TRUK ATOLL ...

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7828

'Operation Hailstone' February 16-17, 1944

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Hailstone

And more interesting history here:

http://www.cv6.org/1944/truk/

Sorry folks, these photos are not in any particular order. Searching for a bunch of "Truk' related photos in my files.

Map of Truk Lagoon

SBD-5s of Bombing Squadron Sixteen (VB-16) and F6F-3 Hellcats of Fighting Squadron Sixteen (VF-16) pictured on the flight deck of USS Lexington (CV-16) after returning from a strike.

F6F-3 Hellcats of Fighting Squadron VF1 spotted on the flight deck of the carrier Yorktown CV10 ready for launch c 1944

F6F-5 Hellcats of VF-8 on the deck of USS Bunker Hill (CV-17)

SBD's of VB-10

With hooks down, a pair of SBD-5s of Bombing Squadron Ten (VB-10) enter the pattern for landing on board USS Enterprise (CV-6).

SBD-5's of Bombing Squadron Five VB-5 off USS Yorktown CV-10

A pair of SBD-5's attached to Bombing Squadron Five VB-5 returning to USS Yorktown CV-10

USS Essex VF-15 Hellcat

SBD-5 Dauntless of Bombing Squadron (VB) 16

TBF Avengers off of the USS Intrepid

SBD from VB-16 over Truk February 16, 1944

Japanese flak bursts over Truk February 1944

USS Intrepid strike photo over Truk Lagoon

Truk Atoll under attack February 1944

USS Intrepid strike photo over Truk Lagoon

F6F-3 Hellcat from VF-15 coming to land on the flight deck of the USS Essex

SBD-5 makes a belly landing on the flight deck of USS Yorktown CV-10 after participating in the strike against Truk

OS2U Kingfisher with rescued pilot Lt JG George Blair in the rear seat rescued after his F6F Hellcat was shot down over Truk Atoll in 1944

Ditched TBF Avenger of VT-10 near Truk in April 1944

Japanese Nakajima B6N Jill torpedo bomber in flames after being hit by anti aircraft fire from the carrier Yorktown CV10 during operations off Truk

View of the wreckage of Japanese aircraft at Eaton Island, Truk Atoll.

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7828

Well that was stupid! ... I forgot the titles of most of the photos. When I get home I'll edit them. Sorry once again folks :oops:

I'll keep adding more as I find them in my files.

OS2U Kingfisher float plane after landing in Truk Lagoon to rescue nine USN downed fliers, who hug the wings as the aircraft nears the submarine Tang (SS 306).

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7828

scoreboard painted on the island of the light carrier Cabot (CVL 28) denoting her combat actions against the enemy (Truk included)

TBM Avenger of Torpedo Squadron (VT) 31 pictured after recovering on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Cabot (CVL 28) c 1944 after raid on Truk

An F6F Hellcat is visible on approach for recovery as the light carrier Cabot (CVL 28) plows through the waters of the Pacific.

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7828

A few of the 'faces' involved in the Truk raid.

Naval Aviators of VF 10 operating from USS Enterprise (CV 6), which was part of the US Navy Task Force that raided Truk Island on 16 and 17 February 1944. They are credited with destroying 14 Japanese planes during that mission. Shown – Back row - (left to right): Ensign Kenneth B. Walker; Lieutenant J.J. Farley; Ensign Lawrence B. Mead; Ensign E. K. Redmond; Lieutenant Charles U. Walkley. Center – Lieutenant Edward G. Colgan; Lieutenant Junior Grade Joseph E. Reulet; Ensign Philip L. Kirkwood; Lieutenant Junior Grade Donald Gordon; Lieutenant Commander W.R. Kane. Seated on floor – Lieutenant Junior Grade Vernon R. Ude

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Tue Feb 17, 2015 11:34 pm

the kingfisher w/ 9 aboard is a testimonial to the type!!

Jim MacDonald · **Posted:** Thu Feb 19, 2015 7:20 am

Great photos as usual, Mark. I haven't seen most of them before.

Thanks for posting them.

Mac

jdvoss · **Posted:** Thu Feb 19, 2015 11:18 am

FWIW, here is a photo I took in 1964 of the wreckage of a PBM Mariner on Truk. It was located on the south side of on Moen Island and apparently is still there. The wing could be seen out on the reef about two hundred yards away.

http://www.fuselagecodes.com

Courier Sportster · **Joined:** Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:03 am **Posts:** 319

Anybody remember the Cousteau episode of Truk Lagoon? Bet you do! It blew me away. have not seen it since that day. Late 60's i'm guessing.

Courier Sportster · **Joined:** Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:03 am **Posts:** 319

found it! eeez good...
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x13s2of_the-undersea-world-of-jacques-cousteau-collection-1-lagoon-of-lost-ships_shortfilms

Kyleb · **Posted:** Thu Feb 19, 2015 8:26 pm

Courier Sportster wrote:

Anybody remember the Cousteau episode of Truk Lagoon? Bet you do! It blew me away. have not seen it since that day. Late 60's i'm guessing.

This thread reminded me of that episode too. Fascinating. I'm sure most of that stuff is much, much worse off today (70 years after the war) than it was in 1970 or so when it had only been under water 25 years...

jdvoss · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2015 10:58 am

As a point of historical interest a British Royal Navy Task Group, led by the carrier HMS Magnificent, led an attack on Truk on the 14th and 15th of June 1945. The task Group was composed of nine ships of the RN, RNZN and RCN. The HMS Magnificent had three squadrons of aircraft aboard as follows: No. 828 Sqn (Grumman Avengers), No.880 Sqn (Supermarine Seafires... a navalized Spitfire) and No. 1771 Sqn (Fairy Barracudas).

jdvoss · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2015 2:35 pm

CORRECTION TO ABOVE ENTRY:

1. The RN Carrier utilized in the Truk raid was the HMS IMPLACABLE... not the HMS Magnificent as reported which was a battleship.

2. No. 1771 Sqn operated the Fairy Firefly on the raid not the Barracuda as reported.

Yes, OLD TIMER'S DISEASE has once again shown its ugly head.

ZRX61 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:16 am **Posts:** 2308

jdvoss wrote:

As a point of historical interest a British Royal Navy Task Group, led by the carrier HMS Magnificent, led an attack on Truk on the 14th and 15th of June 1945. The task Group was composed of nine ships of the RN, RNZN and RCN. The HMS Magnificent had three squadrons of aircraft aboard as follows: No. 828 Sqn (Grumman Avengers), No.880 Sqn (Supermarine Seafires... a navalized Spitfire) and No. 1771 Sqn (Fairy Barracudas).

HMS Troubridge was my dads first ship in the RN.

JohnB · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2015 6:31 pm

The RN didn't seem to do much in the Pacific islands campaign, at least from what I've read.
The UK forces seem to be concentrated in the CBI area, trying to recoup their Empire losses rater than taking the fight to the Japanese homeland.
I'm saying this not to be mean, but rather an observation....UK fans, if you have some details, that I could learn from please let me know.

Verdun1916 · **Joined:** Tue Aug 25, 2015 6:46 pm **Posts:** 2

Support and Remember,

Is it possible to get a copy of a photo you listed? In particular the one that stated:

Naval Aviators of VF 10 operating from USS Enterprise (CV 6), which was part of the US Navy Task Force that raided Truk Island on 16 and 17 February 1944. They are credited with destroying 14 Japanese planes during that mission. Shown – Back row - (left to right): Ensign Kenneth B. Walker; Lieutenant J.J. Farley; Ensign Lawrence B. Mead; Ensign E. K. Redmond; Lieutenant Charles U. Walkley. Center – Lieutenant Edward G. Colgan; Lieutenant Junior Grade Joseph E. Reulet; Ensign Philip L. Kirkwood; Lieutenant Junior Grade Donald Gordon; Lieutenant Commander W.R. Kane. Seated on floor – Lieutenant Junior Grade Vernon R. Ude

The photo has Joseph E. Reulet listed in the photo. A good friend of mine, James Reulet is his grandson and has his flight log with his five kills listed, but he doesn't have any photographs. For some reason I can't bring the photo up in the blog. I would love to give Jim a copy of that photo. Thanks.

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