(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

TAKING OFF

ENGAGING

ENEMY A/C

ATTACKING

TARGET

(f)

(g)

PBJ-1H

VMB-613

1

none

1

Nose-instantaneous

Tail-None

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

BASE

Majuro

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.

5

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.

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

REPORT No.  

5

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)

0840 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)

Bomb Sight Used

(LEVEL, GLIDE, OR DIVE)

(TYPE)

Bombs Dropped per Run

3

Spacing

Altitude of Bomb Release

800

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

None

Probably Destroyed

None

Damaged

None

1 PBJ-1H

7

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

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

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.

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.  

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

All materiel functioned satisfactorily.

26 January, 1945

SIGNATURE                                                  RANK AND DUTY

DATE

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

G.W. Nevils, LtCol., Commanding.