Robert Wilson Moore

[keith A]

Can anyone tell me the exact dates of his promotions to 1st Lieutenant, Captain and then Major. One was in 1943 and the others in 1944 and possibly 1945?

I am also intrigued by some information seen in the late, and very great Frank Olynyk's "Stars and Bars".

30 April 1945 Oscar probable (actually Ki-100)
10 August 1945 Ki-100 damaged (actually Frank)

It seems that Frank had identified the units involved in these combats. Does anyone know what Japanese units faced the 15th Fighter Group on these dates.

Also on 7 April 1945 Moore claims two "Hamps". Were A6M3 units in action on this date. Surely A6M5?

best regards

Keith

[focusfocus]

10/08/45

Against 1° Sentai,18° Sentai,70° Sentai

Japanese losses

1° Sentai=1
Ki.84 Sgt Tani Nagao

18° Sentai=1
Ki.61 S/Lt Ikeda Hatsuhiko

70° Sentai
Ki.84 Cpt Honda Kanji
Ki.84
Ki.84

No Zeros contrary to the claims of Abner M.Aust (two claims) of 506° FG

Michel

[Kocab Zdenek]

Robert Wilson MOORE

Second Lieutenant, Air Reserve, Army of the United States 5 August 1942
First Lieutenant, Army of the United States (Air Corps) 1 March 1943
First Lieutenant, Army of the United States 26 April 1943
Captain, Army of the United States (Air Corps) 6 April 1944
Captain, Army of the United States 1 August 1944
Major, Army of the United States 22 May 1945

[keith A]

Many thanks to both senior members, Zdenek and Michel

According to Nicholas Millman the 70th were still flying the Ki44 Shoki at EOW, as evidenced in Millman's "Ki-44 Tojo aces of WW2" where he seems to state that Honda was flying one when he was killed on 10 August 1945. Sakaida and Koji Takaji in "B-29 Hunters of the JAAF" state that it had swapped these for Ki-84 cJuly 1945 and that the 18th Sentai had at least some Ki-100. I see from JAAF Aces (Hata, Izawa and Shores) that the 1st flew Ki84 from 1944 to EOW but they indicate the 18th had it's last Ki61 in the unit in June 1945, having been progressively re-equipped with Ki-100 from March 1945. According to this source the 70th had a mix of Ki44/Ki84 from June 1945 until EOW.

On 10 August 1945 Moore claimed to have damaged a Ki100 and an Oscar, and to have destroyed a Tojo. I assume the "Oscar" was a mistaken "Frank"?
On this date 1Lt Bill Farrell claimed a "Tony" so Ikeda might have been his victim.

best regards

Keith

[keith A]

All 506th claims, 4-1-6, on 10 August 1945 were for "Zekes" (misidentified "Franks"). Japanese losses identified by Michel seem to be very close to USAAF claims.

[keith A]

Moore's claim for an "Oscar" probably destroyed on 30 April 1945 was near Tachikawa airfield. This is coincidentally near Tachikawa factory that had produced some Ki43.

However I cannot see a reason why Frank Olynyk put radial-engine KI-100 in brackets in "Stars and Bars". Was there a Japanese squadron nearby that flew these? Or the loss of an aircraft that could match this? The Ki-100 is very different in shape to the KI-43 (Moore brought down one of these eight days previously, his gun camera shows it is clearly a Ki43).

best regards

Keith