OPNAV-16-V-#537

Form ACA-1

Sheet 1 of 5

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

RESTRICTED

(Reclassified when

filled out)

 SECRET

 

I. GENERAL

(a) Unit Reporting

VMB-613

(b) Based on or at

Kwajalein Is., Kwajalein Atoll

(c) Report No.

5

(d) Take off: Date

21 January, 1945

 Time (LZT)

0745 Mike

(Zone)

Lat

8°50' N.

Long

167°9' E.

(e) Mission

Escort Fighter Bombers over Mille Atoll

(f) Time of Return

1038 M.

(Zone)

 

II. OWN AIRCRAFT OFFICIALLY COVERED BY THIS REPORT.

TYPE

SQUADRON

NUMBER

 

BOMBS AND TORPEDOES

CARRIED (PER PLANE)

FUZE SETTING

TAKING OFF

ENGAGING

ENEMY A/C

ATTACKING

TARGET

(a) (b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

PBJ-1H

VMB-613

1

none

1

6  100# G.P.

21 Rnds. 75mm Shells

Nose-instantaneous

Tail-None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

None
TYPE SQUADRON NUMBER

BASE

TYPE SQUADRON NUMBER BASE
F4U-1D VMF-331 14

Majuro

F/B

 

 

 

 

PBY-5A VPB-24 1

Majuro

Dumbo        
               

 

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

None

(a) (b) (c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

TYPE

NO

OBSERVED

NO ENGAGING OWN AIRCRAFT

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

TYPE A/C SQUADRON

PILOT OF GUNNER

GUNS USED

WHERE HIT, ANGLE

DAMAGE

CLAIMED

--

--

--

----

--

----

--

             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             

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

 

PAGE 2

 

   

OPNAV-16-V-#537

Form ACA-1

Sheet 2 of 5

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

RESTRICTED

(Reclassified when

filled out)

 SECRET

REPORT No.

5

 

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

 

(a)

TYPE OWN A/C

(b)

SQUADRON

(c)

CAUSE: TYPE ENEMY A/C,

TYPE GUN, OR OPERATIONAL CAUSE

(d)

WHERE HIT, ANGLE (List armor,

self-sealing tanks, equipment hit)

(e)

EXTENT OF LOSS OR DAMAGE

(Give Bureau serial number of planes destroyed)

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).

(a)

NO.

(b)

SQUADRON

(c)

NAME, RANK OR RATING

(d)

CAUSE

(e)

CONDITION OR STATUS

--

--

----

----

----

         
         
         
         
         
         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

(a)

TYPE

A/C

(b)

MILES

OUT

(c)

MILES

RETURN

(d)

AV HOURS

IN AIR

(e)

AV FUEL

LOADED

(f)

AV FUEL

CONSUMED

(g) TOTAL AMMUNITION EXPENDED

(h)

NO. OF PLANES

RETURNING

.30 .50 20MM 75MM

PBJ-1H

63 200 3 1150 300 -- 100 -- 3

1

                     
                     
 

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

CALIBER NONE MEAGER MODERATE INTENSE

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

X      

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

X      

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

  X    
 

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

 

PAGE 3

 

   

OPNAV-16-V-#537

Form ACA-1

Sheet 3 of 5

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

RESTRICTED

(Reclassified when

filled out)

 SECRET

REPORT No.  

5

 

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

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

 

Bivouac Area Mille Is., Mille Atoll.

(b) Time Over Target(s)

0840 M

(Zone)

 

(FOR SHIPS INCLUDE ALL IN AREA UNDER ATTACK)

 

(c) Clouds Over Target Good weather with no clouds over target.
 

( BASE IN FEET. TYPE IN TENTHS OF COVER)

(d) Visibility of Target  

(e) Visibility

Unlimited

 

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

 

(MILES)

(f) Bombing Tactics:  Type

 

Bomb Sight Used

 

 

 

(LEVEL, GLIDE, OR DIVE)

 

(TYPE)

Bombs Dropped per Run

3

Spacing

 

Altitude of Bomb Release

800

  (NUMBER)   (FEET)   (FEET)

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

None

Probably Destroyed

None

Damaged

None

 
 

(h)

AIMING POINT

(i)

DIMENSIONS OR

TONNAGE

(j) NO. A/C ATTACKING

(l)

BOMBS AN AMMUNITION

EXPENDED EACH AIMING POINT

(m)

NO. HITS On

Aiming Point

(n)

DAMAGE (None, slight,

serious, destroyed, or sunk)

(k) SQUADRON

1

Bivouac Area

Center E. shore

100' X 300'

1 PBJ-1H

3  100# G.P  Bombs

3 75mm Shells 100 rnds.

7

None observed

VMB-613

2

 

 

 

(.50 Cal)

 

 

 

 

3  

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

     

 

5

 

 

 

     

 

6

 

 

 

     

 

7

 

 

 

     

 

8

 

 

 

     

 

(o)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.  One PBJ-1H came in from 3000' firing 3 75mm shells commencing at a range of approximately 6000 yards, the three shells were seen to hit in the target area with unobservable results.  At 800' the plane leveled out over the target and dropped 3 100# G.P. bombs from 800' at an I.A.S. of 250 knots.  Two bombs were within 200' of the aiming point, the third was long.

   

 
(p) Were Photographs Taken? Yes

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

 

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

 

PAGE 4

 

   
OPNAV-16-V-#537

Form ACA-1

Sheet 4 of 5

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

RESTRICTED

(Reclassified when

filled out)

 SECRET

REPORT No.  

5

 

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

14 F4U-1D's of VMF 331 escorted by 2 PBJ-1H of this squadron took off from Majuro Island, Majuro Atoll at 0739 M. 21 January to bomb Mille Island, Mille Atoll enroute to Tarawa.  The formation arrived over the target at approximately 0830 and the PBJ circled while the fighter-bombers completed their dives.  The PBJ then made a combined shelling and bombing run on the Japanese bivouac area on the east shore of the island.  The plane came in from the east down wind and out of the sun dropping down from 3000 feet to 800 feet and attaining an I.A.S. of 250 knots in the attack.  Three 75mm shells and 3 100# G.P. bombs were expended with no observed damage.  Following the run the PBJ reconnoitered the island strafing buildings and other installations with its free guns.  A possibly operational dual purpose gun in target area "A" was observed at this time.  Rendezvous was accomplished at 8000' 10 miles south of Mille.  All planes joined up and proceeded to Tarawa without incident, landing at 1030 M.

ATTACK

OWN AIRCRAFT

Method of Locating Target

Approach to Target

Altitudes, Speeds

Approach

Dive

Pull-Out

Dive Angle

Strafing

Retirement

Defensive Tactics

Use of Jamming

DEFENSE ENEMY

Evasive Tactics, Ships

Concealment

Searchlights

Night Fighter Tactics

Use of Jamming

COMMENTS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

Bombing Tactics

Torpedo Tactics

Effectiveness of

Bombs, Torpedoes

Selection of Targets

Fuzing

Strafing Tactics

Defensive Tactics

Use of Radar

Reconnaissance

Photography

Briefing

OPERATIONAL

Navigation

Homing

Rendezvous

Recognition, Ships

Communications

Flight Operations

Search and Tracking

Base Operations

Maintenance

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

 

PAGE 5

 

   

OPNAV-16-V-#537

Form ACA-1

Sheet 5 of 5

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

RESTRICTED

(Reclassified when

filled out)

 SECRET

REPORT No.  

5

 

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

PROTECTION

Armor; Points and Angles

of Fire Needing Further

Protection

Leak Proofing

EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

Parachutes

Life Belts, Life Rafts

Safety Belts

Emergency Kits

Rations, First Aid

NAVIGATIONAL EQUIPMENT

Compasses

Driftsights

Octants

Automatic Pilots

Charts

Field Lighting

INSTRUMENTS

Flight

Power Plant

OXYGEN SYSTEM

CAMOUFLAGE AND

DECEPTION DEVICES

STRUCTURE

Airframe

Control Surfaces

Control System

Dive Flaps

Landing Gear

Heating System

Flight Characteristics

At Various Landings

POWER PLANT

Engines

Engine Accessories

Propellers

Lubricating System

Starters

Exhaust Dampers

HYDRAULIC SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Auxiliary Plant

Lights

FUEL SYSTEM

FLIGHT CLOTHING

MAINTENANCE

All materiel functioned satisfactorily.

REPORT PREPARED BY:   APPROVED BY:    
   

26 January, 1945

SIGNATURE                                                  RANK AND DUTY

SIGNATURE                                                     RANK AND DUTY

DATE

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

G.W. Nevils, LtCol., Commanding.

 

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

 

END

 

   

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