(e) Mission

Bomb and strafe islands, Wotje Atoll.

(f) Time of Return

1530M

(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

4

none

4

Nose-instantaneous.

Tail-non-delay.

F4U-1D

VMB

155

3

none

Tail-instantaneous.

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

BASE

Majuro-Dumbo

--

--

--

--

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

--

--

----

--

----

--

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AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

 CONFIDENTIAL

REPORT No.

VMF-155-153

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

F4U-1D

3

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

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AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

REPORT No.  

VMF-155-153

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)

1315-1410M

(Zone)

(FOR SHIPS INCLUDE ALL IN AREA UNDER ATTACK)

( BASE IN FEET. TYPE IN TENTHS OF COVER)

(e) Visibility

3

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

(MILES)

Level and Glide

Bomb Sight Used

(LEVEL, GLIDE, OR DIVE)

(TYPE)

Bombs Dropped per Run

1

Spacing

---

Altitude of Bomb Release

75'to1500'

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

None

Probably Destroyed

None

Damaged

None

Neichen Is.

Undetermined

1 F4U

1PBJ

1X250#G.P. 5X75mm.

2X5" AR. 1X500#

incendiary cluster.

155

613

Toton Is.

"

1 F4U

1 PBJ

incendiary cluster.

155

613

Cherutaku Is.

1 PBJ

2X250#G.P.

613

Egemedio Is.

"

1 F4U

2 PBJ's

4X250#G.P. 14X75mm.

4X5" AR. 1X500#

incendiary cluster.

155

613

Island next north of Bikoto Is.

"

1 F4U

1 PBJ

4X5" AR. 5X75mm.

155

613

Parae Is.

"

1 F4U

1 PBJ

incendiary cluster.

155

613

Enea Is.

"

1 F4U

1 PBJ

incendiary cluster.

155

613

Eolibin Is.

"

1 F4U

2X500# incendiary cluster.

155

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)

Toroechi Is.             "       1 F4U 155          1X500# incendiary cluster. (1) hit.     Serious.

All above Islands.       "       3 F4U's  4 PBJ's   6800 rnds. of .50 cal.   5100 hits.     Serious.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Results:  Target were islands on which Jap bivouac areas and gardens were known to exist through POW intelligence.  No specific aiming points on islands were assigned.  Serious damage is assumed to have resulted in all cases where bomb, shell, rocket, incendiary cluster, and .50 cal. strafing hit the target area.  Nature of targets and weather prevented accurate damage assessment.  One incendiary cluster failed to ignite.    

No.

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

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AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

REPORT No.  

VMF-155-153

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

Four PBJ's of this squadron and three F4U's of VMB 155 took off from Majuro at 1216M. 28 July, 1945 for a harassing strike on Jap gardens and living areas on various islands of Wotje Atoll.  The planes proceeded to Wotje with the corasirs flying formation on the mitchells.  Individual targets were assigned each plane and upon arriving over the atoll the formation broke up and each plane proceeded to attack its own targets.  Runs were made in both directions across the line of islands in a direction approximately 90° to the line of the reef.  The Mitchells made their attacks in a shallow glide at 200 knots releases of bombs, rockets, and shells being made from 800' to 1500'.  The Corsairs dropped the incendiary clusters in level flight from an altitude of 75' at 240 knots air speed.  All planes strafed all target areas expending a total of 6800 rounds of .50 cal ammunition.  There was a solid overcast at 2000' with 6/10 scattered clouds below it all the way down to the deck.  The weather was entirely closed in at the NE tip of the Atoll and planes assigned to those targets were forced to attack islands further south.  All runs were rendered more difficult by poor visibility.  Light, meager, inaccurate AA fire was observed from Ormed and Egamedio islands.  One PBJ experienced a hydraulic failure over the target which permitted the nose wheel and one main landing gear to extend.  The emergency hydraulic system proved ineffective to extend the other main gear or to retract the wheels already extended.  The plane returned to base with the other planes in formation and after trying various maneuvers in the air succeeded in getting all gears down and locked and a safe landing was made at 1600M.  The other six planes landed safely at 1530M.

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.  

VMF-155-153

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

29 July, 1945

SIGNATURE                                                  RANK AND DUTY

DATE

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

JAMES T. COTTON, 1stLt., SNAP, VMB-613.

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