While in the standby division on morning of June
4, 1942, the air raid alarm sounded at 0559. Our division took off
at approximately 0605. In our division of six planes, Capt. Kirk
Armistead is division leader, 2nd Lt. William B. Sandoval his
wingman, myself section leader of second section with 2nd Lt.
William V. Brooks as wingman, 2nd Lt. Charles Murphy Kunz 3rd
section leader with 2nd Lt. Martin Edward Mahannah his wingman. We
took off immediately after fourth division and started gaining
altitude in direction of approaching enemy which was 310 degrees,
altitude 12,000 feet given by base radio.
Sight contact was made of enemy formations at
approximately 12,000 feet bearing about 30 degrees to port and
distance of about 10-15 miles. We continued climbing to 17,000
feet, still keeping the enemy slightly to our port, then when in
position of about 3,500 to 4,000 feet above and still to port we
made attack, about 30-35 miles bearing 320 degrees from islands.
By time to make attack, my division leaders
wingman had dropped back some in which case I was second to
attack. I followed division leader in a high side approach
shooting down one (1) bomber in this approach, then coming up for
high side approach on other side I again attacked, thinking I
might have shot down another bomber in this approach. I again
attacked, thinking I might have shot down another bomber in this
approach. I came up on other side and started another approach
when, about half way through run, I heard a loud noise and turning
around I saw a large hole in hood of my plane and also two type 00
navy fighters on me about 200 yards eastern, then I immediately
pushed over in steep dive in which one (1) followed me. I
descended to water level in trying to gain distance on the
fighter, the plane staying with me; I stayed at water level with
full throttle gaining distance slowly until I decided the distance
was great enough to turn on 300 yard distant and the plane caught
on fire and out of control dived in the water. By this time I was
approximately 40 miles from first attack and started gaining
altitude up to 10,000 feet. My fuel and ammunition were fairly
low, about three-fourths exhausted, and I called to see if field
was clear for landing, in which case I received an
"affirmative". In the meantime, while climbing for
altitude, I discovered my hydraulic fluid had been lost and my
flaps and landing gear would not lower so I used emergency system
and the wheels lowered, then made proper approach to field and
landed. After refueling and rearming, I again took off and while I
knew my wheels would not retract, I intended going some distance
from field to remain for a period when orders to land were given
to all fighting planes.
My plane was a F2A-3, Bureau Number 01553, loaded
with 1300 rounds of .50 cal. Ammunition, one ball, 2 armor
piercing. The attack was made at approximately 0625 and I used
approximately 400-600 rounds of ammunition; the final landing
being about 0745.
The enemy formations were of a Vee consisting of
about five to nine planes each, there being about 4 to 5 of such
formations in group we attacked. I don't know what formation the
fighters used or where they were as the first I knew of their
presence was the loud burst in my plane and turning, saw them. The
type of bombers seems to correspond to the type 99 Aichi (navy),
and the fighters were navy type 00.
After my second approach, I saw about four or five
planes going down in flames and only identified one as our own,
all this was just a glance on my part. Their fighters seemed to
out maneuver us in most all respects except n my case, I out dived
the one after me and gained distance at sea-level. Frankly, I
think the F2A-3 does not compare with their type 00 fighters
whatsoever.
My plane had a number of holes in it, three or
four making the left beam tank unusable. Had two large holes in
fuselage of what appeared to be 20 mm size. No apparent damage to
plane except for left beam tank and hydraulic lines broken.
