(a) Unit Reporting

VMB 613

(b) Based on or at

KWAJALEIN ISLAND

KWAJALEIN ATOLL

(c) Report No.

12

(d) Take off: Date

28 FEBRUARY, 45

 Time (LZT)

1730 M

(Zone)

Lat

8- 50'N

Long

167-09'E

(e) Mission

SNOOP AND HARASS WOTJE IS., WOTJE ATOLL

(f) Time of Return

2130

(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.

12

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

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.  

12

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)

1830-2100

(Zone)

(FOR SHIPS INCLUDE ALL IN AREA UNDER ATTACK)

( BASE IN FEET. TYPE IN TENTHS OF COVER)

(e) Visibility

2 MILES

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

(MILES)

(f) Bombing Tactics:  Type

LEVEL

Bomb Sight Used

(LEVEL, GLIDE, OR DIVE)

(TYPE)

Bombs Dropped per Run

3 75MM SHELLS

Spacing

----

Altitude of Bomb Release

1500'

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

NONE

Probably Destroyed

NONE

Damaged

NONE

AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, MOUTH PIER.

150 YDS. SQ.

1 PBJ-1H

3 RNDS, 75 MM.

UNKNOWN

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)

THE SNOOPER PLANE FIRED THREE ROUNDS OF 75 MM SHELLS AT A KNOWN AUTOMATIC WEAPONS POSITION BEGINNING AT A RANGE OF 4,000 YDS, AND FLYING IN A FLAT GLIDE 150' USING THE AN-APG 13A SIGHT.  ALL SHELLS APPEARED TO LAND ON THE ISLAND, BUT DARKNESS AND POOR VISIBILITY PREVENTED ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGE. 

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

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

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

REPORT No.  

12

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 AT 1730 FOR WOTJE FOR WHAT WAS TO BE AN ALL NIGHT SNOOPING AND HARASSING MISSION, INVOLVING TWO PLANES, ONE RELIEVING THE OTHER.  ARRIVING ON TARGET THE PLANE FOUND CONSIDERABLE HAZE AND A 200' CEILING.  IN SEVERAL CIRCLINGS OF THE ISLAND NO ACTIVITY OR SUSPICIOUS OBJECTS WERE OBSERVED.  AT ABOUT 1945 THE PILOT DECIDED TO FIRE AT AN A.W. POSITION THAT HAD BEE OBSERVED IN PREVIOUS RECONNAISSANCE.  THREE SHOTS WERE FIRED PRIMARILY AS A HARASSING MOVE WITH UNOBSERVED RESULTS.  DURING ALL THIS TIME THE WEATHER WAS STEADILY WORSENING.  BY 2030 THE CEILING WAS DOWN TO 400 FEET WITH CONSIDERABLE TURBULENCE AND VISIBILITY DOWN TO A FEW HUNDRED YARDS.  THE PILOT DECIDED THAT TO REMAIN ON TARGET LONGER WOULD BE DANGEROUS AND RETURNED TO BASE, LANDING AT 2115.  THERE BEING NO BREAK IN THE WEATHER THE REMAINDER OF THE NIGHT THE SECOND PLANE WAS HELD ON THE DECK.

A SHORT BURST OF LIGHT ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE FROM A SMALL ISLAND MIDWAY BETWEEN WOTJE AND ORMED ISLANDS WAS OBSERVED BY THE PILOT.  NO HITS WERE OBTAINED.    

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.  

12

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.

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