At dawn we slept...in the cab on the way back from Olongapo

[Cap Mandrake]

It would be nice if they flew in together but it doesn't happen.

Morning Air attack on Boela , at 80,110

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 23,600 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 6
N1K1-J George x 36
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 38

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed

[Cap Mandrake]

Pretty good attack by 4 P-38s

Morning Air attack on Boela , at 80,110

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 3
N1K1-J George x 34
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 36

Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

[Cap Mandrake]

Mostly a draw over Boela but the strategic purpose is achieved. We put a torp in one BB and are wearing out their good planes and drivers.

Morning Air attack on Boela , at 80,110

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 27,550 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 26
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 25

Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed

[T Rav]

Interested to see what happens to the CVE Unyo. They tend to be fragile, as I recall.

My HOA cut down three of the four trees I had in the front yard. They replaced one with a crappy bush that seems to hate the California summers.

The HOA dues have outstripped inflation every year so far. I wish my investments could do so well...

T Rav

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: T Rav

Interested to see what happens to the CVE Unyo. They tend to be fragile, as I recall.

My HOA cut down three of the four trees I had in the front yard. They replaced one with a crappy bush that seems to hate the California summers.

The HOA dues have outstripped inflation every year so far. I wish my investments could do so well...

T Rav

Unyo was claimed sunk. Maybe. Maybe not. I had a bunch of subs along her escape route and no attacks so maybe so.

One time I double-paid a couple of gas bills and didn't discover it for a long time because I was busy or stupid.

Anyway. They keep the money but credit me interest. When I finally found out I was a little surprised they didn't try a bit more aggressively to reach me but the interest they paid was damn good. [:D]

I asked the girl on the telephone if I could transfer my IRA to SDG&E. She said she would have to ask her manager. I snorted I was laughing so hard.

[Cap Mandrake]

Improbably, the approach of 85% of the US Pacific Fleet (and some of the RN) seems not to have been spotted

[Cap Mandrake]

At least one BB and one CA and 4 CVE's are distracted in the PI and Borneo.

10+ DD's and 1 or 2 CA's at Singers

120 fighters and 110 bombers at Singers

100 fighters and 100 long range naval bombers at Kendari

70 fighters in the Moluccas

45 fighters on Ceram

80 fighters 100 bombers at Beazelbob


I think Guam has 20+ Vals and some Lillies

Pagan has some Vals

No combat A/C at Saipan or Tinian...yet

Today was the first recon of Guam, Saipan and Tinian for months so that will likely get JJ's attention but it seems the carriers and transports have not been spotted yet

Plan is to stage the carriers about 5 hexes off Guam and attack the AF with all the TBF's on day with a heavy CAP to absorb strikes. Then on night 1/2 naval bombardments of Guam and Saipan. The transports will lag because I wanted a carrier strike the first day we are spotte.

[Cap Mandrake]

I am pretty sure the 30 "Aux" at Guam are transports evacuation Shinto Boys from Truk

[Cap Mandrake]

**********************July 4, 1943(e)****************

Sumatra: We get overpowered on fighter sweeps at Padang

Morning Air attack on Sabang , at 44,70

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 21 NM, estimated altitude 24,560 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 26

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 1
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 6 destroyed

[Cap Mandrake]

Way too many Tojos.

Morning Air attack on Sabang , at 44,70

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 23 NM, estimated altitude 27,560 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 21

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed

[Cap Mandrake]

Probably have to suspend landing operations at Sabang for now and get the planes out. Some of the planes at Singers may well start moving to the Marianas.

[Cap Mandrake]

PI: Serious attack on Iolio

Morning Air attack on 61st PA Infantry Division, at 79,84 (Iloilo)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIb Sally x 45
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 38
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 38
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 21

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
465 casualties reported
Squads: 39 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

and

Morning Air attack on 61st PA Infantry Division, at 79,84 (Iloilo)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
51 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

[Cap Mandrake]

Operation Meat Sauce: No CAP at all. Tactical surprise. There is a degree of strategic surprise as well. AAA not too bad at 11K feet. Not sure if this is enough to shut down the AF.

Morning Air attack on Guam , at 106,95

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 45
FM-1 Wildcat x 27
TBF-1 Avenger x 84

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed on ground
H6K5 Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 41

[Cap Mandrake]

These chumps got lost somehow.

Morning Air attack on Guam , at 106,95

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
FM-1 Wildcat x 9
TBF-1 Avenger x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

[Cap Mandrake]

This is the Pagan landing force. I think they are only 40 miles east of the carriers. CAP was set to 3 hexes. Something went wrong. I thin these are the Pagan Vals. Too bad.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Saipan at 111,95

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 21

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
xAP Etolin
APA American Legion, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
xAP Rangatira, Bomb hits 1
xAP Adabelle Lykes, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

[Cap Mandrake]

The Lilly unit from Guam flies into a buzzsaw

Morning Air attack on TF, near Saipan at 114,98

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 67 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 27

Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 14
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1
F6F-3 Hellcat x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 19 destroyed

No Allied losses

[rtrapasso]

...

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

...

California is in the midst of its worst COVID caseload. I suspect Cap, a doctor, is busy - hopefully not sick.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

...

California is in the midst of its worst COVID caseload. I suspect Cap, a doctor, is busy - hopefully not sick.

He did get vaccinated but yes, hopefully not sick with Covid-19.

[Cap Mandrake]

<crawls to the mic> Is this thing on?