SOC Seagulls
 

Hi guys

I extracted this quote from a website. Can anyone enlighten me?


"After the Battle of Tassafaronga they formed a scouting squadron from the SOC Seagulls that no longer had a viable heavy cruiser from which to operate. Some of them were shot down by fighters from Henderson field"

Cheers
Brian

Re: SOC Seagulls
 

Brian,

No such story in this detailed report about Scouting Detachment Ringbolt:

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtop...?f=33&t=150285

Will look further.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: SOC Seagulls
 

Thanks Leendert

From reference to the link, I have ascertained the following SOC Seagull losses while based at Tanambogo during the period in question:

15/Dec/42 9954 Lt Polk+one lost
14/Jan/43 9978 Lt Hauge+one lost
14/Jan/43 9911 Lt Brackett+one lost (flew into mountain)
30/Jan/43 9962 Lt Dobler+one lost
15/Apr/43 Ens McGeorge+one lost

It has been suggested that more than one may have been the victim of Wildcats (VF-5 and VMF-121) or P-40s (44thFS) operating from Henderson airfield, having mistaken the Seagull for a Japanese floatplane.

Has anyone further details. Has anyone relevant claims by USN, USMC or USAAF pilots for Japanese floatplanes on the dates concerned?

Over to the experts!

Cheers
Brian

Re: SOC Seagulls
 

Brian,

Lt George Polk flew alone. Took off late afternoon to look for a downed pilot. Polk got lost and was recovered after six days.
Problem was that Lt Polk was not qualified to fly a SOC. His story was that he had encountered two Japanese floatplanes, but no contacts were reported that day between USN and IJN.

More on http://hnn.us/roundup/archives/11/2007/2/ in contribution by Richard B. Frank.

It contains some more info about Det. Ringbolt.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: SOC Seagulls
 

Brian,

Just to add some more.

Lt Robert Hauge KIA "while flying a mission in the Solomons"
Lt Bruce Brackett KIA
Lt John Dobler was killed while flying from USS Enterprise during the Battle of Rennell Island according findagrave.com but I found no account in the ship's report. See http://www.cv6.org/ship/logs/action19430130.htm
and
http://www.cv6.org/ship/logs/diary19430130.htm
SOC flew from Tanambogo instead?


Regards,

Leendert

Re: SOC Seagulls
 

Brian,

To finish off: Ensign McGeorge was safe. He flew a OS2N-1 Kingfisher with BuNo 01492.

On books.google you can look up the book "Slingshot Warbirds" (author William Neufeld) about Ringbolt's operations. It gives circumstances of the losses and equally important names of the crews.

Lt Brackett with ARM 1/c John L. Headington (safe)
Lt Hague with ARM 2/c Gilbert Kyle
Lt Reichel with Seaman 2/c Harold Adams (both KIA)

It is with the latter on p. 78 and p. 79 that a possible confusion with a Japanese floatplane is duscussed.

Regards,
Leendert