| CONFIDENTIAL
MARINE
FIGHTING SQUADRON 222, MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 24
FIRST MARINE AIRCRAFT WING, FLEET MARINE FORCE,
C/O FLEET POST OFFICE, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
WAR
DIARY
from
From:
1 March, 1944, to 31 March, 1944 |
|
|
Distributions: |
Commandant,
Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps
Commander in Chief, U. S. Fleet
Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet,
Commanding General, Aircraft, F. M F. Pacific
Commanding General, First Marine Aircraft Wing
File
|
|
| Geographical
Location of Unit: |
|
Piva, Bougainville |
|
| Name
of Commanding Officer: |
|
Major
Alfred N. GORDON, USMC |
| Name
of next higher echelon:
|
|
Marine
Aircraft Group 24 |
|
| Roster
of Flight Echelon: |
|
|
|
| GORDON,
Alfred N. |
Major |
|
Commanding
Officer |
|
| SAPP,
Donald H. |
Major |
|
Executive
Office |
| SCHAEFER,
George C. |
WO |
|
Intelligence
& Photo Officer |
| BRITTINGHAM,
John T. |
Lt. |
|
Flight
Surgeon |
|
| BOWLING,
Maurice |
StfSgt
|
|
Flight
Clerk |
|
| |
|
|
| NEWLANDS,
John P. |
Major |
|
JOHNSTON,
Vesta |
1st.
Lt. |
| McLEAN,
Carl T. |
Captain |
|
KOETSCH,
Julius F. |
1st.
Lt. |
| MORRIS,
John P. |
Captain |
|
LEVINE,
James H. |
1st. Lt. |
| PANKHURST,
Paul L. |
Captain |
|
MACK,
Melvin M. |
1st.
Lt. |
| REID,
Winfred O. |
Captain |
|
MOORE,
Irwin E. |
1st.
Lt. |
| TURNER,
Henry M. |
Captain |
|
NUGENT,
John T. |
1st.
Lt. |
| WILLIAMS,
James B. III |
Captain |
|
PERINO,
August J. |
1st.
Lt. |
| WILSON,
Robert W. |
Captain |
|
SCHAEFER,
Robert. A. |
1st.
Lt. |
| YEAGER,
Stephen J. |
Captain |
|
TEETER,
Virgil L., Jr. |
1st. Lt. |
| BEKINS,
Robert, Jr. |
1st.
Lt. |
|
WALLEY,
James M. |
1st.
Lt. |
| FOSTER,
John M. |
1st.
Lt. |
|
WITT,
John. W. |
1st.
Lt. |
| GHER,
Wayne C. |
1st.
Lt. |
|
YORK,
Warren M., Jr. |
1st.
Lt. |
| HAZLETT,
Wesley M. |
1st.
Lt. |
|
CARRELL,
William B. |
2nd.
Lt. |
| HOBBS,
Richard L. |
1st.
Lt. |
|
DINGFELTER,
Clyde A. |
2nd.
Lt. |
| HUGHES,
Fredrick |
1st.
Lt. |
|
JONES,
Charles. D. |
2nd. Lt. |
| HUIDEKOPER,
Henry S. |
1st.
Lt. |
|
LANGLEY,
Ralph R., Jr. |
2nd.
Lt. |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Roster
of Ground Echelon Officers: |
| HAND,
Ralph. G. |
Captain |
|
Commanding
Officer |
|
| LAWLER,
Robert. P. |
2d
Lt |
|
Materiel
Office |
|
| SCHALLER,
L. W. |
CWO |
|
Engineering
Officer |
|
| SAINT,
J. L. |
WO
|
|
Adjutant |
|
|
| Mar.
1 |
|
0630-0316 |
WILLIAMS,
leading MACK, DINGFELTER, and JOHNSTON; and McLEAN, lading
LANGLEY, K0ETSCH, HAZLETT on patrol of Green Island, but because
of weather, could not get on station. |
0930-1030
|
GORDON;
leading HUGHES, WILSON, and BEKINS; and MORRIS, leading LEVINE,
YEAGER and FOSTER to cover two squadrons of B-25s to strike
Rabaul Town. They rendezvoused at 0940 over field but the
fighters lost them in a front so the bombers returned to Torokina
to re-form. The weather was too bad at this time to permit
going north again, so they bombed Buka as a secondary target. |
1380-1710
|
WILLIAMS,
leading MACK, DINGFELTER, and JOHNSTON; and McLEAN, leading
CARRELL, KOETSCH, and HAZLETT, to escort 3 Dumbo to Green
Island where they arrived at 1435 then continued on a negative
patrol until 1630. |
1725-1915
|
GORDON,
leading HUGHES, WILSON and BEKINS on local dusk patrol - negative.
SCHAEFFER, Robert A., 1stLt, transferred from U.S.S. Coos
Bay to Mobile Hospital EIGHT, Guadalcanal. |
|
|
| Mar.
2 |
|
0735-1105
|
PANKHURST,
leading GHER, MOORE, and YORK; and NEWLANDS, leading NUGENT,
WITT, and LARGELY off on a special barge hunt of the east
coast of New Ireland from Cape St. George north to Namatanai
Airfield. They searched the entire east coast strafing plantation
installations, native huts, etc., but found no barges. They
were fired on with intense, accurate, light AA from Cape St.
George and Borpop but received no damage. |
0940-1045
|
SAPP,
leading JONES, TURNER, and HOBBS took off to cover a plane
on photo reconnaissance but landed when informed the flight
was cancelled. |
1145-1430
|
REID,
leading WALLEY, HUIDEKOPER, and TEETER, took off to cover
a Task Croup consisting of five destroyers, nine LSTs and
two smaller craft. They performed a negative patrol. |
1430-1740
|
SAPP,
leading JONES, TURNER, and -HOBBS, took off to cover a special
SBD and TBF strike on the radar station at Adler Bay. The
twelve SBDs and six TBFs plus one PV bombed and strafed the
target and scored well for the bombs seemed to cave in an
underground system of tunnels around the main building of
the station. JONES used his newly invented bomb rack, plans
for which have been forwarded but rejected because they have
bigger and better plans for fighters and bombers, however,
JONES' device proved very successful. The prime objective
of this is anti-personnel consisting of the release of hand
grenades while strafing. This should be very effective in
an area of concentrations of personnel or aircraft. H0BBS
strafed and set fire to a twenty by forty foot tin building
one half-mile front the radar station. |
1645-1715
|
PANKHURST,
leading GHER, MOORE, and YORK; and WITT, leading NUGENT and
LANGLEY took off on Green Island Patrol - negative. |
|
|
Mar.
3 |
|
0730-1100
|
GORDON,
leading WILSON, and BEKINS; and McLEAN, leading CARRELL, KOETSCH,
and HAZLETT on a strafing mission and barge sweep covering
Cape Archway, Cape Gazelle, and Vunapope. They strafed and
sank a twenty-foot boat at dock in South Kabanga Bay; and
strafed a thirty-foot on North Shore Kabanga Bay; and smoked
by strafing a forty-foot barge moored west of Cape Gazelle.
Only AA observed was light and medium from Rapopo. CARRELL
returned early with engine trouble. |
0820-1250
|
MORRIS,
leading LEVINE, YEAGER and FOSTER, on a Dumbo escort to a
point thirty miles east of Cape St. George. They performed
a negative patrol. |
1550-1805 |
McLEAN,
leading CARRELL, KOETSCH, and HAZLETT on a Dumbo escort missing
one hundred miles from base on a heading of 120. The patrol
conducted a square search with negative results. |
| |
|
Mar.
4 |
|
0615-0750 |
SAPP,
JONES, TURNER, and H0BBS on dawn patrol - negative. |
0920-1255
|
SAPP,
JONES, TURNER, and HOBBS, NEWLANDS, LANGLEY, NUGENT, and PERINO;
and REID, WALLEY, HUIDEKOPER, and TEETER escorted B-24s to
bomb Rabaul Town. Thirty bursts of heavy caliber AA were observed
directly behind the bombers. The bombers stayed on top of
the overcast, consequently the results of the bombing were
not observed. Another flight observed the drops from below
the overcast and reported only fair accuracy. Fires and two
columns of smoke were seen in the city. HUIDEKOPER and TEETER
landed at 1200 with mechanical failures. |
1010-1305
|
PANKHURST,
GHER, MOORE, and YORK covered a PV while it made sweeps from
Kabaira Bay to Keravia Bay photographing obloquies of Rabaul. |
1615-1850
|
NEWLANDS,
NUGENT, PERINO, and LEVINE; and REID, LANGELEY, HUIDEKOPER,
and TEETER on a fighter sweep of the Rabaul Area, Vunakanau,
Tobera, Lakunai, and Rapopo appeared serviceable with three
planes sighted on the latter field. Two float planes were
seen in Simpson Harbor and three more near Matupi. They were
not attacked because of intense AA fire. There was considerable
small boat activity in Simpson Harbor and small AA loaded
barges were docked near Vunapope. Two submarines were sighted,
one in the middle of St. Georges Channel east of Mope and
another between Cape Gazelle and Rapopo about one mile off
shore. Both crash-dived. |
1740-1915
|
PANKHURST,
GHER, MOORE, and YORK flew a negative Dusk Patrol. |
|
|
Mar.
5 |
|
0915-1245
|
GORDON,
HUGHES, WILSON, and BEKINS; MORRIS, LEVINE, YEAGER, and FOSTER;
and WILLIAMS, MACK, JOHNSON, and DINGFELTER; and McLEAN, CARRELL,
KOETSCH, and HAZLETT rendezvoused at 0945 over Cape Torokina
at 7,000 feet with B-24s and covered them on a strike on Rabaul.
DINGFELTER returned early because of mechanical troubles.
The first group of bombers hit Rabaul Town with fair results.
The second group of bombers hit the docks and ships in the
harbor. One ship was hit but the majority of the bombs were
in the water. Five heavy AA positions west of the town fired
on the formation. One B-24 was seen to explode east of Kulon
after six men had parachuted clear of the aircraft. The AA
was intense but low most of the time. |
|
|
Mar.
6 |
|
0925-1115
|
NEWLANDS,
NUGENT, WITT, and PERINO escorted an R4D to Green Island and
back. |
1015-1345
|
SAPP,
JONES, TURNER, and HOBBS; REID. LANGLEY, HUIDEKOPER, and TEETER;
and PANKHURST, GHER, MOORE, and YORK covered an SBD strike
on Lakunai, because the primary target was closed in the strike
hit Rabaul. The bombs fell in the southeast end of the city,
meager, heavy caliber AA fire met the formation. Four barges
and two forty-foot boats were strafed by the fighters. |
1100-1400
|
JONES,
NEWLANDS, WITT, and PERINO escorted R4Ds to Green Island and
returned. |
|
|
Mar.
7 |
|
0550-0640
|
GORDON,
HUGHES, WILSON, and BEKINS; and WILLIAMS, MACK, NUGENT, and
DINGFELTER flew to Green Island and BEKINS was not injured
when he crashed on landing. |
0720-1020
|
MORRIS,
YEAGER, FOSTER, and LEVINE; and McLEAN, CARRELL, and KOETSCH
covered a B-25 strike on Tobera. LEVINE returned at 0815 with
hydraulic trouble. Flight rendezvoused with bombers at 0755
over Cape Torokina at 6,000 feet, good coverage of target
was reported. Intense heavy caliber AA from Tobera was encountered.
The first bursts were low but were later corrected to the
altitude of the fighters. |
0820-1100
|
GORDON,
HUGHES, and WILSON patrolled Green Island. Flight was negative. |
| 1015-1245
|
WILLIAMS,
MACK, NUGENT, and DINGFELTER patrolled Green Island -negative.
|
1420-1715
|
GORDON,
HUGHES, and WILSON patrolled Green Island. Flight was negative. |
1600-1820 |
WILLIAMS,
MACK, NUGENT, and DINGFELTER patrolled Green Island -negative.
|
|
|
Mar.
8 |
|
|
Day
of Jap RESCRIPT Campaign on Bougainville. The Jap shelling
of the strips at Bougainville became too dangerous to permit
of air operations. Consequently our planes were diverted to
Ondonga and other fields further south. |
0620-0750
|
SAPP,
JONES, TURNER on dawn patrol. HOBBS' aircraft was hit shrapnel
as he warmed up the engine. Patrol negative. |
0810-0930
|
PANKHURST,
GHER, MOORE, and YEAGER; and REID, LANGLEY, HUIDEKPER, and
TEETER took off to strafe Keravat Bay but were contacted
on course and ordered to Ondonga. |
0855-1010 |
CARRELL,
WITT, TURNER, WILLIAMS, WILSON, HOBBS, and NUGENT flew to
Ondonga. |
0905-1020 |
PERINO
flew to Ondonga |
1400-1515
|
GORDON
flew from Russell Islands to Ondonga. |
1400-1600
|
PANKHURST,
GHER, MOORE, and TEETER flew from Ondonga to Green Island. |
1400-1620
|
WITT,
PERINO, NUGENT, and LANGLEY flew from Ondonga to Green Island. |
|
|
Mar.
9 |
|
0630-0830 |
PANKHURST,
GHER, MOORE, and TEETER on a dawn patrol of Green Island-negative |
0845-1115
|
WITT,
PERINO, NUGENT, and LARGELY on patrol of Green Island - negative |
0900-1015
|
GORDON,
CARRELL, HUIDEKOPER, TURNER, REID, SAPP, HOBBS, and WILLIAMS
flew from Ondonga to Torokina. |
0900-1025 |
McLEAN
flew from Torokina to Ondonga. |
1000-1030
|
MORRIS,
FOSTER, and LEVINE flew from Piva, Bougainville to Torokina. |
1415-1530 |
MACK
flew from Torokina to Ondonga. |
1500-1635
|
DINGFELTER
flew from Torokina to Munda. |
1500-1615 |
JOHNSTON
and YORK flew from Torokina to Ondonga. |
1500-1625
|
KOETSCH,
HAZLETT, HUGHES, and BEKINS flew from Torokina to Ondonga. |
1645-1910
|
WITT,
PERINO, NUGENT, and LANGELY on a negative patrol of Green
Island. |
1800-1910
|
PANKHURST,
GHER, MOORE, and TEETER made negative dusk patrol of Green
Island. |
|
|
Mar.
10 |
|
0625-0900
|
WITT,
PERINO, and LANGLEY flew a dawn patrol of Green Island - negative. |
0745-0900
|
McLEAN
flew from Ondonga to Torokina. |
0900-1015
|
PANKHURST,
GHER, MOORE, and TEETER flew from Torokina to 0ndonga. |
0900-1015
|
YORK
flew from Torokina to Ondonga. |
0900-1025 |
KOETSCH,
HAZLETT, and YEAGER flew from Ondonga to Torokina. |
0900-1035
|
DINGFELTER
flew from Munda to Ondonga to Torokina. |
0900-1015
|
WILSON
flew from Ondonga to Torokina. |
1100-1430
|
WITT,
LANGLEY, NUGENT, and PERINO flew negative patrol of Green
Island. |
1045-1215
|
MORRIS,
LEVINE, FOSTER, and CARRELL flew from Torokina to Ondonga. |
1200-1325
|
YEAGER
flew from Torokina to Ondonga. |
1310-1550
|
HUGHES
and MACK flew from Ondonga to Koli Field. |
1500-1625 |
McLEAN,
KOETSCH, HAZLETT, flew from Torokina to Ondonga. |
1730-1830 |
HUGHES
flew from Koli to Henderson #2, Guadalcanal. |
1730-1800 |
MACK
flew from Koli to Henderson #2, Guadalcanal. |
|
|
Mar.
11 |
|
0630-0825
|
FOSTER,
LEVINE, MORRIS, and YEAGER flew from Ondonga to Green Island. |
0700-0850 |
McLEAN,
CARRELL, KOETSCH, and HAZLETT flew from Ondonga to Green Island. |
1000-1215
|
McLEAN,
CARRELL, KOETSCH, and HAZLETT flew a negative Green Island
patrol. |
1000-1040
|
JOHNSTON
flew from Ondonga to Barakoma. |
1050-1250 |
HUGHES
and MACK flew from Henderson to Torokina. |
|
|
Mar.
12 |
|
0645-0800
|
GORDON,
HUGHES, WILSON and BEKINS; PANKHURST, TEETER, YORK, and JOHNSTON;
and WITT, PERINO, NUGENT, flew from Ondonga to Torokina. |
0930-1315
|
GORDON,
HUGHES, WILSON and BEKINS and SAPP, JONES TURNER and HOBBS
took off on a fighter sweep from Wide Bay to Cape Lambert.
On the first sweep across New Britain, JONES strafed and set
fire to truck killing five solders. After reaching Kavaira
Bay, TURNER, HOBBS and JONES strafed and set fire to two 100-foot
boats, and JONES, in addition, flamed a fifty-foot tug. No
enemy aircraft had been observed on the first sweep across
nor were any seen near Rabaul or Lakunai, On the second sweep
over the area TURNER, HOBBS and JONES strafed and burned a
building in a plantation at the east end of Ataliklikan Bay.
During the time, GORDON, SAPP, WILSON, and HUGHES came back
over St. George's Channel. TURNER's flight, while flying back
over the tree- tops toward Tobera, was attacked by three Zekes,
which came down on then from several hundred feet above. The
F4Us used full power, but not hot water injection to outrun
the Zekes and climb to 6,000 feet in a convenient cumulus.
The Corsairs then turned to come back and find the Zekes,
but already heard SAPP call to WILSON to say that he saw Zekes
over Tobera and was going after them. SAPP observed four Zekes
circling Tobera at 200 feet apparently using a terrific AA
barrage from the field as well as from Rapopo and Vunapope
for protection. Seeing this, he called for someone to accompany
him and WILSON acknowledged. The enemy planes were in a group
of three, with one "Tail-end Charlie" lagging behind.
SAPP chose this one as his first target. Intense barrages
of AA of all calibers were thrown at them. SAPP saw the Zeke
burst into flames from this tail — in after a two second
burst from 200 feet. SAPP then slid over to the next Zeke
and made a similar run on it but employed a longer burst.
This one smoked and fell off in a diving left turn from which,
at 250 feet, it would have been almost impossible for the
pilot to pull out. The plane was not seen to crash and was
consequently scored only as a probable. SAPP then slid over
to the next Zeke and made a similar run on it but shells only
poured into the Zeke's starboard wing from which pieces were
observed to fly off. As they reached the end of the runway
the Zeke tightened his turn and SAPP had too much speed to
lead him sufficiently. In the meantime WILSON had chosen the
inside plane closest to the runway, and sliding from 8 o'clock
he gave the Zeke a three second burst from 180 yards. The
Zeke started to burn and hit in the revetment area at the
southwest end of the strip. SAPP and WILSON climbed toward
Kabanga Bay and outside the AA when SAPP observed two more
Zekes in the traffic circle. This time WILSON could not keep
with the Major as he dove through the AA once again after
the circling Zekes. He caught one of these very low, about
fifty feet off of the deck with its wheels down. He made a
6 o'clock run from above, fired a three second burst from
close range and sent the Zeke crashing into the trees northwest
of the strip. |
1000-1115 |
LEVINE
flew from Ondonga to Torokina. |
1300-1405
|
GHER
flew from Ondonga to Torokina. LANGLEY flew from Ondonga to
Torokina. |
1415-1530
|
WILLIAMS,
MACK, JOHNSTON, DINGFELTER, REID, WALLEY, HUIDEKOPER, and
WILSON flew from Torokina to Ondonga. |
1550-1720 |
MOORE
flew from Henderson to Ondonga. |
1600-1730 |
JONES,
TURNER, and HOBBS flew from Torokina to Ondonga. |
1630-1745
|
LEVINE
and YORK flew from Torokina to Ondonga. |
|
|
Mar.
13 |
|
0700-0815
|
MOORE,
MORRIS, LEVINE, and FOSTER flew from Torokina to Ondonga. |
0715-0830
|
REID,
YORK, HUIDEKOPER, McLEAN CARRELL, KOETCH, HAZLETT, WILSON,
MACK, and JOHNSTON from Ondonga to Torokina. |
1600-1715 |
DINGFELTER,
NEWLANDS, GORDON, HUGHES, WILSON, BEKINS, WILLIAMS, MACK,
JOHNSTON, REID, WIT, YORK, MORRIS, LEVINE, FOSTER, from Torokina
to Ondonga. |
Mar.
14 |
|
1030-1230
|
GORDON,
HUGHES, WILSON, BEKINS, WILLIAMS, JOHNSTON, MACK, REID, FOSTER,
HUIEEKOPER, and YORK escorted SBDs and TBFs on a shipping
strike in the Rabaul area. Clouds over Keravla Bay prevented
a clear view of target area but several bomb hits were seen
along the shore from Keravia to Davaun. Meager, inaccurate,
light and heavy AA was encountered with what was thought to
be no damage however, one TBF was hit. |
|
|
Mar.
15 |
|
| 0620-0850 |
MORRS,
LEVINE, FOSTER, and NUGENT on dawn patrol. Flight was negative. |
0815-1100 |
GORDON,
HUGHES, and BEKINS on local patrol - negative. |
|
0825-1045 |
REID,
WALLEY, HUIDEKOPER, and YORK on local patrol - negative. |
1220-1315
|
WILLIAMS, MACK, JOHNSTON, and DINGFELTER on local patrol
- negative. |
1610-1820
|
MORRIS,
LEVINE, NUGENT, REID, WALLEY, HUIDEKOPER, and YORK on reconnaissance
and plane count on Rabaul fields. A number of barges were
observed In Keravia Bay, a large ship burning in same bay,
and a small ship burning in SE Simpson Harbor. Keravat, Vunakanau,
appeared serviceable, with Tobera and Borpop being unserviceable.
One division then went over to Feni Island where a large house
with six to eight people running out of it was strafed by
one plane with unobserved results. WALLEY at 3,000 feet over
Dolomakas Bay, New Ireland, when he saw wake of what he thought
was a barge. He was diving on it to make a strafing run when
suddenly it pulled up out of the water and he saw it was a
Rufe. WALLEY came down on him when the Jap had about fifty
feet of altitude making a head-on run. As the Rufe lifted
its nose to fire on WALLEY, it was raked from engine to tail
with 600 rounds. The enemy pilot was either hit or he had
"pulled his plane into a stall from which it fell off
and hit upside down in the water, WALLEY then turned and made
second pass at the floats which were still above water. It
is not believed that the pilot could have survived. WILLILIAMS,
MACK, JOHNSTON, and DINGFELTER on local petrol - negative. |
|
|
Mar.
16 |
|
| 0805-1045
|
WITT,
WALLEY, HUIDEKOPER, and YORK on local patrol - negative. |
0845-1250 |
GORDON,
HUGHES, WILSON, BEKINS, WILLIAMS, MACK, JOHNSTON, DINGFELTER,
MORRIS, LEVINE, FOSTER, and REID together with twelve planes
from VMF-218, escorted 36 SBDs and 24 TBFs on strike at
Kavieng gun positions. The SBDs went in first followed by
the fighters to 3,000 feet, then same procedure with the
TBFs. Gun positions NW of the strip and on the coast at
North Cape were the targets. Bombing appeared to be good
with an excellent concentration on North Cape. Meager, inaccurate,
light, and heavy AA was encountered though no damage was
sustains by any of our planes.
|
1515-1720
|
J0NES,
MACK, FOSTER, and LEVINE on a search for barges along New
Ireland and Feni Islands. When airborne they were vectored
to downed Corsair pilot. Our planes then directed Dumbo to
the scene and the rescue was affected without incident. The
search for barges proved entirely negative. |
1615-1900
|
McLEAN,
CARRELL, KOETCH, and HA2LETT on loca1 dusk patrol - negative. |
|
|
Mar.
17 |
|
0620-0850
|
SAPP,
JONES, TUNER and HOBBS on dawn patrol - negative, |
0945-1345
|
McLEAN,
CARRELL, KOETCH, HAZLETT, NEWLANDS, NUGENT, PERINO, and LANGLEY
escorted twelve B-24s to Panapai. The B-24s could not see
the target and no bombs were observed to drop. When the bombers
left the area our planes flew low down the west coast of New
Ireland looking for targets of opportunity with negative results. |
1300-1715
|
PANKHURST,
GHER, MOORE, and TEETER on barge hunt on east coast of New
Ireland up to Borpop. Observed and strafed a large building
with steeple 80-100 feet by 40 feet on Malendek Island but
it would not burn. Strafed an already strafed barge loaded
with oil drums on Ambitle Island. |
1700-1930
|
McLEAN,
CARRELL, KOETSCH, and HAZLETT, with NEWLANDS leading second
division consisting of PERINO, HOBBS, and JONES on barge sweep
on New Ireland and Feni Island area, No barges. Then went
up east coast as far as Gape Narum with no targets sighted,
however they did receive a heavy barrage of AA of all calibers
from Borpop, After this search they went down to Kabsira Bay
where they strafed end burned a thirty foot whale boat anchored
off a dock. They then spied a truck on the coast road loaded
with supplies and manned by several soldiers which sent up
a big blaze when strafed leaving at least half of the Japs
mangled and lying all over and around the smoldering truck,
A canoe with four Japs in it were then strafed in Put Put
Harbor with the Japs and canoe being destroyed. |
|
|
Mar.
18 |
|
1030-1345
|
REID,
WALLEY, HUIDEKOPER, and YORK on local patrol. Flight was negative. |
1130-1545
|
WILLIAMS,
MACK, JOHNSTON, and DINGFELTER on local patrol - negative. |
1230-1745
|
GORDON,
HUGHES, WILSON, and BEKINS on Dumbo escort to Rabaul, One
of the P-38s, which were striking Tawui Point, was hit and
set afire. Pilot bailed out and landed about one half mile
off the Cape. Dumbo landed but was badly shot up in the rudder
and stabilizers by intense and accurate heavy caliber shore
batteries. He was unable to affect a rescue and very fortunately
managed to take it off and make it back to base. When the
shore batteries opened up GORDON's division went in to strafe
according to plan, BEKINS' plane was hit in the engine and
wing- causing it to cut out. He made a water landing about
three miles NW of Duke of York Island with the other three
planes circling him. Upon receiving word from base of Dumbo's
inability to make the rescue, a Blackcat, with REID, WALLEY,
HUIDEKOPER, and YORK escorting, was dispatched to the scene
at 1450. BEKINS was picked up at 1620, and the P-38 pilot
was also rescued at 1645. The shore batteries opened up again
though with less accuracy and intensity. All planes pancaked
safely at 1815. |
1415-1740
|
MORRIS,
LEVINE, and FOSTER on local security patrol and barge sweep
of Feni Island, During the course of the patrol the flight
strafed, scoring many hits on barge on NW Asbitle and two
launches on NE part of Feni island. No fires. |
1700-1915
|
WILLIAMS,
MACK, JOHNSTON, and DINGFELTER on local dusk patrol - observed
grass hut with five men in khaki in center of smallest Feni
Island, strafed and killed them in one run. |
|
|
Mar.
19 |
|
0945-1340
|
SAPP,
TEETER, TURNER, and HOBBS, with PANKHURST leading second division
of GHER, MOORE, and JONES escorted twelve B-24s on strike
at Penapai Airstrip, The bombers released from 15,000 feet
and were observed to get good coverage of the eastern half
of the strip and the revetments. Moderate but accurate heavy
AA was encountered though no damage was sustained and all
planes pancaked safely.
SHAEFFER, Robert A., 1stLt, was discharged from Mobile hospital
EIGHT and transferred with flight echelon to Marine Aircraft
Group TWELVE, Second Marine Air wing. |
| |
|
Mar.
20 |
|
|
All
flying secured and flight echelon on way to health and recreation
in Sydney, Australia. |
|
|
Mar.
21 |
|
|
No operations |
|
|
Mar.
22 |
|
|
No operations |
|
|
Mar.
23 |
|
|
No operations |
|
|
Mar.
24 |
|
|
No operations |
|
|
Mar.
25 |
|
|
No operations |
|
|
Mar.
26 |
|
|
No operations |
|
|
Mar.
27 |
|
|
No operations |
|
|
Mar.
28 |
|
|
No operations |
|
|
Mar.
29 |
|
|
No operations |
|
|
Mar.
30 |
|
|
No operations |
|
|
Mar.
31 |
|
|
No operations |
| |
|
| |
|
|
SUMMARY
|
| |
| A. |
Personnel |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
As
of 1 March, 1944: |
|
|
|
|
42
Officers |
|
|
|
|
239
Enlisted |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2) |
Lost:
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3) |
No
personnel on M. I. A. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| B. |
Aircraft |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
As
of 30 March, 1944: |
|
|
|
|
21
Corsairs assigned |
|
|
(2) |
One
plane lost - Operational
|
|
| |
|
|
Bu.No.
56212 |
|
|
|
(3) |
One
planes lost - Combat |
|
|
|
|
Bu.No.
13262 |
|
|
| C. |
Operations |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Total
hours flown: |
|
|
|
|
|
1134.2 |
|
|
| |
(2) |
Total
number of individual flights:
|
|
|
|
|
512 |
|
|
|
(3) |
Total
number of individual flights on Combat Missions |
|
|
|
306 |
|
|
| |
(4) |
Total number of individual flights where enemy opposition
was encountered: |
| |
|
|
15 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| D. |
Enemy
planes destroyed to date |
|
|
|
(1) |
Squadron
total: |
|
|
|
|
|
49 |
|
|
| |
(2) |
Total
for each pilot now in squadron:
|
|
| |
|
| GORDON
- 3 |
McLEAN - 3 |
WILSON
- 3 |
SAPP
-10 |
MOORE
- 1 |
WITT
- 2 1/2 |
GHER
- 2 |
NEWLANDS-
1/2 |
YEAGER
- 1 |
HAZLETT
- 3 |
PANKHURST
- 1 |
CARRELL
- 1 |
KOETCH-
2 |
REID
- 2 |
JONES
- 6 |
HOBBS
- 1 |
WILLIAMS
- 2 |
TURNER
- 1 |
| WALLEY
- 1 |
SCHAEFFER
- 1 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| E. |
Enemy
aircraft destroyed this month: |
|
|
(1) |
Four |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| F.
|
Enemy
shipping: |
|
|
| |
(1) |
None
destroyed. |
|
|
| |
(2)
|
Damaged:
|
|
|
| |
|
30'
Boat smoked |
two
100' boats smoked |
| |
|
50'
tug flamed |
30'
whale boat burned |
|
| |
|
|
|
