(a) Unit Reporting

VMB-613

(b) Based on or at

Kwajalein Is., Kwajalein Atoll

(c) Report No.

4

(d) Take off: Date

22 January, 1945

 Time (LZT)

0800 Mike

(Zone)

Lat

8°50'N.

Long

167°9'E.

(e) Mission

Shell and Bomb Wotje Is., Wotje Atoll

(f) Time of Return

1038 Mike

(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

9

None

9

Nose-instantaneous

Tail-.01 Delay

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

BASE

Kwajalein

Majuro

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.

4

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

9

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.  

4

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)

0935 M.

(Zone)

(FOR SHIPS INCLUDE ALL IN AREA UNDER ATTACK)

( BASE IN FEET. TYPE IN TENTHS OF COVER)

(e) Visibility

Unlimited

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

(MILES)

Level

Bomb Sight Used

(LEVEL, GLIDE, OR DIVE)

(TYPE)

Bombs Dropped per Run

4

Spacing

100-150

Altitude of Bomb Release

1500

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

None

Probably Destroyed

None

Damaged

None

3-PBJ-1H

3 possible

None observed

VMB-613

Automatic weapons

center E. shore

3 Emplac.

250' apart

3-PBJ-1H

None observed

VMB-613

3-PBJ-1H

12 500# G.P. 11 75mm shells 700 Rnds.50Cal.

None observed

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)

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

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

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

REPORT No.  

4

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

Nine planes of this squadron and an F4U photo plane from VMF-111 took off at 0800 and joined up over the field.  They then flew a course for the south tip of Likiep Atoll.  The formation on the flight out was a V of V's and the planes climbed to 7000 Feet altitude between the base and the target at I.A.S. of 140 knots.  From Likiep the flight turned due east and the formation moved from a V of V's to a left echelon of V's.  The flight passed abeam of Wotje and proceeded east for 2½ minutes.  The first section then made a 90° turn and flew south to a point directly opposite the center of the target.  At this point the first section made another 90° turn, and began its run over the target, the three planes spreading out so that one plane covered each of the three targets.  The other two sections followed in order using the same tactics.  The planes coming out of the sun and downwind, picked up speed in their glide until I.A.S over the target at 1500' was 250 to 270 knots.  75mm were fired from 6000 yards until bomb range was reached and than 4 500# bombs per plane were released over the target.  Upon completion of its run the first section made a right turn and circled in order to cover the photo plane on its run.  The remaining two sections turned left and proceeded to the rendezvous point which was at 1500' over Erikub lagoon 20 miles south of the target.  As soon as the third section had cleared the target the photo plane made its run from north to south at 2000 feet and about 400 knots.  The first section and the photo plane then joined the other sections at the rendezvous point reforming into a V of V's and returned to base at 1500' and 140 knots landing at 1040. 

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.  

4

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

The sight unit of the A.P.G.-13 on one plane came loose from its mounting and fell to the deck of the pilots compartment.  Later investigation revealed that the shock of firing the 75mm cannon had loosened the connection between two parts of the sight.  No damage was done and the part has bee reassembled.

23 January, 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