P-47 (348th FG) vs Zeros,Oscars

[focusfocus]

Hello

June 3,1944 :Biak (New Guinea)
340th FSqd (348th FG)=6 vict.

Wiecks 1 Hamp
Fleischer 1 Oscar
Heiden 1 Zero
Jones 2 Zero
Martin 1 Oscar

Unusual and big claims underestimated(12 Japanese losses),I would like to know if probable,damaged victories were also credited?

Michel

[BruceMk11]

Michel,

78 Sqn RAAF (P-40s) also engaged Japanese a/c in the Biak area on June 3, 1944. See pp 224-225 below.

https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws....nt/5519846.PDF

Cheers,
Bruce

[Laurent Rizzotti]

The above air battle is covered in the French magazine Batailles Aériennes n° 103 by Bernard Baeza. Japanese and US units are well covered, but for some reason the author, who I find so far very good, totally missed the involment of 78 Sqn RAAF in the battle.

He said that the Japanese raid was done by 11 Suisei of Ku 503 and 12 bomb-carrying Ki-43 of 24 Sentai, escorted by 14 A6M of Ku 202 (7 each of S-301 and S-603).

The day before a raid had already targeted Allied ships off Biak and was opposed only by AA fire that shot down 4 bomb-carrying A6M and damaged enough a 5th and a Suisei to force them force-landed at Noemfoor, and then shot down 4 more A6M strafing them.

On the 3rd, the Japanese pilots were more cautious about the AA fire and the attack started cautiously at 1105 hrs and were still underway at 1130 hrs when 12 P-47s of 340th FS called by radio reached the area. Baeza reported that the escort of 202 Ku protected the bombers and engaged the P-47s, claiming six shot down (no real US loss) while losing 7 A6M, 5 of S-301 (1 pilot POW, 3 MIA (one unidentified) and another surviving a crash-landing on landing) and 2 of S-303 (1 pilot MIA, the other survived a forced-landing on a beach).

As 340th FS claims were for 1 Hamp, 3 Zeke and 2 Oscars, Baeza is not sure if the P-47 actually shot down Oscars and misidentified A6M.

The 24 Sentai lost three pilots MIA (one unidentified) while a 4th Ki-43 belly-landed in friendly area after the raid. Ku 503 lost 2 Suisei shot down (both crew killed) and a third belly-landed in friendly area after the raid.

Total losses in Biak area: 5 A6M, 3 Ki-43, 2 Suisei
Force-landed or crashing in Japanese occupied territory: 2 A6M, 1 Ki-43, 1 Suisei (given the logistical situation for Japanese in area, these could be conuted as total losses IMHO)

From the book pointed out by Bruce, the P-40 of 78 Sqn RAAF were actually over the US ships of Biak at 1000 hrs and engaged at 1100 hrs "12 Oscars and 3 Kates", that seem to be the bomber part of the raid. In the following
fight, the Australian pilots claimed 7 Oscars and 2 Kates. One Australian pilot baled out during the battle and other pilots thought they saw an US ship picking him up, but later learned it was a Japanese pilot who was rescued, and their pal was killed.

The latter part probably implies that the escort A6M also engaged the Australian fighters for the following reasons:
_ the P-40 pilots claimed far more Oscars than the real losses, so probably accounted for some A6M losses
_ the only Japanese captured was an A6M pilot of S-301.

By the way I found the exact claims by 78 Sqn RAAF in their unit history (available online at https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sear...1338124&isAv=N, page 90 of the PDF)
F/LT Osment (1 Kate) F/Sgt Cowley (1 Oscar, plus 1 Oscar damaged) F/O White (1 Oscar & 1 Kate, plus 1 Kate damaged) F/LT Baker (1 Oscar) F/Sgt Smith (1 Oscar) F/Lt Griffith (1 Oscar and another shared with F/O Blesing) F/O Barker (1 Oscar) F/O Blesing (1 Oscar ashared with F/Lt Griffith)
Sadly no time is listed in the history, and there is no Form 541 equivelant in Australian squadron histories.

To return to Baeza's chronique in Batailles Aériennes n° 103, he reports that the result of the raid was many bombs in the sea and two wounded aboard LCT-248. Again it seems he did not have the full picture.

Naval sources report the following:
1) War diary of 7th US Fleet (https://www.fold3.com/image/27691455...ries-1941-1945)
Between 1105K and 1132K, 10 to 20 Jap planes dive-bombed and strafed Blue shipping, concentrating on DDs off Bosnik (Biak Island). 10 dive bombers attacked USS Reid, several near bomb misses and shrapnel holes, minor structural damage to radar; 1 dead, 2 wounded including 2 officers. USS Mustin received no damage or casualties. USS Bache also attacked, apparenly suffering no damage.
(note: diary is wrong for Bache, she was away with another TF and was not involved. Third USS DD was the Russel (see below))

2) War diary of COM 7th PHIBFOR (https://www.fold3.com/image/28270669...ries-1941-1945)
1100 LCT 248 at Biak Island, was damaged by a bomb hit; fuel tanks were holed and there were two casualties.
1130 USS Reid, off Biak Island, was attacked by at least ten dive bombers and received several near misses; numerous shrapnel and bullet hits were suffered resulting in minor structural damage and personnel casualties of one killed and five wounded. Several of the attacking planes were hit but none were observed to crash.

3) Report of COM LCT GR 23 (https://www.fold3.com/image/27771192...-3-us-world-wa)
At 1100, while engaged in transporting troops and supplies to Owi Island, were attacked by an undetermined number of Zeros (believed to be 11). LCT 248 loading at jetty suffered a near miss, with two casualties. In the same action USS Reid suffered damaged and casualties from a near miss while patrolling outside the harbor. No planes destroyed by LCTs.
(my note: last remark about no Aa victory especially interesting as the LCT group claimed the day before 4 of 7 Japanese aircraft claimed shot down off the beachhead, capturing a Japanese pilot (Baeza list 8 Japanese pilots shot down in the area, plus one over Noemfoor, on the 2nd but without precising their fate).
(my note 2: page 6 of the same report confirm that the casualties of LCT 248 on 3rd June were 2 wounded, and no dead. LCT GR 23 suffered 8 WIA and 0 KIA during the whole operation).

4) USS Reid (DD-369) AA Action Report, 3 June 1944 (https://www.fold3.com/image/27695166...ries-1941-1945 and next pages)
This vessel was attacked by a group of Japanese planes in the morning of 3 June 1944 while patrolling between Owi Island and Green Beach, Biak Island. Other naval units present were USS Mustin, patrolling off Mokmer to render fire support and USS Russell, Air Guard Ship, patrolling about 10 miles to the SW.
1103 Radar contact on group of unidentified planes 050°T, 10 miles. Visual contact was made at about the same time with these planes as they came over the ridge behind Green Beach. The planes seemed to hesitate for a moment over the beach and then disappeared in the clouds overhead. Planes were identified as Tonies and Tojos. Changed speed to emergency flank and commended maneuvering radically.
1105-1120 about 15-20 Tonies and Tojos commenced making determined dive bombing, glide bombing, and strafing attacks on this vessel, both singly and in groups of two and three planes, from all directions in rapid succession. Commenced firing with all guns. Many bombs exploded close aboard on all sides. One Tony was hit by 40mm fire and seen to reture smoking in a slow glide and crash about 10,000 yards to the eastward. The tip of the wing of a Tojo was seen to be sheered off by 20mm fire and later seen to crash by USS Mustin off Owi Island. Another Tojo was seen to retire smoking after having been dissuaded from pressing hom his attack by the 5".
1125 P-40s and P-47s arrived in the area and engaged the enemy and pursued them in their retreat.
1130 Commenced firing on a group of planes tentatively identified as Fw 190s about 10,000 yards off the starboard beam with main battery.
1131 Ceasef firing, planes did not press attack and being pursued by our fighters. SG radar reported out of commission, antenna train cable cut by bomb fragment. Personnel casualties, one man killed, one officer and five men received minor shrapnel wounds. Material casualties, four small holes from bomb fragments in superstructures.

I summarize rest of reports:
_ 14 e/a counted by shore observes attacking USS Reid, 2 claimed definititely shot down and two seen to retire smoking.
_ Reid's CO lost count of bombs after the explosion of the 8th. Bombs of about 100kg with instantaneous fuzes.
_ when contact was made with the enemy e/a, Reid was preparing for a shore bombardment in Mokmer area, and before the main battery could engage the attackers three Tonies had made their dives and scored near misses. The 5" rear guns and the machines guns opened fire faster and were responsible for all damage to attacking e/a.
_ damage received included a shrapnel hole about 5'' in diameter in the radar transmitter room at frame 68. This fragment killed the radar technician and severed the SG radar antenna train cable. Another fragment hit the 40mm ammunition stowage compartment at frame 125. One officer and four men received minor shrapnel wouds from this hit. All ammunition was immediately removed from the magazine and five boxes of 40mm ammo damaged by shrapnel were thrown over the side.
(note: neither the action report than the war diary of USS Reid names the casualties suffered this day. In the muster roll for June 1944 (https://www.fold3.com/image/310450209/310450055) the man killed on June 3rd is identified as FCR2c Harley Brubaker. The wounded are not listed and it is probable their wounds were very minor and all remained in duty aboard the destroyer).
(note 2: the full name of the dead sailor was Harley Benjamin Brubaker. He was not buried at sea like many USN dead, but probably buried in a war cemetery in New Guinea, and brought back to the USA after the war. He now rests in Whittier, California. On his grave is written "battle of Saipan" (sic). See https://fr.findagrave.com/memorial/8...jamin-brubaker)

5) War diary USS Mustin, 3 June 1944 (https://www.fold3.com/image/27976850...ries-1941-1945)
1107 Observed enemy planes attacking shipping and approaching from astern. Shifted fire to enemy planes. Commenced evasive maneuvers.
1112 Zeke type fighter dropped two small bombs 30 yards off the port quarter.
1114 Ceased fire having expanded 73 5" AA common projectifles, 73 5" smokeless powder charges, 134 rounds of 40mm ammo and 273 rounds of 20mm. Two planes were observed to crash to the west during this attack.
1115 Enemy aircraft attacking USS Russell about 15 miles SW of Owi Island. These e/a were being engaged by friendly fighters. From this time until noon, numeros reports of enemy aircraft in area were received, but neither shipping nor shore installations were attacked.

6) War diary USS Russel, 3 June 1944 (https://www.fold3.com/image/28002437...ries-1941-1945)
Patrolling Biak area, having fighter director duty and radar guard. Reid and Mustin also in the area.
0945 Relief CAP from Wakde encountered rain squall which passed over us earlier in the morning and returned to base. Our CAP returned to base soon after this.
1107 Jap fighters coming over island and being taken under fire
1116 one of our fighters crashed in the water close aboard. The pilot waited too long to bail out. His chute didn't open. A parachute descent bearing 045 (t); we stood toward it to rescue the aviator, but fighters (ours) straffed the pilot, who was found dead when we arrived. Another crash and a parachute was seen bearing 160 (t) and stood towards it. Hauled in the body of a dead Jap. Took and dried his papers for turn in to intelligence.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

I will summarize the above in one post.

On 3 June 1944 11 Suisei of Ku 503 and 12 bomb-carrying Ki-43 of 24 Sentai, escorted by 14 A6M of Ku 202 raided Allied shipping off Biak.

15 P-40s of 78 Sqn RAAF were in patrol in the area and engaged the raiders, but most bomb carrying aircraft apparently get through and concentrated on the destroyed USS Reid, who was lightly damaged by near misses with 1 KIA and 5 slightly wounded aboard. Other ships attacked were the destroyer USS Mustin (no damage) and LCT 248, damaged by a near miss with two WIA).

8 pilots of 78 Sqn RAAF claimed a total of 7 Oscars and 2 Kates shot down, and 1 Oscar and 1 Kate damaged) for the loss of one P-40 and his pilot KIA (at 1116 hrs according to USS Russell war diary).
Naval AA claims were apparently limited to USS Reid and were 1 Tony and 1 Tojo shot down, and two other aircraft (a Tojo and another not identified) retiring with smoke.
12 P-47s of 340th FS delayed by bad weather joined the battle at around 1130 hrs and claimed 3 Zekes, 2 Oscars and 1 Hamp.

Total Allied claims: 17 aircraft shot down (9 Oscars, 3 Zekes, 2 Kates, 1 Hamp, 1 Tony, 1 Tojo) and 4 damaged (1 Oscar, 1 Kate, 1 Tojo, 1 unreported)
Allied losses: 1 P-40, 2 KIA (the RAAF P-40 pilot and 1 sailor of USS Reid), 7 WIA (aboard Reid and LCT 248), very minor damaged to Reid and LCT 248

Japanese real losses: 5 A6M, 3 Ki-43 and 2 Suisei shot down in Biak area (11 KIA, 1 POW) and 2 A6M, 1 Ki-43, 1 Suisei force-landing or crashing in Japanese occupied territory (very probable total losses for aircraft, but pilots and crew were saved in all cases)

With 17 Allied claims for 14 Japanese losses, there is no under claim but a very little overclaim, totally understandable in the circunstances and certainly far less important than in many other Pacific battles.
On the other hand, Japanese overclaim with 6 victoires against one Allied loss.

Some remarks:
_ 78 Sqn pilots thought they see an American destroyer rescue Flt Sgt Harnden but later learned he picked up a Japanese pilot. This matches fines with the USS Russell war diary, but she picked up a dead Japanese pilot, not a living one, so my above remark about him being a Zeke pilot, as such was the only POW, should be forgotten. I was unable to find an Allied report telling a Japanese pilot was captured.
_ the casualty file for Harnden in the Australian archives is not digilalized.
_ 78 squadron history gives no time, and there is a discrepancy between their side of the story that they were on patrol before 1100 hrs and the USS Russell war diary saying there was no CAP.

[focusfocus]

Thanks guys!

Laurent
Excellent analysis and deduction that J share.
I have the French Magazine and like you I am surprised by this omission concerning the 78°RAAF Sqdr,the work of B.Baeza being particularly good.

I think MP SAKAGUCHI Otojiro (S-301/Ku202) parachuted and POW was the victim of PO R.R.Cowley (in his report he indicate that the pilot parachuted...despite having claimed an Oscar)

Bien Cordialement
Michel

[BruceMk11]

For the 78 Squadron narrative report for 3 June, 1944, see pp 139-141:

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sear...spx?B=12265530

Individual combat reports for 3 June, 1944, pp 142-169.

Thanks for the extra details and analysis Laurent.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

You're welcome

Thanks for the pointer for the 78 Sqn reports, I was rather disappointed by the lack of deatils in the squadron history.

Michel, I had the same idea than you, that Sakaguchi, the only Japanese pilot to become a POW, was shot down by Cowley, but it seems to me that Harnden, the lost Australian pilot, was shot down close to Cowley's victory place, and USS Russell picked up both Harnden's body and then a DEAD Japanese pilot having bailed out. The latter was probably Cowley's victim and may have flown either an Oscar or a Zeke.

From the report pointed out by Bruce, it is clear that at least 3 Japanese airmen baled out from 3 different aircraft (the "Kate" shot down by Osment, the "Oscar" by Cowley and the "Kate" by White)

[AUS_RAAF]

Hi Michel,

Bruce and Laurent have already provided a wealth of information regarding 78 Sqn RAAF’s combat on the 3rd. Even so you might like to check out the unit book “This Smuttee Squadron” by Gordon Clarke. From memory it included a detailed analysis of the 3rd June 44 combat and possibly some details about the USAAF action.

https://78squadron.com/shop.html

The mission was significant as the last major engagement for the RAAF in the Pacific during WWII.

regards, Drew

[bearoutwest]

The loss record of Harnden's P-40 (A29-401) appears in this digitized file:
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sear...7127504&isAv=N


Harnden's overall service record is digitized and can be viewed here:
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sear...5531310&isAv=N


I'm in Canberra next week, and will try requesting the repatriation file (non-digitized) for viewing.


Regards, ...geoff

[bearoutwest]

".... _ the casualty file for Harnden in the Australian archives is not digilalized. ...."


Hello Gents,
I was able to access this casualty repatriation file from the National Archives in Canberra. I scanned about 8 pages, of what seemed pertinent details of the combat, and the after-action reports. I'd say most is some form of repeat of that contained in other files, but there may be some finer detail to those who are familiar to the story.


Anyone interested in a copy of these pages is welcome to send me their email address via the 'Private Messages' here - I can't seem to easily load photos of documents here anymore.


Regards, ...geoff