(a) Unit Reporting

VMB-613

(b) Based on or at

Kwajalein Island & Atoll

(c) Report No.

31

(d) Take off: Date

278 March, 1945.

 Time (LZT)

1300 M.

(Zone)

Lat

8°50'N.

Long

167°9'E.

(e) Mission

Snooper Flight, Kusaie Island.

(f) Time of Return

1845 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

none

2  350# depth charges.

Nose Instantaneous.

Transverse 25' hydro.

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

--

--

---

--

--

--

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AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

 SECRET

REPORT No.

31

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).  None.

--

--

---

---

---

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

PBJ-1H

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

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AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

REPORT No.  

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)

1450-1630 M.

(Zone)

(FOR SHIPS INCLUDE ALL IN AREA UNDER ATTACK)

1500'  cumulus 4 to 5 tenths.

( BASE IN FEET. TYPE IN TENTHS OF COVER)

Partially obscured by clouds

(e) Visibility

15

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

(MILES)

Gunnery

(f) Bombing Tactics:  Type

Level

Gun

Bomb Sight Used

(LEVEL, GLIDE, OR DIVE)

(TYPE)

Bombs Dropped per Run

none

Spacing

---

Altitude of Bomb Release

---

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

---

Probably Destroyed

---

Damaged

---

Large house E. shore of island.

40' square

1 75mm shell

150 rnds. .50 cal.

1

100

Serious

2 .50 cal. MG. Revettments.

6' diam.

20' apart.

1

100

Slight

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)

See diagram next page.

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

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AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

REPORT No.  

31

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 PBJ-1H took off a 1300 for a regularly scheduled reconnaissance flight over Kusaie Island.  The plane arrived over the island at 1450 and began patrolling the shoreline flying about one mile off shore at 1000' elevation.  Coming around the western tip of the island the pilot observed a large house near the shore with what appeared to be revettments beside it.  He shot one 75mm shell from three thousand yards range destroying part of the roof and then dropped down to an elevation of about 50 feet and made a strafing run on the house with the .50 cal. nose guns.  150 rounds were fired and a good percentage appeared to hit the house starting a fire which was later put out.  As the plane pulled away from the target still at minimum altitude, several bursts of .50 cal. fire were directed at the plane from a position in the rear of the house.  The fire was meagre and quite inaccurate.  Later while patrolling the southeast coast just south of the airstrip the pilot observed two camouflaged gun positions which he decided to attack.  Taking advantage of available cloud cover the pilot swung in over the island and made his run out toward the ocean.  One cannon shell was fired which was a near miss and about 150 rounds of .50 cal. ammunition were expended on the two revetted guns.  Although tracers were seen to enter the gun positions, damage was evidently slight for AA was light, moderate, and inaccurate from this position and another opposite the airstrip as the plane pulled away.  Puffs indicating pre-fused shells and more .50 cal. fire was observed by the plane origination on Yepan Point.  This fire was also inaccurate.  No other activity or suspicious objects were observed and the plane left station at 1630 and returned to Kwajalein landing at 1845 M.

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.  

31

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

SIGNATURE                                                  RANK AND DUTY

DATE

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

G.W. Nevils, LtCol., Commanding.

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