAT" for Sydney, Australia.