Guadalcanal-Shortland clashes in 02/1943
 

Hi guys

From C.Shores in a very old "Air Enthusiast" it reports several clashes between "Zeke,Pete,Rufe" and "PB4Y,F4U,P-40,P-39,P-38" in the region of Guadalcanal-Shortland Island with heavy US losses but without to much details.
Can someone provide further information?

02/02/43:6 Zeke for US
11/02/43:8 claims for US;losses US=3 B-24,2 P-40,4 P-38
12/02/43:claims of 14 Zeke,1 Pete
14/2/43("Massacre of Valentine's Day);two PB4Y,four P-38 or only two?,two F4U,and two P-40

Thank's in advance
Michel

Re: Guadalcanal-Shortland clashes in 02/1943
 

A good place to start:
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/date/1943/2-43.html

For the 2nd February 1943, my guess will be that you will find many details in the book "Operation Ke: The Cactus Air Force and the Japanese Withdrawal from Guadalcanal”, by Roger Letourneau, Dennis Letourneau. ISBN 1-59114-446-5. But I don't have it (it was on my wish list some tile ago but ...)

Re: Guadalcanal-Shortland clashes in 02/1943
 

Hi Laurent

I know the site and not much exploitable in connection with my post,but thank you

Michel

Re: Guadalcanal-Shortland clashes in 02/1943
 

Do you have a fold3 account ?

Two reports (COMAIRSOPAC et CINCPAC diaries for this day) describe the 14 February battle briefly (with the same words, so probably copying each other) and give losses as 2 PB4Y, 2 F4U and 4 P-38s.

VMF-124 lost two F4Us in this battle but the diary for this unit is not online for this period. According to the book "Victory Roll", one of the lost pilots of VMF-124, Gordon Lyon, collided with a Zero.

The book "Japanese naval aces and fighter units in WWII" by Hata and Izawa says in one table that the Japanese engaged 27 fighters and claimed 19 victories for the loss of one fighter (probably PO2c YOshi Yoshida of 252 Kokutai, lost that day in Ballale area according to another table listing "key fighter pilots KIA"). But whether this number includes the Rufes reported by the American airmen is not known to me.