OPNAV-16-V-#537

Form ACA-1

Sheet 1 of 5

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

RESTRICTED

(Reclassified when

filled out)

 CONFIDENTIAL

 

I. GENERAL

(a) Unit Reporting

VMB-613

(b) Based on or at

Kwajalein Island, Kwajalein Atoll, forward echelon at Tarawa

(c) Report No.

58

(d) Take off: Date

15 July, 1945.

 Time (LZT)

1245M

(Zone)

Lat

1°21'N.

Long

172°56'E.

(e) Mission

Reconnaissance flight over Ocean and Nauru Islands.

(f) Time of Return

1730M

(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

--

--

---

 

---

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 
TYPE SQUADRON NUMBER

BASE

TYPE SQUADRON NUMBER BASE
OA-10 1535th ATC 1

Base Unit

--

--

--

--

     

Tarawa 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)

 CONFIDENTIAL

REPORT No.

58

 

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 MM

PBJ-1H

                  1
                     
                     
 

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

CALIBER NONE MEAGER MODERATE INTENSE

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

 

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)

 CONFIDENTIAL

REPORT No.  

58

 

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)

 

(Zone)

 

(FOR SHIPS INCLUDE ALL IN AREA UNDER ATTACK)

 

(c) Clouds Over Target  
 

( BASE IN FEET. TYPE IN TENTHS OF COVER)

(d) Visibility of Target  

(e) Visibility

 

 

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

 

(MILES)

(f) Bombing Tactics:  Type

 

Bomb Sight Used

 

 

 

(LEVEL, GLIDE, OR DIVE)

 

(TYPE)

Bombs Dropped per Run

 

Spacing

 

Altitude of Bomb Release

 

  (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

 

         
 
2

 

         
 
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)

 

 
(p) Were Photographs Taken?

 

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)

 CONFIDENTIAL

REPORT No.  

58

 

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 from Tarawa at 1245M on 15 July, 1945  for a reconnaissance of Ocean and Nauru Islands.  The plane rendezvoused over Ocean Island at 1405M with an Army OA-10 Catalina acting as dumbo.  Weather over the island was 4/10 cumulus clouds.  The PBJ circled for 10 minutes at 8000' altitude carrying on a visual search.   Light meager inaccurate antiaircraft fire was directed at the plane from the SW section of the island.  No enemy activity or suspicious objects were observed.  The PBJ then proceeded to Nauru Island while the dumbo which was experiencing problems with its electrical system returned to base at Tarawa.  The plane arrived over Nauru at 1500M encountering an extensive tropical weather disturbance enroute.  The fact that the Japs were apparently expecting our plane and opened up with meager inaccurate antiaircraft fire immediately upon its breaking out of the clouds over Nauru at 8500' altitude led the pilot to believe that he'd been tracked by radar.  The antiaircraft positions were in the neighborhood of the number 2 airstrip.  Weather over the island showed 6/10 cover.  A visual reconnaissance revealed the probably inoperational planes reported previously and no new or suspicious activity.  The PBJ left Nauru at 1515M and landed at Tarawa at 1730M. 

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)

 CONFIDENTIAL

REPORT No.  

58

 

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

 

REPORT PREPARED BY:   APPROVED BY:    
   

 

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

 

   

PREVIOUS PAGE           TOP OF PAGE