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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 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 0:16:41 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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