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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 28, 2021 11:18:56 GMT 12
Just noticed the maths of the total seems wrong, I make it 79.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 26, 2021 23:50:34 GMT 12
From a recent photo on the Air Force of New Zealand museum (2019-192.23) fotoweb.airforcemuseum.co.nz/fotoweb/archives/5003-Search-the-Collection/Collection/2019-192.23_1_1.jpg.infoDate Captain Type Position No Total 2.5.43 S/L McGregor SS Vanderbilt 120 Miles S. Suva 8 8 26.1.44 F/O Mackley D.F.C. B24 S.E. Ontong Java 10 18 4.2.44 F/O Beauchamp D.F.C. B24 S. Nauru 5 23 11.2.44 F/O Hendry B25 40 Miles W. Buka 6 29 13.2.44 F/Lt McGrane P39 40 Miles S.E. Cape St. George 1 30 16.2.44 F/O Hendry NZ P40 20 Miles N. Cape Henpan 1 31 18.2.44 F/O Hitchcock B25 Buka Island 2 33 18.2.44 F/Lt McGrane F4U St. Georges Channel 1 34 21.2.44 F/O Hendry F4U W. Torokina 1 35 21.2.44 F/O Hendry F4U Cape St. George 1 36 22.2.44 F/O Hitchcock SBD W. Buka Passage 2 38 5.3.44 F/Sgt Monk B24 Kabanga Bay 3 41 9.3.44 F/O Beauchamp D.F.C. B25 St. Georges Channel 7 48 16.3.44 F/Lt Francis F4U Feni Island 1 49 31.3.44 F/Lt Scott TBF St. Georges Channel 3 52 11.4.44 F/Lt Scott P38 Santa Isabel 1 53 1.5.44 F/Lt Manz LST Cape Zelee 1 54 10.5.44 F/Lt McHardy D.F.C. SC163 San Cristobal 1 55 30.6.44 F/Lt McHardy D.F.C. SBD S. Guadalcanal 2 57 7.9.44 W/O Donaldson FP147 Malelei Island 9 66 29.9.44 S/L Butcher TBM Bellona Island 7 73 4.10.44 F/O Carleton APC 20 Miles S.E. Guadalcanal 1 74 5.10.44 W/C Agar PV1 N.W. Florida Island 1 74 8.11.44 F/Lt Martin SBD Beaufort Bay 3 77 16.11.44 F/O Sheehan SS Waco Victory 20 Miles S. Cape Henslow 1 78
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 26, 2021 14:38:31 GMT 12
R/T MEANING W/T *ABOVE Aircraft above you AB AMMO MINUS Have less than half ammunition left AM-MN AMMO PLUS Have more than half ammunition left AM-PS AMMO ZERO Have no ammunition left AM-O ANCHORED Am orbiting a visible orbit point AK ANGELS Height in thousands of feet AG *AWAY Aircraft is flying away from directing ship AW BANDIT Identified enemy aircraft (Number may be indicated) BT BASE Home airfield (Note: With ship based aircraft this means "Carrier".) AS BEAM Beam approach BM *BELOW Aircraft below you BE *BLANKET Amount of clouds. (With a number, amount in tenths) BK *BOGEY Unidentified aircraft (Note: Implies "investigate with caution - may be friendly".) BG *BOMBERS High level bombers BS *BURST Am about to fire H. A. Shells to burst at estimated height of and in direction of enemy UR BUSTER Fly at normal full speed (Note: Indicated Air Speeds will normally be used by shore controllers BU *CENTER Center of Unit or indicated part of Unit. (See CLOCK CODE) CT CHICKENS Own fighters CN *CLARA Radar screen is clear CA *CLOSE Keep near directing ship CL DROP IT Do nor attack, or cease attack DI *FISHES Torpedo aircraft FS *FREDDIE Fighter Directing Ship FD *FREDDIE INDICATING An identifying myself as Fighter Director Ship by making puffs of smoke and/or some other prearranged signal FD FD FD *FRIENDLY Aircraft is/are friendly FY FUEL Quantity of fuel remaining (Number of gallons e.g. "Fuel forty-two"). FL GATE Fly at maximum possible speed (Note: Not to be maintained for more than five minutes). GA GIVE YOUR DR POSITION Report weather, giving V - Visibility in miles A - Amount of cloud, in tenths T - Height of cloud top, in thousands of ft. B - Height of cloud base, in thousands of ft. (NOTE: Reply is a series of four numbers. An unknown item is answered by "zero". The sequence of items may be varied locally.) DR GRAND SLAM Enemy aircraft shot down. (Followed by a number, indicated number shot down). GR *HAWKS Dive bombers HS HEADS UP Enemy got through (part or all) HU HEY RUBE Need help, come to my assistance. (Normally used only by Fighter Director) RC *LEFT (Port) After course to left (Port)(aircraft normally alters course 30°) LF *LIGHTS Make your recognition signal LT LINER Fly at economical cruising speed. (Note: Indicated Air Speeds will normally be used by shore controllers) LI *MATTRESS Below cloud. (With a number, height of cloud base in thousands of feet) MT ....O'CLOCK Aircraft in clock code sector indicated. (See CLOCK CODE) Q ORANGES SWEET Weather is good OR-SW ORANGES SOUR Weather is bad OR-SO ORBIT Circle and search OR ORBIT LEFT (Port) Circle and search to left (Port) OP ORBIT RIGHT (Starboard) Circle and search to right (Starboard) OB PANCAKE Land, refuel and rearm PK PANCAKE AMMO Returning short of ammunition. Wish to land PK-AM PANCAKE FULL Running short of fuel. Wish to land PK-FL PANCAKE HURT Returning wounded or damaged. Wish to land PK-HU *PIGEONS The bearing (Magnetic) and distance of your base from you is.....degrees.....miles..... PG *PILLOW Visibility. (With a number, visibility in miles PI POPEYE In cloud PY *QUIET Above cloud. (With a number, height of cloud in thousands of feet) QL RATS Identified enemy fighters RS *REAR Rear of Unit or indicated part of Unit. (See CLOCK CODE) RE REQUEST HOMING Request course to steer for "home" RH *RESUME Resume patrol RM RIGHT (Starboard) Alter course to right (Starboard.)(aircraft normally alters course 30°) RT *SALVOES An about to open fire (magnetic bearing may be indicated). Keep clear SV SAUNTER Fly at lowest speed possible without losing height SA SCRAMBLE Take off. (May be followed by course and altitude instructions) SC SEE YOU Fleet in sight CU *SHAD Shadower SD *SNOOPER Low Shadower (Below 2000 feet) SP STEER Set course...(magnetic course indicated)... for "home" SR TALLYHO Aircraft sighted and recognized as hostile. (Note: In reporting this, number, type and height of enemy aircraft sighted should be given) TL TOUCH In touch on homing beacon TH *TOWARDS Aircraft is flying towards directing ship TO *VAN Front of Unit or indicated part of Unit. (See CLOCK CODE) VN VECTOR Alter course to...magnetic course indicated (Note: Must be used with three figure group e.g. "Vector zero six zero" NOT "Vector six zero" nor "Vector sixty." For homing course "STEER" is used (q.v.) VC VECTOR LEFT (PORT) Alter course to...magnetic course indicated turning to LEFT (Port) VC-PO VECTOR RIGHT (STARBOARD) Alter course to...magnetic course indicated turning to LIGHT (Starboard) VC-ST WHAT STATE Report fuel and ammunition remaining WT *NOTE: Expressions marked "*" are used by ships with shore-based fighters under shore control.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 26, 2021 14:32:15 GMT 12
Looking at the war diaries there are codes used that have a meaning you can guess at, but the actual definition is not clear, for example to "pancake". I have found a listing of codes used by at least one USN squadron which I assume is universal.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 25, 2021 0:03:23 GMT 12
Nicko
Welcome to the forum. I hope you have luck with your search.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 19, 2021 13:33:01 GMT 12
1 JUNE
Vunapope AA guns were the targets at 0955 for 12 Dauntless, which dropped 11x1000# and 22x100# bombs. Twelve Avengers—scheduled to hit a Vunapope supply area nt the same time the SBD's were attacking the guns—became separated from the SBD's and reported only 40 bombs in the target area. They released 113x100# bombs, including 63 on Cape St. George and 10 on the Duke of York Island. Five PV's distributed a total bomb load of 30x500# over the Duke of York Island, destroying at least nine buildings and starting several fires. The Able and Charlie search PV's each released 6x500# bombs, which resulted in several small fires. The Torokina-Rabaul sweep was negative. Of 12 SBD's and nine TBF's scheduled to hit Sohana Island at 1500 only three SBD's got through, the others being turned back by weather. Three dropped 2x1000# northwest of the Bonis strip and 1x1000# on Sohana.
Planes Assigned Planes in Commission Piva 26 SBD 17 TBF 15 PV 26 SBD 15 TBF 12 PV
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 19, 2021 13:31:11 GMT 12
31 MAY
Eleven SBD's and 12 TBF's struck the Talili Bay supply area and AA guns at 0935 with 11x1000# and 133x100# bombs. AA fire was meager to intense, inaccurate to accurate, and brought down one TBF in flames over the target. Missing were Pilot Sgt. W.A. Trulove, Pilot Sgts. Harehart and Brown. Five PV's, hitting targets of opportunity from Makudukudu Bay to Labur Bay with 25x500# bombs, started a fire, destroyed at least one hut and wrecked a jetty. The PV's on the Torokina-Rabaul patrol and Rabaul shipping count reported negative. The Able search PV dropped 6x500# bombs and 2500 leaflets. The Charlie search PV tried for buildings on the Fauro Islands and in the Buin district with 6x500# bombs. Two, of four Potato Run TBF's, were stymied by mechanical difficulties and could not oil Jap gardens. The other two planes put 150 gallons of oil on a garden at Papas. VB 306, Lieut. Cmdr. Claybrook B. Cottingham, USNR, was detached.
Planes Assigned Planes in Commission Piva 43 SBD 17 TBF 15 PV 43 SBD 16 TBF 12 PV
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 19, 2021 13:30:00 GMT 12
30 MAY
A projected strike on Vunapope was weathered out. One PV was sent to investigate a possible submarine 25 miles off Motupena. Point. The plane sighted a whale, but no sub. The Able search PV dropped 6x500# bombs on huts and possible supply areas. The PV on the Charlie search started a fire with 2x500# bombs at Runai. Two Avengers sprayed two acres of gardens west of Baniu Harbor with 150 gallons of oil. Two Dauntless flew weather hops. VT 305, Lieut. A.V. Vorndam, USNR, commanding, was detached.
Planes Assigned Planes in Commission Piva 47 SBD 17 TBF 15 PV 45 SBD 16 TBF 12 PV
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 19, 2021 13:28:39 GMT 12
29 MAY
Thirty-six Dauntless hit Hospital Ridge AA guns while 12 TBF's were hitting the Nordup supply area. The SBD's dropped 33x1000# and 65x100# bombs in the area of the guns and the TBF's released 45x500# bombs in the supply area. AA fire was meager and inaccurate to accurate, damaging three planes. Five PV's, prowling for targets of opportunity from Cape Gazelle to the Warangoi River, released 28x500# bombs on huts and buildings. The PV on the Able search razed two huts in dropping 6x500# bombs. The Torokina-Rabaul rescue patrol, handled by a PV, was negative. Six TBF's, on Potato Runs, oiled gardens at Tokapa and Baniu Harbor, while three escorting TBF's bombed and strafed targets of opportunity in the northeast section of Bougainville.
Planes Assigned Planes in Commission Piva 48 SBD 39 TBF 15 PV 45 SBD 32 TBF 12 PV
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 19, 2021 13:27:16 GMT 12
28 MAY
Twenty-two SBD's and 17 TBF's encountered intense and accurate heavy and automatic AA fire in a 0945 strike on Vunakanau. One New Zealand TBF and its crew—Flight Lieut. M. Greenslade, Flight Lieut. Morrison and Flight Sgt. McLeod—were lost. One SBD suffered minor damage, while one TBF came home with 15 holes and two members of the crew wounded. The Piva planes carried 41x100#, 21x1000# and 67x500# bombs. The target also was attacked by SBD's from Emirau, fighter-bombers and B-25's. Photographs showed 14 new craters in the concrete runway, one auto AA destroyed and one 105 mm., possibly damaged by a near hit. The Torokina-Rabaul sweep and the Rabaul shipping count, each handled by one PV, were negative. The PV on the Able search dropped 3x500# on Tahilahi and 3x500# bombs at a jetty on Cape Lalahan. The PV on the Charlie search dropped 6x500# bombs demolishing a building and several huts at Koromira Mission. Five PV's hit Namatanai at 0820, causing several small fires and one large one in the supply and personnel area. They dropped 28x500# bombs and expended 8700 rounds in strafing. Gardens at Takapa were oiled by four TBF's on Potato Runs. Two SBD's reported negative on a special submarine search.
Planes Assigned Planes in Commission Piva 48 SBD 41 TBF 15 PV 46 SBD 32 TBF 12 PV
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 19, 2021 13:25:26 GMT 12
27 MAY
Twenty-four SBD's and 18 TBF's racked off 39x100# and 23x1000#, and 215x100# bombs, respectively, through a 10/10 cloud cover over Hospital Ridge AA gun positions. Fighter-bombers and Mitchells also bombed the Ridge. Photographs showed one heavy and two automatics destroyed, one heavy and two auto damaged. The Torokina-Rabaul sweep was flown by one PV, with negative results. Seven PV's flew the Able search, dropping 24x100# and 18x500# bombs on targets of opportunity in northern Bougainville and Buka. One PV, releasing 6x500# bombs, did the Charlie search. Four TBF's on Potato Runs sprayed gardens at Tokapa with 150 gallons of diesel oil.
Planes Assigned Planes in Commission Piva 48 SBD 41 TBF 15 PV 47 SBD 37 TBF 7 PV
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 19, 2021 13:23:46 GMT 12
26 MAY
Air activities of Strike Command were curtailed by weather which forced 18 SBD's and 18 TBF's enroute to Rabaul to turn back before reaching Buka. One SBD made a weather hop. In the afternoon, two SBD's flew an experimental mission to drop leaflets off Motupena Point, with unsatisfactory results. The Torokina-Rabaul sweep by a PV was negative. Two PV's, on the Able search, photographed dummy installations at Lalahan Plantation. The installations previously were thought to have been radar. The pair of planes destroyed several huts in dropping 12x500# bombs, knocking out the approach to a bridge over the Mobiai River.
Planes Assigned Planes in Commission Piva 48 SBD 41 TBF 14 PV 46 SBD 33 TBF 12 PV
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 19, 2021 13:22:30 GMT 12
25 MAY
Nine Avengers and 18 Dauntless covered well the Porton Plantation Supply area at 0934 with 18x1000#, 3x2000# and 30x100# bombs, 4x500# oil incendiaries and 8x500# magnesium incendiary clusters. One SBD and 12 TBF's hit the Jap bivouac at Ibu at 0720. The TBF's dropped 131x100#; the SBD's, 1x500# and 1x250# bombs. The area was well covered with bombs and thoroughly strafed. Two SBD's, making the Able search, released 2x500# and 4x250# bombs on targets of opportunity. The two Charlie search Dauntless released 2x500# and 4x250# bombs, firing four huts at Korara. A barge search by two SBD's, loaded with rockets, was negative. A five acre garden at Tokapa was arrayed with 75 gallons of oil by a Potato Run TBF, while the escort TBF destroyed four small buildings in dropping 8x100# and 4x500# bombs. Two SBD's, on a photographic mission, were unable to find a radar station reported on Cape Lalahan. One PV on the Torokina-Rabaul sweep and another on the Rabaul shipping count had negative reports. RNZAF, TBF 30, Squadron Leader H.N. James commanding, was detached.
Planes Assigned Planes in Commission Piva 45 SBD 40 TBF 15 PV 44 SBD 31 TBF 12 PV
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 19, 2021 13:20:20 GMT 12
24 MAY
Eighteen TBF's, dropping 70x500# bombs, and 23 SBD's, dropping 21x1000# and 34x100# bombs, struck at Hospital Ridge gun positions at 0955, coordinating with B-25's and fighter-bombers. Three Strike Command planes suffered minor damage from AA fire. Photographs after the coordinated strikes showed no damage to gun positions. Two SBD's, on the Charlie search, bombed huts and gardens in southwest Bougainville with 2x500# and 4x250# bombs. The two SBD's on the Able search dropped the same number of bombs, destroying one hut. Two SBD's made a photographic mission to Cape Lalahan. RNZAF TBF 31, Squadron Leader M. Wilkes, commanding, reported aboard.
Planes Assigned Planes in Commission Piva 44 SBD 39 TBF 15 PV 39 SBD 33 TBF 12 PV
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 19, 2021 13:18:58 GMT 12
23 MAY
Finding Hospital Ridge gun positions closed by weather, 21 Dauntless and 10 Avengers turned to the secondary target, Tobera, at 1010. The SBD's dropped 20x1000# and 34x100# bombs, and the TBF's, 29x500# bombs on gun positions. One TBF bombed Put Put village with 1x500#. Two automatics and two machine guns were damaged. AA fire caused minor damage to four planes and considerable damage to one. The Torokina-Rabaul sweep by a PV was negative. Two SBD's on the Able patrol wiped out 11 huts with 2x500# and 3x250# bombs. On the Charlie search, two SBD's released 1x500# and 3x250# bombs on targets of opportunity. Six TBF's made a familiarization flight to IBU, preparatory to bombing a Jap bivouac there. Two SBD's, accompanying fighter-bombers, made photographs of the Mabiri area where coastal guns had been reported. Two Dauntless made a negative search for a PT missing between Torokina and Treasury.
Planes Available Planes in Commission Piva 45 SBD 39 TBF 6 PV 44 SBD 30 TBF 4 PV
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 19, 2021 13:17:38 GMT 12
22 MAY
Twelve Dauntless aimed 12x1000# and 21x100# bombs at AA gun positions and 12 TBF's spread 110x100# bombs over the supply area at Talili Bay at 1000. AA was meager and generally inaccurate, inflicting minor damage on one Avenger. The Rabaul shipping count and the Torokina-Rabaul sweep, each flown by one PV, were negative. Two SBD's on the Charlie search reported negative. Two Dauntless on the Able patrol released 4x250# and 1x500# bombs, wrecking a wharf at Kessa Plantation and damaging two buildings. One of the two TBF's on a Potato Run jettisoned the oil tank by mistake; the other scored a direct hit on each of two bridges out of 12x100# bombs dropped on targets of opportunity. Three TBF's made a negative barge sweep in the Put Put Plantation area.
Planes Assigned Planes in Commission Piva 45 SBD 39 TBF 5 PV 45 SBD 29 TBF 4 PV
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 19, 2021 13:15:57 GMT 12
21 MAY
Twenty SBD's and 24 TBF's bombed Vunakanau at 0945 with 19x1000#, 31x100# and 84x500#, cratering the runway with 14 new holes and starting fires which burned three huts in the revetment area. One TBF was shot down by AA, and the pilot, Ensign D.D. Atkins, VT 305, and the crew, J.B. Ketchia, ARM2c, and R.I. Lanegan, AOM2c, were lost. Mechanical difficulties prevented the Potato Run TBF's from oiling a Jap garden, but 5x100# bombs were dropped on Kieta huts. SBD did the Able and Charlie searches, two on each, with a total of 2x500# and 4x250# bombs being released on targets of opportunity. Local afternoon missions were weathered out. A PV on the Torokina-Rabaul rescue patrol saw the TBF on the Vunakanau strike crash into the water west of the Duke of York Island. No survivor was seen.
Planes Assigned Planes in Commission Piva 45 SBD 34 TBF 5 PV 43 SBD 32 TBF 4 PV
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 18, 2021 11:14:34 GMT 12
20 MAY
Fourteen Dauntless and 17 Avengers hit a supply area and AA guns at Kahili at 1030 with 13x1000# and 201x100# bombs, well covering the area and starting small fires. Two heavy anti-aircraft guns were destroyed. One TBF sustained minor damage from AA fire, which was heavy and automatic, moderate to intense, accurate to inaccurate. Two TBF's, on an early morning barge search, released 10x100# bombs at a 30-foot camouflaged barge at Porton Plantation, possibly damaging it; 6x100# on a possible gunboat in a cove south of Chabai 2x100# at Chabai and 1x100# at Porton. On a Potato Run in the morning two TBF's coiled a Taiai garden and bombed huts and bridges in the vicinity with 10x100#. Two TBF's in the morning and two SBD's in the afternoon photographed the area of suspected radar and radio installations on the west coast of Buka. The TBF's also photographed the area of a reported tunnel at Koropa, northern Bougainville. VMSB 236, Major William A. Cloman, Jr., commanding, with 40 pilots, reported aboard at Piva, and RNZAF SBD 25, Squadron Leader T.J. Mel DeLong commanding, was detached. Strike Command, Green, secured operations.
Planes Assigned Planes in Commission Piva 42 SBD 30 TBF 4 PV 39 SBD 29 TBF 4 PV
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 18, 2021 11:11:35 GMT 12
19 MAY
Six Dauntless and 12 Avengers from Piva dropping 6x1000# and 12x100#, 48x500# bombs, respectively, on AA guns and the supply area at Talili Bay at 0935., started six fires which destroyed six storage bays. Three SBD's and six TBF's dropped 6x250# and 10x500# bombs on a derelict gunboat south of the Chabai Pier and targets of opportunity in the area. At least one hit was made on the gunboat. One SBD, on a special flight, damaged huts at Porton Plantation with 1x500# and 2x250 pound bombs. Two Dauntless flew a photographic mission over Kieta. Three SBD's, on a truck reconnaissance around the north tip of Bougainville, scored only misses in dumping their 6x250# and 3x500# bombs on targets of opportunity. Two Potato Runs—two TBF's on each—were flown. A garden at Bigu was sprayed in the morning, during which flight the escort TBF was damaged heavily by AA from the Tonolei Harbor area. Execution of the afternoon mission was prevented by engine trouble. One PV each on the Torokina-Rabaul sweep and the Rabaul shipping count reported negative. Green sent 18 SBD's (1x1000#) after a possible seaplane anchor age at Nabuto Bay, New Ireland, at 1700. Two buildings were razed. RNZAF PV Squadron No. 9, Wing Cmdr. A.C. Allen, commanding, 17 pilots, relieved RNZAF PV Squadron No. 2, Wing Cmdr. Greenaway, commanding, at Piva. VB 98 (Detachment B) Lieut. E.T. LaRoe, USNR, commanding; VMSB 236, Major William A. Cloman, Jr., commanding, and VMSB 244, Capt. Belyea, USMCR, commanding, were detached at Green.
Planes Assigned Planes in Commission Piva 42 SBD 41 TBF 15 PV 41 SBD 40 TBF 4 PV Green 78 SBD 69 SBD
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 18, 2021 11:09:39 GMT 12
18 MAY
Weather caused postponement of the Piva strike—12 SBD's (1x 1000#) and 17 TBF's (4x500#) against the Kahili AA guns and supply area until 1545. Photos showed only possible damage to a command post. Two SBD's and two TBF's flew weather hops. Weather prevented the two TBF's from carrying out the morning Potato Run. In the afternoon, the two Avengers oiled a Bigu garden and released 12x100# bombs on huts at Bigu and Kieta. Two SBD's flew an artillery spotting mission. An anti-submarine patrol by three PV's was negative. The Green strike on Borpop was cancelled because of weather.
Planes Assigned Planes in Commission Piva 36 SBD 38 TBF 15 PV 34 SBD 30 TBF 9 PV Green 79 SBD 67 SBD
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