A ?? RE: Jay Zeamer's MoH mission of June 16 1943...

[NickM]

Guys:

Yet another memory bubbling up from my days of reading Martin Caidin; What Japanese Fighter Unit engaged Zeamer's B-17 on their June 16-1943 Medal of Honor earning mission; the B17 crew supposedly shot down 5 of 20 fighters that intercepted them but I was curious if the unit and it's actual losses were known;

TiA

nickm

[JACK COOK]

Zeamer flew in the 65th BS 43rd BG 5th AF and was flying B-17E s/n 41-2666 on the June 16, 1943 mission.

[rldunn]

Air Group 251 intercepted with eight Zeros. Three Zeros were damaged in action and one crash landed at base after the action.

With regard to Zeamer's crew reporting a twin engine fighter: No Gekko of 251 intercepted. It is possible but unlikely that a Type 2 two-seat fighter of the army's 13th Flying Regiment was involved.

RLD

[NickM]

Guys:

Thank you to all who posted...Oh, and a Wee bit of Trivia: Apparently Air Group 251 was the Re-named & famous 'Tainan Air Group'---I don't know if by June 1943 they still have their cadre of Ace pilots still flying with them; after 'The Canal' quite of a few of their 'old timers' were either dead, wounded or transferred.


nickm

[rldunn]

Tainan Air Group became Air Group 251 shortly before it returned to Japan for reorganization in Nov 42. Many of its leading pilots had become casualties and others were transferred out. It was manned with newly trained pilots. Cdr. Kozono its former deputy became CO. Kozono spent a considerable amount of time trying to come up with an effective night fighter converting Type 2 land recon planes for that purpose.

When posted to the Southeast Area in May 1943 the 251 received some experienced pilots but only ten of its pilots had been in combat. They had received a new model Zero. Many of their fighters were Zero 22's equipped with the new long barrell 20mm cannon.

I do not have the detailed pilot experience data for mid-June 43 but a month later Air Group 251 had only 33 pilots. Six of these were classed A, meaning fit for all missions. None were classed B, fit for day missions. Twenty-seven were rated C indicating limited operational capability and needed more training.

Among the pilots intercepting on 6/16 were experienced pilots CPO Yoshio Ohki and PO 1/C Ichirobei Yamazaki.

RLD

[JACK COOK]

Speaking of the June 16th mission of Zeamer. I've always been interested in this date because of the big raid on Guadalcanal also occured on 6-16-43. My close friend Cy Gladen of the 44th FS downed 2 Zeros that day and I've also wondered (has did he) what unit and possibly what pilots he flew against.

[rldunn]

J. Cook

The information you seek is available in published sources such as Hata&Izawa's book on Japanese Naval Aces and Air Units. U.S. claims for 45 Zeros were three times actual Japanese losses and the validity of U.S. claims can be judged in this light unless additional details make it possible to relate claims to specific losses.

RLD