St Valentine's day massacre 14/02/43
 

Hello

I am looking for information on this day.

Claimants;
VMF 124 (3 or 4)....who?
339°Sqd (1 or 3) I have only Capt William Griffith =1 (Zero ? or other?)

1st Lt George L.Lyon(KIA) VMF124....by collision with zero?

According my sources: 17 zeros+ 1 Pete
9 for VB-101
4 for VMF 124
5 for 339°Sqd (including 2 prob.)

Michel

Re: St Valentine's day massacre 14/02/43
 

Buy Pacific Adversaries Volume 3 which has a chapter on the actions on this day. Only one Zero was lost, the A6M that collided with one of the F4Us lost.

Re: St Valentine's day massacre 14/02/43
 

For anyone who encounters this thread, the engagement occurred over the Shortland Islands during a U.S. raid on Kahili airfield on Bougainville. The official U.S. account claims over 50 IJN fighters took part. Official claims were 6 x A6Ms for the loss of 2 x PB4Ys, 2 x F4Us and 4 x P-38s. ¹

¹ Hammel, Eric, Air War Pacific: America’s Air War Against Japan in East Asia and the Pacific 1941-1945. Chronology. Pacifica (CA): Pacifica Press, 1998. ISBN: 0-935553-26-6. Hb. Dj. 848p. Maps. Glossary. Bibliography. Indexes. pp.136-37.

Other sources, such as, have different figures:
Hata, Ikuhiko and Yasuho Izawa. Japanese Naval Aces and Fighter Units in World War II. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1989. ISBN: 0-87021-315-6. Hb. Dj. 442p. Heavily illus. B/w side view dwgs. Appendices. Indexes.

This claims a total of 27 A6Ms took part with 19 U.S. planes downed for the loss of 1 A6M!!

There are a number of additional accounts, so which account is correct is up to the reader.

L. deZ.

Re: St Valentine's day massacre 14/02/43
 

The PB4Y attack, directed against shipping at Kahili, resulted in the loss of the 6540t ammunition ship Hitachi Maru.

The Air Sols Intelligence Summary shows losses of 2F4U, 2 PB4Y and 4 P-38.

VMF124 claimed three A6Ms in return for two losses---one each of these as a result of the mid-air collision.

It seems that the Japanese admitted to losing only one A6M.

Re: St Valentine's day massacre 14/02/43
 

In 13th Fighter Command in ww2 by William Wolf (2004):

"The Marines Corsairs claimed 3 Zeros + 1 Pete"....well,I have the names concerning the Zeros,but WHO claims the Pete (Rufe)??

Other problem

Capt James Geyer (flight leader of 339°Sqd) claimed 2 Zeros + 1 prob. but I can't find his claims in the list of 339°Sqd victories!
Page 339 of Declassified IAW,only one victorie in SWP Theatre that day (Griffith)

So?
Michel

Re: St Valentine's day massacre 14/02/43
 

All information on this mission available for free at the Pacific Wrecks website.

https://pacificwrecks.com/date/1943/02/14.html

Re: St Valentine's day massacre 14/02/43
 

Yes,J know...that doesn't tell me anything more.


"Quid" of the claims of James Geyer?? victories? or not?
The "Pete",who claims it?

Michel

Re: St Valentine's day massacre 14/02/43
 

Michel,

From Frank Olynyk's claims lists:

339 FS
Capt. James A. Geyer 2 Zeros + 1 Zero probable
1/Lt. William M. Griffin 1 Zero + 1 probable
1/Lt. Brian W. Brown 1 Zero probable

VMF-214
Capt. Joseph Francis Quilty, Jr. 1 fighter (VF)
1/Lt. James English 1 fighter (VF)
2/Lt. Gordon Lee Lyon, Jr. 1 fighter (VF)

No info on VB-101 claims.

Regards,
Tom

Re: St Valentine's day massacre 14/02/43
 

According to the Air-to-Air Claims and Credits for Navy and Marine Corps Patrol Type Aircraft During World War II complied by Mr. James C. Sawruk, Naval Aviation Researcher VB101 claimed 2 Rufe and 7 Zeke. All claims shared by the entire flight of 9 PB4Ys.

Regards,
Peter

Re: St Valentine's day massacre 14/02/43
 

I am amazed by the claims of James Geyer because I can't find them anywhere,only William Griffin's claim is mentioned in the South West Pacific theater (for USAAF).

Michel