Best Two Out of Three

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. II Burma Battles (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

The tactical doctrine of a "Kill Box" first came into useage in the intensive bombing campaign conducted against the Japanese 3rd ID, 1st Tank Division, and the 4th ID of the Royal Thai Army. As you know, the divisions had been herded into the open by operation SkyFall in which the Chindits seized Undon Thani from the Thai army blocking the escape route for these three units. Caught in the open, they were subjected to a ruthless bombardment from the air with approximately 500 planes dropping more than 600 tons of high explosive per day on them. To manage the large number of daily sorties the Army, Indian, and Royal Air forces worked out a system that divided the target area into a series of boxes each of which was the exclusive responsibility of a specific squadron. A command aircraft circled the battlefield directing incoming strikes. By the end, these three units had been subjected to almost as much firepower as had been dropped on Hiroshima.

Lecture notes, United States Air force Academy Class "ground support under conditions of total air superiority" 1959.

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. II Burma Battles (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

We did not know it at the time, but the battle of Moulmein was the key victory in the battle for South East Asia. After that the Japanese held briefly at Bangkok but then a giant vacuum opened up and Allied forces were hampered more by the task of occupation than by the IJA. Saigon proved to be an unexpected boost to our campaign against Japan's merchant marine. First, it was quickly converted into a sub base and it's dry dock meant that damage from the Japanese E boat upgrades could be quickly repaired rather than face a long trek all the way back to Pearl. Second, we could base CAs, CLs, and DDs there. Our Cruiser warfare kicked into high gear as several large Japanese fuel convoys were intercepted and destroyed. The IJN was forced to commit surface assets to keep the LOC open and we lost two CAs in one battle (the Houston blew up when one shell found the magazine) but even that worked to our advantage by forcing them to come out and fight. With the liberation of Indochina, Britain sent her forces towards Singapore and the US headed into southern China.

Rear Admiral Mirran "Cutting Japan's Lifeline" Time Magazine 1951.

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. III Central Pacific Ablaze (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

We had waited for the Americans to be sucked into the street fighting in Manila and as soon as our intelligence identified each division that had landed we authorized Operation Tenneka Go! Basically, we hoped to drop commandos and not only cut off the forces in Manila but to also capture two airfields and destroy a large part of the air units stationed there. Unfortunately, the Americans had landed several armor battalions that we had not accounted for that were garrisoning those same bases. Our men had exemplary spirit and god like courage, but they were soon hunted down. I apologized to the Emperor for the failure, but we had other tricks up our sleeve. We knew they would get lazy and arrogant with a stream of constant success and we would exploit their mistakes.

Col. Iriku Nadeshi (Ret.) 1962 Interview with Author.

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. I: Chinese Quagmire (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

Hi Ma,

Well, me and the boys are here in China. I can't say where but we've been in some hard fighting with two infantry and one armor division and they've been pushed back. One thing you never forget is the smell. Not only the dead and dying in battle, but all along the countryside. let's just say they have different views of fertilizing crops here in this part of the world. And, Sergeant Eddy has a fit whenever he sees us trying to drink water out of a well or stream. In one sense I feel sorry for the Japs. I've seen some of our new [deleted by censor] and those bombers are HUGE! They fly over the Japanese positions day after day and the stream of bombs coming down in like a waterfall. When you add in the other big and small bombers we hit them with I'm sure it's miserable to be on their side. But, they started it!

Love,

John

Letter Home from PFC John Fintish June 29, 1944.

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. III Central Pacific Ablaze (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

This is your Movietone News Reel Bringing you the news from all the fronts [trumpets sounding with montage of allied tanks advancing]

Today the surprise announcement from Allied Supreme Head Quarters that Manila, pearl of the Orient, has been liberated. The 4th American Marine Division punched a hole in their fortified lines and the Japs are being driven back on all fronts as the city erupts in celebration. [footage of Philippine school children waiving American flags]. Allied casualties are reported to be light and our boys are in good spirits [soldier with bandaged arm laying on a stretcher]

Q: How are you feeling Marine?

A: Pretty good sir. We've been pasting the Japs with out planes and artillery and I think we've licked them this time.

Q: Keep up the good work son and look after that arm.

A: Semper Fi sir!

Japanese casualties are reported to be very heavy as they, once again, fought to the last man. [footage of dead Japanese hanging from windowsills and by the side of the road.]

Our boys are on the move to Clark Field [footage of Trucks filled with troops waving and driving away from the camera]!

This has been Movietone News bringing you the latest from the front. [Footage of an American Flag waving in the breeze as the sun comes up]. Now, your feature presentation!

[BBfanboy]

Nice victory - the aircraft destroyed in Manila were worth almost as much as the city!

What was the game date for the liberation?

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. III Central Pacific Ablaze (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

By the time the Americans got to Manila our resource shortage was pinching ever tighter. We just could not fortify every place as strongly as we wished so Manila, which should have bristled with pill boxes and minefields really was only about half fortified. To compound the disaster, on the day of the offensive the Allies mounted an all out air effort on Clark Field. They started the day with a shore bombardment that disrupted many of our escort squadrons and followed that with waves of fighters (P-47s and P-38s) and then the heavy bombers. That effort and the losses we took from the Manila airfields pushed our total air losses that day over 400 planes. But no one talked of surrender or ever negotiating. For all intents and purposes Luzon was lost but the Home Islands were still untouched.

Mikisawa Faguchi (Asst. Undersecretary of War for Japan in Post-War interview with Allied Intelligence).

[John B.]

Hey BBFanboy,

July 1, 1944!

[Capt. Harlock]

Japanese casualties are reported to be very heavy as they, once again, fought to the last man. [footage of dead Japanese hanging from windowsills and by the side of the road.]

Hmm. Then how come 14 units retreated?

That aside, kudos!!

[John B.]

Capt. Harlock I think you're going to have to take your complaint up with Movietone news. [:)]

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. III Central Pacific Ablaze (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

Dearest Mother,

I am ashamed to admit that I am afraid as I write this letter. I know our Empire needs oil to grow and to help our 100 million fight to free Asia from the round eyed devils. Yet the rumors abound that no ships make it through the South China Sea. I've had lots of friends leave in convoys the past few months and I have not seen them again. Now, it is our turn to head south and I'm glad to see several E class boats alongside that should help keep the Allied subs at bay, but the whispers are of surface battles and enemy ships coming out of the fog out gunning and out running us. I know we'll win but I fear I may not be there to see it. If I do not return, remember me always.

Last letter home from Yoshi Higura Able Seaman last seen leaving on a Palembang bound Tanker convoy July 2, 1944.

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. III Central Pacific Ablaze (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

I regret to report that our attempted intercept of the allied surface fleet blockading the south china sea did not meet with its hoped for success. At approximately 0826 Tokyo time we received a distress call from the southbound TK convoy. Reacting over we could not find the convoy but we soon engaged an American TF consisting of 2-3 CLs and 4-6 DDs. Many of our ships were severely damaged by American gunfire. Some fires were observed on American ships but all were able to maintain speed and formation. Our ships losses were heavy and we were unable to locate the south bound convoy before we were forced to retreat back towards Hong Kong. Last night one of our damaged CLs was torpedoed by an American submarine. We were unable to stop to rescue survivors due to the presence of those same submarines. Recommend halting all further convoys until sufficient assets can be gathered to reopen the convoy routes.

Report of Captain Hamichi Hara to IJN Fleet HQ July 5, 1944.

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. VI With One Hundred Million on the Home Islands (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

TREASONOUS NEST OF VIPERS UNCOVERED!! SUPREME COMMAND FOILS SURRENDER PLOT!!!! ALLIED LAPDOGS SHOT AT DAWN!!!!!!

From, High Command, for Immediate Release. Today, the High Command reports that a series of mid-ranking officials in the Foreign Office were discovered advocating a Japanese Surrender. These "officials" apparently ignored the vast territories still controlled by our glorious armed forces and claimed that the Emperor Himself should bow to the Allies. "All Japan should rest assured that the Emperor was never in danger and that these officials were unable to pursue their poisonous dreams of humiliation." "We have had some minor, even temporary setbacks, recently and no doubt this is due to these traitors and their attempts to give the allied dogs what they are unable to win on the battlefield. Now we can refocus our efforts on liberating all of Asia under the banner of our ever benevolent Emperor." Supreme Command also reports that these vermin were denied the honor of supuku and instead shot and left for the crows at dawn. The Emperor Himself has mandated that their names be stricken from all official records as not being worthy of claiming citizenship in our Empire.

Headline and lead story from the July 5, 1944 Tokyo Times.

In other words, Scott and I talked about ending the game but he vowed to fight on to the bitter end.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: John B.

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. III Central Pacific Ablaze (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

I regret to report that our attempted intercept of the allied surface fleet blockading the south china sea did not meet with its hoped for success. At approximately 0826 Tokyo time we received a distress call from the southbound TK convoy. Reacting over we could not find the convoy but we soon engaged an American TF consisting of 2-3 CLs and 4-6 DDs. Many of our ships were severely damaged by American gunfire. Some fires were observed on American ships but all were able to maintain speed and formation. Our ships losses were heavy and we were unable to locate the south bound convoy before we were forced to retreat back towards Hong Kong. Last night one of our damaged CLs was torpedoed by an American submarine. We were unable to stop to rescue survivors due to the presence of those same submarines. Recommend halting all further convoys until sufficient assets can be gathered to reopen the convoy routes.

Report of Captain Hamichi Hara to IJN Fleet HQ July 5, 1944.

A stunning demonstration of the new allied fire control boost in 1944! How different from the first year of the war!

BTW, a small typo I think - the Commander of Yahagi was Capt. Tameichi Hara. Good to see that he lived to write about the battle - and perhaps other battles in his memoirs.

[John B.]

I actually did not know he had written a famous memoir until I was looking up a name to use in that post. Needless to say, now I'm going to get it!

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. V: Duds and Depth Charges (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

To: Admiral King

From: Admiral Nimitz

Dage: July 7, 1944

Re: continued fleet sub production

Admiral, given our success in SE Asia, the Marianas, and Luzon, I would recommend curtailment of future fleet sub production. In the past two months we have sunk more than 20 Japanese TK (including 10 or more of more than 11,000 tons displacement) by surface and air action. This blockade has also accounted for a large number of AKs, DEs, DDs, and CLs. The desperation of the Japanese Empire for oil is shown by the fact that despite our complete dominance of the South China Sea and the Central Pacific they keep attempting to run TK convoys through to the DEI. Two days ago a CVL escort TF was diverted to intercept one such effort and accounted for three more large TK/AOs, a CL, and a DD and yesterday a CVE TF sank two E class escorts. Our current submarine force has reported fewer and fewer contacts and so I believe that future submarine production be diverted to other, more effective, weapons.

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. III Central Pacific Ablaze (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

Man, by the third day my ears never stopped ringing and they still sort of ring today. After we pried the Japs out of Clark Field they retreated to the Bataan peninsula. Our boys remember the stories the freed POWs told us about what those bastards did there back in 42 so were not in the mood for mercy. The Admiral set up what he called the conveyor belt. We had at least 9 BBs doing a constant run of shore bombardments. We'd shoot, cruise back to the docks at Manila, reload, and go out and shoot some more. If we had already hit a target once we went out and hit it again. I saw two of the big boys Jersey and Iowa out there and my own Arizona put her 15 inch guns to good use as well. I later heard that a few Japs were captured from that jungle who had not eaten in more than two weeks. More died from disease, starvation, or just going crazy under the rain of shells. Serves them right for what they did.

Chief Gunners Mate Jeb Swanson (Ret.) 1963 Interview with author.

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. I: Chinese Quagmire (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

Hi Ma

You probably know by now that we've liberated Nanning. It's the first Chinese city I've ever seen and it's been blasted apart. Let's just say we're not talking Brooklyn. It was a hard fight that took almost a week longer than we thought. We had to dig them out of foxholes, spider holes, bunkers, buildings you name it. And they had tanks. Little fellas that were good at hiding under cover. In the end we and the fly boys pounded them out of there and now we're looking across the river at Luichow or some such place. I hear we're pausing to rest and I'm A OK with that. Although the scuttlebutt is that the Japs almost totally wrecked that huge airbase at Nanning so the seabeees need to take time to repair it so that we can base out of there again. If that's what buys me some peace and downtime I hope the Japs dynamite every airbase between here and Tokyo.

Love,

Theo (letter home from CPL Theodore Epstein July 12, 1944) (used with Mr. Epstein's permission).

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. II Burma Battles (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

And so it's come to this. Brother against brother. With China making clear that it would have no use for English or Empire troops inside it's boarders Winston decided to throw the Empire's army against Singapore. My division [author's note the 19th Indian] has just entered Malaya and found itself face to face with the INA's Azod regiment. Orders are orders and we drove them out at bayonet point and now we're pursuing them but it just seems wrong, somehow, to gun down those who are fighting for the same Independent India we'll insist on at the end of the war. The Malays are too happy to see us either since they know we bring England in our wake but that's not really my concern. We have a war to win right now!

Diary of Sgt. Vinda Guesh (used with family's permission).

[John B.]

An Oral History The Great Asia Pacific War Vol. III Central Pacific Ablaze (Harper Publishing & Co. 1965)

The oil plan was going well and we figured that Japan was running out of liquid hydrocarbons given the near desperation with which they tried to run tankers up the South China Sea. We sent out carriers and surface ships to intercept these blockade runners. But, it wasn't cheap. I remember one night in mid-July 44 when we took out one of the IJN's converted whalers. That ship groaned as it tore apart under our shells. But, we lost two DDs to Jap torpedoes that night. A lot of good men died to keep our feet on Japan's windpipe.

TV Interview with Vice Admiral Bishop NBC "Attacking the Axis" July 12, 1955.