(a) Unit Reporting

VMB 613

(b) Based on or at

Kwajalein Island, Kwajalein Atoll, forward echelon at Majuro.

(c) Report No.

60

(d) Take off: Date

30 July, 1945.

 Time (LZT)

0736M

(Zone)

Lat

7°05'N.

Long

171°22'E.

(e) Mission

Attack Islands, Maloelap Atoll as part of a coordinated strike.

(f) Time of Return

0917M

(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

3

none

3

Nose-instantaneous.

Tail-non-delay.

Nose-instantaneous.

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

BASE

Majuro

F4U-1D

VMF 155

Kwajalein Is., forward

Majuro

echelon at Majuro.

Majuro

PBM

VH 5

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.

60

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

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.  

60

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)

0810-0840M

(Zone)

(FOR SHIPS INCLUDE ALL IN AREA UNDER ATTACK)

( BASE IN FEET. TYPE IN TENTHS OF COVER)

(e) Visibility

10

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

(MILES)

Level

Bomb Sight Used

(LEVEL, GLIDE, OR DIVE)

(TYPE)

Bombs Dropped per Run

4

Spacing

90

Altitude of Bomb Release

1100

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

none

Probably Destroyed

none

Damaged

none

Pigeeyatto Is.

Undetermined

3 PBJ-1H

10X250#G.P.

1

Serious.

VMB-613

Kaven Is.

1 PBJ-1H

8X5" AR.

1000 rnds. of .50cal.

8

750

Serious.

VMB-613

Loa Is.

1 PBJ-1H

2X5" AR.

400 rnds. of .50cal.

2

300

Serious.

VMB-613

Enibin Is.

"

1 PBJ-1H

400 rnds. of .50cal.

1

300

Serious.

VMB-613

Airik Is.

"

2 PBJ-1H

2X250#G.P. 8X5" AR. 2000 rnds. of .50cal.

2-8

1600

Serious.

VMB-613

Makaru Is.

"

1 PBJ-1H

--

300

Slight.

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)

See overlay next page for bomb hits on Pigeeyatto Island, one 250#G.P. direct hit on radio station building.

Targets on other islands were Jap gardens and living areas determined to exist as a result of POW interrogation.  Nature of targets prevented precise damage assessment, however serious damage was assumed to have resulted when bombs and rockets and strafing were seen to strike the islands.

No.

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

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AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

REPORT No.  

60

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

Three PBJ's of this squadron took off following twenty Helldivers and eight Corsairs and proceeded to Maloelap Atoll.  Arriving at the target, the flight leader checked in with the air coordinator and upon receiving the go-ahead signal proceeded to attack the first target, Pigeeyatto Island.  Two planes made runs from the ocean toward the lagoon initiating the runs at 1500-1800 feet and pulling out at 1100 feet at about 225 knots.  One plane made its run in the opposite direction using the same altitude and speed.  Two bombs did not release from one plane and were later dropped on Airik Island.  During and after the time the Mitchells were attacking Pigeeyatto Island the Helldivers and Corsairs were attacking assigned targets on Taroa Island.

After completing the Pigeeyatto attack the three PBJ's proceeded to harass the atoll firing 5" rockets and .50 caliber shells at various islands, principally Kaven, Loa, Enibin, and Airik.  Medium meager inaccurate antiaircraft fire was observed from the north tip of Taroa Island and light meager inaccurate fire from the lagoon side of Airik.  The planes rendezvoused at 1500 feet altitude of the south tip of the atoll and proceeded back to base without incident landing ay 0917M.  Following the Mitchell harassment, the dive bombers and fighters also harassed assigned sections of the atoll.

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.  

60

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

SIGNATURE                                                  RANK AND DUTY

DATE

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

G.W. Nevils, LtCol., Commanding.

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