Air flight to the cruiser Kumano on November 25, 1944.

[sergey]

Colleagues.

Can you help? I am interested in the composition of the strike air groups of the aircraft carriers Ticonderoga and Langley, which on November 25, 1944 destroyed the heavy cruiser Kumano and a convoy led by the cruiser Yasoshima in the Santa Cruz - Dasol Bay (Luzon Island) area.

sergey

[Buckeye30]

From the "Naval History and Heritage Command" (actually for the 21 Nov.)..........
LANGLEY (AG44):
VF44 = 19 x F6F-3, 6 x F6F-5.
VT44 = 9 x TBM-1c.
TICONDEROGA (AG80):
VF80 = 48 x F6F-5, 4 x F6F-5N, 2 x F6F-5P.
VB80 = 24 x SB2C-3
VT-80 = 18 x TBM-3


30 x VT and VB were in the strike force, she was hit by 5 torpedoes and 4 500lb. bombs.

(ESSEX was the 3rd. carrier).

Nick

[sergey]

Thanks Nick.
This is useful information and I will use it. However, I am interested in the composition of the strike groups that these carriers sent to attack the specified targets on November 25, 1944. Not counting the morning raids, the final attacks from 14:00 to 14:30 involved two groups of aircraft. 30 aircraft from TICONDEROGA (how many fighters, bombers, and torpedo bombers?) attacked KUMANO. The convoy was attacked by another group from two carriers (how many fighters, bombers, and torpedo bombers from each?).

[twocee]

The morning strikes on the convoy off Santa Cruz were by aircraft from Essex, Ticonderoga and Langley. In the afternoon, shipping at San Fernando was attacked by aircraft from Essex and Langley.

The Ticonderoga strike on Kumano at Dasol Bay comprised 10 F6F, 13 SB2C and 9 TBM.

[sergey]

Thanks George.
It remains to find out the composition of the group that sank YASOSIMA and three landing ships.