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Japanese and Allied Air Forces in the Far East Please use this forum to discuss the Air War in the Far East. |
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#1
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Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
As the 75th Anniversary of the battle approaches, I've wondered who the top scoring fighter pilots were, both US and Japanese.
So, who were they? Cheers, Bruce |
#2
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Re: Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
US
John Leppla=5 (VS-2) John Liska =3 (VS-2) Noel Gayler=3 (VF-2) William Hall=3 (VS-2) Stanley Vejtasa=3 (VS-5) Michel |
#3
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Re: Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
Leppla had only four claims in the Coral Sea. His fifth claim was on October 26, 1942 at Santa Cruz. Jimmy Flatley is credited with two, and five assists (NC citation). It appears that assists may have been counted as half shares at this time, since otherwise I cannot account for his score of 6.5. It also appears at this time that shared victories received full credit for each pilot (as per World War 1).
Enjoy! Frank.
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Civilization is the most fragile ecology of all. |
#4
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Re: Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
Oups! sorry for Leppla:my finger slipped on the wrong key!
Michel |
#5
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Re: Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
Perhaps interesting to note that at the time of the Coral Sea battles, John Leppla was a Dauntless scout/dive-bomber pilot in VS-2 and John Liska was his gunner. Stanley Vejtasa was also a Dauntless pilot with VS-5.
...geoff
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- converting fuel into noise. |
#6
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Re: Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
Thanks for your contributions. Can someone please provide a breakdown of Gayler's claims? And also Flatley?
Any clues as to who the most successful IJN pilots were? Bruce |
#7
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Re: Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
Noel A.M. Gayler
20/2/42=3 "Bettys(2 shared) 4°Kokutai 08/5/42=2 "Scout Bombers" 08/5/42=1 "Zeke"(no known Japanese loss) IJN Shokaku Ichiro Yamamoto=4 Michel |
#8
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Re: Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
Thanks Michel
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#9
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Re: Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
Bill Leonard, VF-42, was credited with 3. Two F1Ms near Tulagi on 4 May and 1 D3A on 8 May.
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#10
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Re: Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
Thanks for that extra information.
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