FM-2s vs. Tonys over Kavieng, 20/3/44

[DavidIsby]

FROM: Japanese Aircraft Combat Performance: Excerpts from Aircraft Action Reports and Battle Narratives, February-May 1044, Air Intelligence Group, Division of Naval Intelligence, Office of the CNO, Op-Nav-16-V-#E-3110, July 1944
Operations against Kavieng, 20 Mar 1944 Task Group 36.3, USS Natoma Bay, CO H.L. Meadow, Capt
FM2s vs. Tony
“The most effective angles of attack on the Tony were high-side runs from either quarter. Tony’s best defense was the use of violent skids and turns just over the surface of the water. The final attack was successful because the Jap pulled up into a climb to the left, giving both FM2s a wide-open chance for good shots,
Jap Tactics
“The Jap pilot apparently thought he was fighting F4Fs, and that he had a vastly superior edge in speed as well as maneuverability. In the tail chase he gave no indication of concern over his ability to out-run his pursuers, maintaining his original course of 035 degrees, and only when the FM2s began closing at sea-level did he drop his wing-tank and commence evasive tactics.
Tony’s Performance
“After dropping his wing-tank Tony appeared to slow up rather than increase speed, the cause unknown, although black smoke trails from his engine indicated a very rich gas mixture. Tony … dropped what seemed to be magnesium streamers, which left cylindrical smoke trails.
“Tony may have had armor around pilot as 50 cal hits in the cockpit splintered the enclosure, and caused engine to smoke. But the pilot apparently was not hit.
Comparative Plane performance
”FM2 is considerably more maneuverable than FM1, but still not as maneuverable as Tony
VC-63 Pilot’s Report: Fifty-Mile Chase to Catch Tony
After the bombardment, during the retirement of the task force, the four FM2s on combat air patrol were vectored out to intercept a bogey reported 45 miles ahead. Planes flew at 180 knots, climbing to 9500 feet. A Tony was sighted and overhauled after a 50-mile chase. Using full throttle, the FM2s descended from 9500 feet to 400 feet in a shallow dive at 330 knots. Closing was gradually made at sea level at indicated air speed of 275 to 280 knots., The Tony made extremely sharp turns at full speed, turning inside the FM2s and leaving distinct vapor trails in turns at all altitude. The Jap was bracketed by the fighters which made passes and head-on runs. Two more FM2s approached from above and behind and fired on his tail. Practically on the water by this time, the Tony made a turn to the left and received hits on the engine from the FM2 on the starboard quarters. The Jap then pulled up into a climb to the left and was finished off in a final attack which sent him spinning into the water in flames.

[Larry deZeng]

The answer may be at NARA College Park in RG 38 Crane Collection/Orange Library. There will be intercepts there of all coded and uncoded Japanese transmissions eminating from Kavieng including details of this engagement and loss, which units were at Kavieng on this date and what type of aircraft they had. You could also try asking your question on http://www.j-aircraft.com/

L.

[twocee]

John,

Just to clarify:

12 Zekes were claimed over Kavieng on 1 January by VF18 (Bunker Hill) and VF30 (Monterey).

The Tony, one of two seen, was intercepted about 20 miles from the Task Group. It appeared to be painted black and had underwing fuel tanks. When attacked it attempted to loop back on to the tail of the attacker, which makes it unlikely to have been a Judy. Would the latter have tried mixing it in a dogfight?

[John Beaman]

Originally Posted by twocee

John,

Just to clarify:

12 Zekes were claimed over Kavieng on 1 January by VF18 (Bunker Hill) and VF30 (Monterey).

The Tony, one of two seen, was intercepted about 20 miles from the Task Group. It appeared to be painted black and had underwing fuel tanks. When attacked it attempted to loop back on to the tail of the attacker, which makes it unlikely to have been a Judy. Would the latter have tried mixing it in a dogfight?

Well, the mystery deepens.

The comment of underwing tanks might indicate a Tony, if not a "black" one. And, no, unless it was a very aggressive pilot, I would not think a Judy would attempt to dogfight. Of course, an Immelman would be an attempt to get away....

It always amazes me how bad the pilots of all nations were in a/c ID. Of course, the stress of combat might help this. I know we latter day historians are deep into ID'ing and can recognize sillouetes easily. But if I were in combat I think I might spend some time learning how to recognise aircraft if for self-protection if no other reason.

I also wonder how much of bad ID'ing might be implanted by intelligence or wishful thinking? Within weeks of USAAF sending out notifications about the Fw 190D9, they were being encountered in combat reports in the early summer of 1944, in spite of the fact they were not operational until late fall.

[John Beaman]

You know, I sometimes amaze even myself with my stupidness! For whatever reason I thought Kavieng was near Bougainville. Of course it is not. Its location, NNW of Rabaul, makes it theoretically possible for a Tony to have been in the area. Its about 200 miles +- from the New Guinea coastline. Weird but possible.

I need to brush up on my geography.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

The underwing fuel tanks may indicate a ferry flight from Truk to New Guinea via Kavieng/Rabaul, maybe ? Even if it seems to me that the IJAAF aircraft will rather come from Palau to New Guinea.

As for the wrong ID often reported, I agree that most of us are more capable than WWII pilots. But nobody is shooting at us and the pictures we are looking at are not twisting in all senses to avoid our fire.

[Larry deZeng]

Sakaida, Henry. The Siege of Rabaul. St.Paul (MN): Phalanx Publishing Co., Ltd., 1996. ISBN: 1-883809-09-6. Pb (oversize with laminated cover). 96p. Heavily illus. Appendix.
Chapter 8: Rabaul’s Torokina Campaign, pages 35-37.

Using the original Japanese flight records together with a lengthy article published in a 1975 issue of Maru Magazine entitled, “Saigo No Rabaul Zero Sen Tai Kito Seiri” (“Last Zero Squadron Returns Safely”), author Sakaida describes how IJN HQ at Rabaul was notified by radio that 4 enemy battleships were approaching Kavieng on 20 March and 10 Zeros were dispatched from Tobera airfield south of Rabaul. Shortly after take-off, the formation was fired on by Japanese AA near Vunakanau, one Zero was hit and several experienced technical problems at about the same time so the mission was aborted. A few hours later in the afternoon a second mission with 7 bomb-carrying Zeros was launched and on their arrival in the Kavieng area, spotted the Natoma Bay, and went after it claiming a near hit. This is the same combat in which the American after-action report, “Bombardment of Kavieng”, states that Navy fighters shot down a Tony 45 miles off the Natoma Bay. Japanese records reported no losses. Nor does the author mention the presence of any Tonys anywhere near Rabaul or Kavieng.

Go figure.

[udf_00]

At the beginning of 1944, the Ki-61 equipped 68th & 78th Sentai were at Wewak (500 miles from Kavieng).
Judy could haul two 330 liters underwing drop-tanks.
No recollection of a dog-fighting Judy but some vague recollection of dog-fighting Vals.

[Larry deZeng]

While this discussion seems to be sliding toward the type that is never resolved, I will add one final comment. There is a book that gets about as close as can be to a definitive study of JAAF air operations along the coast of northern New Guinea because of the author’s use of Japanese documents and Sigint intercepts:

McAulay, Lex. MacArthur’s Eagles: The U.S. Air War Over New Guinea 1943-1944. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 2005. ISBN 1-59114-479-5. 248p.

The author has 16 pages (pp.160-76) covering the period 16-31 March and says what few serviceable Tonys were left in 68 and 78 Sentais had already been flown to Hollandia by 16 March. By 20 March, nothing was left of Wewak but shattered, smouldering wrecks, landing strips with craters 30-feet deep, broken, felled trees, defoliated surroundings and Japanese dead. Since Hollandia is 700 miles due west of Kavieng, that sort of puts it beyond the range of any Ki-61s based there. Further, McAulay has an Appendix C that lists by Sentai all JAAF in-air fighter losses from August 1943 to April 1944. Neither 68 or 78 Sentai had any between 15 and 31 March.

L.

[Jim Oxley]

MacArthur’s Eagles: The U.S. Air War Over New Guinea 1943-1944. A great book!