VMF-224 Scrap Book
Roi-Namur, Marshall Islands
Squadron Notes
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Marine Aircraft Group 31 moved up to Roi arriving 7 February, five days after the 4th Marine Division captured the twin islands of Roi-Namur, and only two days after the last Japanese were killed by the 7th infantry Division on Kwajalein Island, 50 miles to the south. At 0230 on 12 February the Japanese flying 12 to 14 sea planes from Ponape, made a devastating raid on the embryonic base, hitting a bomb dump in an old crater and creating a tremendous blast. The resultant casualties were the greatest to any land target since December 1941: 26 killed, 130 wounded, including 5 enlisted men killed and 67 enlisted men and 6 officers wounded from MAG-31. Eighty per cent of the supplies and 20 per cent of the construction equipment on Roi were destroyed or damaged. Approximately 100 officers and men of MAG-31 lost all their clothing, equipment and personal effects. The Marine wounded were sent back to Pearl Harbor in the ship that brought them.
Seventeen planes of MAG-31 arrived at Roi 15 February and began day and night combat air patrol immediately. Ten pilots from VMF-224 arrived from Funafuti and started flying the next day. To intercept night intruders seven planes of VMF(N)-532 were brought up from Tarawa, where the SCR-527 ground radar had been performing miserably during the frequent small raids (real or imaginary). Major Vaughn brought the seven F4U-2's via Makin to Roi, accompanied by two CenCATS R4D's of VMJ-353 which flew in with fighter controllers and their crews and a skeleton ground crew. The seven remaining night fighters were led in by Captain Nathan Bedell on 23 February.
Text from the book: "History of Marine Corps
Aviation in WWll" pages 231 & 232.
Air Operations Memorandum No. 33 - More on Low-Level Bombing by Corsairs - June 1944
Since the first reports of low-level bombing by F4U's of VMF-224. the pilots of the squadron have been working steadily with new technique against targets on remaining Japanese Marshall's bases. Some of the conclusions reached on the basis of these missions are as follows:
TACTICS - Results of attacks show that in hitting sturdy targets such as concrete block houses, it is essential that bombs hit the target directly. Skip or bounce must be eliminated. On one mission, two GP bombs hit the side of the target directly and penetrated the thick walls, while one bomb which skipped into the block house simply fell off the wall and exploded at the base doing some, but not lethal, damage. In a typical successful approach, the fighter-bombers made their dives from 8,000 feet at an approximate dive angle of 45 degrees and started pulling out at 800 to 1,000 feet until were in an attitude of approximately 10 degrees. This angle was held into the target, with the pipper at the base of the target. As the target started dropping under the nose, planes pulled up slightly and released. Speed and changes in altitude were principle evasive tactics in retirement. Pilots emphasis the necessity for starting the gradual pullout from the steep dive soon enough so that in the last stages of approach, the plane is in a 10 degree nose down attitude. This gives ample time for lining up the pipper and also reduces the trajectory of the bomb. It also enables the pilot to build up and maintain greater speed.
SUPPORT BY STRAFERS - Low-Level bombing is done in four plane sections. On the first missions, each plane picked up two strafers, one on either wing, and these followed the bomber down throughout the dive and the run over the target, firing to discourage AA opposition. Several factors, however, led the fighter-bombers to shy away from this formation on subsequent missions. First, the AA encountered was light to very meager, ceasing entirely when the first bomb was dropped. Second, the high speed of the bombing planes over the target and in get-away eliminates much of the risk from AA. A third point is the intense concentration required to accomplish precision bombing, a precision which is easily spoiled by a single mistake on the part of the accompanying strafers. One of the bombing Corsairs returned with a .50 caliber slug in his wing, the slug apparently having ricocheted off the ground after being fired by the strafer with him. Likewise, they prefer to do no strafing themselves during the bombing run.
TYPES OF BOMBS - On the basis of results to date, the 1,000 pound GP is preferred over the SAP for heavily reinforced targets. Prior to trials, it was thought the GP might break up without penetrating when it hit the target, but it was found that it did penetrate when lined up for a direct hit on the side of the target. Although none of the SAP's used thus far have hit, they do not carry the same explosive weight as the GP, and thus, would be likely to have less effect. The five-second delay fuse appears to have a good destructive effect and, at the same time, gives the plane sufficient time to clear the target and avoid being damaged by the explosion. The necessity for leaving the area in a hurry is obvious. One pilot made the mistake of lowering a wing for a look at the results after he had released. His bomb blew up a magazine and the shock of the blast has reformed him as a great believer in the principle of retiring fast and far.
TRAINING - Pilots of VMF-224 are enthusiastic about low-level bombing as is Marine Air Group 31 un which they operate. More opportunity for practice is desired. The more experienced hands all agree that pilots must find out for themselves just what to use for point of aim in order to get hits. Training thus far has been confined to actual missions and what the veterans can tell others. It is believed that exercises with practice bombs, if they were available, would do much to develop accuracy.
Marine Fighting Squadron 224, MAG 31,
Fourth Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing
Selected Items from Squadron Diary - April 1944
02 April Thirteen (13) F4U's bombed runway "A" and strafed "D" area on Wotje Island.
05 April Thirteen (13) F4U's bombed runway "B" and strafed targets "E-1" and "E-2" on Wotje Island.
08 April Thirteen (13) F4U's bombed and strafed CD guns (target D-6) and radar "D-7" on Wotje Island.
11 April Four (4) F4U's bombed runway "B" and bombed and strafed targets "E-1" and "E-2 on Wotje Island. One aircraft was pierced in two places by shrapnel and a second aircraft was hit on the windshield and tail surface.
14 April Twenty-one (21) F4U's bombed runway "B" and/or targets "E-1" and "E-2", also strafed "E-2" and "D" areas on Wotje Island.
17 April Eighteen (18) F4U's bombed CD guns at
"E-1" and strafed areas "A" and "B" on Wotje Island.
20 April Nineteen (19) F4U's bombed magazines, strafed motor-pool area and area "D" on Wotje Island. One aircraft hit in left stabilizer probably by 12.7 mm fire.
23 April Twelve (12) F4U's bombed runway "B" and/or CD guns on Wotje Island.
24 April Twelve (12) F4U's bombed medium AA and strafed target area, also motor-pool area on Wotje Island. One aircraft returned with a hole in the right side of fuselage and 7 holes in tail.
26 April Twelve (12) F4U's bombed buildings at
"C-5" and strafed motor-pool on Wotje Island.
27 April Twelve (12) F4U's bombed magazines "B-3", "B-4" and "B-6" and strafed motor-pool area on Wotje Island. One aircraft was hit by a 7.7 mm bullet in starboard side of fuselage and a second aircraft had a 7.7 mm slug in the port wing near root.
D.D. IRWIN
Major, U.S. Marine Corps
Commanding
Click here to view: Memorandum dated 24 May 1944
Marine Fighting Squadron 224, MAG 31,
Fourth Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing
Selected Items from Squadron Diary - February 1944
07 February S.S. TYPHOON, anchored off Roi Island, Kwajalein Atoll.
09 February Forward echelon disembarked and set up camp on Roi Island.
12 February At 0230 Roi Island was bombed, and all personal
gear of the Squadron was destroyed. Two (2) officers, and
twenty enlisted men of the Squadron were injured, of which
seven (7) enlisted men were evacuated. Forward echelon
moved to Namur Island.
15 February Ten (10) pilots of the Squadron flew F4U-1's from
Funafuti, via Tarawa.
16 February Started flying Combat Air Patrol.
18 February Eight (8) pilots from the Squadron flew F4U-1"s
from Funafuti, via Makin Island.
27 February Four (4) pilots of the Squadron arrived at
Roi-Namur, leaving five (5) pilots remaining at Funafuti for the
purpose of flying planes to Roi-Namur Island.
D.D. IRWIN
Major, U.S. Marine Corps
Commanding
Marine Fighting Squadron 224, MAG 31,
Fourth Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing
Selected Items from Squadron Diary - March 1944
03 March Received on (1) F4U-1 from HqSq MAG-31, one (1) from VMF-331, five (5) from VMF-441 and thirteen (13) from HqSq MAG-31, all with raised cockpits, water injection, and fitted for belly tanks and bomb racks. Fourteen (14) old F4U-1's transferred to VMF-441, and four (4) to 4th MBDAW pool.
08 March Five (5) pilots of the squadron arrived from Funafuti . Routine.
15 March Major IRWIN test hopped a F4U-1 aircraft carrying a 500 pound bomb under each wing - successful. Squadron started glide bombing practice carrying a 500 pound bomb on belly racks.
26 March Captain Dale M LESLIE was presented the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).
27 March Twenty-one (21) F4U-1's of the squadron dive-bombed underground shelter, Wotje Island, carrying 1,000 pound AF bombs. Six (6) bombs were observed to explode at edge of target. AA light and ineffective. (see VMF-224 ACA Report #01)
30 March Twenty-one (21) aircraft of the squadron strafed AA gun positions on Wotje Island.
F.E. HOPPER
Major, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
Executive Officer
Marine Fighting Squadron 224, MAG 31,
Fourth Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing
Selected Items from Squadron Diary - June 1944
June At 080025 GCT Major HOPPER led a six (6) plane strike, dropping 4x500 pound GP's in a dive bombing attack on heavy AA battery on Wotje, Island. Major HOPPER and Lts. SPINNER, AGNEW and
SAARI obtained hits in the immediate area of target.
(VMF-224 ACA Report #54)
At 080345 GCT Major MORRISON led four (4) Corsairs in a dive bombing on the same heavy AA battery. Major MORRISON's and Lt. BURNAM's bombs hit a short distance south of the target, causing large explosions - possibly ammunition caches destroyed. Strafers fires on and sank a small boat anchored off pier.
(VMF-224 ACA Report #55)
10 June Major HOPPER led a six (6) plane reconnaissance flight over Maloelap Atoll. Lt. PRYOR strafed and sank a small boat at Eien Island, Maloelap Atoll. (see VMF-224 ACA Report #56)
Captain TUCKER, with eight (8) aircraft, made a reconnaissance flight over Maloelap Atoll.
(VMF-224 ACA Report #57)
13 June Captain LESLIE led a six (6) plane reconnaissance flight over Maloelap Atoll. Captain BARNWELL led a four (4) plane reconnaissance of Maloelap Atoll. Strafers started fire on pier at Tora Island. Fake holes observed in runway - accomplished by circular piles of debris. Lt. RILEY's Corsair received minor damage from small caliber from fire. (VMF-224 ACA Reports #58 & #59)
15 June At 142020 GCT four (4) Corsairs led by Lt. PHILIPPI fired 8650 rounds of .50 caliber strafing targets of opportunity, Wotje Atoll. (VMF-224 ACA Report #60)
At 142100 GCT eight (8) Corsairs led by Major IRWIN made a dive-bombing attack on a heavy AA battery at the north end of Wotje Island. 8x500 pound GP's were dropped, five (5) of which hit the target area. Lts. MARSHALL, AYRES, and NALLE obtained what appeared to be hits or very near misses.
(VMF-224 ACA Report #61)
At 142310 GCT Captain IRISH led a four (4) plane division in a dive-bombing attack against the same AA battery. 4x500 pound GPs were dropped, and Lts. LINDQUEST and GRAHAM obtained what appeared to be hits on an emplacement. (see VMF-224 ACA Report #62)
At 150300 GCT Major MORRISON, with twelve (12) Corsairs made a dive-bombing attack on a medium AA battery on the south end of Wotje Island. Major MORRISON, Captain TUCKER and Lt. KNAPP obtained what appeared to be direct hits on the emplacements. Lts. MONTAGNE, WORD and SPEROW obtained near misses. Captain TUCKER was shot down - made a water landing in Wotje lagoon and was rescued uninjured by dumbo PBY. Plane sank. (VMF-224 ACA Report #63)
Squadron placed on standby status - prepared to move on three (3) hours notice.
16 June Lt. ATTEBERY was forced to bail out of Corsair he was test hopping when plane caught fire. He jumped at 1,500 feet and was rescued uninjured by LSVP. Lt. ATTEBERY was making water injection test flight - thinks that the fuel line was broken, since pressure had dropped to zero.
Squadron briefed for flight to Mariana's.
20 June Squadron placed on a four (4) hour notice ready status.
D.D. IRWIN
Major, U.S. Marine Corps
Commanding
Marine Fighting Squadron 224, MAG 31,
Fourth Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing
Selected Items from Squadron Diary - May 1944
02 May 8x1000 pound SAPs were dropped in dive-bombing attack on power plant at Wotje Island. One bomb hit the side of the target. 4x1000 pound GPs were expended in low level attack against the same target. Major MORRISON and Lt. NEDBALAK obtained direct hits, and Lt. AGNEW's bomb exploded on top of the target, pushing in the roof. Target destroyed by these 3 low level hits, in this squadrons first attempt at such tactics. 6000 rounds .50 caliber fired on various strafing runs.
(VMF-224 ACA Report #14)
03 May 12x1000 pound GPs dropped in a dive-bombing attack on medium AA battery on east coast of Wotje Island. 13000 rounds .50 caliber fired in strafing runs on island. (VMF-224 ACA Report #15)
04 May 4x1000 pound SAP's and 8x1000 pound GP's were dropped in low level attack on concrete blockhouse magazines on Wotje Island. Six (6) bombs exploded in target area. 4700 rounds were expended in strafing runs on magazine area.
(VMF-224 ACA Repport #16)
05 May Twelve Corsairs carrying bombs were over Wotje Island, but turned back because of bad weather over target. No attack made.
06 May Strikes cancelled on account of bad weather over target.
07 May Twelve (12) Corsairs carrying 500 pound GPs dive bombed CD gun emplacements and Heavy AA emplacements in the southern part of Wotje Island. Captain TUCKER obtained what appeared to be a direct hit on a CD gun emplacement, and Lt. BRUCE's bomb exploded at the edge of an AA emplacement. The flight fired 9700 rounds on Rue Island, Wotje Atoll starting a fire.
(VMF-224 ACA Report #17)
08 May 9x1000 pound GPs were dropped in a low level bombing attack against concreet magazines, Wotje Island. Lt. LINDQUIST obtained a direct hit on a powder magazine which exploded and obliterated. Lt. BERRY scored a direct on a fuel storage blockhouse, causing it to explode and burn. Captain IRISH's bomb exploded against the side of another magazine. Flight consisted of 12 F4U-1's.
(VMF-224 ACA Report #18)
09 May Eight (8) squadron F4U's escorted by strafers from VMF-441 conducted a low-level bombing on the radio station on Wotje Island. Direct hits by Lts GRAHAM and PRYOR.
11 May Twelve (12) F4U's dive-bombed and strafed installations on Wotje Island.
14 May Eighteen (18) F4U's conducted low-level bombing and strafing attacks against the Jaluit radio station on Aineman Island. Several direct hits and 2 near misses.
16 May Four (4) F4U's dive bombed and strafed the radio station and the NE-SW runway on Wotje Island. Captain Barnwell's aircraft was hit in the engine by a 20 mm shell but was able to return to base.
17 May Twelve (12) F4U's operating in two (2) groups of six (6) aircraft each conducted dive-bombing and strafing attacks against installations on Wotje Island. Trucks and other vehicles were destroyed, 3 hits were recorded on the edge of a gun emplacement and 40-50 enemy soldiers were killed. The inital attack was out of the sun and caught enemy personel above ground. Lt. NEWKIRK's aircraft was hit in a wing tank by a 7.7 mm slug.
18 May Twelve (12) F4U's dive-bombed CD battery, magazines, runway and gun emplacements on Wotje Island. Three (3) gun emplacements were hit and 1 magazine blown up - all bombs exploded in the target area.
21 May Eighteen F4U's dive-bombed and straffed magazines, locomotives, oil drums on Wotje and nearby islands. There were a total of three (3) missions, one on Nemo Island, the second on the S. part and the last on the SE coast of Wotje Island.
24 May Eighteen (18) F4U's glide-bombed and strafed installations on Agumichi, Rirri and Wotje islands in Wotje Atoll. Lt BRUCE's aircraft was damaged by 20 mm shell.
25 May Twenty (20) F4U's bombed and strafed installations on Wotje, Enibiji and Agumichi islands in Wojte Atoll. Lt. SANFORD's aircraft was hit by 12.7 mm ground fire.
26 May Fifteen (15) F4U's conducted glide-bombing and strafing attacks on the E. coast and motor pool area of Wotje Island. Captain LESLIE and Lt. NEDBALEK each had direct hits on blockhouses. Lt. DEMPSEY's aircraft was badley damaged by 12.7 mm or 20 mm rounds. The aircraft sunk and pilot was rescued uninjured.
28 May Twenty-four (24) F4U's glide-bombed and strafed a magazine on the N end of Wotje Island and a blockhouse on the NE of Wotje Island.
31 May Twenty (20) F4U's made attacks on magazines on Wotje Island in conjuction with attacking SBD's.
D.D. IRWIN
Major, U.S. Marine Corps
Commanding
Marine Fighting Squadron 224, Marine Aircraft Group 31,
Fourth Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing
Selected Items from Squadron Diary - August 1944
01 August Twenty (20) F4U-1's took off at 0800 (L) with 20x1000 pound GPs to dive bomb shore battery on Mille Island. This flight had to turn back near Majuro because of inclement weather. Eight (8) planes and pilots to Kwajalein for alert watch.
02 August Eight (8) pilots and planes served as Combat Air Patrol for Roi Island.
03 August Recognition classes in the morning. This squadron made practice dive-bombing runs today using 100 pound water filled bombs.
04 August Seventeen (17) F4U-1's from this squadron dive-bombed concrete blockhouse and coast defense gun on Wotje Island. (VMF-224 ACA Report #75)
05 August Eight (8) pilots and planes were on alert watch at Kwajalein. Recognition classes in the morning. Five (5) new pilots reported to squadron this date.
06 August Eight (8) pilots and planes served as Combat Air Patrol over Roi Island. Four pilots left for combat fatigue rest period at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii.
07 August Four (4) pilots of this squadron ferried planes to Roi from Majuro. Practice dive-bombing runs today. Three (3) new ground officers reported to the squadron.
08 August Three (3) pilots returned from Majuro. Flight operations secured. Captain Lindsay K. DICKEY reported to the squadron.
09 August Twenty (20) aircraft flew to Majuro for a ten day strike against Mille. Four (4) extra pilots made ferry hop to Majuro.
10 August Two (2) pilots returned from combat fatigue rest period at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii. One (1) ground officer and eight (8) enlisted men joined this date. Twenty (20) F4U-1's from this squadron operating from Majuro bombed a shore battery on Mille Island, Mille Atoll, with 20x500 pound GPs.
(see VMF-224 ACA Report #76) Major James W. POINDEXTER joined this date.
11 August Two (2)pilots returned from combat fatigue rest period at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii. Seventeen (17) F4U-1's operating from Majuro dive-bombed coast defense guns on Mille Island, Mille Atoll, with 17x500 pound GPs. (VMF-224 ACA Report #77) At 1405 (L) sixteen (16) F4U-1's dive-bombed shore battery on Mille Island, Mille Atoll, with 16x500 pound GPs. (see VMF-224 ACA Report #78)
12 August Seventeen (17) F4U-1's operating from Majuro dive-bombed shore battery on Mille Island, Mille Atoll, with 19x500 pound GPs. (VMF-224 ACA Report #79)
13 August Nineteen (19) F4U-1's operating from Majuro dive-bombed coast defense guns on Mille Island, Mille Atoll, with 19x500 pound GPs. (see VMF-224 ACA Report #80) Sixeteen (16) F4U-1's operating from Majuro dive-bombed coast defense guns on Mille Island, Mille Atoll, with 16x500 pound GPs.
(see VMF-224 ACA Report #81)
14 August Flight operations canceled because of bad weather. Close order drill was held on line.
15 August Eighteen (18) F4U-1's operating from Majuro dive-bombed power plant on Millie Island, Mille Atoll, with 18x500 pound GPs. (see VMF-224 ACA Report #82)
16 August Flight operations canceled because of bad weather. Close order drill was held on line.
17 August Flight operations canceled because of bad weather. Four (4) pilots returned to this squadron from combat fatigue rest period Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii.
18 August Sixteen (16) F4U-1's operating from Majuro dive-bombed power plant on Millie Island, Mille Atoll, with 12x500 pound GPs. (VMF-224 ACA Report #83)
19 August Flight operations canceled because of bad weather.
20 August Sixteen (16) F4U-1's operating from Majuro dive-bombed personnel area on Mille Island, Mille Atoll, with 16x500 pound GPs. (VMF-224 ACA Report #84) Four (4) pilots this squadron left for combat fatigue rest period at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii. Nineteen (19) planes and pilots returned to Roi from Majuro. One operational loss on runway. Bureau Number 56355, Engine Number P-14281. Eight (8) planes and pilots to Kwajalein for alert.
28 August Sixteen (16) F4U-1's dive-bombed shore battery on Wotje Island, Wotje Atoll with 16x1000 pound GPs. (VMF-224 ACA Report #87) Eight (8) pilots and planes
left for Kwajalein alert. Thirteen (13) new pilots reported to
the squadron.
29 August Eight (8) pilots and planes served as Combat
Air Patrol over Roi.
30 August Training schedule for new pilots. Practice
dive-bombing, night flying and orientation were on
schedule. Eight (8) pilots and planes to Kwajalein for alert.
31 August Eight (8) pilots and planes served as Combat
Air Patrol over Roi Island. Major D.D. IRWIN detached
this date for duty on West Coast.
H.A. YORK
Major, U.S. Marine Corps
Commanding
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Aircraft Action Report # - 18 May 1944
Aircraft Action Report # - 19 May 1944
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Marine Fighting Squadron 224, Marine Aircraft Group 31,
Fourth Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing
Selected Items from Squadron Diary - September - January 1944
01 September Sixteen (16) F4U-1's dive-bombed shore battery on Wotje Island, Wotje Atoll with 16x1000 pound GPs. (VMF-224 ACA Report #88) Forty-five (45) enlisted men joined this date.
02 September Sixteen (16) F4U-1's dive-bombed personnel area on Taroa Island, Maleolap Atoll with 16x1000 pound GPs. (VMF-224 ACA Report #89) Eight (8) pilots and planes to Kwajalein for alert watch.
03 September Eight (8) pilots and planes served as Combat Air Patrol over Roi Island. Instrument and radio range instructions were also scheduled.
04 September No flight operations scheduled. Volley ball, baseball, and other recreational facilities were used during the day.
05 September Twenty (20) F4U-1's dive bombed the northwest sector of Wotje Island, Wotje Atoll, with 10x500 pound Incendiary and 10x500 pound GPs. (VMF-224 ACA Report #90)
06 September Five (5)pilots and four (4) ground officers detached this date for duty on West Coast. One (1) pilot detached for duty with Third Wing. Eighteen (18) F4U-1's dive-bombed personnel area on Wotje Island, Wotje Atoll, with 18x500 pound GPs.
(VMF-224 ACA Report #91) Eight (8) pilots and planes to Kwajalein for alert watch.
07 September Eight (8) pilots and planes served as Combat Air Patrol over Roi Island. Also scheduled were instrument and radio range instructions. Two (2) pilots reported to this squadron from detached duty at USMCAS, Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii.
08 September No flight operations scheduled. Recreational facilities were used. Day spent in checking maintenance of planes.
09 September One (1) pilot of this squadron detached for duty on West Coast. Training schedule this date was secured.
10 September Nineteen (19) F4U-1's dive-bombed shore battery on Wotje Island, Wotje Atoll, with 19x1000 pound GPs. (VMF-224 ACA Report #92) Eight (8) pilots and planes to Kwajalein for alert watch.
Note: On September 30, 1944 Marine Corps Aviation consisted of 5 Air Wings, 31 Aircraft Groups,
145 Squadrons and 10,450+ pilots.
08 October Seventeen (17) F4U's (3x2,000 pound and 14x1,000 pound GPs) bombed automatic weapon positions on Emidj Island. Major CLUZEN, flight leader flying aircraft BuNo 56095, entered a front approximately 20 miles from Airlinglaplap Atoll on a course of 320 degrees. Lt. CRAWFORD, his wingman, stated that Major CLUZEN was in a climbing turn to the right two minutes after entering this front. Major CLUZEN immediately fell off to the left and was last seen going down on his back. Search made immediately - MIA. (Major CLUZEN was later declared KIA)
19 October Eighteen (18) F4U's (8x2,000 pound and 10x1,000 pound GPs) bombed automatic weapon positions on Enyebor Island and strafed automatic weapons on causeway of Enyebor Island. Light AA was observed firing from eastern tip of Enyebor Island and along the causeway. Lt. Russell E. TORGERSON's plane was hit in several vulnerable spots. In nose high attitude with 30 degrees flaps he made a cross wind water landing in the troughs. The nose of the plane went down and the tail rose vertical. Lt. TORGERSON climbed out on the wing and in twenty seconds he had to unbuckle his straps and inflate his life jacket. The plane immediately sank in deep water. He moved away from the plane and inflated his life raft, climbed aboard and attached his parachute to the forward end as a sea anchor. The PBY landed several hundred yards away and Lt. TORGERSON attempted to paddle with the parachute attached, this was impossible. He then jettisoned this burden and in a very short time was aboard the PBY on his way to Majuro.
05 November Eighteen (18) F4U's (13x2,000 pound and 5x1000 pound GPs) dive bombed automatic weapon positions on Emidj Island. Captain Frank MICK made an emergency landing in Jaluit lagoon and was rescued by PBY uninjured. Plane destroyed.
07 November Sixteen (16) F4U's (11x2,000 pound and 5x1,000 pound GPs) dive bombed coast defense guns and block house on Wotje Island..
13 November Nineteen (19) F4U's (13x2,000 pound and 6x500 pound GPs) dive bombed automatic weapon positions on Emidji. 2nd L. John W. SHARBROUGH's plane was hit by AA and pilot made a up wind landing in the NW area of Jaluit lagoon and was rescued uninjured by PBY. Plane destroyed.
19 November Nineteen (19) F4U's bombed coast defense batteries on Wotje.
24 November Fifteen (15) F4U's dive bombed automatic weapon positions on Taroa Island, Maleolap Atoll.
25 November Nineteen (19) F4U's dive bombed coast defense batteries on Wotje.
30 November Twenty-one (21) F4U's (12x2,000 pound and 9x500 pound GPs) dive bombed coast defense batteries on Wotje.
04 December Twenty-one (21) F4U's (21x500 pound GPs) dive bombed coast defense batteries on Wotje. Night flying was scheduled and there was one operational accident on runway. Plane a total loss and pilot suffered cuts and bruises on body and face.
11 December Nineteen (19) F4U's (12x2,000 pound and 7x500 pound GP's) dive bombed coastal battery on Wotje Island. Major York flew a test hop on Airborne Rocket Installations.
19 December Twenty (20) F4U's glide bombed the island of Ollot, Maloelap Atoll with 46 napalm bombs.
26 December Eighteen (18) F4U's dive bombed ammunition storage building on Taroa Island.
31 December Major York was relieved by Major James W. Poindexter as commanding officer.
15 January Lt. Glenn G. RILEY and Lt. Thomas A. GRIBBIN were missing at sea while on an instrument training hop. (Rescued 17Jan45 by PBY-5)
Note: The following information came from notes kept by VMF-224 pilot Lt. R.T. Nalle Jr. Based on the personnel listed it is thought that these notes were taken the first week in September 1944. This was a period when personnel were transitioning in and out of the squadron.
Aircraft Assignments
(squadron #, bureau #, pilot)
#251 56207 Curtis
#252 56418 Berry (Pryor/Spinner)
#253 56389 Riley (Graham/Hitchings)
#254 56385 Ayres
#256 56374 Barnwell
#257 56367 Irish
#258 56357 (Morrison)
#259 56355 Attebery
#260 56349 (Nelson)
#261 56341 Agnew
#262 56328 Boshart - Mirati
#263 56211 Tucker
#265 56095 Word
#266 56091 Oaf
#267 56035 Prescott - Newkirk
#268 56031 Irwin, R.J.
#269 56029 Sperow - Burnam
#271 55865 York - Lindquist
#272 18033 Carroll (Daugherty-Nedbalek
#273 49981 Bruce - Dempsey
#274 56244 Givens
Flight Division Assignments
York, Johnson, R.J. Irwin, Sperow
Poindexter, Curtis, Nedbalek, Satterwhite
Irish, Lindquist, Graham, Van Amburg
Barnwell, Mirati, Hitchings, Riley
Tucker, Knapp, Word, Veach
Boshart, Givens, Sanford, Berr
Philippi, Jensen, Prescott, Daugherty
Attebery, Marshall, Nalle, Ayres
Nelson, Berry, Pryor, Newkirk
Bruce, Washburn, Dempsey, Burnam
Agnew, Spinner, Montagne, Donaldson
