Bring me the head of Diego Garcia...and the Mayor of Addu Atoll too!

[Cap Mandrake]

***************March 2, 1943(c)***************

Jolo: Rook rike LYB ships inbound near Zamboanga (NW Mindanao)

Sub attack near Zamboanga at 75,88

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Kisaragi
DD Teruzuki

Allied Ships
SS Seal

Seal is off his game after the breakup with what's her name. Maybe Saury, the Jewish guy will fare better.

ASW attack near Zamboanga at 75,88

Japanese Ships
DD Teruzuki
CL Naka
DD Kisaragi

Allied Ships
SS Saury

Nope...what a schlemiel.

[Cap Mandrake]

Here they come! Knife fight at 3000 yds. Hobart and 3 DD have steamed in from Cotobato.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 74,90, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Tama, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Yubari, Shell hits 1
DD Shirayuki
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Ushio
DD Katsutade, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
CL Hobart, Shell hits 3
DD O'Bannon
DD Preston
DD Tjerk Hiddes, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Tjerk Hiddes takes one "up the chuff". Nobody tell Wilhelmina, OK? At least Tama is burning.

[Cap Mandrake]

Saury is persistent. I'll give him that. He should have gone into radiology like his uncle Morty.

ASW attack near Jolo at 73,88

Japanese Ships
DD Akizuki
CL Naka
DD Kisaragi
DD Teruzuki

Allied Ships
SS Saury

[Cap Mandrake]

Seems rike a rot of damage for a couple of destroyer leaders. Bad die rolls.

Night Naval bombardment of Jolo at 74,90

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 8 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 15 damaged
C-47 Skytrain: 22 damaged
C-47 Skytrain: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40K Warhawk: 2 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 10 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
CL Tama, on fire
DD Katsutade
DD Ushio
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Shirayuki


Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 21

[Cap Mandrake]

Admiral Towers and his two DD's, who were supposed to be guarding Jolo are attracted by the noise of the C-47's being wrecked. Oh well.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 74,90, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Tama
CL Yubari
DD Shirayuki
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Ushio
DD Katsutade

Allied Ships
DD Maury, Shell hits 1
DD Dewey

[Cap Mandrake]

On the egress. Nobody can hit anything.

ASW attack near Jolo at 74,88

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuyuki
CL Tama
DD Katsutade
DD Ushio

Allied Ships
SS Plunger

What I hoped would not happen, did....but likely JJ is out of ammo. This is the convoy with 8th Marine withdrawing to "safety"

Day Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 74,88, Range 26,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Tama
CL Yubari
DD Shirayuki
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Ushio
DD Katsutade

Allied Ships
CL Phoenix
DD Kortenaer
xAP President Coolidge
xAP Empress ' Australia
xAK Clan Macdonald

[Cap Mandrake]

Morning fighter sweep over Jolo. bzzzt. We win.

Morning Air attack on Jolo , at 74,90

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 22



Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 8
P-40K Warhawk x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 7


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 9 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed

[Cap Mandrake]

Evidently Haruna is retreating toward Singapore? She is not making much headway. Opportunity lost here. I had posted subs to try to catch her getting to Manila.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Tawi Tawi at 72,89

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
SBD-3 Dauntless x 2


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna

[Cap Mandrake]

LYB fighter sweep over 8th Marine taffy.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Jolo at 74,89

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4



Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 8

P-40K Warhawk x 4
F4U-1 Corsair x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Phoenix

I think these Vals are coming from Davao, which is not yet shut down. They are carrying only 60 kg bombs.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Jolo at 74,89

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 24
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 6



Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 6
P-40K Warhawk x 4
F4U-1 Corsair x 2


Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 9 destroyed, 3 damaged
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CL Phoenix
xAP President Coolidge, Bomb hits 2

[Cap Mandrake]

B-25's take a shot at Haruna.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tawi Tawi at 72,89

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 5
P-38G Lightning x 3


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
CA Takao

[Cap Mandrake]

That's it for the Jolo environs for today.

The good:

1) Haruna looks to be making about 20 kts (but is not smoking). She is making for one of the Indochina ports or Singapore and probably needs yard time.

2) Jolo airfield is apparently still operational.

3) The 8th Marine convoy escaped serious damage despite a big raid by Vals.

The bad:

1) Tjerk Hiddes lost.

2) Airframe damage at Jolo is substantial

3) Subs can't hit anything.

4) There are still Zeroes over Taytay.

[Cap Mandrake]

Dadjangas: As predicted, the LYB convoy south of Davao was headed fro Dadjangas. The crusier group that was guarding Sangi was ordered north to intercept. It might have been a clean sweep except they were low on ammo and torps after their fight at Jolo 2 nights ago.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Dadjangas at 77,95, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PC Sumire, Shell hits 2, on fire
DMS W-11, Shell hits 1
xAK Azuma Maru, Shell hits 41, and is sunk
xAK Kenyo Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Nako Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Karachi Maru, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Keihuku Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Taian Maru, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Birmingham
CLAA Juneau
CL Trenton
DD Frazier
DD Helm
DD Talbot

[Cap Mandrake]

Torres Strait: Rooks rike JJ snuck some bombers into Port Moresby or one of the northern New Guinea bases. We had a CAP flying out of Horn Island.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 93,130

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 5
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11



Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 10


Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
DMS Chandler

[Cap Mandrake]

Burma: Jap raids over the Chindits and this attack by the 1st Assma Kitchen Sink Air Force. Hard to beleive they can still fly out of Myitkynia. Maybe LRCAP?

Morning Air attack on Myitkyina , at 64,42

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 2
A6M3a Zero x 8



Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 6
Martlet II x 3
Beaufighter VIc x 5
Hurricane IIc Trop x 6
Vengeance I x 73
Hurricane IIb Trop x 5
DB-7B x 14
B-24D Liberator x 4
B-25C Mitchell x 6
P-40K Warhawk x 18


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 5 damaged
DB-7B: 2 damaged
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed



Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 53

[Cap Mandrake]

***************Bali Hai Club, North, Dadjangas, Mindanao, March 1, 1943(c)*************


<Bar is noisy and busy. Beer is flowing freely>


Man in fine linen slacks: <pensivley> Yossarian, are you happy in retail?

Hirsute man: What this? This isn't work. It beats milk runs.

Man in fine linen slacks: Yes, but there is no thrill of the chase.

Hirsute man: That is fine by me, you crazy SOB. Cold beer, attractive women <looks at some of dance girls>...well cold beer at least.

Man in fine linen slacks: Yossarian, I am thinking of getting together the 90th Bombardment Squadron again. What do you think?

Hirsute man: Milo, you crazy SOB. Those of us still alive are officially dead.

Man in fine linen slacks: No, I meant a virtual 90th Bombardment Squadron.

Hirsute man: Virtual? <cautiously>

Man in fine linen slacks: Hell, why just a squadron, how about a group? Yossarian, I hereby appoint you commander, M&M Enterprises 1st Medium Bombardment Group.

[BBfanboy]

What the ...? Is this a scheme to have 90th BG draw replacement bombers from the pool and sell them to .... ? I'm not sure Brazil can afford B-17s.

[Cap Mandrake]

We don't have a "bomber pool" [:D]

[Cap Mandrake]

****************7th Air Force HQ, Darwin, March 2, 1943(c)*****************


Gen. Kenney: Alright, son, let's hear it.

Man in fine linen slacks: Thank you General. I won't take up too much of your time but I do have a proposal that may change the conduct of the air war. First, let me ask, who here wants to die for their country?

Young 7th Air Force staff officer: <tentatively> Well...I am willing to die for my country.

Man in fine linen slacks: Yes, "willing to" but do you really WANT to?

Young 7th Air Force staff officer: Well, no, I suppose not.

Man in fine linen slacks: EXACTLY! What if I told you that NOBODY has to die flying bombing missions?

Young 7th Air Force staff officer: Well, there is a limit to how much armor a plane can carry and still have an effective bomb load.

Man in fine linen slacks: This isn't about armor, it's not about bomb load, it's not about bomb sights or formation flying or anti-aircraft guns or fuses or ANY of that stuff! Gentlemen, what I am offering you is the most efficient war fighting organization yet devised...<pause for dramatic effect...General Kenney even leans forward, intrigued> I give you the M&M Enterprises 1st Virtual Bomb Group and the CEO, Colonel Yossarian, M&M Enterprises, Aviation Division. <all eyes turn to Yossarian who is wearing a pin stripe suit with golden eagles on his lapels..he nods. The man in the fine linen slacks begins to speak again>

General, what is the mission statement of 7th Air Force?

Gen. Kenney: To apply novel strategies and new pardigms to achieve the goal of efficiently destroying the war fighting power of the enemy in the Southwest Pacific while simultaneously limiting damage to the biota and the native populations of the area.

Man in fine linen slacks: Precisely! ................

[Cap Mandrake]

Man in fine linen slacks:...and what does "efficiency" mean here?

Gen. Kenney: Time.

Man in fine linen slacks: Yes. And?

Young 7th Air Force staff officer: Lives?

Man in fine linen slacks: Yes. And?

Man in pinstripe suit: Money?

Man in fine linen slacks: YES! MONEY! <moves to easel with large blackboard> Let's take a United States Army Air Force Medium Bombardment Group. Let's say.... B-25 equipped. Let's say it's March, 1943.

Gen. Kenney: It is March, 1943, son.

Man in fine linen slacks: Indeed! That's how you got to general officer rank, sir. <moves quickly picking up chalk> Unit cost B-25C, anyone? <turns to audience...they look at each other..there is no answer> $109,346 is the cost to the taxpayers for every B-25. Now let's say 96 planes, 20% for spare parts, replacement engines...ummm... another 50 planes for combat and operational losses over the course of the war...ground support capital equipment..I make a MINIUMUM TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS in capital expenditures to equip one USAAF Medium Bombardment Group and we haven't even started with operating costs. <there is an audible gasp in the room>

Now..personnel..say 1,300 officers and men, 18 month campaign plus a year of training..that's 30 months..cautiously I am guessing average pay $150..that makes nearly SIX MILLION DOLLARS in pay alone for an 18 months of war fighting.

Operating expenses...say 1 mission per week per airframe..$1000 of ordnance, aviation fuel, lubricants, tires per airframe per mission..etc...for 18 months..that's 7 an 1/2 million and that's bare bones..that's assuming somebody just GIVES us a few tons of K-rations a week. <adds figure to column and then pauses>

Is that it?

Young 7th Air Force staff officer: What about a base?

Man in fine linen slacks: BINGO! Twin 6000 foot runways, 50 feet wide, taxiways, reventments, avaition fuel tanks...thats at least 40,000 cubic yards of pavement..barracks, base hospital...$1 million..easy. Is that it? <earnest looks but no answers>

NO, it's not. You can't reach Tokyo from Darwin, my friends. You will need AT LEAST 3 more airfields on the march to Tokyo...that's another cool $4 million. <draws a line>

$17.5 million for 75 missions...that $233 thousand dollars a mission....A QUARTER MIILION DOLLARS EVERY TIME YOU WANT TO TAKE OUT A COUPLE OF ZEROES OR KNOCK OUT A JAP AIRFIELD FOR 3 DAYS................

[Cap Mandrake]

Gen. Kenney: Mr. Minderbinder, I believe you have convinced us that war is a costly endeavor, but you haven't said how you mean to change it.

Man in fine linen slacks: Indeed, General may I ask where you are from?

Gen. Kenney: I grew up in the Boston area.

Man in fine linen slacks: Ah, Boston, not exactly the wilderness but let us say you had a neighbor who raised turkeys and you needed a turkey for Thanksgiving. Would you arm yourself with a shotgun, shoot up his barn and take a turkey from him?

Gen. Kenney: No, of course not. We would strike a bargain.

Man in fine linen slacks: EXACTLY! Now, I have found the Japanese to be a proud but also a pragmatic people. I propose that M&M 1st Bombardment Squadron, Medium act as the financial vehicle to achieve the goals of 7th Air Force.

Gen. Kenney: Financial vehicle? I'm afraid you've lost me.

Man in fine linen slacks: Quite simply, General, our company will use our considerable experience in the field to contract with potential Japanese target commands to conduct virtual air raids on planned enemy targets, with financial compensation, of course.

Gen. Kenney: I'm afraid I still don't get it.

Man in fine linen slacks: Well, to be blunt, we pay the Japs to destroy their own equipment.

Gen. Kenney: <cigar drops out of mouth>