(d) Take off: Date

30 July, 1945.

 Time (LZT)

1430M

(Zone)

Lat

7°05'N.

Long

171°22'E.

(e) Mission

Hit AA positions and various islands, Maloelap Atoll as part of a coordinated strike.

(f) Time of Return

1635M

(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

--

3

Nose-instantaneous.

Tail-non-delay.

Nose-instantaneous.

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

BASE

Majuro

F4U

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

--

--

----

--

----

--

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

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

 CONFIDENTIAL

REPORT No.

61

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).  None.

--

--

----

----

----

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

None observed.

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

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

REPORT No.  

61

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)

1515-1550M

(Zone)

(FOR SHIPS INCLUDE ALL IN AREA UNDER ATTACK)

( BASE IN FEET. TYPE IN TENTHS OF COVER)

(e) Visibility

15

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

(MILES)

Glide

Bomb Sight Used

(LEVEL, GLIDE, OR DIVE)

(TYPE)

Bombs Dropped per Run

4

Spacing

100

Altitude of Bomb Release

1500

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

None

Probably Destroyed

None

Damaged

None

AA position on hulk.

30' X 150'

3 PBJ-1H

9X5"AR.

300 rnds. of .50cal.

0

250

Slight.

VMB 613

Pigeeyatto Is.

2 PBJ-1H

6X250#G.P.

400 rnds. of .50cal.

5

300

Probably destroyed building on island.

VMB 613

Kaven Is.

1 PBJ-1H

3X5" AR.

200 rnds. of .50cal.

3

150

Serious.

VMB 613

Airik Is.

"

2 PBJ-1H

6X250#G.P. 5X5" AR. 1000 rnds. of .50cal.

6-2

750

Village and gun

position probably

destroyed.

VMB 613

Enibin Is.

"

1 PBJ-1H

4X5" AR.

400 rnds. of .50cal.

4

300

Serious.

VMB 613

Other Islands in Atoll.

"

3 PBJ-1H

1700 rnds. of .50cal.

1200

Serious.

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)

For targets one, two, and four, see next page.

Other islands attacked were those known to contain Jap gardens and living areas.  Pilots were briefed to conduct a harassing mission against these islands.  Due to nature of targets, accurate damage assessment is impossible, however serious damage is assumed to have resulted in cases where rockets, bombs, and .50 caliber ammunition hit in target areas.

No.

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

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

AIRCRAFT ACTION REPORT

REPORT No.  

61

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 for a strike on Maloelap.  Arriving over the Atoll the three PBJ's made a rocket attack on a gun position in the lagoon as a prelude to the main attach by dive bombers and fighters on Taroa Island. Nine 5" rockets were launched by the Mitchells, none of which hit the target although there were two near misses.  The hulk was strafed with .50 caliber fire in addition to the rocket attack.  Rockets were released at 1000' feet altitude in a glide that started at 3500 feet.  Speed was 225 knots.  The run was made from south to north and a gun position on the north-west tip of Taroa was strafed in passing after pulling out of the rocket attack.  The three planes then split up and proceeded to harass assigned targets while the main attack was being made on Taroa.  Two planes attacked Pigeeyatto getting hits and near misses with four 250# G.P. bombs on the old radio station which probably destroyed the building.  One plane attacked gardens and bivouac areas on Kaven and Enibin Islands expending rockets and bombs.  Two planes attached a built up area and antiaircraft position on Airik Island getting direct hits with five out of six G.P. bombs and probably destroying the installation.  All other islands of the atoll with the exception of the NE portion, which was restricted, were harassed by the PBJ's, 1700 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition being expended.  Weather was good with 4/10 cloud cover from 3000 feet.  Light meager inaccurate antiaircraft fire was observed from Airik Island.  Following the harassment the PBJ's returned to base landing at 1635M.

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.  

61