3 Sqn action reports, 1943

[aircraftclocks]

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.

[aircraftclocks]

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.

[aircraftclocks]

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.

[aircraftclocks]

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.