VPB-117 58 kills 1944-45!

[keith A]

I was astonished to find that this PB4Y-1 Privateer squadron claimed 58 (another source claims 63) aerial victories, apparently 55 of which were confirmed post-war by Japanese records. 22 of the claims fell in December 1944.(Dictionary of American naval aviation squadrons, Volume 2 The history of VP, VPB, VP(HL), and VP(AM) squadrons)

Can anyone supply details of the claims by the Privateer crews?

best regards

Keith

[twocee]

I don't think that the source you mention goes so far as to say that the Japanese aircraft losses were verified by Japanese records, only that the latter may have been used to "identify obscure encounters". As far as I am aware reliable records of individual Japanese losses, particularly for 1944/5, are rather sparse.
It does mention that claims against the Luftwaffe could be verified by the Luftwaffe records.

[keith A]

Sorry George, but this sounds like Japanese records are being mentioned "the squadron was credited with completing 1,617 combat missions, 58 enemy aircraft claimed (55 verified by postwar review of enemy records)". I too doubt this because I suspect the squadron overclaimed by a significant margin.

best regards

Keith

[keith A]

I found a list of confirmed VPB claims. VPB-118 claimed eight kills! No idea where the 58 comes from (a typo?). The victims are two "Vals", two George or Jack fighters, a Stella, a Lorna (or Nick), a Tess and a Topsy. This might lend a bit more credence to confirmations by Japanese records if we are assuming 5 rather than 55.

best regards

Keith

[keith A]

Sorry mixing up my research. Looking at VPB-117 their claims include 19 Jakes and 16 transport planes.

best regards

Keith

[SteveR]

VPB-117 or VPB-118? One is in the thread title, the other is in your last post with 8 kills.

[R Leonard]

VPB-117 tally, all 58, can be found here in Appendix 4 of

Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons Volume 2
The History of VP, VPB, VP(HL) and VP(AM) Squadrons

https://www.history.navy.mil/content...adronsVol2.pdf

Nine shoot downs credited to VPB-118 are also on this list.

Note that the text specifically states: "Claims from this study regarding “probables,” “damaged” and/or “smoking” actions are not included in this listing".

[twocee]

Keith

My comments came from reading Jim Sawruk's introduction to his Appendix 4 (Air-to-Air Claims) in Volume 2, where he makes clear that his principal sources were the Navy War Diaries and Action Reports. He doesn't actually claim that the losses were checked against Japanese records, if indeed any exist. As you say, the comparison with other squadrons does indicate overclaiming.

[keith A]

Cheers chaps.