(a) Unit Reporting

VMB-613

(b) Based on or at

Kwajalein Island and Atoll Forward Echelon at Eniwetok Island and Atoll

(c) Report No.

18

(d) Take off: Date

1 March, 1945

 Time (LZT)

0600 M.

(Zone)

Lat

11°20'N.

Long

162°21'E.

(e) Mission

Reconnoitre Ponape Island

(f) Time of Return

1215 M.

(Zone)

II. OWN AIRCRAFT OFFICIALLY COVERED BY THIS REPORT.

TYPE

SQUADRON

NUMBER

TAKING OFF

ENGAGING

ENEMY A/C

ATTACKING

TARGET

(f)

(g)

PBJ-1H

VMB-613

1

none

1

---

III. OTHER U.S. OR ALLIED AIRCRAFT EMPLOYED IN THIS OPERATION.

BASE

--

--

--

--

--

IV. ENEMY AIRCRAFT OBSERVED OR ENGAGED (By Own Aircraft Listed in II Only).

None.

(d)

(f)

(g)

TYPE

NO

OBSERVED

TIME

ENCOUNTERED

LOCATION OF

ENCOUNTER

BOMBS, TORPEDOES CARRIED;

GUNS OBSERVED

CAMOUFLAGE AND

MARKING

--

--

--

 -- (ZONE)

--

----

--

(ZONE)

(ZONE)

(h) Apparent Enemy Mission(s)

Did Any Part of

(i) Encounter(s) Occur in Clouds?

---

If so, Describe Clouds

(YES OR NO)

(BASE IN FEET, TYPE IN TENTHS OF CLOUD COVER)

Time of Day and Brilliance

(j) of Sun or Moon

(k) Visibility

(NIGHT, BRIGHT MOON, DAY, OVERCAST, ETC.)

(MILES)

V. ENEMY AIRCRAFT DESTROYED OR DAMAGED IN AIR (By Own Aircraft Listed in II Only).

None.

(a)

(b) DESTROYED OR DAMAGED BY

(c)

(d)

TYPE

ENEMY A/C

PILOT OF GUNNER

GUNS USED

WHERE HIT, ANGLE

DAMAGE

CLAIMED

--

--

----

--

----

--

ALLSET -- MFD. BY THE EGRY REGISTER CO. PATENTED

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

 SECRET

REPORT No.

18

VI. LOSS OR DAMAGE, COMBAT OR OPERATIONAL, OF OWN AIRCRAFT (of those listed in II only).

(a)

TYPE OWN A/C

1     --

--

----

----

----

2

3  

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

VII. PERSONNEL CASUALTIES (in aircraft listed in II only; identify with planes listed in VI by Nos. at left).

--

--

----

----

----

VIII. RANGE, FUEL, AND AMMUNITION DATA FOR RETURNING PLANES.

PBJ-1H

1

IX. ENEMY ANTI-AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED (Check one block on each line).

HEAVY -- Time-fuzed shells, 75mm and over

MEDIUM -- Impact-fuzed shells, 20mm-50mm

LIGHT -- Machine gun bullets, 6.5mm-13.2mm

X. COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE, OWN AND ENEMY AIRCRAFT (use check list at left).

SPEED, CLIMB

at various altitudes

TURNS

DIVES

CEILINGS

RANGE

PROTECTION

ARMAMENT

Not observed.

ALLSET -- MFD. BY THE EGRY REGISTER CO. PATENTED

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

REPORT No.  

18

XI. ATTACK ON ENEMY SHIPS OR GROUND OBJECTIVES (By Own Aircraft Listed in II Only).

(a) Target(s) and Location(s)

(b) Time Over Target(s)

0800-1000

(Zone)

(FOR SHIPS INCLUDE ALL IN AREA UNDER ATTACK)

( BASE IN FEET. TYPE IN TENTHS OF COVER)

(e) Visibility

15

(CLEAR, HAZY, PARTIALLY OBSCURED BY CLOUDS, ETC.)

(MILES)

Gunnery

(f) Bombing Tactics:  Type

Level

Bomb Sight Used

(LEVEL, GLIDE, OR DIVE)

(TYPE)

Bombs Dropped per Run

none

Spacing

none

Altitude of Bomb Release

none

(g) Number of Enemy Aircraft Hit on Ground:  Destroyed

none

Probably Destroyed

none

Damaged

none

Dock installations and four boats.

100yds. sq.

1 PBJ-1H

9  75mm. shells.

1500 rnds. .50cal.

6

1500

VMB-613

RESULTS:  (For all claims made on ship targets of special interest, draw diagram, top or side view or both, as appropriate, showing type and location of hits.  For all targets give location and effect of hits, and identify by number above.  Use additional sheets if necessary)

This target, consisting of two docks, two boathouses for fuel storage etc., three 20' boats and a 12' rowboat, were discovered at the end of a winding inlet on the west side of Ponape Island.  Five runs were made starting from 1500 yds. and 2500' altitude.  Two shells were fired on all but one run and the target was strafed with nose and tail guns.  All four boats were sunk at their moorings and the two buildings were left burning fiercely. 

Photographs of Damage, When Taken, Should Be Attached By Staple

ALLSET -- MFD. BY THE EGRY REGISTER CO. PATENTED

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

REPORT No.  

18

XII. TACTICAL AND OPERATIONAL DATA.  (Narrative and comment.  Describe action fully and comment freely, following applicable items in check list at left.  Use additional sheets if necessary).

ENGAGEMENT WITH ENEMY

OWN AIRCRAFT

Disposition

Altitude

Speed

Approach Tactics

Use of Cover, Deception

Angles of Attack and

Their Effectiveness

Distance of Opening Fire

Defense Tactics and

Their Effectiveness

ENEMY AIRCRAFT

Method of Locating, Distance

Disposition

Altitudes

Speed

Approach Tactics

Use of Cover, Deception

Angles of Attack

Distance of Opening Fire

Defense Tactics and

Their Effectiveness

COMMENTS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

Own Weaknesses

Enemy Weaknesses

Offensive Tactics,  Own

        "             "     ,  Enemy

Defensive Tactics, Own

        "             "     ,  Enemy

Flexible Gunnery, Own

Escort Tactics

Fighter Direction

Use of Radar

Night Fighting

Recognition, Aircraft

One plane of this squadron took off on a routine search of Ponape Island with orders to attack targets of opportunity.  Arriving on station at 0800 the plane took up a circling patrol of the island.  At approximately 0930, while turning in from the west shore of the island to observe the new airfield, a dock installation and four boats were discovered at the head of a winding inlet.  Five runs were made, totally destroying the installations and the boats.  The reconnaissance was continued until 1000 as was ordered but no further activity or targets were discovered.  The plane returned to base landing at 1215.  

OPERATIONAL

Navigation

Homing

Rendezvous

Recognition, Ships

Communications

Flight Operations

Search and Tracking

Base Operations

Maintenance

ALLSET -- MFD. BY THE EGRY REGISTER CO. PATENTED

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

REPORT No.  

18

XIII. MATERIAL DATA.  (Comment freely on performance or suitability, following check list at left

Use additional sheets if necessary).

ARMAMENT

Guns, Gunsights

Turrets

Ammunition

Bombs, Torpedoes

Bomb Sights

Bomb Releases

COMMUNICATIONS

Radio, Radar

Homing Devices

Visual Signals

Codes, Ciphers

RECOGNITION

IFF

Signals

Battle Lights

Procedures

All materiel functioned satisfactorily.

8 March, 1945.

SIGNATURE                                                  RANK AND DUTY

DATE

C.R. MOCINE, Captain, S-2.

G.W. Nevils, LtCol., Commanding.

ALLSET -- MFD. BY THE EGRY REGISTER CO. PATENTED