CONFIDENTIAL

MARINE FIGHTING SQUADRON 222, MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 14
FIRST MARINE AIRCRAFT WING, FLEET MARINE FORCE,
C/O FLEET POST OFFICE, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

WAR DIARY

From

As of this date there are 228 men attached to this squadron, 49 officers and 179 enlisted men.

HEILMAN, McIVER, BROWN, and HORSLEY ferried four of our planes to Emirau for transfer to Marine Aircraft Group TWELVE.

For the record: 6 Sorties, 8.8 hours.

GEIGER and GERMSCHIED on Dawn Patrol - negative.

ZANGER, HOWARD, MATNEY, and WILDER, on Dusk Patrol - negative.

For the record: 19 Sorties, 32.3 hours.

HEILKAN, VERMILLION, LYNCH, and FOX were unable to get through to the Rabaul area, on account of bad weather. ACA-l, Number 26.

For the record: 17 Sorties, 44.5 hours.

 HEILMAN, VERMILLION, LYNCH, and FOX on Rabaul Patrol. ACA-l, Number 26.

For the record: 24 Sorties, 66.0 hours.

McCALL and HOWARD on special search for ZANGER. They observed what might have been a signal fire in the brush just inland from the beach about 500 feet east of the Vudal River mouth. HOWARD dropped his boat pack about 20 feet off shore in the event it was ZANGER. Other than that observation, the search was negative.
For the Record: 26 Sorties, 77.1 hours.

Forty-four enlisted men were transferred to MADS-l for further routing to Uncle Sugar Able.

SPURLOCK, GERMSCHIED, GRIFFITH, and JAMES on Rabaul Patrol. ACA-l, Number 26.

For the Record: 24 Sorties, 77.0 hours.

Captain Einar G. Mo was transferred to Service Squadron; Marine Aircraft Group FOURTEEN, First Lieutenant Harry G. Hopkins (019453), USMCR, Joined from VMSB-341 and assumed the position of squadron Material Officer.

HOTT was evacuated to a Naval Hospital in Guadalcanal because of a kidney stone condition.

HEILMAN, BARNETT, LYNCH, and FOX were unable to get through to patrol Rabaul on account of a solid front 30 miles west of the base. ACA-l, Number 26. Bad weather kept the 2nd and 5th Rabaul Patrols on the deck.

For the Record: 12 Sorties, 21.4 hours.

A meeting of the flight echelon was held, at which time they were told that they were on a "48 hour" standby for movement north to an advanced zone of operations.

All combat flying was secured and everyone got busy packing-. The tentative plan of the movement is for our aircraft, 22 planes, to be flown up, with the balance of the flight echelon, including the Intelligence and Engineering officers, Flight Surgeon, and a skeleton crew of mechanics to go up at the same time via air transport.

For the Record: No flights.

MARSHALL attempted to get through to Bougainville to pick up some necessary supplies, but was turned back on account of adverse weather. All hands in a ready status with the scuttlebutt flying fast and furious.

For the Record: 1 Sortie, 1.2 hours.

MARSHALL to Bougainville and back on official squadron business.

Thirty-three enlisted men from Headquarters and Service Squadrons of Marine Aircraft Group FOURTEEN were attached to our squadron as replacements for those due to go stateside.

For the Record: 7 Sorties, 7.2 hours.

SMITHEY, on test hop.

For the Record: 1 Sortie, .9 hours.

Eleven enlisted men were transferred to MADS-l for return to Uncle Sugar Able.

No flights, still anxiously awaiting like an expectant father.

Entire day was devoted to test hops in preparation for the ferry hop north. HEILMAN flew two test hops, and one each by the following pilots: PHILLIPS, JAMES, MARSHALL, GRAHAM, MOONEY, McCALL, MATNEY, DUGAN, SCRIMG30UR, GERMSCHIED, WILDER, PETERS, GAUVREAU, LYNCH, BROWN:, McIVER, and GRIFFITH.

For the Record: 19 Sorties, 22.8 hours.

MARSHALL to Bougainville on another material procurement mission. Test hops were flown by HAHSEN, GERMSCHIED, WILDER, SPURLOCK, and JAKES; HEILMAN flew three test hops.

For the Record: 9 Sorties, 12.0 hours.

Twenty-eight enlisted men, just out from the States, joined.

MARSHALL returned from Bougainville Engine time test hops were flown by BOLLER, VERMILLION, GEIGER, ROMMEL, BAR’STT, HANSEN, GERMSCHIED, and four by HEILMAN.

For the Record: 12 Sorties, 15.0 hours.

Our squadron, flight and ground personnel, had an excellent opportunity to demonstrate their efficiency by executing a specially designed problem by our MAG Commanding Officer, Colonel Z. C. HOPKINS. The problem was to test the rapidity with which a large number of planes could get airborne, join-up, and pancaked. It also checked the efficiency of the ordnance and plane crews in completely re-arming and re-fueling the aircraft. The smoothness of join-ups, break-ups, strafing runs, and weaving were also important features under observation.

Participating Pilots were:
1st Division: SPURLOCK, GERMSCHIED, GRIFFITH, and JAMES.
2nd Division: SCRIMGEOUR, WILDER, PETERS, and SEMB,
3rd Division: GEIGER, PHILLIPS, GAUVREAU, and MOONEY.
4th Division: MATNEY, HEILMAN, BROWN, and McCALL.
5th Division: DUGAN, LYNCH, KARS HALL, and GRAHAM.
McIVER replaced JAMES in the second take-off. GRAHAM, SEMB, and GAUVREAU did not get off the deck for the second stage.

First Phase:
1309:10 All pilots left briefing at Air Intelligence.
1314:55 First Plane airborne.
1319:40 Last Plane, the twentieth, airborne.
1322:10 All planes joined up.
1325:25 All planes passing over field in formation-section weave using the field as the axle of flight. The next maneuver was a strafing run on the field from 150-300 feet in a column of divisions, with each division in line formation. A beautiful sight.
1401:16 Break-up started.
1407:15 First plane pancaked. 1411:30 Last plane pancaked.

The ground crews now put on the steam. All a/c were re-fueled all ammo cans refilled, belly tanks removed, and bomb rack with 500 lb. bombs hung.

Second Phase:
1443:20 First plane airborne.
1447:50 Last plane airborne.
All planes Joined up and returned to the field for landing.
1459:45 Break-up started.
1500:50 First plane pancaked. 1505:10 Last plane pancaked.

The Colonel expressed approval and pleasure with the timing, coordination, and quality of the entire performance.

All hands retired to the Oak Club for well-earned refreshment.

Second Lieutenants HARFORD, MILLER, THOMPSON, OERTH, and OBRINGER, joined, Eight enlisted men were transferred to MADS-1 for return to Uncle Sugar Able.
Eleven enlisted men, just out from the States, joined.

For the Record: 41 Sorties, 33.l hours.

WRIGHT, McCALL, HEILMAN, and SEMB put engine time on planes. WRIGHT and JAMES test hopped two aircraft.
For the Record: 6 Sorties, 5.9 hours.

MARSHALL and GRIFFITH to Bougainville and back on official squadron business. DUGAN, WILDER, HARFORD, OERTH, THOMPSON, and McIVER on test hops.

For the Record: 10 Sorties, 10.9 hours.

GRIFFITH, OERTH, McCALL, and THOMPSON on division tactics. GRIFFITH, 0BRINGSR, McCALL, and HARFORD on division tactics.

For the Record: 9 Sorties, 11.1 hours.

BROWN, HORSLEY, VITTOTOE, and SMITHY on special search for ZANGER off west coast of New Britain from Cape Lambert to Open Bay. The search for ZANGER was negative, however, a possible underground bivouac area was observed in a two acre clearing about ten miles inland along the Towanamaronga River. HORSLEY had hydraulic trouble and returned with VITTITOE as escort pancaking

GRAHAM, GERMSCHIED, RYAN, OERTH, and WRIGHT on test hops.

For the Record: 14 Sorties, 23.4 hours.

All hands attended a combined religious service for all denominations at the MAG chapel.

VITTITOE, SMITHEY, WRIGHT, RIX, RYAN, and GRAHAM on test hops.

For the Record: 6 Sorties, 10.9 hours.

HORSLEY, RYAN, and FOX on test hops.

For the record: 19 Sorties, 30.5 hours.

TH0MPS0N on a test hop.

For the record: 14 Sorties, 22.5 hours.

No flights - everyone with that "day after" feeling.

MARSHALL, HARTFORD, RIX, and THOMPSON on division tactics.

SCRIMGEOUR, HARPORD, PETERS, and THOMPSON on division tactics. HEILMAN flew two test hops.

For the record: 14 Sorties, 26.2 hours.

GEIGER, PHILLIPS, GAUVREAU, MOONEY, MATNEY, MILLER, WRIGHT, HARFORD, HANSEN, OERTH, McIVER, and THOMPSON covered 9 PBJ's and 6 PV-1s striking- the supply and bivouac areas just north of Vunakanau airfield. Meager inaccurate heavy AA was encountered from known positions. Bombing, results were generally unobserved.

For the record: 13 Sorties, 30.9 hours.

Only one flight this- day - RUMMEL on a test hop.

For the record: 1 Sortie, 2.2 hours.

McIVER, OERTH, RYAN, MILLER, and LOVE on division tactics. MILLER flew a test hop.
For the record: 6 Sorties, 7.6 hours.