VMF-224 Scrap Book
Roi-Namur, Marshall Islands
Aircraft Action Report #69
Note: Aircraft Action Reports typically are 5 pages or more in length. The below information was extracted from official Aircraft Action Reports. Not all copies of reports viewed were complete in content.
VMF-224 Aircraft Action Report # 69
Based at Dyess Field, Roi Island - Operating from Roi Island
16 July 1944
Mission: Low-level bombing attack against magazine at B-3, and dive bomb gun battery at B-11, Wotje Island. Strafe islands north of Wotje, through and including Eniibin Island.
Take Off Time: 1522 hrs
Squadron Aircraft: Sixteen (16) F4U-1's - 4ea with 1,000 pound GP's, 11ea with 250 pound GP's. One (1) aircraft carried no bomb and pilot acted as observer.
VMF-224 Pilots Participating: Captains LESLIE, IRISH, BARNWELL and R.J. IRWIN, and Lts. JOHNSON, PRESCOTT, DAUGHERTY, LINDQUIST, GRAHAM, PRYOR, DAVIES,
HITCHINGS, RILEY, K.B. NELSON, BERRY and SANFORD.
Other U.S. or Allied Aircraft: None
Weather Over Target: 1/10 cumulus, 2,000' to 2,500'. Sun overhead. Visibility good.
VMF-224 Targets and Results: Coastal defense gun at B-11, Wotje Island was attacked by 11 F4U-1's with 1ea 250 pound GPs resulting in one possible hit. A concrete magazine at B-3, Wotje Island was attacked by 4 F4U-1's with 1ea 1,000 pound GP's with releases between 50' to 100'. Captain LESLIE's bomb hit the SW wall of the target magazine, penetrated and exploded within. Absence of obliterating explosion indicates that the magazine contained little if any ammunition or fuels.
Tactical Data: The flight passed north up the east coast of Wotje Island, and as the B-11 battery was reached Captain IRISH made a 180 degree diving turn to the left and dive bombed the coast defense gun at B-11, followed in line astern by the other eleven (11) aircraft carrying 250 pound GPs. Dives were from 8,000' and releases at 2,000'. On completion of this attack the aircraft involved rendezvoused with Captain LESLIE's division over Wotje Lagoon, three corsairs joining up on each of Captain LESLIE's four low-level bombers, and strafed the "A" and "B" areas of Wotje Island for the bombers, the direction of attack being from SW to NE. Strafers bracketed the bomber, two on one side, and the third on the other side, and pulled out of strafing runs no lower than 500', being careful not to pull ahead of the bomber and expose it ejected shells.
Captain LESLIE started his dive when at 6,000', about 1 1/2 miles SW of target, coming in at 45 to 50 degree angle dive, picking up speed until at around 1,000' at which point he started leveling off gradually so that his final approach was flat, at the level of the top of the target magazine. He released as the target began to disappear under nose, then pulled up, his bomb hitting the target in flight, apparently penetrating and exploding within. The magazine was evidently empty since the explosion did not destroy the target completely. In this connection it was observed that although the tail fuse of the 1,000 GP was set for 4 to 5 seconds delay, the bomb apparently exploded immediately after penetrating target. The fact that he obtained a direct hit and the fact that the target building contained the explosion probably saved Captain LESLIE from being damaged by his own bomb.
The other three (3) bombs in Captain LESLIE's division exploded beyond the target after hitting short and bouncing over the target.
AA was meager, medium and light, and inaccurate, from the C-4 area, just north of the NE turning circle of runway Baker, and from the area between the north radio station and the nearby burned out hanger.
Range, Fuel and Ammunition Data: Average Hours in Air = 3.0 / Average Fuel Load = 287 / Average Fuel Consumed = 195 / 0.50 Cal Ammunition Fired = 7,900 rounds .
Report Prepared By: Patrick H. Nelson - Captain, ACIO
Approved By: Frank E. Hopper - Major, Executive Officer
