Aerial Combat, Dec 7th 1941: a brief rundown
Thu Dec 10, 2015 1:25 pm
There were over 70 U.S. aircraft airborne during the Japanese attack on Hawaiian waters. Not just Taylor and Welch.
-two Curtiss SOC Seagulls from the USS. Northampton were attacked by one A6M2. The Zero was unable to shoot down the SOC's. In fact the rear gunners damaged the Zero and the pilot had to break off trailing smoke!
-Three PBY-5's from VP-14 were on patrol in the early morning from Kaneohe NAS. 14-P-1 Ens. Tanner dropped smoke markers then depth charges on midget submarine. USS Ward joined in the attack sinking the sub. PBY 14-P-2 was attacked by Vals'. The crew fought back firing 1911's out of side blisters. 14-P-3 AFAIN didn't accouter any action.
-VB-6 and VS-6 with SBD-2 and SBD-3's were attacked by Japanese aircraft. Several SBD's shot down. Some SBD crews fired back. Most of this action accrued in the Barbers Point/Ewa area. One SBD crew is still MIA I believe.
-4 B-17C's and 8 B-17E's were attacked on arrival to Hickam field. One B-17 landed at Bellows, two landed at the 1200 foot strip at Haleiwa, one landed at a golf course, one at Wheeler, the rest at Hickam. All B-17's were unarmed.
-Lt. James Ginn and radioman with a Kingfisher from USS Maryland that took off from Ford Island and searched for the Japanese fleet. The plane ran out of gas and crashed 10 miles out to sea. The crew was rescued but Lt. Ginn later died from injuries.
-Lt. Taylor and Lt. Welch took of from Haleiwa in P-40's and during two sorties destroyed a total of 5 aircraft(debatable).
-4 P-36A's took off from Wheeler, flown by: Lt. Sanders, Lt. Sterling(MIA), Lt. Thacker, Lt. Rusmussen. The 4 got in a major dogfight with 6 A6M2's over Kaneohe NAS. Lt. Gordon trailed a Zero going down, with a Zero behind him. Neither aircraft were ever seen again. Several A6M2's were severely damaged. Equal damage to the 46th/47th PS P-36's.
-Lt. Harry Brown and Lt. Rogers took off from Haleiwa in a P-36A both attacked a VAL. Both put in claims.
-Lt. Harry Brown then joined up with Lt. Mike Moore in a P-36A and both attacked two A6M2 Zeros. Both zeroes never returned. Both wrecks discovered years later.
-Lt. John Dains in a P-40B took off from Haleiwa. Dains downed a Val. He was killed on his third sortie in a P-36 by friendly fire.
-At Bellows Lt. Hans Christianson was killed in his cockpit from a strafing Zero. Lt. George Whiteman took off but was killed before getting airborne. Lt. Sam Bishop took off in a P-40C and was wave hopping before being shot down. He was WIA. These three men were the only pilots on duty at Bellows.
-Lt. John Webster (aircraft unknown) attacked a Val formation and got WIA for his efforts.
-Lt. Fred Shifflet made a circle of Pearl Harbor, flew over Hickam, and got riddled by friendly fire. He deadsticked back at Wheeler with two flat tires.
-Lt. Bill Haney got hit by friendly fire over Pearl Harbor and both of two sorties. Each time landing at Wheeler with a dead engine.
-Lt. Willmot, Lt. Tyer, Lt. Gabreski, and Lt. Lawrence all took off from Wheeler but never saw the enemy.
-A total of 25 fighter pilots got airborne shortly after 9:30. Names and actions unknown.
There was more aircraft action!!!!! Stay tuned!
-two Curtiss SOC Seagulls from the USS. Northampton were attacked by one A6M2. The Zero was unable to shoot down the SOC's. In fact the rear gunners damaged the Zero and the pilot had to break off trailing smoke!
-Three PBY-5's from VP-14 were on patrol in the early morning from Kaneohe NAS. 14-P-1 Ens. Tanner dropped smoke markers then depth charges on midget submarine. USS Ward joined in the attack sinking the sub. PBY 14-P-2 was attacked by Vals'. The crew fought back firing 1911's out of side blisters. 14-P-3 AFAIN didn't accouter any action.
-VB-6 and VS-6 with SBD-2 and SBD-3's were attacked by Japanese aircraft. Several SBD's shot down. Some SBD crews fired back. Most of this action accrued in the Barbers Point/Ewa area. One SBD crew is still MIA I believe.
-4 B-17C's and 8 B-17E's were attacked on arrival to Hickam field. One B-17 landed at Bellows, two landed at the 1200 foot strip at Haleiwa, one landed at a golf course, one at Wheeler, the rest at Hickam. All B-17's were unarmed.
-Lt. James Ginn and radioman with a Kingfisher from USS Maryland that took off from Ford Island and searched for the Japanese fleet. The plane ran out of gas and crashed 10 miles out to sea. The crew was rescued but Lt. Ginn later died from injuries.
-Lt. Taylor and Lt. Welch took of from Haleiwa in P-40's and during two sorties destroyed a total of 5 aircraft(debatable).
-4 P-36A's took off from Wheeler, flown by: Lt. Sanders, Lt. Sterling(MIA), Lt. Thacker, Lt. Rusmussen. The 4 got in a major dogfight with 6 A6M2's over Kaneohe NAS. Lt. Gordon trailed a Zero going down, with a Zero behind him. Neither aircraft were ever seen again. Several A6M2's were severely damaged. Equal damage to the 46th/47th PS P-36's.
-Lt. Harry Brown and Lt. Rogers took off from Haleiwa in a P-36A both attacked a VAL. Both put in claims.
-Lt. Harry Brown then joined up with Lt. Mike Moore in a P-36A and both attacked two A6M2 Zeros. Both zeroes never returned. Both wrecks discovered years later.
-Lt. John Dains in a P-40B took off from Haleiwa. Dains downed a Val. He was killed on his third sortie in a P-36 by friendly fire.
-At Bellows Lt. Hans Christianson was killed in his cockpit from a strafing Zero. Lt. George Whiteman took off but was killed before getting airborne. Lt. Sam Bishop took off in a P-40C and was wave hopping before being shot down. He was WIA. These three men were the only pilots on duty at Bellows.
-Lt. John Webster (aircraft unknown) attacked a Val formation and got WIA for his efforts.
-Lt. Fred Shifflet made a circle of Pearl Harbor, flew over Hickam, and got riddled by friendly fire. He deadsticked back at Wheeler with two flat tires.
-Lt. Bill Haney got hit by friendly fire over Pearl Harbor and both of two sorties. Each time landing at Wheeler with a dead engine.
-Lt. Willmot, Lt. Tyer, Lt. Gabreski, and Lt. Lawrence all took off from Wheeler but never saw the enemy.
-A total of 25 fighter pilots got airborne shortly after 9:30. Names and actions unknown.
There was more aircraft action!!!!! Stay tuned!
Last edited by Nathan on Fri Dec 11, 2015 11:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Aerial Combat, Dec 7th 1941: a brief rundown
Thu Dec 10, 2015 3:29 pm
great info! thanks for all that. 
Re: Aerial Combat, Dec 7th 1941: a brief rundown
Thu Dec 10, 2015 4:49 pm
"-VB-6 and VS-6 with SBD-2 and SBD-3's were attacked by Japanese aircraft. Several SBD's shot down. Some SBD crews fired back. Most of this action accrued in the Barbers Point/Ewa area. One SBD crew is still MIA I believe."
In a book written by one of these SBD pilots and published in 1944, he states they shot down at least 1 Zero during this encounter and that he was shot down right after with both pilots parachuting/landing near the beach. I found his description of his run-ins with Japanese-Hawaiians on his way back to base pretty eye-opening.
In a book written by one of these SBD pilots and published in 1944, he states they shot down at least 1 Zero during this encounter and that he was shot down right after with both pilots parachuting/landing near the beach. I found his description of his run-ins with Japanese-Hawaiians on his way back to base pretty eye-opening.
Re: Aerial Combat, Dec 7th 1941: a brief rundown
Fri Dec 11, 2015 11:14 am
Regarding the 4 P-36s from Wheeler Field, I met Lewis M. Sanders and we discussed this flight. He told me that he shot down a Zero and it was the first one of the war. I have no reason not to believe him. Also, the book The Ragged, Rugged Warriors by Martin Caiden has a chapter about this fight. I showed it to Mr. Sanders and he confirmed that it was indeed correct.
Bill
Bill
Re: Aerial Combat, Dec 7th 1941: a brief rundown
Fri Dec 11, 2015 11:29 am
[quote]-4 P-36A's took off from Wheeler, flown by: Lt. Sanders, Lt. Gordon(MIA), Lt. Thacker, Lt. Rusmussen. The 4 got in a major dogfight with 6 A6M2's over Kaneohe NAS. Lt. Gordon trailed a Zero going down, with a Zero behind him. Neither aircraft were ever seen again. Several A6M2's were severely damaged. Equal damage to the 46th/47th PS P-36's. [quote]
"Lt. Gordon" should read 2nd Lt. Gordon H. Sterling - MIA over Kaneohe Bay.
"Lt. Gordon" should read 2nd Lt. Gordon H. Sterling - MIA over Kaneohe Bay.