Thread: John Leppla
View Single Post
  #18  
Old 4th May 2023, 15:25
R Leonard R Leonard is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 206
R Leonard is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: John Leppla

Mikuma, yes, but . . .

- Post war evaluation showed that none of the Marine dive bombers, SBD or SB2U, not one, scored a single hit on Mikuma.

- We were talking about Japanese planes shot down by SB2U rear gunners; there were no Japanese planes in the air on 5 June for them to shoot down.

Generally, when one refers to combat action by SB2Us in US service this means the Battle of Midway, 4 June through 6 June inclusive.

Also, not my interpretation, merely a quoting of what is presented in the VMSB-241 report as written and submitted with regard to claims of Japanese planes shot down by rear gunners in either SBDs or SB2Us. Note paragraphs 13 and 27 in same, linked here: http://www.midway42.org/Midway_AAR/vmsb-241.pdf
Reply With Quote