First P-38 kill of Washing Machine Charlie @ Henderson Field

[Dave Homewood]

Does anyone know the date, details and circumstances of the first P-38 shooting down a Japanese 'Washing Machine Charlie' bomber at Guadalcanal? I have been told a vague story by an RNZAF airman who after a raid in the afternoon by a Japanese bomber that did little damage, he watched the US aircraft - which had just arrived at Guadalcanal - climb up after he bomber as it was gaining altitude, and the P-38 caught it and fired on it, causing the bomber to explode. Does anyone know who the pilots of either aircraft were, the date, squadrons involved, etc.

Were the Washing Machine Charlie bombers always Betty's (as what's usually described) and if so were they always from the same japanese squadron? Did they ever come over in more than just one at a time? I wonder if anyone's ever researched and detailed the crews of these bombers and their war. The bombers' engines were desynchronised to cause maximum annoying sound, disrupting the sleep of the US and NZ airmen at Henderson Field. They also would drop one or two bombs just again for nuisance factor rather than strategic gain. Real psychological warfare, but it didn't work as the Allies carried on regardless.

[SaxMan]

According to Burke Davis' book "Get Yammamoto", the first kill of "Washing Machine Charlie" went to John Mitchell, CO of the 339th Fighter Squadron.

While the book doesn't give a specific date in December 1942, it does list the circumstances. Quoting from the book:

"Mitchell also helped to end the nightly nuisance raids of Washing Machine Charlie, an enemy bomber pilot who woke up the airmen around midnight with the whang whang whine of his unsyncronized engines, followed by the crack of a small bomb. He aroused the anti-aircraft crews, who blazed at him ineffectually, even when caught in the glare of searchlights. Despite weeks of pleading, Mitchell was refused permission to stalk Charlie with his P-38, and one night in December he went up without orders, waited for Charlie to appear, located him with the aid of the control tower, and shot him down in flames. The appreciative audience watching from the tents and foxholes below broke into cheers, and Mitchell became a hero of the command; later, other pilots shot down a few of Charlie's successors, and the defenders slept undisturbed."

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Saxman, that's a huge help. It must be the same event as the time frame is right and all. Cheers mate.

[Jack Cook]

the first kill of "Washing Machine Charlie" went to John Mitchell, CO of the 339th Fighter Squadron.

To this I say Nyet. no pony for you
Mitchell's first 3 kills were in daylight flying P-39s all in Oct/Nov 1942.
What Davis maybe been aluding to is a early morning kill of a Nell bomber at 6:30 in the morning of of Jan 29, 1943 in a P-38G. But it wasn't at night or in the dark.
Major Lou Kittel CO of the 70th FS is considered the pioneered night-fighting techniques at Guadalcanal using the P-38. He loitered at high altitude and pounced on enemy aircraft caught in searchlights. On May 19, 1943 just after midnight he flamed two Bettys over Guadalcanal in a spectacular interception watched by half the island population, returning to a heroes welcome. Lou was the 2nd in command of the Yamato mission and was a close friend. I enjoyed some great salmon fishing and crabbing with him on his boat out of Newport, OR.

[tom d. friedman]

many aircraft were washing machine charlies, however my dad's infantry outfit in new guinea, morotai, & mindanoa called them "piss call charlie" as it seemed that every time you had to piss ol'e piss call charlie came around to help you go quick!!