(a) Unit Reporting

VMB-613

(b) Based on or at

Kwajalein Island and Atoll

(c) Report No.

20

(d) Take off: Date

8 March, 1945

 Time (LZT)

0845 M.

(Zone)

Lat

8°50'N.

Long

167°9'E.

(e) Mission

Reconnoitre Kusaie Island.

(f) Time of Return

1455 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

Instantaneous Nose. 

25' hydrostatic tail

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.

20

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

None Observed.

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

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

REPORT No.  

20

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)

1100-1230

(Zone)

(FOR SHIPS INCLUDE ALL IN AREA UNDER ATTACK)

( BASE IN FEET. TYPE IN TENTHS OF COVER)

(e) Visibility

5

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

(MILES)

Glide

Bomb Sight Used

(LEVEL, GLIDE, OR DIVE)

(TYPE)

Bombs Dropped per Run

3

Spacing

100

Altitude of Bomb Release

2500

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

none

Probably Destroyed

none

Damaged

none

Pier and buildings Lele Harbor.

50' X 200'

1 PBJ-1H

3  350# depth charges

VMB-613

Large fire on beach at Lottin

50' square

1 PBJ-1H

4 rnds. 75mm

50 rnds  .50cal.

3

50

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)

1.  A run was made from the ocean toward the island sighting through small breaks in the 9/10 cloud cover.  When immediately over the pier and port installations, the pilot let down through the clouds, dropped the D.C.'s fuzed as bombs and immediately pulled back up into the clouds making his getaway under cover of clouds in a turn over island to south.  Although poor visibility prevented observation of damage it is felt that aim was good, resulting in damage to the installations.   

2.  A large fire was observed on the east shore of the inlet at Port Lottin.  Feeling that there were probably enemy present the pilot made two strafing runs firing four rounds of 75mm shells and 50 rounds of .50 calibre.  The fire was seen to go out and no further activity was observed.

See diagram on next page.

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

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

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

REPORT No.  

20

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 organization took off at 0845 on a routine reconnaissance flight to Kusaie Island with orders to reconnoitre the island and fire on targets of opportunity.  The pilot arrived at the island and began circling, observing nothing suspicious other than the fire at Port Lottin which was strafed as reported on page three.  The visibility was good when the plane arrived on target but steadily worsened.  Just before leaving the target the pilot decided to try to damage the pier and installations at Lele Harbor.  Three instantaneously fuzed depth charges were dropped but bad visibility prevented observation of damage.  Making one final round of the island and still observing no activity the plane left the target at 1230, landing at 1455.  No anti-aircraft fire was observed.

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.  

20

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.

10 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