VLR Claims

[keith A]

Who claimed for the 21st in their sweep over Japan on 19/04/1945? I know they destroyed several training aircraft and 9 Irvings but does anyone have more details? Although I have found the excellent 506th FG web site I can't locate one for the 21st or 15th. Any ideas, guys?

[Ron Klages]

Keith,

On 19 April 1945 the 15 Fighter Group claimed 6 destroyed and 3 damaged while the 21 Fighter Group claimed 17 destroyed and 1 damaged. Here is a detailed listing:


Following destroyed claims made on 19 April 1945

15. Fighter Group = none

45 Fighter Squadron
1lt Jay W. Slater = 0.5 Tojo at 1100-1122 over Atusugi Airfield
2lt JLeroy E. Yakish = 0.5 Tojo at 1100-1122 over Atusugi Airfield
2lt Donald E. Statsmann =1 Jack at 1100-1122 west of Atsugi Airfield
Maj. Wayne L. Wells =1 Jack at 1100-1122 over Atsugi Airfield
Capt. Fred H. Henderson jr. =1 Jack at 1113 over Atsugi Airfield
Capt. Bruce S. Campbell =1 Jack at 1113 over Atsugi Airfield

47 Fighter Squadron = none

78. Fighter Squadron
Maj. James B. Tapp =1 Jack at 1045-1145 over Atsugi Airfield


21 Fighter Group
Ltcol. Elmer E. Booth =0.5 Irving at 1110 over Atsugi Airfield
Capt. Howard J. Kendall =1 Topsy at 1130-1155 over Tokyo Bay

46 Fighter Squadron
2lt. Joseph D. Coons = 1 Irving at 1110 over Atsugi Airfield

72 Fighter Squadron
2lt. John E. Skripek =0.5 Irving at 1110 over Atsugi Airfield
2lt. Harrison V. Parker =0.5 Irving at 1110 over Atsugi Airfield
2lt. Albert J. Allard =0.5 Irving at 1110 over Atsugi Airfield
Capt. Howard L. Russel =1 Irving at 1110 over Atsugi Airfield
2lt. Horace R. Brandenberger =1 Irving at 1110 over Atsugi Airfield
Capt. Howard L. Russel =0.5 Irving at 1110 over Atsugi Airfield
2lt. Horace R. Brandenberger =0.5 Irving at 1110 over Atsugi Airfield
Capt. Howard L. Russel =1 Irving at 1110 over Atsugi Airfield
2lt. James Bradbury = 0.5 Irving at 1110 at 10 miles west of Tokyo
1lt. Thomas W. Denman = 0.5 Irving at 1110 at 10 miles west of Tokyo
2lt. Howard C. Brown = 1 Nate? at 1110 west of Yokohama
Capt. Adolph J. Bregar = 1 Irving at 1110 west of Yokohama
2lt. Alfred V. Stuart =1 Irving at 1110 over Atsugi Airfield

531 Fighter Squadron
Capt. Frank J. Gibson =1 Tabby at 1100-1130 north of Chofu Airfield
2lt. John D. Wilson =1 hi wing monoplane at 1100-1130 north of Chofu Airfield
2lt. John D. Wilson =1 Biplane at 1100-1130 north of Chofu Airfield
2lt. Theodore H. Fox = 1 Myrt at 1130-1155 on the east side of Tokyo Bay
Capt. Floyd L. Manning = 1 Topsy at 1130-1155 over Tokyo Bay

Following damaged claims made on 19 April 1945

45 Fighter Squadron
1lt. Frederick C. Condon = 0.5 Jack damaged at 1100-1122 west of Atsugi Airfield
1lt. Ceilaa Dennis = 0.5 Jack damaged at 1100-1122 west of Atsugi Airfield
Capt. Fred H. Henderson jr. = 0.333 Jack damaged at 1100-1122 west of Atsugi Airfield
Capt. William L. Kester = 0.333 Jack damaged at 1100-1122 west of Atsugi Airfield
2lt. Donald E. Statsmann = 0.333 Jack damaged at 1100-1122 west of Atsugi Airfield
Capt. Francis L. Ennis = 0.5 Tojo damaged at 1100-1122 over Atsugi Airfield
2lt. Arthur A. Burry = 0.5 Tojo damaged at 1100-1122 over Atsugi Airfield

72 Fighter Squadron
2lt. Claude A. Lane = 1 Irving damaged at 1110 over Atsugi Airfield


Source: USAAF (Pacific Theater) Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft in Air-toAir Comabt World War 2 by Frank Olynyk

[keith A]

Wow! Thanks Ron.

I wish we could get Frank to print out a few more of these listings, I have been trying to get one for ages!

[Skyraider3D]

It has always puzzled me why those Irvings were flying during the day in a formation...

[JoeB]

This page gives the 302nd Air Group's operations on various days. It was the main operational Irving unit at Atsugi at that time among the several types it operated*, though Atsugi was also a training base. For this date though the chronology only mentions single engine fighter ops of the 302nd. The original source (per another page in this series) is said to be the "Maru Special Pacific Sea-Air War" series magazine/paperbacks.
http://scrapbook.ameba.jp/pico_book/...006122456.html

Morning of April 19 1945 19 Raiden (Jack) and 10 Zeroes of the 302nd engaged P-51's near or over their own field. 6 Raiden were lost: 3 downed, 1 while taking off, 1 written off, 2 burned. Adds to 7 but doesn't specifically say the one taking off is included in the three downed; burned I assume means on the ground; written off or 'ruined' not clear if air or ground. A Zero was also written off. 3 Raiden pilots were killed. Ground gunners claimed 3 P-51's plus 1 claimed in air combat (better Japanese speakers please feel free to comment on this translation).

*"Japanese Naval Aces and Units of WWII" by Hata/Izawa gives the 302nd's inventory a/o Mar 1 1945 as: 24 Raiden, 20 Zero, 13 Gekko (Irving), 12 Ginga (Frances), 7 Suisei (Judy), nightfighter versions of last two planes, and 5 'other'.

Joe

[Skyraider3D]

Joe, "3 downed, 1 while taking off" indeed sounds to me that of those 3 that were shot down, one of them was caught during take off. "2 burned" indeed sounds like strafing victims and "1 written off" probably came back after combat with too much combat damage, or was damaged in an accident, or was strafed to such an extend it wasn't worth repairing.

[JoeB]

Originally Posted by Skyraider3D

Joe, "3 downed, 1 while taking off" indeed sounds to me that of those 3 that were shot down, one of them was caught during take off. "2 burned" indeed sounds like strafing victims and "1 written off" probably came back after combat with too much combat damage, or was damaged in an accident, or was strafed to such an extend it wasn't worth repairing.

損失：雷電６機［被墜３／離陸時１／大破１／炎上２］　零戦１機［大破］
"loss: Raiden 6 machine [downed 3/ when taking off 1/ wrecked* 1, destruction by fire 2] Zero-sen 1 machine [wrecked]"

*babelfish translates 'wreck' to 大破 giving 'ruin' in the other direction for Japanese. Those Chinese characters are literally 'great destruction', but same word in Korean also means wreck, as in say a ship washed ashore or a totalled car. I'm rendering it 'write off', just keep in mind it may have had some slightly different precise meaning in JNAF terminology.

Joe

[RCheung]

Originally Posted by JoeB

損失：雷電６機［被墜３／離陸時１／大破１／炎上２］　零戦１機［大破］
"loss: Raiden 6 machine [downed 3/ when taking off 1/ wrecked* 1, destruction by fire 2] Zero-sen 1 machine [wrecked]"

*babelfish translates 'wreck' to 大破 giving 'ruin' in the other direction for Japanese. Those Chinese characters are literally 'great destruction', but same word in Korean also means wreck, as in say a ship washed ashore or a totalled car. I'm rendering it 'write off', just keep in mind it may have had some slightly different precise meaning in JNAF terminology.

Joe

JNAF

大破 major damage ...
中破 moderate damage
小破 light damage

[JoeB]

Originally Posted by RCheung

JNAF

大破 major damage ...
中破 moderate damage
小破 light damage

I've thought in past the English term 'major damage' in translated accounts of JNAF reports might correspond to 大破. But I wonder how correct that is, given that it's apparently also a normal word in Japanese meaning wreck or ruin. Anyway aside from pure translation issue is there evidence either way what it really meant, in terms of say how likely a 大破'ed plane was to return to service?

Joe