Frame 3 - Textbook Torpedo Attack

[skernsk]

Combat Report
March 17, 1944
North of Ryuku Island Chain

Squadron took off in orderly fashion with torpedo's.  I was part of WEST flight and it took no time at all to form up.  Weather was clear and winds calm, making low level flight very easy.  I eased up on the port quarter of the squadron lead and settled in. 

Shortly after takeoff (after heading west for about 15 miles) we turned north and began searching our sector.  Escorts closed up and were engaging several enemy planes well above and behind our formation.  Enemy flattop was spotted at 15 minutes after take off.  West flight attacked the flat top from the starbird side.  The ship was travelling east at 30 knots making the attack angle very favorable. 

My flight dropped three torps once inside the DD escorts.  Ack was heavy at this point and substantial damage was suffered to my lead ship.  Once clear of the ack the tail gun reported sevthree torpedo hits on the CV.   

As my flight cleared the ack north of the fleet we ran right into (and flew through) the East flight Mongrels.  Attacking from both sides almost simultaneously has to be one the of hardest things to orchestrate.  How we did it I don't know but it was a proud moment watching that attack. 

I ONLY WISH I WOULD HAVE FILMED IT!!!!!!! 


Looking at the Raw logs many of our group hit ships and gun positions.  forHIM even sunk a ship with his B5N

dd, it could be like 'Oscar Night' with all the awards that could be handed out after last night.

[forHIM]

WTG guys.  I wish I would have stayed as a gunner.  The Shills were a very small squad (2) and used no communication at all.  Not the shills I remember (when Sikboy and the others were very active).  I ended up getting separated from the shills & Navajo's squad so I was wondering the search area by myself (thankfully the orders showed their search area also).  I ended up being 10 minutes late on the attack (after the CV & cruiser were dead).  I figured I had nothing to loose, so I headed in.

On the way in, I saw one Allied pilot attempt to land on or near an escort ship -- he went boom.  I was surprised I didn't get credit    I came in at the fleet at about 45 degrees off their right side.  I launched my torpedo aiming at the lead ship hoping I'd hit the tail end.  My launch was just inside the ack range so I reversed and skirted the outside of the fleet waiting and watching the torp make its run.

That's when I saw the lone f4u bearing down on me.  I let him close to about 1k before I attempted to make a quick reversal.  Unfortunately, the f4u pilot hadn't just screamed on in, so he had plenty of manuevering ability and followed me around and nailed me as I was about 3/4 around the first circle.

I'm glad the dogs got such a good run in.  The frame was decided within the first 30 minutes with 2 of 3 CVs sunk and the third spotted and being tracked. 

[CarbHeat]

From the sounds of it I missed a wizbang evening.  I will probably miss next week too.   Way to much work.  Will be in Montreal (does that make me an honorary Canuk?) all of next week and am scheduled to arrive home at about squad event time.

It sounds like we are turning out more folk than we have reservations....what a wonderful problem.

Carb

[mrmidi]

Exelent squad night, I really enjoyed that, I watched my film and being the last man in line I could
see all the action unfold infront of me was awsome, the torps being droped, the
second group flying thu our formation, the escorts doing a great job and every thing.
Got one bogie on my six and pinged him severel times and seen him breakoff with
smoke trailing him, I can't seem to access the SEA stats or anything so I don't
know if he went down or not but that was fun......

Did every one RTB it sure did look like it?

[skernsk]

www.ahevents.org

I did not give you credit for anything midi.  BTW, can you put your fillm up so I can FTP it from you?  I did not film it, and want to see that attack again.  I was smiling from ear to ear as we flew through daddog and company.

[mrmidi]

Sure thing skernsk.
you can grab the film here  www.mrmidi.org/film6.ahf