VMF-224 Scrap Book
Roi-Namur, Marshall Islands
Aircraft Action Report #76
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 #76
Based at Dyess Field, Roi Island - Operating from Majuro Island
10 August 1944
Mission: Dive-bomb coastal defense gun battery at B-6, Mille Island, as part of a 4th MBDAW strike.
Take Off Time: 0945 hrs
Squadron Aircraft: Twenty (20) F4U-1's with 1ea 500 pound GPs with 0.1 second nose fuse setting.
VMF-224 Pilots Participating: Majors IRWIN and MORRISON, Captains LESLIE, IRISH, K.B. NELSON, and R.J. IRWIN, Lts NEBALEK, DEMPSY, SPEROW, MARSHALL, VAN AMBERG, SATTERWHITE, CURTIS, VEACH, WASHBURN, HITCHINGS, DAVIES, NALLE,
ATTEBERY and RILEY.
Other U.S. or Allied Aircraft: VMF-311 - 20ea F4U-1's based at Roi operating from Majuro.
VMF-111 - 16ea F4U-1's based at Makin operating from Majuro.
VMO-155 - 12ea F4U-1's based at Majuro.
VMO-155 - 2ea F6F-3P's based at Majuro.
VMSB-231 - 18ea SBD-5's based at Majuro.
VMSB-331 - 21ea SBD-5's based at Majuro.
VSMB-245 - 13ea SBD-5's based at Makin operating from Majuro.
VSMB-245 - 5ea SBD-6's based at Makin operating from Majuro.
VP-2_ - 2ea PBY's based at Majuro.
MAG-13 - 1ea _____ based at Majuro.
MAG-13 - 1ea SBD-_ based at Majuro.
Weather Over Target: 9/10 stratus, 5,000' to 6,000'. Clear below 5,000', visibility unlimited. Target obscured at start of dive,
VMF-224 Targets and Results: Target was three revetments measuring 20' across. Due to the 9/10 stratus cloud layer over the target bombing runs were started blind, and only 12 explosions could be observed. Of these, Lt. CURTIS was either a hit or near miss on the south gun position. Eight bombs were observed to explode in the target area. One bomb (pilot not identified) obtained a hit or near miss on the north gun position.
Tactical Data: This was an all out 4th MBADW strike against Mille Island targets involving flights from four (4) fighter-bomber squadrons and three (3) scout-bomber squadrons, all operating from Majuro Air Field. The twenty (20) planes of this squadron took off and rendezvoused over base with flights from the other six (6) squadrons, at 12,000'. The fighter-bomber flights then headed out on course at 12,500' at 185 knots indicated, in column of squadrons, each squadron flying a "V" of divisions. VMF-224 brought up the rear.
As Mille Atoll was reached each squadron broke off to attack its separately assigned target. Major IRWIN led his VMF-224 flight in a glide down to 10,000', and as he came abreast of target, moving in a generally north to south direction, peeled off into a 90 degree diving turn to the left, attacking in a direction that paralleled the NS-SW runway. Dives were started at 10,000', in line astern, at close interval, and releases were at an average altitude of 3,000'. Due to exceedingly bad cloud conditions pilots experienced difficulty in locating and lining up on target, and dive angles varied. The average dive angle was around 60 degrees. Getaway was to the NE and rendezvous was made with VMF-111 over the north tip of Mille Atoll.
Just as he started pulling out of his dive Captain R.J. IRWIN's plane was hit in the left wing root by a 20M.M. explosive shell, however, pilot was uninjured and brought his aircraft back to base without further incident. A machine gun was observed to be firing from just south of the most southerly revetment in the target battery.
Range, Fuel and Ammunition Data: Average Hours in Air = 2.0 / Average Fuel Load = 351 / Average Fuel Consumed = not recorded / 0.50 Cal Ammunition Fired = None.
Report Prepared By: (page missing)
Approved By: (page missing)
