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Post by aircraftclocks on Feb 23, 2022 0:19:30 GMT 12
I find I have a couple of pages from AP4203C. Unfortunately this only covers the radio installation.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Feb 21, 2022 0:20:11 GMT 12
For the combat reported in this article, see the combat report in the thread: 16 Sqn action reports, 1943.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Feb 21, 2022 0:16:41 GMT 12
DATE: 17 December 1943.
TIME: Take off 0515, Over target area 1030, Pancake 1416.
NATURE OF MISSION: Fighter Sweep.
PLACE: Rabaul Area and SE coast New Ireland.
FORCES ENGAGED: OWN: Twelve P-40s RNZAF Squadron 16.
ENEMY: 20-30 ZEKES, TONYS, and VALS.
ENEMY LOSSES: 3 ZEKES 1 unidentified Plane and 1 ZEKE unclaimed. W/C Freeman 1 ZEKE F/L Venderpump 1 ZEKE, 1 unidentified F/Sgt Laurie 1 ZEKE
OWN LOSSES: 3 P-40s in combat, 2 pilots missing 1 P-40 badly damaged, pilot safe.
ALTITUDE OF CONTACT: From 20,000 to 500 feet.
NARRATIVE ACCOUNT: On leaving Torokina where the P-40s refueled, squadron 16, led by W/C Freeman, set course for Rabaul at 0925. F/L Delves with an engine fault and F/O Williams with oxygen trouble, returned to Torokina after 25 minutes out. 10 Warhawks crossed the Coastline of New Britain at 1030, at 20,000 feet. They made a complete circle outside of the 5 Airfields and saw neither enemy or any other Allied Planes. The P-40s completed nearly two circuits, losing height to 19,000 feet, during which they received heavy AA, medium and slightly inaccurate from VUNAKANAU Airfield. Going over Rabaul 4 ZEKES appeared out of some wispy cloud from approximately 2000 feet above, heading towards W/C Freeman's section. His section opened throttle and headed for the ZEKES. The enemy turned steeply circled and attacked from the rear. S/L Arkwright's section turned to give support to the last 2 P-40s. S/L Arkwright intended to follow a number of Aircraft diving down towards Rabaul, but was jumped by 2 ZEKES. F/O Dark was attacked by a ZEKE head-on from 11 o'clock. Sgt Mills came to his assistance. They could not get the ZEKE in effective range. F/O Dark then saw a VAL 500 feet below, but his windshield clouded up. He also saw a float-plane, probable PETE. A Jap plane with a tail shot off, spinning violently and on fire went hurtling past. This plane had not been claimed by any Ondongo fighters. When approaching, the NW coast of New Ireland, F/O Dark saw a lone P-40 which proved to be W/C Freeman. Sgt Mills at one stage saw 20 to 30 aircraft crossing the coast at KABANGA BAY. Meanwhile W/C Freeman's Section had sighted 8 ZEKES doing shipping cover, and the four P-40s dived on the enemy from approximately 16,000 feet. F/L Vanderpump flying No. 3 lost sight of his leader during the dive down. He engaged an unidentified aircraft getting in a few direct hits. The enemy burst into flames and went straight down into the water. W/C Freeman had continued down followed by his No. 2, F/Sgt. Laurie, and saw eight or nine ZEKES had just taken off from the Lakunai Airfield. The first two ZEKES were between 500 and 1000 feet in height when W/C Freeman attack from above, the ZEKE exploding. F/Sgt Laurie following his leader engaged the second, and black smoke belched from the wing-roots. The enemy nose-dived straight into the water. At this stage F/L Vanderpump saw F/O McFarlane's being attacked by 7 ZEKES and TONYS. He went to F/O McFarlane's assistance and got on the tail of one ZEKE who flew towards a hill. He fired 2 or 3 bursts from between quarter and dead astern. The ZEKE began to wobble but did not flame. It crashed into the hill, the pilot being probably hit. At this stage several of the enemy got on Vanderpump's tail and hemmed him in a valley. Taking violent evasive action and making several passes he finally came up over Rabaul Township at practically roof-top height. There was a lot of light flak from the Township. On clearing Rabaul he looked for F/O McFarlane and saw the P-40 going down vertically but was not flaming or smoking. When last seen the P-40 was between 500 and 600 feet and F/L Vanderpump is of the opinion that F/O McFarlane would just about hit land on a point ON NORDUP. He then continued to Rally Point. S/L Arkwright's section had been left up in a dog-fight with the 4 ZEKES. The ZEKES broke off gaining altitude and attempting to come in from the rear, without pressing home attacks. In course of evasive action, the P-40s twice circled Rabaul Harbor, at the same time seeking W/C Freeman's Section. Not seeing any sign and running short of fuel they left Rabaul area at 1125, making for the Rally Point at Cape St. George. The ZEKES followed for 40 miles keeping about 2000 feet above and just out of range, with the P-40s endeavoring to entice the enemy to a lower level for an attack, but were unsuccessful. When in good positions, the ZEKES still did not press home attacks. There were no friendly aircraft at the Rally Point, so the section headed for Torokina. Flying Officer Bull crash landed on the beach off Torokina strip. W/C Freeman, F/O Dark and F/Sgt Laurie were still in a "hot spot", with about 9 ZEKES. W/C Freeman broke away and made towards the hills and was last seen at 1120 at about 500 feet circling a riverbed in a valley in the vicinity of Hunter Point SE New Ireland. There was a trail of white vapour coming from W/C Freeman's aircraft, but he had the plane well under control. Taking violent evasive action from the ZEKES, F/O Dark and F/Sgt Laurie after about 5 minutes got clear of ZEKES and returned to spot, where W/C Freeman was last seen, and after searching for 10 minutes did not see any further sign of W/C Freeman, or the enemy. Owing to shortage of fuel the 2 P-40s were forced to leave. They are of the opinion that W/C Freeman may have made a crash landing in the vicinity of hunter Point, which appeared uninhabited, or perhaps further south down the coast.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Feb 21, 2022 0:11:40 GMT 12
Date: 26 August 1943.
Time: Takeoff 1500, time over target 1630, pancake 1710.
Nature of Mission: Strafing one small steamer and one launch (reported A.M. 26th by patrol of RNZAF P-40's).
Place: Burl (N. coast of Ganongga).
Forces Engaged: Own: RNZAF - 16 VF Squadron
Flight Leader Day Flight Lt. De Donne Flying Officer Duncan Warrant Officer Boss Flying Sgt. Miller
Enemy: None.
Results:
Enemy Losses: No enemy planes engaged.
Own Losses: None.
Altitude of Contact:
Narrative Account: Strafed both boats and left both burning. Dropped belly tanks to spread the flames. Saw no other activity.
Remarks:
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Post by aircraftclocks on Feb 21, 2022 0:09:13 GMT 12
Date: 26 August 1943.
Time: Take off 1430, time over target 1550, pancake 1800.
Nature of Mission: VF escort for three squadrons of B-24s to Kihili.
Place: Kihili.
Forces Engaged: Own: 8 F4Us. Capt. D. M. Aldrich of VMF 215, Capt. R. Braun of VMF 215 and 2nd Lt. A. S. Jensen of VMF 214. (4 F4Us returned on account of motor trouble.) 9 RNZAF P-40's 3 P-39s. Enemy: 20-30 ZEKEs, HAPs, TONYs.
Results:
Enemy Losses: VMF 215: Capt. D.M. Aldrich 1 ZEKE VMF 214: 2nd Lt. R. M. Hanson 1 ZEKE 1st Lt. H.V. Scarborough 3 TONY 2nd Lt. A.S. Jensen 1 ZEKE RNZAF P-40's: Flight Lt. Spurl 1 ZEKE Sgt. Pilot Pirie 1 HAP
TOTAL 8 VF
Own Losses: None.
Altitude of Contact: 17,000 - 23,000 ft.
Narrative Account: F4Us served as both high and close cover, for bombers. Enemy VF all came in head-on and dived below.
Remarks: Aldrich (215) badly shot up. Hospitalized. All enemy VF painted brown with red meat balls. One TONY had tail and spinner painted white (positively identified - not a P-40). Scarborough (214) reports seeing two large puffs of white smoke abreast of the bombers as latter were flying 20 miles West of Vella LaVella, considered that they may have been enemy VF shot down by bombers. Bombing results reported as excellent.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Feb 20, 2022 14:40:14 GMT 12
From an intelligence report submitted by the CO of VF-17 in April 1944
OPERATION BETWEEN SERVICES The cooperation between the various units, Marines, Army, New Zealanders, and the few Navy squadrons up there, was surprisingly good, although we all screamed at each other all the time, each always told the other that he didn't know what he was doing - the routine stuff. Yet when the chips were down everybody heaved around together in a very surprising fashion, particularly the New Zealanders.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Feb 20, 2022 14:23:01 GMT 12
From the VF40 unit history
Probably the most generally esteemed group was the New Zealanders. Flying old P-40's turned over to them by the Army, the New Zealanders were reckoned by everybody as the greatest low cover in the area. They combined the most perfectly disciplined and effective protection with a hair-raising attack when the situation demanded it. Frequently mistaken for TONY's, they patiently withstood attacks from their Allies. In strikes particularly, they did their job perfectly, and were the group most desired as close cover by all bomber squadrons.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Feb 8, 2022 20:32:33 GMT 12
I for one would like to see the maps.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Dec 14, 2021 0:16:54 GMT 12
Matthew questioned what MFC stood for, the answer is Maintenance Flight Commander
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Post by aircraftclocks on Nov 25, 2021 19:32:10 GMT 12
There is another one, Aviation Heritage Museum at Bull Creek in Perth.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Nov 16, 2021 20:50:09 GMT 12
That's enough for a quarter guard.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Oct 26, 2021 23:43:35 GMT 12
I emailed Matthew yesterday and before I woke up this morning, there is one less unknown airman on the museum web site.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Oct 24, 2021 12:31:41 GMT 12
I look at the photos that are on the Air Force Museum of New Zealand website regularly. Often the subject of the photo, is an "unknown airman". This got me thinking.
1. Is there any privacy issues if you were to name the "unknown airman" on this forum 2. Would the museum be interested in putting names to individuals where they have been listed as "unknown airman"
I am sure that the museum would require some sort of check and balance system to have confidence in the attribution of the name.
Comments please, particularly those closest to the inner workings of the museum and the forum.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Oct 16, 2021 19:38:25 GMT 12
I have a file that gives the following codes (I think I got them from a USN document)
ABRAHAM Ennugarret Is, Kwajalein Atoll ACCUMULATION Leyte Is, PI ACEPIECE Ngesebus Is, Palau Is ACID Efate Is, New Herbrides Is (aka roses, suxe, truculence) ACIDITY Gavutu Is, Solomon Is (connected to Tanambogo by causeway) (aka HEMLOCK) "U2" ALBERT Ennumennet Is, Kwajalein Atoll ALLEN Ennubirr Is, Kwajalein Atoll ALMOND Tanambogo Is, Solomon Is (connected to Gavutu Is by a causeway) "Bogo" AMNESIA Attu Is, Aleutian Is, Alaska (aka cornerstone, jackboot) AMPERSAND Espiritu Santo Is, New Hebrides Is (aka BUTTON, EBON) (often misspelled "Espiritu Santos" in Marine documents) "Santo" ANACONDA Truk Atoll, Caroline Is ANDREW Obella Is, Kwajalein Atoll APERIENT New Georgia Is, New Georgia Group, Solomon Is (aka Celery) APRICOT Ndeni Is, Stanta Cruz Is (aka Bricabrac) ARABIC New Britain Is, Bismarck Archipelago ARTERIAL Western Caroline Is (Palau, Ulithi, Yap) ARTHRITIS Solomon Is (aka SUSAN, ward) ASH Vella Lavella Is, New Georgia Group, Solomon Is (aka dogeared) ATOM Wallis Is (aka Uvea Is, often misspelled Uae) (aka lameduck) (see STRAWBOARD) BALSA Midway Is (aka backbiter, verb; balsa during the battle) (Japanese code name was "AF") BEEFSTEAK Emirau Is, Saint Matthias Group, Bismarck Archipelago BEQUEST Yap Is, Caroline Is (aka vocalist) BEVY Guadalcanal Is, Solomon Is (aka mainyard, dogwood) "Guadal," "The Canal" BLISSFUL Choiseul Is, Solomon Is BOBCAT Borabora Is, Society Is (aka blueberry, cromlech) (also spelled Bora Bora) Also the designation of the Borabora constrution force (USN). BOXCLOTH Apamama Is, Gilbert Is (Apamama was used in most documents; its official spelling is Abemama) (aka bumpkin) BRUSH Palmyra Is, Line Is BULLY Marshall Is BUNKHOUSE Ryukyu Is (aka Ryukyu Retto, Nansai Shoto [Southwestern Is]) BURLESQUE Roi Is, Kwajalein Atoll (connected to Namur Is) (aka custom) BYPRODUCT Kiriwina Is, Trobriand Is CACTUS Guadalcanal-Tulagi Is, Solomon Is CADDIE Milli Atoll, Marshall Is (aka locksman) CAMELLIA Aitsu Is, Eniwetok Atoll CAMOUFLAGE Namur Is, Kwajalein Atoll (connected to Roi Is) (aka emblem)
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Post by aircraftclocks on Aug 23, 2021 11:04:17 GMT 12
24/04/45
CALL PILOT T/O GREEN T/O/T P/C GREEN 301B21 Major LOWELL 1415 1529 1627 302B21 GRUE 1415 1529 1627 303B21 JOBE 1416 1529 1628 304B21 EWERS 1416 1529 1628 305B21 MONROE 1417 1529 1629 306B21 PEARCE 1417 1529 1629
Major LOWELL, Operations officer, led six PBJs of VMB-423 in a medium altitude daylight strike on Nakaru target #3, Bougainville. The formation was composed of two, three plane sections javelin down. The raid was airborne by 1418 and after joining up as described above proceeded down the east coast of Bougainville to Montopena Point. From this point the flight leader contacted the Piva Corsair (20 Sqn) which preceded the formation and marked the target with a smoke bomb. The planes then flew parallel with the coast to a point opposite the south of the Mobiai River, turning inland over the mouth of the river for eight miles on 025° magnetic to check drift. The formation then flew on 112° magnetic course for 13 1/2 miles to a point south of Kara Airstrip from where the bombing run was made. The bombing run was made on a magnetic heading of 026° with the first section at 10,400 feet, the second section at 10,200 at 160 knots indicted air speed. Bombs were away at 1529. The formation then broke away to the left and returned to Green with all planes safely on the deck by 1630. No anti-aircraft fire was encountered. All bombs hit the target.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Aug 23, 2021 11:01:18 GMT 12
19/04/45
CALL PILOT T/O GREEN T/O/T P/C GREEN 301B21 LtCol. ANDERSON 0830 0935 1039 302B21 HOPPER 0830 0935 1039 303B21 LEAIRD 0831 0935 1040 304B21 GARTHWAITE 0831 0935 1040 305B21 HEIL 0832 0935 1041 306B21 HUBER 0832 0935 1041
Lieutenant Colonel ANDERSON, Commanding Officer, led six PBJs on a medium altitude daylight attack on anti-aircraft positions in Ebery's Lease, South Bougainville. The formation was composed of two, three plane sections javelin down. The strike was airborne by 0832 and after joining up as described above proceeded down the east coast of Bougainville to Oema Island. From Oema the flight took a heading of 220° magnetic for twelve miles to Oavu Island. From Oavu the flight flew to Popotala Island, a distance of 12 miles on 263° magnetic and turned into the bomb run. The bombing run was made on a heading of 320° magnetic. The first section bombing from 11,200 feet and the second from 11,000 feet at 0935 with 160 knots indicated air speed. The formation broke right after the bombing and returned to base all being safely on deck by 1042. Fourteen bursts of accurate and inaccurate heavy anti-aircraft fire were received from known positions in Ebery's Lease. Bombs fell to the east of the AA positions.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Aug 22, 2021 13:03:46 GMT 12
17/04/45
CALL PILOT T/O GREEN T/O/T P/C GREEN 301B21 Major LOWELL 0830 0942 1042 302B21 LINEN 0830 0942 1042 303B21 VAN AKEN 0831 0942 1043 304B21 EVANS 0831 0942 1043 305B21 SPAULDING 0832 0942 1044 306B21 RIGDON 0832 0942 1044
Major LOWELL, Operations Officer, led six PBJs on a medium altitude daylight attack on Muguai number 24, Bougainville. The formation was composed of two, three plane sections javelin down. The strike was airborne by 0832 and after joining up as described above proceeded down the east coast of Bougainville to Koromira Point. The formation then flew a heading of 190° magnetic, for four miles for bombardiers to figure drift and then took a heading of 204° magnetic for thirteen miles where it turned into the bomb run. Two Corsairs from Piva (21 Sqn) preceded the formation to the target area and on direction from the flight leader marked the target with a smoke bomb. Bombs were dropped at 0942 from 10,800 feet on a heading of 190° magnetic at 160 knots indicated. The formation broke to the left and returned to Green. All planes were safely on the deck by 1044. No anti-aircraft fire was encountered. Good coverage was obtained, all bombs falling within a radius of 200 yards of the smoke bomb marking the target.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Aug 22, 2021 12:57:23 GMT 12
16/04/45
CALL PILOT T/O GREEN T/O/T P/C GREEN 301B21 LtCol. ANDERSON 0835 1010 1100 302B21 PEARCE 0835 1010 1100 303B21 HEIL 0836 1010 1101 304B21 BEAIRD 0836 1010 1101 305B21 MONROE 0837 1010 1102 306B21 TOGERSON 0837 1010 1102
Lieutenant Colonel ANDERSON, Commanding Officer, led six PBJs of VMB-423 in a medium altitude daylight strike on huts at Kieta, Bougainville, the alternate target, when clouds obscured AA target at Ebery's Lease, Bougainville. The formation was composed of six PBJs in two, three plane sections javelin down. The strike was airborne by 0838 and after joining up as described above proceeded to Koromira Point to rendezvous with New Zealand PVs and F4Us (24 Sqn). The rendezvous was effected at 0935. From Koromira Point the formation proceeded southwesterly with the Venturas and Corsairs as the second squadron for the bombing of anti-aircraft artillery positions in Ebery's Lease as planned. Because of obscuring clouds over original bombing run and target, the formation flew south along the coastline to a point west of Moila Point from where another bombing run was attempted on the primary target without success. The PBJs then left the formation and proceeded to the secondary target, huts at Kieta, Bougainville. The bombing run was made on 230° magnetic heading and bombs were dropped at 1010. The first section was at an altitude of 10,900 feet, the second at 10,700 feet. No anti-aircraft fire was encountered. One bomb landed in the water with the remaining bombs hitting south of the huts.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Aug 21, 2021 18:27:08 GMT 12
The 8th April 1945 I have read somewhere.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Aug 21, 2021 13:46:09 GMT 12
15/04/45
CALL PILOT T/O GREEN T/O/T P/C GREEN 301B21 Major LOWELL 0745 0912 1014 302B21 HEIL 0745 0912 1014 303B21 HUBER 0746 0912 1015 304B21 BEAIRD 0746 0912 1015 305B21 VAN AKEN 0747 0912 1016 306B21 RIGDON 0747 0912 1016 *307B21 HOPPER ---- ---- ---- 308B21 SPAULDING 0748 0912 1017 309B21 EWERS 0748 0912 1017 * 307B21 did not take off due to operational trouble.
Major LOWELL, Operations Officer, led eight PBJs on a medium altitude daylight attack on gun positions southeast of Kara Airdrome, Bougainville. The formation was composed of two, three plane sections and one, two plane section javelin down. The strike was coordinated with six PVs and eight F4Us of RNZAF (21 Sqn) stationed at Green. The strike was airborne by 0749 and after joining up as described above proceeded to the rendezvous point at Empress Augusta Bay. The rendezvous with the New Zealand planes was effected at 0855. At 0900 the strike departed on a course of 118° magnetic for 45 miles, then turning to 035° magnetic to the coast west of Kangu Hill from where the bombing run was made. The bombing run was made on a course of 014° magnetic with bombs away at 0912. The first section was at an altitude of 10,700 feet, the second at 10,500 feet and the third at 10,300 feet. The indicated air speed was 160 knots. No anti-aircraft fire was encountered All bombs hit the target with black and white smoke rising to 500 to 1000 feet into the air and was visible until the strike was out of sight.
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