John L.Wirth (VF-31)

[Stig Jarlevik]

This is interesting George

Hopefully Frank didn't get everything wrong in his Navy claims book!
Checking claims from the 30th and not the 31st) VF-31 does not seem to have been in combat
during the morning on the 30th but rather in the evening of that date.

If we put Wirth 11 hours backwards (to the 30th) he is pretty much in line with all the other claims
made by VF-31 that evening.

On the other hand, if you want to put Wirth's claims backward 24 hours, he is very much alone
from VF-31 to claim any victories at all during the morning of 30 March which is a bit rare
since USN claims usually came in clusters.

Did VF-31 make one morning and one afternoon mission on the 30th or was Wirth's claims made
during the evening together with the other VF-31 claims for the Judy's?

B Rgds
Stig

[twocee]

Well spotted, Stig.

On the morning of the 30th, about 06.45 local, Wirth was launched with other VF31 aircraft to conduct a defensive patrol over the task group. He claims to have become lost during the rendezvous and to have joined on some other fighters from another carrier which were headed for the Palaus on a fighter sweep. It was in the course of this sweep that he made his claims.

The evening combat air patrol, off about 17.10 local, intercepted the Judys.