Official After Action Report - VMF-221 for 4 June, 1942

[spence]

http://www.midway42.org/aa-reports/vmf-221.pdf

Pilots exaggerate???

Incidentally, the Official After Action Reports for various squadrons, ships and TF's are available at:

http://www.midway42.org/aa-reports

[Dadekster]

I think it is a generalization not a rule. [;)]

A very interesting read back into time though.

[dazoline II]

Thinking about how the AAR relates to the combat report in AE.
I counted 12 pilots submitting after action reports 2 of which didn't participate in combat. With 25 planes attacking (one aborted for 26) they had 10 pilots survive? That's quite a loss.

My casual observation:
Japanese Losses
4 Val.
2 Zero

Allied Losses
15 F2A Brewster
10 F2A Damaged.

[mike scholl 1]

P.R.White - "I estimated the top speed of the Zero fighter at 450 mph!" All these reports sound like the statements of men who have been really shaken up, scared silly, and are trying to sound cool and professional afterwards. Not that I'm blaming them..., trying to intercept Zeroes with Buffalloes would be enough to shake up anyone. Having seen how many of thier friends are missing, they want to believe they achieved something in return. Natural reaction.

[Miller]

Considering they were outnumbered, mainly green pilots flying obsolete a/c facing the cream of the IJN they did as well as could be expected. Pilot losses were high as they were strafed after bailing out.