ANDREW THOMAS is one of Britain's most pre-eminent RAF researchers, having published numerous squadron histories. Currently a serving officer in the RAF, this is his seventh book for Osprey, and he is working on a volume (with co-authors Kari Stenman and Lionel Persyn) detailing the exploits of Curtiss Hawk aces for
OSPREY
AIRCRAFT
OF
THE
ACES· 84
publication in this series in 2009.
WARREN THOMPSON has published more than a dozen books with Osprey since 1990. Although an acknowledged Korean War specialist, he has also covered US aircraft and units involved in World War 2, Vietnam War, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. This volume complements Warren's Combat Aircraft title on the P-61 Black Widow. He is currently working on a Combat Aircraft volume on F4U Corsair Units in the Korean War for publication in 2009.
Profile artist CHRIS DAVEY has illustrated more than 25 titles for Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces, Combat Aircraft and Elite Units series since 1994. Based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, and one of the last traditional airbrush artists in the business, he has become the artist of choice for both USAAF fighters and RAF subject matter.
American Nightfighter Aces of World War 2
SERIES EDITOR: TONY HOLMES OSPREY AIRCRAFT
OF
THE
ACES • 84
American Nightfighter Aces of World War 2 Andrew Thomas and Warren Thompson
Front Cover Between May and July 1945, the Japanese threw everything they had into the air in a last ditch attempt to cripple the massive Allied fleet of
First published in Creat BritJin in 2008 by Osprey Publishing
CONTENTS
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ew York, NY, 10016, USA
E-mail;
[email protected] ships that was concentrated around the island of Okinawa. Aircraft attacked these vessels both day and night, and a handful of nightfighter units were charged with repulsing the raids after dark. Future ace Maj R Bruce Porter became CO of Marine
© 2008 Osprey Publishing Limited All rights reserved. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988, no part of this publication may be reproduced,
Corps nightfighter squadron VMF(N)-542 on Okinawa on 22 May,
>rored in a retrieval system, or transmilled in any form or by any means,
the pilot joining the unit with three
electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, phorocopying, recording
kills to his name following a tour with VMF-121 on Guadalcanal in 1943. Looking for two victories to make him an ace, Porter finally got his chance on the night of 15 June. Flying his personal F6F-5N
or orherwise without prior written permission. All enquiries should be
Hellcat BuNo 78669 Black Death, he set off on a patrol from the airfield on Ie Shima. 'The night was completely dark - there was no moonlight whatsoever, and an extremely thick cloud cover', Porter recalled in his autobiography, Ace! A Marine Nightfighter Pilot in World War 2. Climbing to an altitude of 10,000 ft, he was 45 minutes into the mission when he was vectored onto a twin-engined Japanese Ki-45 'Nick' by his Ground Control Intercept officer, call-sign 'Handyman'. Switching on his fighter's wingtip-mounted AN/APS6 centrimetric radar, Porter followed the tiny orange blip that appeared on the display screen in his cockpit until he caught sight of the fighter's exhaust flames. He promptly shot the aircraft down from close range. Returning to his patrol line, Porter maintained his position off the northern coast of Okinawa for another hour before 'Handyman' announced that he had a second contact. As he closed on the target, seeking visual identification, he could tell by the flames coming from its exhaust stacks that it was a G4M 'Betty' bomber, but there was something very different about it. When just 250 ft away from the contact, Porter realised that the 'Betty' had a Baka flying-bomb attached to its belly. The intruder was trying to get close enough to the fleet to release its manned suicide weapon. 'I drifted upward a bit to get a good belly shot. By the time I reached a comfortable height, I had
CHAPTER ONE
GROPING IN THE DARK 6
addressed ro the publisher.
CHAPTER TWO
ISBN 13: 9781846033063
SERVING THE KING 1 3
Edited by Tony Holmes & Bruce Hales-DLmon
CHAPTER THREE
Page design by Tony Truscott Cover Arrwork by Mark Postlcthwaite
YANKS IN BEAUS 31
Aircraft Profiles by Chris Davey Index by Alison Worrhingron
CHAPTER FOUR
Originated by PDQ Media Digital Media Solutions Printed in Hong Kong through Bookbuilders 08 09 10 11 12
ENTER THE BLACK WIDOW 55
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 I
CHAPTER FIVE
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I
A DANGEROUS BUSINESS' 73
Osprey Direcr, c/o Random House Distriburion Center, 400 Hahn Road, Westminster, 1\110 21157
APPENDICES 89
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[email protected] ALL OTHER RECIO Osprey Direcr
S
K, PO Box 140 Wellingborough, Northants,
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E-mail:
[email protected] COLOUR PLATES COMMENTARY 91 BIBLIOGRAPHY 95 INDEX 96
www.ospreypublishing.coll1 ACKNOWI F.I)CE~IF.NTS
The authors wish to thank Robert Bolinder, Tom Cunningham, Jane Dear, Par Dellamano, Bill I-less, James F Luma DFC, David Powers, Russ Reiserer, Cp Capt R D Schultz DFC CD, Barrett Tillman, Fit Lt V A Williams DFC and the staff at the Tailhook Association for their help with this book.
closed to within 250 ft. Then I slowly squeezed both triggers (Porter's F6F-5N Hellcat was the only one in the squadron fitted with a pair of 20 mm cannon and four 0.50-cal machine guns). After only a second or two the wing fuel tanks ignited in a garish explosion, and
the sky in front of my windscreen was filled with an expanding ball of flame. What a night! "Handyman" and I had scored a rare double night kill, and I had fulfilled my fondest ambition as a fighter pilot. I was an Ace!' (Cover artwork by Mark Postlethwaite)
5
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e... soon he showed up in the rain. I was closing on him pretty fast, and damn
'\'(Ie were vecrored and conract was obtained at a range of three milcs
near ran inro him. At 50 yrd (46 m) I gave him about a half-second burst. Fonunately, at that range, he didn't blow up. H is left engine JUSt wenr up
(4.8 km). \'(Ihen approximately onc mile away, the colltact proved ro bc two aircraft, one of which broke ro port and the other ro st3rb03rd. \'\fe
and then I lost him. I tried ro find him again but never did. Thc wreck was
followed the aircraft going ro pon through a hard port turn. \'(Ie closed in
:I: U
ro 400 ft (120m) 3nd idenrifled it as a J u 88 carrying two large bombs. \'(Ic
found later and Fighter Command confirmed the kill.' Later in the sortie Jasper desrroyed a Ju 87 on the ground at Azelot. \'(Ihile rhe inrruder units had been busy, the end of the so-called 'Baby
closed in ro 200 ft (60 m), pulled thc nose up and opened fire from below.
BLitz' reduced the opponunities for the defensive nightflghter crews.
strikes were observed until quite suddcnly the aircraft exploded in the air.
\'\fith thc invasion of France imminenr, however, nightflghter crews were
The engine and port wing broke off and went by us on our port side. Masses of debris and burning oil came back, striking our aircraft.'
trained ro a pcak of effectiveness ro defend the vulnerable landing forces when the time came. 'Pop' Edinger eventually began operations with No 410 Sqn on 3 May when he Rew an unevenrful patrol accompanied by Fig OffVaesson, with whom he was soon ro build a successful career.
Closing in ro 75 ft (20 m), wc finished the attack from slightly above. No
----THE
'Buzz-BOMB'
SUMMER----
\'(lith the opening of the German V I Rying bomb offensive against southern England, the Mosquiro units regularly began encountering
D-DAY DEFENDERS - - - - their run ofsuccess when Tom Anderson shot down a Do 17 over Plan de Dieu on the Ist. Four days later, a four-aircraft detachmenr from No 41 0
followed suit, taking his flrsr srep rowards becoming the
Sqn wenr ro Colerne ro provide nightflghter cover for the initial airborne
V I ace. But it was also his swansong, for soon afterw3rds he was
landings which preceded the invasion that night. One of the pilots was
transferred ro the Tempest Flight of thc elite FlU at experimentalnightflghting work.
June began promisingly for No 418
qn's Americans. They continued
'Pop' Edinger. Meanwhile, back at Hunsdon, ten more Mosquiroes were at readiness, although all patrols proved unevenrful. On the nights
spotted aJu 88, but was still able ro notice a festive-looking Ferris wheel near the rown l In his report, he described how he worked his way behind the bomber;
idenrifled as being a Lancaster, its rear gunner opened fire - Allied
'\'(Ie then opened fire with a two-sccond burst of cannon and machine
bomber crews wcre taking no chances. Very bad weather precluded operations for several nights, but on the
gun from 150 yrd (140 m), closing ro 50 yrd (45 m). Strikes wcre seen on both wing roots. The port cngine burst inro Rames, followcd almost
0 410 Sqn's Mosquiroes were again over the
immediately by the starboard. A violent explosion then rook place. The
expanding beachhead ro COUlHer the increasingly heavy enemy attacks.
Ju 88 disintegrated and Raming pieccs fell inro the sea over a wide area.
evening of 12 June
Most conracts turned out ro be friendly aircraft, but in the early hours of
\'(Ie then pulled away ro starboard, but even so, our aircraft sustained
the 14th Edinger, who was 'freelancing' with radio failure, anacked and
slighI' damage in that the fabric on the rudder was almost clltirely burned
damaged a J u 88 in his fI rst com bat. Fou I' nights later he rook the fI rst step
off, as was a large strip of fabric on the pon side of the fuselage and a smaller piece of the port wing.'
rowards becoming an ace. He described this momenrous evcnr in his combat repon; 'I obtained a visual and idenrifled
.... I 24
Itwas rowards the end of the monrh that Jasper downed his fln31 enemy
0410 Sqn Rew further parrols ro
itasaJu 188.1 closed ro 100yrd (90 m) ro check its idenrity and then
.
ewchurch for
cover the invasion Rcet and the landing beaches. Hazards came not just from the enemy, as Archie Harringron found during the early hours of the 8th. As he closed on an aircraft, which he
18 October 10 Tongue)
AAF's sole
aircraft. Flying over the Baltic just north of Rosrock on 27 June, he
immediately following the landings,
These Mosquito NF XXXs of No 410 Sqn await their next sorties at B 48 Amiens/Glisy during the autumn of 1944. The nearest aircraft is MM788/ RA-Q, which was flown on occasion by American six-victory ace Fit Lt 'Pop' Edinger. Indeed, he used the fighter to fly an uneventful patrol over Nijmegen on the evening of
these small but dangerous targets. On the night of 19 June, Mcrl Jaspcr is thought ro have become the first Amcrican nightflghter pilot ro down a VI - his first of three. Two nights later, I 0605 Sqn's 'Bud' Miller
-.
.
The Americ3ns in No 4 10 Sqn also remained active. On 3 July' Pop' Edinger was successful oncc more when he attacked a bomber nonhcast ofPoinre et Raz. He reponed; '\'(Ie closed in and recognised a Ju 188, then dropped below and dead
opencd fire. my first burst ovcr-
astern. The encmy aircraft peeled off violently ro pon a, though he had
deRccted and missed in front, but
seen us. \'(Ie followed the pcel-off visually and fired a short burst. Strikes
my second burst srruck the pon
were secn on thc port nacclle, and the port wing was seen to blow off. The
wing and enginc nacelle. The enemy
nacellc was burning fiercely and the enemy aircraft spun illto the sea.'
ti. ,.
aircraft spun
~
exploded.' Rerurning ro base, Edinger spor-
At the end of July the FI U's Tempest V EJ 535 had been fined with Monica III E radar equipmenr for evaluation 3gainst the Rying bombs. 'Bud' Miller Rew the Tempest for the first time on 3 August, although in
ted a 'pilotless aircraft' over the
the last ren days ofJ uly he had destroyed two Vis with a standard aircraft.
inro
the sea and
Although of indifferent quality. this is one of the few photographs of USAAF V1 ace Fit Off 'Bud' Miller of No 501 Sqn IP H T Green collection)
25
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pose beside their P-61 at the 422nd's new base at Chateaudun, in France,
u...
a:
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in the late summer of 1944. Ernst
I-
would not achieve his first victory over a manned German aircraft
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dcmonsrrared by desrroying several locomotives. Bur on rhe nighr of 26/27 December, rhey wcrc aFrer acrial rargers in rheir P-61 "Lndy GEN': Wirh snow on rhe ground and Freezing remperawres, rhe crew made rheir wav ro rheir Black Widow [0 prepare For a rake-oFF ar 2 I00 hrs. They would be responsible For covering a large parrol secror rhar was known ro be busy wirh encmy air rraFflc, parricularly since rhe srarr of rhe oFFensive. Abour40 minures inro rhe parrol, 'Marmire' GCI vecrored rhecrcwoF "Lndy GEN"rowards a bogcy flying ar 7000 Fr (2150 m), which was 3000 Fr (900 m) below rhc nOl"lllal alrirude For a P-61 on parrol. Droppi ng rhc nose, Sm irh eased close enough ro ger a visual on a J u 188 [Wi ncngined bomber - a rype trcqucntly cncounrered during rhe Ardennes oFFcnsive. Produced in Fcwer numbers rhan rhe Ju 88, rhc aircraFr could fly ar more rhan 300 mph (499 km/h) and carry a bomb load of up ro 6600 Ibs (3000 kg). This made ir a dangerous rhrear ro Allied rroops. Having received GCI's go-ahead [0 ser up rhe arrack, Ticrney rook ovcr rhc pursuir on his radar scope. Ir was possible rhar rhe German aircrew kncw rhar rhey were in an area parrolled by S nighdlghrers because rhc J u J 88 kepr making abrupr course changes. These moves probably did nor consrirure evasive aerion as such, bur represenred deFensive manocuvres inrended ro lessen rhe chances oFbeing shor down. Irs air spced rcmained ar 240 mph (384 km/h) and irs alriwde was sready. By rhe rime Smirh had locked-on and pulled up inro firing rangc, "Lndy GEN"had obviously been sporred. The Ju 188 pilor srarred violcnr cvasive aerion, which consisred of peeling off, weaving and sudden changes in alrirude. Ir was like rrying ro rrack a yo-yo in rhe dark. Closing ro less lhan 200 Fr (60 m) in a hard rurn [0 porr, Smirh fired a bursr oF20 mm cannon wirh 60-degree defleerion. Wirh rhe e1emcm of surprise compromised, an easy srraighr and level shor was our rhe quesrion. The cannon rounds explodcd on impaer wirh rheJu 188's canopy area. The inrruder srraighrened our, prom pri ng anorher quick bursr oFFI rc From "Lndy GEN'; rhis rime wirh 30-degree deflecrion. The rounds converged on rhe Ju 188's srarboard wi ng roor, rriggcri ng a mi nor explosion and fire. The aircraFt briefly wenr imo a gentlc climb, beFore Falling off on irs srarboard wing. Circling rhe now dcsccnding bomber, Smirh and Ticrney kepr a wary eye on ir as irs pilor rried Forlornly ro pull our of rhc dive. A minure Iarer ir hir rhe ground and explodcd. The P-61 crew said during rheir debricF rhar rhe Ju J 88's bomb racks had been empty, indicaring rhar ir had dropped irs load beFore irs Faral cncounrcr wirh "Lndy GEN': Irs inirial wesrerly course, howcver, rcndcd [0 conrradier rhe idea rhar ir had complered a bombing mission, For rhc ai rcraFr would ru rned immediarely ro rhe easr once irs ordnance was gone.
P-61A-5 42-5544 "Lady GEN" was crewed by 1Lt Paul A Smith (pilot, seen here in the cockpit) and 2Lt Paul Tierney (radar observer I of the 422nd NFS. The aircraft's scoreboard confirms the crew's haul of five confirmed kills and one probable, one V1 (partially cropped out of this photograph at upper left) and five locomotives. The latter indicate that Smith was also proficient in the air-to-ground role (John Andersonl
Photographed during a snow storm at A 78 Florennes in early 1945, this view of "Lady GEN" reveals its full mission tally up to that point, as well as the V1 silhouette forward of the row of Swastikas (Paul Smith)
Wharever irs mission, lhc cn'lllY aircraFr had bccn shol down Jl 2210 hrs, jusr I hr 10 min in[O rhe 1)-61 's parrol. There was more aerion ro come. A shorr while larer anorher bogey was picked up by G I. This one was much higher, ar 17,000 Fr (5200 m). In a Few minures Smirh had broughr "Lndj' GEN" ro a posirion slightly below and ro rhe srarboard side of rhe bogey ro enable a posirive idemiflcarion ro bc made. The comaer rurned our ro be a B-17, however. Immcdiarcly aFrer reporring rh is ro grou nd con rrol, rhe P-61's crew rcrurncd ro 10,000 Fr (3000 m) ro rcsumc rhcir patrol. Smirh had jusr b'cllcd oFF when 'Marmire' radioed inFormarion rhrough abour anorher approaching bogey. Wirhin minurcs, Ticrney had secured a lock-on ar Four miles (6.5 km). When rhc disran e had collle down ro 4000 Fr (1200 m), rhe crew was able ro sec rhe inrruder, which began raking limired evasivc aerion, probably as a precaurionary mcasure. Ir was anorher Ju 188, flying ar 9000 Ft (2800 m). Again, irs bomb racks werc also cmpry. The enemy pi lor imlllediarely rook violenr cvasivc aerion, and Smirh fired a bursr bur ir missed complerely. The imruder pceled oFF sharply ro srarboard and rhen made a splir-S wrn ro porr. The chase was now on. Ar rimes hunrer and hunrcd wcrc skimming jusr 500 tr (150 m) over a snow-covered Iandscapc. Visual conracr was losr ar leaS[ rhrce rimes during rhc pursuir, bur rhe P-61 's radar remaincdlocked on rhroughour rhe pursui r. Anorher bursr Found rhe J u 188's Fuselage and an inrernal Fuel rank was hir, causing rhc aircraFr ro erupr in flames. Anorher bursr From 300 Fr (900 m) smashcd inro rhe righr-hand engine, and rhc wing cvenrually broke oFFourboard of rhc engi nc naccllc. The bomber spi railed inro rhe ground. The nighr's second and, as ir rranspircd, final kill had occurrcd ar2255 hrs. As Sm irh and Ticrncy had shor down a J u 88 rhe prcvious nighr, rhey had achieved rhrec conflrmcd kills wirhin 24 hours. While rhe ground siruarion in rhc Ardenncs rcmaincd in doubr For rhe Allies, rhe nighr sky conrinucd ro be busy. Herman Ernsr and Edward Kopsel had also downcd an inrruder on rhe nighr oF26127 Dccember. Ir had been ren days sincc rhey had shor down rhc Ju 87, and wirh rhe increase in LuFrwaFFc acriviry over rhe Ardennes, rhe crew Fclr anorher kill was overdue. Flying 1)-61 "BORROWED T/ME" on parrol near rhe Rhine, rhey had already cncounrered a Ju 88 rhar had evenrually eluded rhem aFrer a long chasc. This sorr of rhing oFren happened ar nighr, and bad winrer wearher had a lor ro do wirh it. As rhe parrol wound down and Ernsr prepared [0 rerurn ro A 78, he noriced a lone aircraFr flying in an easrerly direcrion ar abour 2000 Fr (600 m) wirh irs navigarionallighrs illuminared. To his amazemcnr, rhis
m Z -4
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aircraft was dropping flares' Using night goggles, Kopscl was ablc ro make a positive identiflcation- it was definitely aJu 188.
=> o u...
Ernst manoeuvred quickly inro position immediately behind the
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Junkers bomber, but the P-61 was spotted. The enemy pilot rook violent evasive action, but it was roo late - the range between the twO aircraft
I U
was less than 500 ft (150 m). The Black Widow's guns spewed 20 mm
f0-
e...
rounds, and strikes were observed up and down the target's fuselage. The Ju 188's dorsal turret returned fire, and Ernst pulled hard ro starboard ro both avoid being hit and ro prevenr overshooting the targer. Pulling back astern and slightly below, Ernst fired three more short bursts. Both of the Ju 188's engines were hit, and seconds later they exploded. The intruder fell off ro pon and wenr in, being engulfed in a huge fireball whcn it hit the ground. It was the third confirmed manned kill for "BORROW/ED
Tff\llE'; the P-61 also being credited with damagingaJu88.
RIP l E FOR "00 U8 LETR0 U8 LE "-- Only four P-61 nightflghter pilots became aces during World War 2, but four others came close, each scori ng fou r con fI rmed kills. If they had been in the right place at the right time they would probably havc securcd Black Widow ace 1Lt Herman Ernst poses for the camera while seated at the controls of his P-61 at the 422nd NFS's A 78 Florennes base. He is wearing a B-8 parachute pack on his back IJohn Anderson)
the coveted distinction. Two of the four, 1Lt Robert G Bolinder and I Lt Roben 0 Elmore, served with the h igh-scori ng 422nd N FS. Of this small fraternity, only one was able ro claim a triple kill in one night. That memorable mission was flown by I Lt Bolinder and his radar observer, I Lt Roben F Graham, during the night of 16/17 December 1944. They were in their Black Widow "DOUBLE TROUBLE': Bolinder cxplained how it happened; 'That night, our mission was ro fly a defensive patrol over an area that was occupied by the American VIII Corps. Halfway through the mission, our GCI radioed that there was an unidenrifled bogey at a distance of 13 miles (21 km). \Y,fe immcdiately closed the gap, and at about three miles (5 km) I Lt Graham picked it up on his radar scope. We moved up ro almost point-blank range, but had still not gotten a positive ID.
this period somc of the squadron's Black \Xlidows werc assigned to protect the
S 10 Ist Airborne Division until Gen Georgc Patron could break
through the German lines and rescue the troops trapped at Basrogne. But bad weather during the day restricted aerial activity by the the Luftwaffc.
SAAF and
I Lt Bolinder continues his account of the action on 16/17 December;
'We carried on patrolling at about 10,000 ft (3000 m) over dense cloud cover, with bright stars abovc us. We got a call from GCI that an unknown
'In an effort ro movc c10scr I overshot and had ro pull a quick 360-
was coming roward us from about 50 miles (80 km) inside cnemy terriror),.
degree turn and momentarily lost him. GCI put us back on track and we
It was a fast mover, which indicated a fighter-type aircraft. We picked him up on our airborne intercept radar and closed fast. WC were only about 500
got ro within 100 ft (30 m). That gave us the perfect silhouette of an He I I I flying at about 180 mph (288 km/h). A second later the enemy
ft (150 m) behind him, yet we still couldn't get a positivc visual. ILt
pilot peeled off sharply to pon and went inro a complete circle turn,
Graham kcpt telling me the target was at" 12 o'clock" and at ten degrees. At
which rolled him right back on his original track. I didn't think we'd been
last I determined that onc of the "stars" moving gently back and forth was not a star, but an Fw 190.
spotted, and that abrupt manoeuvre must have been triggered by a radio transmission from his controller. At that time his course steadied, and I
'What I saw was the exhaust from the first single-engined bogey we'd
lined him up for a burst with my four 20 mm cannon from a distance of
ever encountered. I eased in closer and was able ro see the German cross
about 400 ft (120 m). It hi t him along h is port wi ng root.
on the side of its fuselage. Easing back, I lined him up and fired a shon
'As the intruder's course didn't waiver, I followed up with three more
burst, but didn't observe any hits. For a brief second I thought my gun
bursts. After the last I had ro pull up abruptly ro avoid all the debris
sight had malfunctioncd, so I let go with a long burst that raked the
coming off the He I I I. At that moment there was a large explosion as he
intruder from one end ro thc other. Most of the rounds went inro one of
went into a steep dive rowards the ground. I didn't see any parachutes.
his wing rOOts. At that point the pilot peeled off sharply ro the left and
It was the first kill of that long night.'
entered a cloud bank. Since we didn't follow him down or see him crash, we were credited with a probable.'
Although it was unknown to the Allies at the time, the reason for the
66
1Lt Robert Bolinder and his P-61A-10 42-5565 "DOUBLE TROUBLE" are pictured flying above the English countryside days before the D-Day invasion. Crouched behind him is his radar observer, 1Lt Robert Graham. When the war ended Bolinder and Graham had four confirmed kills and a probable to their credit (Robert Bo/inderl
activity in the night sky was the launch by the Germans of their last-gasp
After the encounter with the Fw 190, Bolinder and Graham's regular
offensive in the Ardennes. There would be much enemy aerial action for
patrol was over. The aircraft returned ro base about 0200 hrs, but due ro
several nights, and plenty of targets for the aircrews of the 422nd. During
the squadron's heavy workload its crew were asked ro fly another patrol.
67
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a... arracking forces and, despire exrremely adverse wearher condirions, succeeded in desrroying five enemy aircrafr each night. In addirion, :lIld above rheir normal role of inrercepring 3nd desrroying enemy aircr3fr, rhe 422nd arrackedmarshalling yards, road and rail nerworks, moror rransport and locomorives on inrruder missions, rhereby effecrively conri nui ng rhei r air cffort ro isolare rhe bartlefleld ro cover a full 24 hours a day. 'The valianr efforts 3nd unprccedenred accomplishmenrs of rhe 422nd on each of these occasions madc a major conrriburion in denying rhe enemy his objecrives, and consrirured an illusrrious chaprer in the hisrory ofrhe Unired Stares Army Air Forces'. On rhe same day, Air Medals werc awarded ro five 422nd pilors, including furure five-kill acc I Lr Eugene Axrell (who had claimed aJu 88 and a J u 188 desrroycd on 27/28 December, and who would down anorher J u 188 on 1 January and rhen 'makc ace' on I I April wirh rwo Ju 52/3ms) and four-kill pilors I Lrs Robert Elmore 3nd Roberr Bolinder. P-61s IN THE PACIFIC In rhe Pacific, meanwhilc, ir was a P-G I Black Widow crew rhar was ro achieve one of rhe mosr oursranding nocturnal fears of rhe war in rhis rhearre. Ir happened near Mindoro, in rhe Philippines, on rhe nighr of 29/30 December 1944, and involvcd rhe 418rh NFS. The unir's CO was
69
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The
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m
crew swarmed
all over the Black Widow, whose
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aircrew hardly had time ro relieve
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themselves.
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he arrival of improved US fighters and berter rrained pilors in rhe Pacific in
J 942-43
meant thar USAAF,
C/)
avy and Marine
Corps unirs Rying dayrime missions from New Guinea and
Guadalcanal were ar laSt ablc ro repel Japanese aerial attacks on Allied bases and shipping in rhcse rheatrcs. This forced the enemy ro srep up rhe tempo of nighr operarions, For which the Japanese were well cquippcd. I-hving been on a war Fooring since rhe mid- J 930s, borh rhc Impcrial
Japanese Navy (IJN) and thcJapanese Army Air Force UAAF) had builr
Aircrew from VMF(N)-531 pose for a
up an cFFccrive cadrc of pilots wirh night Rying experrise.
group photo on Bougainville during 1944. The 20 lockheed PV-1Ns used by the Marine Corps during this period were the equivalent of the USAAF's P-70 nightfighters, being fitted with AI Mk 4 radar in the nose. Similarly, they were strictly a stopgap measure intended to intercept the nightly raids mounted by Japanese bombers. The first Naval Aviation nightfighter squadron in the South Pacific, VMF(NI-531 downed 12 enemy aircraft between August 1943 and September 1944
By mid-1942, encmy bomber pilots were mounting nocrurnal arracks on Marine ground rroops and Allied naval ships withour encountering much resisrance. They would Ry ovcr vessels anchored around Savo Island and light up the watcr with Rares, while Japanese shore barrcries and ship-borne guns hammcred the now exposed ships. For US vercrans of rhe early stages of the Guadalcanal campaign, rhe imagc of cnemy ai rcraFr circl ing over American ships after dark droppi ng Rares and bombs remains a vivid memory. Ir was c1car thar the Japanese bomber pilors were ar home in this environment, and rheir expertise was obvious. The US \X1har Smirh was ro wl[ness nexr was a rribure ro rhe awesome
avy's initial cfforrs ro counrer rhese operarions involved the
use of Consolidated PBY 'Black Cat' Rying boars and Grumman TBM
(USMC)
deqrucrive power of rhe Black \X1idow's four 20 mm cannon from close range. Wirhin rwo seconds rhe 'Frank' had disinregrared. Its pilot had probably nor realised whar had happened. mall pieces of the Japanese f1ghrcr fell rowards the water as Smith manoeuvred violently ro avoid rhe debris. Thc ti me recorded on his Right log was 0707 h rs. As soon as he had landed, Smith checked the ammunition magazines ro discover that 382 rounds had been used, leaving a fun·her 200 unspent' Smith commented; 'When we saw how many rounds of20 mm we had left, our laughter bordcrcd on the hysterical. I remembered all roo well a "Dinah" (M irsubish i K-46 Army Type 100, com mand reconnaissancc ai rcraft) I'd shor down over Mororai in a P-38. Thar rook a long timc, and I expended 600 rounds.
ow, we'd shot down one "Rufe", onc "Frank" and rwo
"I rvi ngs", and sri II had am mo lefr ovcr. Go f1gu re rhat our" Thc nighr's work describcd so graphically by Maj Smith would have bcen a rare achievcmcnt cvcn by day f1ghrcr srandards - four kills in onc mission. Ir was probably rhe mosr producrive mission Rown by any Allicd nightflghrer crew during World War 2, regardless of rhe rhearre of opcratlons. Compared wirh day f1ghrcr pilots, thc achievemenrs of rhose who Rew and Foughr after dark seem insignificant. Bur tar fewer f1ghrer pilots were rrained for nocrurnal operarions, and as rhe skies were far less busy ar
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nighr, rheir chances of success were considcrably lower.
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Nightfighter F4U-2N Corsairs did
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The PV-1N Ventura's performance was credible, but as a nightfighter in 1943-44 it was severely lacking in altitude and airspeed capability compared to the IJN's G4M 'Betty' its principal target. These VMF(N)531 crewmen represent airborne radar operators (back rowl and turret gunners (front rowl (Ed Benintende)
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Cdr William Taylor, a highly experienced nightfighter pilot who had previously served with the RAF (hence the uniform he is wearing in this photograph), was instrumental in establishing at least two US Navy nightfighter squadrons - VF(NI-75 and VF(N)-76 - as part of Project A firm. His expertise was crucial to both squadrons' success in the war (Tom Cunninghaml
Avenger torpedo-bombers, which rargered Japanese shipping afrer dark. However, ir was clear rhar rhe US avy needed an effecrive nighrflghrer force. Yer esrabl ishi ng one was ro be an uph ill s(f·uggle for rhe officers who were demanding aircrafr and pilors able ro operare effecrively ar night. Many senior commanders srill believed ship-borne anri-aircrafr al-rillery would provide an effecrive defence, despire evidence ro rhe conrrary. Some unlikely rypes were pressed Inro service as makeshifr nighrflghrers, including rhe PV-l Venrura operared by rhe Marine Corps. VM F(N)-531 began flying combar missions in Seprember 1943 from Banika Island, which enabled rhem ro cover rhe Russell Island area. Bur somerhing more effecrive was already on rhe way. While rhe USAAF was opring for a bulky aircrafr wirh a mulri-man crew, rhe US Navy decided rhar ir could manage wirh somerhing rarher smaller. By lare 1943, when rhe service had received rhe flrsr of irs F4U-2 Corsairs and F6F-3N Hellcars modified as nighrflghrers, ir had a well-esrablished shipboard radar derecrion and direcrion sysrem rhar could be appl ied ro nocru rnal combat. Combined wirh rhe Sperry AN/APS-6 radar carried in wing-
A nightfighting F4U-2N from VF(NI-l01 goes below deck for maintenance after a nocturnal patrol with Task Force 58 in early 1944. The carrier is Intrepid (Tailhook Association)
mounred pods, rhis enabled rhe aircrafr ro close to wirhin lerhal gunnery range. The flrsr of rhe US Navy's dedicared nighrflghrer unirs, F4U-2equipped VF(N)-75, would nor be operarional unril Ocrober 1943, alrhough irs flrsr kill was scored before monrh-end. Senr ro airfields in rhe Solomon Islands, many of VF(N)-75's early Corsairs lacked radar because of a shorrage in rhe number ofhand-builr sers rhen available Ulrimarely, ir would be rhe Hellcar, supporred by rhe Avengers, rhar would be rhe dominare nighrflghrer rype embarked in S Navy carriers in rhe Pacific for much of rhe war. The flrsr nighr kills ar sea were credired ro Air Wing 6's imprompru 'bar ream' aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6) on rhe nighr of 26 ovember 1943. Two convenrional Hellcars, operaring wirh a radar-equipped TBF-I C Avenger, succeeded in downing lWO
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Corsair nightfighters of VF(NI-101's Detachment B move into position for a pre-dusk launch from Intrepid in late January 1944 - each detachment operated just four aircraft within the air group. The squadron claimed five aerial victories between February and June 1944 (Tailhook Association)
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'Betry' bombers near rhe GilberT Islands - the kills were acwally claimed by the lOrpedo-bomber. Tragically, a Few minutcs latcr rhc [Urrcr gun ncr in the Avenger accidentally shot down one of the Hellcats as well, rhe flghrer being flown by legendary ace and Medal of Honor winner Lt Cdr 'Butch' 0' are, who was rhe commander of Air Group 6. The first dedicared flghrer unit ro deploy ro sea was VF(N)-76, which splir its complemenr of radar-equipped F6F-3 s between Task Force 58 carr'iers USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) and USS Yorktown (CV-I 0) when the vessels deparTed Pearl Harbor in Januar'y 1944. F4 U-2N-equipped VF(N)-I 0 I Followed sui r a short while later when ir embarked detachmenrs aboard Enterpriseand USS Intrepid(CV-II). Although supporr existed ar rask Force level For nighr CV operations in early 1944, many air staFFs aboard rhe carriers rhemselves were relucranr lO wad, deck crews more than IS hours a day. NeverTheless, VF(N)-76 (split inlO Four Four-aircraFt detachmenrs rhar were embarked in FourEssex-class carr'iers) made irs mark in rhe Pacific by downing 37 hostile aircraFr between February and Seprember 1944. Four of rhese were claimed by the unir CO, Lr Cdr Pete Aurand. During rhis period, VF(N)-76 also played its parr in rhe mosr memorable aerial acrion involving US Navy pilots in the Pacific war- the Marianas Turkey Shoor. This acrion rook place on 19-20 June 1944, and a wirness lO rhe starr of this event was Future seven-kill ace Lt(jg) John W Dear oFVF(N)-76's Det 2, embarked in USS Hornet(CV-12). Alrhough nor direcrly involved in the melee rhat saw the decimation of rhe IJN's carrier'-based air arm, he had flown a nighr patrol beFore rhe barrie started; 'On the night of 18/19 June, Hornets radar picked up a snooper, and at abour 2300 hrs I was catapulred oFF ro inrercept ir. Bur as soon as 1was airbor-ne the blip disappeared, which pur me in a precarious position. one of our carriers was sparred For landing and none was inclined lO unload rheir aeroplanes and re-spot For' Just one Hellcar. The main Jap fleet had been located, and all of the air groups had more pressing rhings on their minds"
This situarion presented Dear' wirh rwo options. He could cither remain airborne unril rhe flrsr Combar Air Parrol (CAP) was Iaun hed at 0700 hrs, or ditch in rhe sea. To do this he would have ro select one or th screening dem'oyers on the outer perimerer, am'act the arrenrion of irs crew, land in rhe sea ahead oFir and hope ro be picked up. Destroyer crews liked ro rescue downed pilots because they knew rhey would be wellrewarded with ice cream From the machines installed in the bigger ships! Alrhough a relarively saFe one, rhe ditching oprion did not appeal ro Dear. He rhereFore decided ro do everything he could ro keep his Hellcat in the air until he was able lO land on his carrier; 'I still had my belly rank, so iF I didn'r have ro chase any snoopers and no emergencies cropped up, 1jusr mighr be able lO pur ir down on USS BeLLeau Wood (CVL-24), because it was launching rhe first CAP. IF 1 succeeded, it would be some kind of record because the normal cruising range of an F6F, without raking exrreme conservarion measures, was abour 6+ hours. 1had lO beat rhar by ar leasr 1.5 hrs' I selecred an alritude of abour 8000 Fr (2500 m). 1 leaned the gasoline-air mixture unril rhe engine was wheezing For Fuel and rerarded rpm lO the poinr rhar rhe aircraFt would JUSt maintain altirudc without an increase in maniFold pressure. I rhen went inlO a lazy or·bit around the ourer perrmeter of rhe rask group, and prayed' My biggesr problem was going ro be staying alert.' As he circled, Dear wned his r'adio to an inrumediate Frequency used by commercial broadcasters, enabling him ro pick up an Australian station as well as theJapanese one known as 'Tokyo Rose'. The music kept him awake. AFrer what seemed like an eter-niry, rhe flrsr rays oFlighr appeared over rhe horizon, and wirh rhem came radio messages indicaring rhar CVL-24 was preparing ro launch irs CAP. Dear's belly rank was now bone dry, and he jerrisoned it lO reduce drag. \X!hen all rhe aircraFt of rhe Cf\P had been launched and the deck crews had fin ished Fran rically push ing rhe remai nrng ai rcraFr Forward ro make way For his recovery, Dear was ar last able lO come aboard. All he had ro do was lO ger his Hellcat, wirh irs Fuel tanks now almost empty, saFely on ro rhe deck, as he recounted; 'I dropped rhe gear and railhook as 1 came abeam of rhe carrier, increasing rpm a lirrle ro mainrain altirude. Bur 1 was running lean and witham flaps. T ur-n ing inro rhe crosswi nd leg, I dropped the flaps, and as I hir the groove rhe cylinder head temperarure srarred rising Fasr. 1 jammed the mixture inro Full rich, rhe prop inlO Full low pitch, opened the cowl flaps and rook rhe cur From rhe Landing Signal Officer (LSO) - all ar rhe same rime! The hook engaged and I was saFe. Bur JUSt a Few minures later 1 lear-ned that aeroplanes From the Jap fleer were approaching the Marianas Islands in large numbers. 'Adm Mitscher (Vice-Admiral Mar'c A Mirscher, commander oFTask Force 58) ordered all ai rcraFr lau nched. H und reds leFt ou r carrier group in rapid Fashion, and each pilor flrewalled his rhrorrles. Superchargers were wide open and each aircraFr was climbing as Fast as ir could. As 1srood on rhe deck 1couldn'r believe my eyes. Ir was a clear day wirh low humidiry. Wirh all rhose aeroplanes srreaming rheir heavy vapour trails, ir was like a huge loom weaving a blanker rhar srrerched FroIll horizon-lO-horizon ro become solid man-made overcast. Ir was rhe beginning of rhe Marianas Turkey Shoor.'
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UNIQUE ACHIEVEMENT----
Of all the US nighrflghrer aces of World War 2, the achievemenrs of Lt(jg) John Dear's detachmenr commander, Lt Russ Rei erer, are rhought ro be unique. Nor only was his rally of nine kills achieved during borh day and nigh t operations, but he was also a mem ber of the exclusive fraterniry offlghter pilots credited with five or more kills in a single day. Reiserer had servcd with F4 F-4 Wildcat-equipped VF-I 0, embarked in Enterprise, in 1942/ 3, and c1aimcd a solirary vicrory with the squadron. Following rwo monrhs with VF-S in July-Augusr 1943, he became a founder member of VF( )-76 when it formed. Made CO of rhe fouraircraft Derachmenr 2 embarked in Hornet, Reiserer would lead his pilors by example, claiming a number of rhe 27 vicrories credited ro rhe flighr berween April and eptcmber 1944 - I I of rhese were achieved ar nighr. Aside from Reisercr, Lt(jg)s John Dear and Fred Dungan also 'made ace' wirh Det 2. VF( )-76's Det I on Bunker Hillclaimed eighr kill (f, ur ro CO Lt Cdr Aurand) whilc Dcr3 on 55 Lexington ( V- 16) jusr one.
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F6F-5N Hellcat nightfighters of CVG(NI-41 prepare to take-off from Independence in late 1944. This air group was credited with 46 day and night aerial victories I Tailhook Association)
A VT(N)-41 TBM-3D departs Independence off Ulithi in late 1944. Launching in the late afternoon, the aircraft would then hunt for Japanese shipping after dark I Tailhook Association)
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The F4U-2Ns ofVF(N)-1 0 1 claimed five kills during rhe same rimc. As rcvealed in rhiscl13prer, rhe bulk ofrhe vicroriesscored by nighrflghrer pilors in 1944 were scored during convenrional daylighr missions in radarlessaircrafrborrowed from flghterunitswithin theairgroup. VF(N) pilors routinely complaincd of insufficient time for nighr flying, and although the succcsses dcmonstrated by radar-equipped Hcllcars and Corsairs proved thc concepr worked, carrier captains and the air bosses that ran the flightdecks remained reluctant to respor decks after dark merely ro accommodate one or rwo 'bar reams'. The reliabiliry of the equipment fitted inro rhe F6F-3 Is and F4 -2Ns also hindered the units' operabiliry, with electronics personnel hardpressed ro meer operational schedules wirh only four aircraft per dct. Carrier captains, rherefore, often regarded smart shiphandling and thick flak as rhe besr prorecrion againsr nocrurnal air arrack. ighrflghrcr pilors disagreed, bur rhey needed sufflcienr aircrafr and supporr ro prove rhcir point. Something more substanrial rhan a four-aircrafr der per carricr was needed. Fasr carriers necded a nighr air group, and rhar is whar rhcy gor.
NIGHT AIR WING On thc nighr of 17 February, during rhe carrier srrikc on Truk Aroll, Imrepid was badly damagcd when ir was hir in rhc srern by an acrial rorpedo droppcd from a Japancsc aircrafr rhat had slippcd pasr a pan·olling F6F-3N. This arrack, and rhc subsequent achicvcmcnts of rhc VF(N) ders in rhc Pacific, convinccd scnior offlccrs in rhc US Nav)' rhat full-time nighr air group was a good idca. By Augusr such an organ isarion cxisred in rhe form ofCarricr ighr Air Group 41, embarkcd in SS Independmce (CVL-22). Consisring of VF(N)-41, with 19 F6F-5s and 14 F6F-5Ns, and VT( )-41, wirh ninc TBM-IDs, rhc air group
claimed irs first kills on 12 Seprember when furure accs Lt William Henr)' and Ens Jack Berkhcimer downed a snooping Ki-46 'Dinah' derected near the rask forcc jusr afrer dawn. The air group's rrue baprism of flrc came on rhe nighr of 12/13 Ocrober off rhe coast of Formosa. Plcnty ofopposirion was expected ro VT(N)-41's missions againsr bases on rhe island, and thar is exactly whar happened. Torpedo-carrying 'Berty' bombers arrempting ro make a low-level run on Independence were inrercepred by several Hellcar nighrflghrer CAPs rhat had been launched ro prorecr rhe rask group. Three raiders were shor down, cwo of which fell ro Lr Henry when he intcrcepred thc incoming bogies ar very low level. He was awardcd the Navy Cross for his aCtions. Three nighrs later thc air group launched further Hcllcars, which shor down a trio of Kawanishi H8K 'Emily' flying boars ar 0230 hrs. One of rhcse fell ro Lr Henry, making him Carrier lighr Air Group 1's first acc. By rhe rime Independence complered irs combar rour in January 1945, Henry had increased his rally ro 9.5 kills, seven of which wcre genuine nighr viCtories. The S Navy's onl), orher VF(N) night acc, Ens Jack Berkheimer, also served wirh VF( 1)-41, and he claimed 7.5 victories (5.5 ar nighr). Berkheimer failed ro rerum from a nighr mission over Luzon on 16 December 1944. Independences air group had pioncered operations with a large force of nighrflghters, and rhe racrics it formulared were ro serve rhe S av)' well until war's end. Records show rhar Carrier light Air Group 41 shor down 46 enemy aircraft, 27 of which fell during the hours of darkness. A srring of'probables' and enemy aircrafr lisred as 'damaged' was added ro rhe group's achievements. Carrier ighr Air Group 41 was replaced aboard Independence by CVG(N)-90, whose VF(N)-90 was equipped wirh 34 F6F-5E/ sand VT(N)-90 21 TBM-3Ds. In February 1945 CVL-22 l"Crurned ro day operations, and CVG( )-90's units were divided up be[ween Ente;prise and USS Saratoga (CV-3). upporting operations such as rhe invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and srrikes on the Japanese Home Islands, VF(N)-90 claimed 36 aircrafr shot down (plus five by rhe TBlvls of VT( )-90 in four months ofcombat. During the final two mon ths of the war, rhe prorecrion of rhe fasr carrier force ar nighr was entrusred ro CVG(N)-91, embarked in SS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31). Irs VF( )-91 claimed nine kills in July-Augusr 1945, including five in 40 minutes on 13 Augusr- rhe lasr Allied nighrflghter kills of World War 2.
Lt William E Henry was the US Navy's top nightfighter ace of World War 2. He is credited with 9.5 kills6.5 of which were scored at nightwhile operating from Independence with VF(NI-41 IBil/ Hessl
HIDDEN DANGERS - - - - - A nocrurnal aerial arrack was nor rhe only hazard facing US Navy vessels in rhe Pacific. Lurking benearh rhe ocean's surface was the deadly
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Lt Tom Cunningham poses in the cockpit of his VF(Nj-76 Hellcat aboard Hornet. Cunningham scored three daytime kills, as well as a probable. He flew more than 30 night missions as member of VFIN)-76 in 1944 (Tom Cunningham)
Japanese submarine force, which posed a consranr rhrear [Q rhe carriers in panicular, and also increased rhe dangers for flghrer pilors operaring from rhem. Rerurning [Q rheir ships afrer a CAP on a dark nighr, rhey would have [Q grope rheir way ro a safe deck landing wirh lirrle help from rhe ship. Turning on rhe carrier's lighrs would only invire arrack from enemy submarines in rhe area. Bur rhere were rimes when ir was worrh rhe risk. During rhe epic Barrie of Leyre Gulf in lare Ocrober 1944, day flghrers were launched lare in rhe afrernoon on rhe 25rh. By rhe rime rhey had anacked rhe enemy force, rheir pilors faced rerurning ro rheir carriers in wral darkness. On such occasions ir was bener ro risk rurning on lighrs, including powerful searchlighrs, rarher rhan lose large numbers of aircrafr and rheir pilors rhrough lack of fuel. Yer ir was srill virrually impossible for rerurning pilors ro idenrify rheir own carrier, especially when several were operaring in close proximity. This led ro confusion, as Lr(jg) John Dear recalled; 'Somerimes rhey didn'r know which carrier ro land on so rhey jusr gor inro any landing panern rhey could find. The resulr was rhar some ships rook on far more aeroplanes rhan rhey could handle, while orhers had almosr empry decks. For example, one carrier had aircrafr parked up ro abour rhe renrh wire (rhere were 12 arresror wires in all, plus rhree barriers) and were srill raking more. On rhe orher hand, Hornet, which was close by, only rook on four. Somerimes pilors had ro dirch close ro rhe carriers because rhey'd run our of gas. There were also inciden rs when ou r nigh rflgh rers were up afrer dark and mer several of rhe reru rn ing day force rhar were all bur losr and gu ided rhem safely back ro rhe carrier. Nigh r flying was a dangerous business even when you were rrained ro do it.'
MISTAKEN IDENTITY - - - - -
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Mosr nighrflghrer pilors emphasised rhe imporrance of being able ro visually idenrify a suspecred bogey. Yer misrakes still happened. Lr Tom Cunningham of VF(N)-76, operaring from /-Iornet, recalled a close call during a nighr mission off Okinawa which could have ended in tragedy; 'One nighr I was flying a CAP over rhe fleer when I was vecrored rowards an unidenrifled aircraft closing on our ships. I first picked him up on my screen ar 25 miles (40 km). The closure rare was very high because he was coming straight ar me. In a marrer of minures, rhe disrance had narrowed down ro four miles (6.5 km), and rhen jusr one mile. Ar thar poinr, I made a quick 180-degree turn and pulled in on rhe unidentified aircraft's "six o'clock". When I got righr up ro it, I was shocked ro see ir was a B-17 Flying Fonress. The rail gunner never saw me, as he was roo busy smoki ng a cigarerre! 'Ar rhat poinr I dropped back and rold GCl it was a friendly B-17. To make sure, they asked me ro move in close again and read rhem rhe rail
number. At rhis posirion I was at point-blank range, and I read rhe numbers off ro them. Dropping back again, I waited. In a few minures rhey radioed me back rhat ir was indeed a friendly, and nor ro shoor ir down' It was disappoinring because I'd charged m)' six guns, and ir would have been my first nighr kill. o I pulled back slighrly behind and above rhe bomber. I increased speed, diving down under it and rhen zooming up righr in fronr as I pulled a 180. If the pilot or co-pi lor were dozing, more rhan likely the rurbulence from my Hellcar woke rhem up real fasr l ' Night flying in any rhearre was dangerous, and rhe weather played a major pan in derermining rhe success ofa mission. Perhaps rhe safesr parr was rhe flighr irself, because rake-offs and landings were the most hazardous times. Pilors operaring from land bases may have lacked landing aids, bur rhey were fOITunare in comparison wirh S I avy pilors who had ro rerurn ro carriers ofren pirching in rough seas.
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Nightfighter ace Lt Russ Reiserer of VF(N)-76 is seen here on Okinawa with a captured Japanese A6M-5 Zero. The fighter had been too badly damaged by strafing US Navy fighters to seek a safer base prior to the island falling to the Americans (Russ Reiserer)
JIMA
Alrhough rhe Marine Corps did not make its amphibious assaulr on Iwo Jima until February 1945, the riny volcanic island had been under arrack by various Navy air groups on numerous occasions during rhe previous year. Lt(jg) John Dear parricipared in many such missions, and has a clear recollecrion of the tail end of one which could have ended in more damage ro his air group rhan ir caused rhe enemy. Most of these arracks involved long flights berween rhe target and parenr ship ro protect rhe carriers, while its aircraft were flying rheir mission. Those flown by Dear involved as much flying during rhe day as afrer dark. On one occasion, he was flying a pre-dawn CAP from Homel over Iwo Jima, wirh rhe srrike force following close behind. Dear's joband also rhar of nighrflghrer ace Lr Russell Reiserer - was ro help clear rhe sky over rhe rarget area of Japanese flghrers. Dear reponed; 'The arrack on Iwo proved ro be very successful, wirh over 20 enemy aircrafr shor down and numerous orher caughr on rhe ground. Our small nighrflghter derachment reru rned ro rhe carrier as rhe wearher was gerri ng nastier by rhe minure. We landed wirhour much difficulty, but by rhe rime rhe main force rerurned ir was very bad, and rhis proved ro be rhe mosr dangerous parr of the mission. The aft end of rhe deck was pi rch ing abour 60 ft
Lt Russ Reiserer became an ace while leading VF(N)-76's Det 2 aboard Hornet in 1944. He ended the war with nine kills to his credit, the first of which had been scored in January 1943 while serving with day fighter squadron VF-10 IRuss Reiserer)
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Five Marine Corps nightfighter squadrons were operating from captured islands during the final months of the war in the Pacific. The second-highest scoring of these units was VMFIN}-541, which claimed 23 aerial kills. All bar one of these victories came in the Philippines, where the squadron received an Army Distinguished Unit Citation for its outstanding work. This F6F-3N was one of the Hellcats assigned to the unit at Peleliu in October 1944 I Glen Bridge)
The F4U-4N was an advanced version of the Corsair nightfighter. The final variant was the -5N, which saw extensive service during the Korean War in 1950-53 I Steve Ginter}
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(18m). It was so violen t that the LSOs had to tie themselves down with ropes to keep from being tossed overboa rd. 'Such conditions were a nightmare for returning pilots, LSOs and deck crews. The inbound aeroplanes had to be brought into the landing groove at precisely the right time. If they reached rhe point where rhe "cut" signal was given when rhe deck was at it lowesr poinr and riSing, they would hir ir so hard rhat the landing gear would buckle. On the orher hand, if the deck was at its highest point when the cut signal was received, rhe aeroplanes would float down the deck and miss all rhe WII·es. nless rhey could gun the engine In rime to take a wave-off, they would wind up in the barriers or worse, slamming into rhe aeroplanes parked forward.' Lr Reiserer added; 'Ir was so stOrmy that rhe flrsr LSO had to give up because he was experiencing vertigo from rhe motion of rhe deck, combined wirh rhe Iigh rn ing flashes on the horizon asrern of rhe sh ip.' Ar this time rhe BelLeau lVoodwas off Hornet's porr beam, and some of the returning pilots from VF(N)-76 had seen rhe difflculries being encounrered by rhe ship's LSO. One pilot on final approach had failed to jenison his external belly tank. He cur power and rhe aircrafr dropped to the deck, which was rising sharply upwards. It slammed into the deck so hard thar rhe fuel rank was smashed and insrantly burst into a fiery inferno. The rolling deck spread rhe burning fuel from one side to rhe orher. FOI· a few minures ir looked as if rhe carrier itself was doomed. In such rough wearher it would have been impossible for anorher ship to come in close enough to arrempt a rescue. Bur Hornet's deck crew
responded to the crisis and rapidly exringuished the flames. Such hazal-ds were present on every carrier irrespective of whether it was conducring operarions during rhe day or at night.
MARINE CORPS NIGHTFIGHTERS The first single-seat Marine Corps nightflghrer unir to see combar was F4 U-2N-equipped VM F(N)-532, which commenced operarions from Tarawa in January 1944. As rhe only Marine Corsairs nighrflghrer unit in-rheatre, rhe squadron claimed rwo kills prior to being senr bJ.ck home to rrain furure nighrflghrer pilors in June 1944. Like rhe US Navy, rhe Marine Corps quickly adopred rhe F6F-3/5N as irs srandard nighrflghrer, and berween May 1944 and April 1945, five units were equipped wirh rhe Hellcar and sell[ into J.crion in rhe Pacific. The senior, and mosr successful, Marine nighrflghrer unit was VM F(N)-533, which claimed 35 kills in 15 months of combar. VM F(N)-541 achieved 23 victories, VM F(N)-542 18 kills and VM F(N)-543 15 victories. VM F( )-534 operared primarily from Guam and claimed jusr one success. By early June 1945, rhree of rhe unirs had converged on OkinJ.wa, or nearby islands, and rhese squadrons would claim rhe bulk of rheir nighr kills in rhe com ing weeks, as rhe Japanese rargered All ied vessels prepari ng for rhe invasion of the I-lome Islands. The Marine Corps' rwo nighrflghrer aces scored a number of rheir victories during this period. The first of rhese individuals to claim five kills was VMF(N)-542 CO, Maj R Bruce Porrer. He had previously claimed rhree dayrime kills while flying F4 U-I s wirh VM F-12 I in defence of Guadalcanal in 1943. On rhe nighr of 15 June 1945, Porrer was flying a rourine parrol from his base ar Yonran, working a sector designed to protecr the fleer from arracks by Japanese bombers and suicide aircraft. H is ground conrroller, operaring from rhe riny island of Ie ShimJ., was experienced, and he passed him pi npoi nr vectors enabl ing Porrer - flyi ng his assigned F6F- 5 BuNo 78669, appropriarely named Blae!? Death - to close on rhe in rruders. Ir was a parricularly dark nighr, and his parrol secror placed him between enemy rerritory and S-held Okinawa. He recalled; 'I was senr up to work a panern ar 10,000 fr (3000 m). Thar pur me in a good posirion to inrercepr incoming bogies, which usually came In slightly below rhar. On some of my previous pJ.rrols, I'd been able to see flashes oflighr in rhe disrance, indicating gun battles on rhe ground. On one occasion, I'd witnessed a fiery explosion in rhe disrance ar abour my alritude - ir was one of our nighrflghrers scoring a kill over an incoming Jap bomber. After45 minuresofa monotonous parrolling, GCI cameon rhe radio and said rhey had a bogey ar 15,000 ft (4600 m) and 30 miles (48 km) out. 1wenr to full power to close on ir as quickly as I could. 'I was on full insrru men rs, and when rhe range was less rhan rh ree miles, I rumed on my radal· screen - ir had been off to preserve my nighr vision. The vecror was perfecr, and in a maner of minures I was on rhe inrruder's rail. Forrunately for me, ir was flying srraighr and level. Seconds Iarer, I picked up a visual of a dull orange glow coming from rhe aircrJ.fr's exhausr sracks. The disrance berween us was about 300 fr (90 m). Ar rhat poinr I gor a posirive idenriflcarion - rhe contact was a twin-engined JAAF Ki-45 "Nick" nighrflghrer.'
Marine Corps nightfighter ace Maj R Bruce Porter discusses tactics with fellow VMFINI-542 pilot 1Lt James Maguire, who is kneeling on the wing IJames McGuirel
Marine Corps nightfighter pilot 1Lt Albert Dellamano of VMF(NI-533 prepares for another patrol. He downed a 'Betty', a 'Jake' and a 'Sally' in one mission on the night of 24 May 1945 IPat Dellamanol
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Porter's Hellcat was the only one in the squadron armed with 0.50-cal
tour in Corsairs with VMF(N)-532
>
machine guns and 20 mm cannon. He opened up with both, using his
in 1944, he had retllrned to the
o
20 mm sparingly, as the cannon had less ammunition. He aimed For the
Pacific with VMF(N)-533 in May
CL
'Nick's' right engine and Fuselage side in the hope of hitting its internal
1945. The unit had been sent to
:r:
Fuel tanks. Flames duly appeared on the leading edge of the right wing,
the Okinawan island of Ie Shima.
and seconds later it had spread to the Fuselage. Suddenly, the Ki-45
During the war's final months, this
lurched violently to the right as a burst From Black Death hammered into
speck of land, JUSt five miles (8 km)
« u
its cockpit area. It was over in seconds. Virtually a fireball From nose to
long and sitllated oFF the northwest
tail, the'
coast of Okinawa, was packed with
ick' went into a dive. Portel' had his first nocturnal victory.
He was still on patrol an hour later when there was a Further call From
US aircraFt. The Japanese became
GCI. Another Intruder was on the scope at 14,000 Ft (4300 m), several
aware of this, and realised that a
miles away. The vector put the interception point dangerously close to
single bomber would have a good
the Fleet. This would place both aircraFt in a Free-fire zone For the ships'
chance of destroyi ng several ai l·craFt.
gunners. Unable to distinguish Friend From Foe, they would blast away at
First, though, it would have to run
anything within their area just to be on the saFe side. The intruder was
the gauntlet of Allied night patrols
heading For Allied ships at an airspeed oF292 mph (467 km/h). When GCI radioed that the distance was down to 0.75 mile (1.2 km), Two of the most experienced Pacific theatre nightfighter pilots pose beside a VMFINI-533 Hellcat. They are unit CO Lt Col Marion Magruder !left) and his Executive Officer, Maj Homer Hutchinson. Magruder claimed a 'Betty' destroyed on the night of 22 June 1945 lEd Le Faivre} Two VMFIN)-533 pilots pose with one of their Hellcats on Okinawa. They are 1 Lt Ed Le Faivre (left!. who scored two kills la 'Hamp' and a 'Betty', on 18 May 1945). and his wingman, 2Lt Autrey. After the war, Le Faivre stayed in the Marine Corps and flew the F7F-3N Tigercat during the Korean War. He later claimed the 'time-to-climb' record while piloting a Douglas F4D Skyray (Ed Le Faivre)
Baird claimed his premiel' kill on the night oF9 June, and Followed this up wi th a Further two victories duri ng the early morn ing hou rs of 16 June.
raised the possibility of a tail gunner, so Porter had to approach the bogey
The first of the latter successes came when, during a routine patml, GCI
with care. Moving closer he identified it as a 'Betty', but one that looked
tOld him about a single intruder heading For the island at 23,000 Ft (7000
a little diFFerent. He explained;
m). Baird was then flying at 10,000 Ft (3000 m). He pulled the Hellcat's
'This one was carrying an external load - a Baka bomb - under the I'ight
nose up and increased power to I'each an altitude From which a positive
wing. This was a deadly suicide weapon which was basically a manned
identification could be made. Manoeuvring into position, he closed From
bomb. II' would be released close to its target, and the pilot would guide it
the intruder's 'six o'clock' to within a halF-mile, but the enemy bomber
to its quarry. Now, with separation down to 250 Ft (80 m), I put the
was approaching the firing zone For the anti-aircraFt battel·ies.
illuminated gunsight pipper between the Fuselage and the right engine
Baird was told to back oFF and orbit, but aFter pleading his case, he was
and slowly squeezed both triggers. A two-second burst caused an instant
allowed to continue the pursuit of what he could now clearly see was a
explosion in the "Betty's" wing tanks.'
'Betty' beginning its bomb run. Closing quickly to 300 Ft (90 m), he six 0.50-cal guns were working. He fired longer bursts, and within
the Flames From the mother ship had reached its volatile propellant tank.
seconds the 'Betty' had nosed over in a ball oFfire and gone straight down.
The time was precisely 2335 hI'S, and Porter had just become an ace. He
Baird's mission, however, was Far From over.
landed saFely at Yontan 25 minutes later, and although it was midnight,
An hour latel', GCI spotted another inbound bogey below Baird's
the word was out and there was a crowd waiting For Porter when he taxied
patrol altitude. He responded immediately and got a blip on his radar
S,
C'I
his rounds bracketed the starboard engine. It burst into Flames and the bomber dived Into the sea.
Corps' sale true nightflghter ace of
Baird's success resulted in cele-
the war was to go to Capt Robert
brations within the squadron, but
Baird. Having completed a combat
he had certainly not finished. Six
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APPENDICES
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US NIGHTFIGHTER ACES IN RAFjRCAF SERVICE Nightfighter and Intruder Aces Name
Service
Unit
Total
Theatre/s
A A Harrington CEEdinger J FLuma CLJohnson CLJasper
USAAF RCAF USAAF RAF RCAF
410 410 418 227 418
7/-/-
UK UK UK MedME UK
6/-/1 5/-/2 45/-/4/-/-+3 Vl
Nightfighter, Intruder and V1 Aces and other notable pilots Name
Service
Unit/s
Total
Theatre/s
T GAnderson S Cornforth PY Davoud EB Edgett GA Holland J SHolland B FMiller PT Park
RCAF RAF RCAF RCAF RCAF RCAF USAAF RCAF
418 23 410.409.418 272 605 46. 227 605. FlU. 501 89. 108
2/-/2/-/1 1/1/1 2/1/4/-/1 15/-/2 1/-/2 + 9 Vl 3/-/-
UK UK. MedME UK MedME UK MedME UK MedME
Notes Note that pilots with less than five victories are included because of their inclusion in Aces High. Stars & Bars or Those Other Eagles. or where there may be doubt as to their actual scores Theatre Abbreviations UK - United Kingdom and northwest Europe MedME - North Africa and Mediterranean
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USAAF P-61 BLACK WIDOW ACES
COLOUR P l A T E S - - - - - - - - - - -
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Maj CCSmith (with radar observer 1Lt PBPorterl, 418th NFS -7 kills (includes 2 while flying P-38sl and 2 probables
UJ
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1Lt H EErnst (with radar observer 1Lt EH Kopsel) 422nd NFS - 5 kills and 2 damaged (plus 1V1 destroyed)
1 Beaufighter IIF T3145/KP-K of Wg Cdr P V Davoud, No 409 5qn RCAF, Coleby Grange, March 1942
Ju 52/3ms 0 become an ace. However, the follOWing day, dunng an attac on a heavily-armed E-boat, he was shot down and killed together WI h his navigator, Sgt R A Webb.
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In early 1942, T3145 was the regular aircraft 0 the CO, Wg Cdr
1Lt EDAxtell (with radar observers 1Lt BOrzel, 1Lt J UMorris, 1Lt CH Morrison and 1Lt J FCrew). 422nd NFS - 5 kills and 2 probables 1Lt PA Smith (with radar observer 1Lt RETierney), 422nd NFS - 5 kills and 1 probable (plus 1V1 destroyed) 1Lt RFGraham (radar observer, with pilots 1Lt RGBolinder and Capt RA Anderson). 422nd NFS - 5 kills and 1 probable Lt R 0 Elmore (with radar observer 1Lt LFMapes). 422nd NFS - 4 kills (plus 1V1 destroyed)
US NAVY NIGHTFIGHTER ACES
Paul Y Davoud, who had claimed the squadron's first victory
5
the prevIous November He flew thiS aircraft for the first time on a night flying test on 23 February, accompanied Fig Of
Mosquito II DZ234/VP-V of Pit Off 5 J Cornforth,
Pynn, and again the following nlg t on a GCI practice. All his
a
claims, however, were made while flying with Pit Carpenter Davoud had arrived follOWing the death of
Stanley Cornforth arrived In Malta to JOin No 23 Sqn on 16 January 1943, and flew his first miSSion from the Island he follOWing nigh when, accompanied by navigator Pit Off
the prevIous CO while converting to the Merlln-englned
Maunce DavIs, he vIsited attacked airfields. The pair flew
Beauflghter, which could be tnc y to handle. Davoud led a Typhoon Wing later In the war, while T3145 was rei ega ed
Intruder miSSions regularly, and on the nigh of 31 January they encountered a pair of Italian S.82 transports heading for North
to training duties. It crashed In S ptember 1943
Afnca Not only did Cornforth shoot both of them down, he
2
also chased away their escorting Bf 109. Cornforth and DavIs flew DZ234 for the first time on 8 March on an Intruder mission
Havoc I BT462/VP-Z of 5gt G R Wright RCAF, No 23 5qn,
to western Sicily In poor weather. Repeating that mission two
Ford, 21/22 June 1942 Wnght was an Amencan who had JOined the RCAF, and
nights later, they continued to see action through March until the pair left for an Intruder sortie to eastern Sicily In thiS aircraft
after training was posted to the RAF's No 23 Sqn, flying night
on the evening of 1 Apnl and failed to return.
Lt W EHenry - 6.5 night kills, 3 day kills and 1 probable with VF(N)-41, and one damaged with VS-3 (in SBD-3)
Intruder operations. Having arrived In Apnl1942, he began his operational career on 7 May and first flew thiS aircraft (which
6
Ens J Orth - 6 night kills with VF-9
had previously served With No 44 Sqn) on the night of 21 June on an Intruder misSion to Beauvais Wnght's last sortie In
No 89 5qn, Castel Benito, Libya, June/July 1943
BT462 was flown on 5 July when he bombed the marshalling
After raining In Canada, Paul Park was posted to
Ens J S Berkheimer - 55 night kills and 2 day kills with VF(N)-41
yards at Amlens. He converted to the MosqUi 0 soon after-
where he JOined
Lt(jgl RJ Humphrey - 5 night kills and 0.333 day kill with VF-17
wards, and It was while flYing thiS type that he claimed to ave destroyed a Do 217 He was, however, lost dunng
while helping to defend the port 0 Algiers In late 1942. In early 1943 he claimed hiS third, and final, success, but con Inued
Lt RLReiserer -1 night kill and 7 day kills with VF(N)-76, and 1 day kill and 2 damaged with VF-lO (in F4F-41
Lt(jg) J W Dear Jnr - 4 night kills, 3 day kills and 2 probables with VF(N)-76 Lt(jg) FLDungan - 4 night kills, 3 day kills and 1 probable with VF(N)-76 Lt K D Smith - 3 night kills with VF(N)-90 and 2 days kills and 1 damaged with VF-82 (in F6F)
orth Afnca,
089 Sqn and gained hiS first wo successes
to fly defenSive patrols from Libya On 29 June he went on
BT462 had been passed to No 605 Sqn. It was destroyed In a mid-air colliSion WI h another Havoc on 20 July 1942.
a dawn pa rolln V8447, and that night Park was scrambled for a further, albeit uneventful, miSSion He continued to fly thiS aircraft regularly over the next wo weeks, the last time bel g
3 Mosquito II DD712/VP-R of Pit Off 5 J Cornforth,
on 11 July On 3 August V8447 crashed after a tyre had burst on landing The pilo was 17-vlctory HUrricane ace Wg Cdr
No 23 5qn, Bradwell Bay, 15/16 October 1942
DenniS David, who had lust assumed command of the unit.
An American from Pittsburgh, Stanley Cornforth had enlisted In he RAF and JOined No 23 Sqn In early 1942. Initially he flew the
7
US MARINE CORPS NIGHTFIGHTER ACES
the type, to central France, was flown on 22 August. All-black DD712 was delivered to the squadron on 8 September and
Capt RBaird - 6 night kills with VMF(N)-533
flown on ItS first operation, In the hands of the unit's CO, and
Mal RBPorter - 2 night kills with VMF(N)-542 and 3 day kills, 1 probable and 1 damaged with VMF-121 (in F4U-l)
Beaufighter VIF V8447/N of Pit Off P T Park RCAF,
another Intruder miSSion on 7 September, by which time
Havoc, before converting to the MosqUito - his first mission on
Mosquito XIII HK465/RA-P of Fit Off R N Geary U5AAF, No 410 5qn RCAF, Castle Camps, January 1944 A Californian, Fit Off DICk Geary JOined the RCAF night fighter unit dunng the summer of 1943 and started flying combat
ace, Wg Cdr Sammy Hoare, 1 days lat r. Cornforth flew
operations In October. Dunng the evening of 3 January 1944,
DD712 for the first time on 15/16 October when he conducted an Intruder miSSion to Twente airfield. ,n Holland This aircraft
accompanied by Fit Sgt Georges, he took off on a mission from Castle Camps III thiS aircraft. Secunng a contact In the Bradwell
failed to return from ItS sixth sortie on 29 November.
Bay area, they chased the Intruder to the edge of the London
4
anti-aircraft gun zone before being told to abandon the chase. Geary flew another patrol In HK465 a few nights later, and
Beaufighter VIC EL232/J of Fit Lt C L Johnson, No 227 5qn, Luqa, Malta, November 1942 Onglnally from Oregon, 32-year-old Carl Johnson had a bnef
on the 14 th was vectored onto a returning Bomber Command Halifax On 3 February, he narrowly avoided a head-on collision WI han Fw 190 he had Just Sighted. Geary's a achment ended
bu distingUished career WI h No 227 Sqn on Malta after JOining the unit In Sep ember 1942 On the 25 h he claimed his first
soon af erwards and e returned to USAAF service
success when he shot down a Z 506B lying boat. The
8
squadron's role was mainly to Interdict enemy shipping, and
Mosquito VI HJ808/UP-0 of T5gt V J Chipman U5AAF, No 605 'County of Warwick' 5qn, Bradwell Bay, January 1944
dunng one such miSSion on 14 November while flYing thiS EL232, he shot down an escorting Bf 109 Johnson qUickly
90
No 23 5qn, Luqa, Malta, March 1943
followed this rare kill by downing a Ju 88 minutes later On 22 November, again flying EL232, Johnson destroyed a pair of
In the early hours of 3 January 1944, USAAF pilot TSgt V J Chipman flew one of No 605 Sqn's first sorties of the year In thiS aircraft when they undertook an Intruder mission to
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