The swap has been effected at Truk. I hope it was worth it because the CD guns were ferocious in spite of a battleship bombardment, a heavy cruiser bombardment, and 2x CA within the landing convoy. The troops will deliberate attack tomorrow.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Truk (112,108) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
673 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 8
CA Astoria, Shell hits 1
DD Nicholas, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Chevalier, Shell hits 4, on fire
APA President Adams
APA President Polk
APA Doyen
Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Truk Naval Fortress firing at CA Minneapolis
CA Minneapolis firing at Truk Naval Fortress
Truk Naval Fortress firing at CA Astoria
DD Nicholas firing at Truk Naval Fortress
Truk Naval Fortress firing at DD Nicholas
DD Chevalier firing at Truk Naval Fortress
Truk Naval Fortress firing at DD Chevalier
CA Minneapolis firing to suppress enemy battery at 19,000 yards
CA Astoria firing to suppress enemy battery at 19,000 yards
CA Minneapolis firing to suppress enemy battery at 19,000 yards
15.5cm 3YT CD Gun Battery engaging APA President Polk at 19,000 yards
CA Astoria firing to suppress enemy battery at 19,000 yards
15cm 41YT CD Gun Battery engaging APA President Polk at 19,000 yards
CA Astoria firing to suppress enemy battery at 19,000 yards
CA Astoria firing to suppress enemy battery at 19,000 yards
CA Astoria firing to suppress enemy battery at 19,000 yards
15.5cm 3YT CD Gun Battery engaging APA President Adams at 19,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Truk (112,108)
TF 267 troops unloading over beach at Truk, 112,108
Allied ground losses:
125 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
14 troops of a USMC 43 Rifle Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 2nd Marine Div /1
Motorized Support accidentally lost during unload of 2nd Marine Div /11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Truk (112,108) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
359 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 14
DD Jenkins, Shell hits 8, on fire
APA President Polk, Shell hits 9, heavy fires
CA Astoria
APA President Adams, Shell hits 8
APA Crescent City, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Chevalier, on fire
APA Doyen
DD Nicholas, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
216 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Truk Naval Fortress firing at CA Minneapolis
CA Minneapolis firing at Truk Naval Fortress
DD Jenkins firing at Truk Naval Fortress
Truk Naval Fortress firing at DD Jenkins
12cm/45 10YT DP Gun Battery engaging APA President Polk at 11,000 yards
CA Astoria firing to suppress enemy battery at 11,000 yards
8cm/40 T41 DP Gun Battery engaging APA President Adams at 11,000 yards
CA Astoria firing to suppress enemy battery at 11,000 yards
15.5cm 3YT CD Gun Battery engaging APA President Polk at 11,000 yards
CA Minneapolis firing to suppress enemy battery at 11,000 yards
15cm 41YT CD Gun Battery engaging APA President Adams at 11,000 yards
CA Astoria firing to suppress enemy battery at 11,000 yards
15cm 41YT CD Gun Battery engaging APA Crescent City at 11,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Truk (112,108)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
56 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
APA Crescent City
APA President Adams
APA Doyen, Shell hits 1
CA Minneapolis
12cm/45 10YT DP Gun battery firing at APA Doyen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Truk (112,108)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 12510 troops, 183 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 319
Defending force 28489 troops, 397 guns, 674 vehicles, Assault Value = 925
Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Assaulting units:
42nd Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 5th SNLF
Guards Mixed Brigade
48th Naval Guard Unit
46th Naval Guard Unit
41st Infantry Rgt /2
24th Air Flotilla
11th Air Fleet
4th Port Unit
15th Naval Construction Battalion
4th Base Force
Truk Naval Fortress
5th JNAF Coy
5th RF Gun Battalion
10th JNAF AF Unit
Defending units:
24th Infantry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
Auckland (Mtd) Rifl Regiment
2nd Marine Division
763rd Tank Battalion
Otago (Mtd) Rifles Regiment
3rd Pioneer Battalion
1st AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
3rd NZ Division
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
But all of this paled in comparison to the battles that raged in the air over the Timor Sea, the Arafura Sea, and above the port of Darwin.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Selaroe at 79,121
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 86
Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 6
P-38G Lightning x 7
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 4 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 2 destroyed
CAP engaged:
Akagi-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
11 planes vectored on to bombers
Kaga-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
15 planes vectored on to bombers
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
Shokaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
15 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuikaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 75,123
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 13
B-24D1 Liberator x 7
P-38G Lightning x 7
P-40E Warhawk x 15
Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 2 damaged
A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed by flak
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Bomb hits 2
CL Jintsu
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
7 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Babar at 77,118
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 1 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 3
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Ushio
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Selaroe at 79,121
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 82
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
Japanese Ships
BB Musashi
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Akagi-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
Kaga-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
16 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
Zuikaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
13 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
Shokaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
15 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 76,124
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 94 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 10
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 6 destroyed
No Allied losses
CAP engaged:
49th FG/9th FS with P-40E Warhawk (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
475th FG/431st FS with P-38G Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 75,123
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 7
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Bomb hits 1
CL Oyodo
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 75,123
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 14 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 3
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Selaroe at 79,121
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 22 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 61
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 3
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
Japanese Ships
BB Musashi
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Akagi-1 with A6M5 Zero (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
Kaga-1 with A6M5 Zero (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
Shokaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
Zuikaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
Nakajima W. in a A6M5 Zero makes head on attack ... forces B-24D1 Liberator out of formation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 75,123
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 9
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 7 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Bomb hits 4
DD Susuzuki, Shell hits 4
DD Natsushio, Shell hits 5
CA Tone, Shell hits 3
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level *
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Selaroe at 79,121
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 89
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CV Akagi
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Akagi-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 11 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
21 planes vectored on to bombers
Kaga-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuikaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
13 planes vectored on to bombers
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
Tokuda I. in a A6M5 Zero makes head on attack ... forces B-24D1 Liberator out of formation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Selaroe at 79,121
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 58 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 85
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 4
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Kaga-1 with A6M5 Zero (8 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
Shokaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (6 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 56 minutes
Akagi-1 with A6M5 Zero (17 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
17 plane(s) intercepting now.
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
Zuikaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 76,124
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 95 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes
Japanese aircraft
D4Y1 Judy x 36
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 7 destroyed, 6 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
CL Java, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp
DD Kortenaer
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
49th FG/9th FS with P-40E Warhawk (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
475th FG/431st FS with P-38G Lightning (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Java
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 75,123
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 4
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Java is in good shape and has left the TF for the shelter of the harbor to lick her wounds. Overall in these battles flak and CAP had their way. I anticipate a bloody battle in the waters near Darwin tonight. BTW, the B-25D1 group that got the first hit on Fuso flew out of Merauke.