Some mission confirmations for 'Samurai'

[NickM]

Guys:

I haven't read Caidin/Sakai's 'Samurai' in probably 30 years...however, I had chance to recall a couple of missions that I was curious about:

The first was a successful mission by Sakai & his unit against American B17s--presumably in Java?--in which their head on attacks resulted in the spectacular destruction of several Bombers

The second was a mission defending Lae against B25s (a change from the usual B26 Marauders) in which 5 of 6 where claimed shot down....


Does anyone here have any info on the actual engagements RE: Units involved & actual losses etc...

TiA

nickm

[Gizmo]

Hi,

8th February 1942:
9 A6M2 vs 8 B-17 from 7th BG
USAAF unit lost two planes piloted by Capt. Dufane and Lt. Pritchard. Lt. Lindsey machine was write off after landing in Malang. On this mission B-17s was equipped with additional fuel tank in bomb bay with was very dangerous in combat. So in this interception, B-17 was mutch easier kill than in other combats.


24th may 1942:
11 A6M2 vs eight B-25s from 13rd BS of the 3rd BG.
USAAF unit lost five B-25s piloted by Capt. Lowery (13. BS CO), Lt Shearer, Lt Wilson, Lt Rulison and Lt Hesselbarth. Sixth plane, piloted by Lt Telly was write off after crash landing in Moresby.

[NickM]

Gizmo:

Ah...thank you for the info; I guess the Extra fuel tanks on the B17s accounted for the spectacular explosions that Sakai noted; by the way, since I don't recall, how many did the IJN pilots actually claim? Been a LONG time since I read the book....AND the B25 raid was pretty much annihilated; just like in the book. I DID notice in the book (working from memory mind you!)that this was the first & ONLY time B25s were used instead of B26 Marauders against Lae in 1942; were these losses the incentive NOT to commit The Mitchells to this front or was it just an issue of 'suppling the type'?

TiA

NickM

[Gizmo]

8th february; Tainan Kokutai claimed 2+3 propables shared by all pilots.
On 24th may; Sakai says that it was six bombers, one left due to lack of ammo.

After first actions USAAF HQ consider that B-25 is better bomber for Pacyfic. 22. BG was rearmed from B-26s to B-24 Liberators. I think that both, 22. BG with B-26 and 3. BG with B-25, participate in actions over Lae many times during 1942 . But one squadron (8th BS) from 3. BG was armed with A-24 dive bombers (Navy SBD Dauntless for USAAF) and also this unit was heavy injured by Tainan pilots. On 29th July 1942 over Buna Zero pilots shot down five planes piloted by Maj. Rogers, Capt. Schwab Lt. Cassel, Lt. Dean and Lt. Parker. One more, piloted by Lt. Hill crash landed in Moresby. After this action 8. BS was withdrawal from action and rearmed on B-25.

[rldunn]

The B-26 was replaced in the 22nd BG not because the B-25 was thought to be better but because their a/c were worn out and no replacements were sent to to the SWPA. Europe got priority and it made sense to reduce the variety of a/c types in SWPA.

The 8 Feb 42 mission was not the one where Sakai's book claims several B-17s downed with frontal passes. Sakai was involved in the 8 Feb interception and the reason the Japanese were so successful had little to do with bomb bay tanks which could be jettisoned and routinely were when opposition was met before the target. The B-17s were caught at a relatively low altitude where the Zeros outperformed them and could make repeated passes. The leader's name was Dufrane not Dufane,

The mission in which Sakai touted the head on pass as the solution to the B-17 took place on 2 Aug 42 near Buna. The results in this case were actually less than during the 8 Feb mission.

B-25s actually went into action against Lae before the B-26s. Lae was often hit by B-25s because they did not have the range to hit Rabaul from Moresby whereas the B-26s did and made many raids against Rabaul during the April - June 42 time period. B-26s were frequent visitors to both Lae and Rabaul and despite flying against a more distant and difficult target had a much better survival rate than the B-25s.

RLD