Warbird Information Exchange

Remember reading somewhere long time ago that one of carriers returning from Wake was a little southwest of Pearl and sent some airplanes north looking for naps and did engage some how true is this story. Thanks

I've heard of the carriers sending out aircraft to search but I've never heard of any engagement with the enemy taking place. The Navy's planes did catch some anti aircraft fire when flying into Pearl later in the day.

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USS Enterprise (CV-6) returned from Wake Island and put into Pearl on the night of December 7, 1941. She sailed early the next morning to scout for the Japanese, but Admiral Nagumo's strike force was already well on its way home by then.

However, on December 10, dive bombers from the "Big E" caught the Imperial Navy fleet submarine I-70 running on the surface and attacked, sending her to the bottom.

Who was the first Naval Combat Aircrewman to splash an enemy aircraft in WWII?

The distinction almost certainly belongs to two individuals, Robert P. Baxter, RM1C, and James R. Melton, RM2C, aerial gunners who flew in the rear seat of SOC-1 Seagulls. The SOC was a biplane designed for scout-observation duty and which operated from battleships and cruisers. A floatplane, the SOC was powered by a 600 hp Pratt & Whitney engine and cruised at 133 mph with a maximum speed of 165 mph at 5,000 feet.
Baxter was in the lead aircraft piloted by LT Malcolm C. Reeves. Melton's pilot was ENS Fred Covington. They were attached to the heavy cruiser, USS Northhampton.
Having delivered a group of F4F Grumman Wildcats to a Marine squadron on Wake Island, Northhampton was en route to Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. Commanded by CAPT William D. Chandler, Northhampton was attached to VADM Bull Halsey's task force. Halsey's flag was aboard USS Enterprise.
Upon learning that Pearl Harbor had been attacked, Halsey quickly ordered Northampton to launch the Seagulls to conduct a sector search 150 miles north of the task force. The SOCs were catapulted at 1115, 200 miles from Pearl Harbor.
Baxter recalled, "We were in close formation at about 1,000 feet an hour after launch when I spotted an aircraft approaching from astern at our altitude The dihedral of the wings made me think it was one of our own SBDs."
Instead, the oncoming plane was a Japanese Zero which opened fire as it sped quickly by the Seagulls. Baxter noted a red band on the enemy aircraft indicating the pilot was a section leader of a carrier based squadron.
As the Zero began another run, the SOCs dropped to wave top level. This resulted in the enemy pilot having to make high overhead attacks. As the Zero pulled out of his succeeding dives he tended to "mush" on the pull-ups, reducing the gunner's deflection angle and enabling them to get decent shots at the enemy plane. It also appeared as if the Zero had intentionally slowed to minimum speed and lowered his flaps in an attempt to equalize the slow speed of his target. He made repeated dives and the gunners kept on shooting. On the fourth, fifth and sixth runs, some hits from the SOCs appeared to strike the Zero. Baxter said, "On the last run our wingman ran out of ammo. But on the Zero's pull up I had a good bead on his nose and I pulled the trigger as he passed right through my line of fire. The bullets impacted the Zero and it caught fire and began to stream black smoke."
Baxter added, "The Zero broke off the attack and headed toward Niihau Island, clearly visible 15 miles away. I tracked his black smoke until it terminated near Niihau."
The aircrew later learned that Niihau was a rendezvous point for submarine pick-ups for Japanese flight crews who became lost or ran into other trouble.
After the mission the SOCs proceeded to Pearl Harbor where they landed at 3:27 in the afternoon of the day of infamy. There were 14 bullet holes in the lead bird, 11 in the wingman's plane, one of which tore through the rear cockpit. The two Seagull flight crews returned to Northhampton December 8th for further duty.

Scouting Squadron SIX excerpt from their official report, these guys were not so lucky

When a short distance from Barbers Point heavy smoke was visible. At this time a report was heard over the radio: "Do not attack me. This is six baker three an America plane", and the same voice continued on telling his gunner to break out the boat as he was landing in the water. When abreast of Ewa the first Japanese planes were sighted. They were attacking Ewa Field.
I broadcast a report that Pearl Harbor was being attacked by Japanese aircraft, dived down to low altitude and at 0845 landed on Ford Island during what proved to be the second of three attacks (considering the VT attack the first and the dive bombing as two waves).
After landing I taxied to the Control Tower to make arrangements for bombs and to get detailed information for ComTaskFor Eight. The tower transmitter was not working so returned to plane and broadcast several times the details of the attack, and that Ford Island Field was usable. Gunner COLE then appeared and agreed to get bombs for the 3 VSB which had arrived and for others which might arrive later.
In the absence of the Group Commander, who had reported to the Commander-in-Chief, I reported to Commander Patrol Wing Two. He directed me to send one plane to investigate reports of two Japanese carriers southwest or west of Barbers Point between 25 and 40 miles, and to hold remaining planes on ground as attack group.
At 1030 took off in 6-S-1, and from Barbers Point flew tracks west 30 miles, south 20 miles, east 60 miles and back to Ford Island. There were no contacts except with our own ships and sampans. During the return orders from the ENTERPRISE were received to "refuel, rearm and rejoin". These orders were acknowledged and passed on to 6-S-7 who was in the air with three other planes. At 1145 landed at Ford Island and reported to ComPatWing Two that there were no Japanese surface craft within rectangle covering area 100 miles west and 60 miles south of Barbers Point and informed him of my orders from ENTERPRISE. ComPatWing Two then directed me to search sector 330° to 030° (T), attack enemy forces encountered, and return to Ford Island.
At 1210 we took off with 9 VSB armed with 500 lb. bombs, task organization attached as Enclosure (C). No contacts were made. All planes returned by 1545.
During the initial approach of 6-S-1 to land at Ford Island the anti-aircraft fire was very heavy, but Japanese planes did not come within gun range. On the first take-off and second landing the anti-aircraft fire was not nearly so heavy, and on the take off and landing of the nine plane flight there was little or none. The only damage to 6-S-1 was a bullet in the battery which did not effect plane or radio. This is mentioned to point out the lesson learned namely that approach to land through anti-aircraft fire can be made at very low altitude with relative security.
The second Japanese attack was witnessed partly from the air and partly from the ground; the third attack from Ford Island Field Tower. It was noted that attacks were made in a glide rather than a dive, that pull-outs were as low as 400 feet, and that the machine gunning of Ewa Field destroyed planes on the landing mat almost immediately by burning. At least two dud bombs were noted. Two Japanese planes were seen to fall in flames one landing in or just east of Middle Loch and one west of Middle Loch.
One Japanese plane was definitely shot down by Lieutenant C. E. Dickinson Jr., USN, and MILLER, William C., RM1c, USN, in 6-S-4.
The total personnel casualties of Scouting Squadron Six were as follows:
Three (3) officers and five (5) men missing:

Ensign J. H. L. VOGT Jr., USN, Pilot of 6-S-3 (Bu#2160). Listed at Naval Hospital, Pearl Harbor, as killed.

Lieutenant (jg) F. A. PATRIARCA, USN, Pilot of 6-S-16 (Bu#4521). Reported by radio at Burns Field, Kauai, on December 7, 1941. No further information.

Ensign W. M. WILLIS, A-V(N), USNR, Pilot of 6-S-15 (Bu#2159). No definite information. Rumor that body found on Oahu.

PIERCE, Sidney, RM3c, USN, Gunner 6-S-3 (Bu#2160). Listed at Naval Hospital, Pearl Harbor, as killed.

DE LUCA, Joseph F., RM1c, USN, Gunner 6-S-16 (Bu#4521). Same status as Lieutenant (jg) F. A. PATRIARCA.

DUCOLON, Fred J., Cox, USN, Gunner 6-S-15 (Bu#2159). Same status as Ensign W. M. WILLIS.

MILLER, William C., RM1c, USN, Gunner 6-S-4 (Bu#4570). Pilot (Lieut. C. E. DICKINSON) reports he was wounded twice and probably killed before or in plane fire and crash.

COHN, Mitchell (n), RM3c, (V-3), USNR, Gunner 6-S-9 (Bu# 2158). Probably killed before or in crash of plane.


One (1) officer and one (1) man wounded:

Ensign J. R. McCARTHY, A-V(N), USNR, Pilot of 6-S-9 (Bu#2158). Reported by a Commander in the Medical Corps to an officer of this squadron as at Naval Hospital with broken leg presumably incurred parachuting from plane at low altitude.

COSELETT, Audrey G., RM3c, USN, Gunner 6-S-14 (Bu# 4572). Gunshot wounds in throat and wrist. Rescued by pilot of plane which made crash landing on East side of Pearl Harbor channel. Presumably taken to Tripler Hospital


One (1) officer slightly wounded:

Ensign E. T. DEACON, USN, Pilot of 6-S-14 (Bu# 4572). Minor gunshot wound in left leg. Returned to duty after treatment.
The total material losses of Scouting Squadron Six were as follows:
Three (3) planes shot down:

6-S-4 - Bureau No. 4570
6-S-9 - Bureau No. 2158
6-S-14 - Bureau No. 4572

Three (3) planes missing:

6-S-3 - Bureau No. 2160
6-S-15 - Bureau No. 2159
6-S-16 - Bureau No. 4521

Several planes slightly damaged by gunfire but all in commission except 6-S-2 (Bu#2175) which was left at Ford Island for repairs.
The conduct of all hands under fire was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy. We were separated in small two plane units and had no knowledge of the situation until near Pearl Harbor in the landing approach lanes. As soon as reports of the attack had been made, it is believed that all pilots adopted the same course of action. This was to get into a field, engaging only such enemy aircraft as would prevent them, in order to: (1) arm with bombs, (2) obtain information of position of enemy carriers (3) insure transmission of full information to ComTaskFor Eight and (4) be prepared to search for and attack the Japanese raiding force. Six Scouting Six planes and eight Scouting Six pilots were assembled, reserviced and armed at Ford Island Field before noon. With the Group Commander's plane and two Bombing Six planes this made the search and attack group of nine SBD's shown in Enclosure "C". One Scouting Six plane was at Ewa Field reserviced and armed. Two Scouting Six planes were shot down by enemy aircraft after accounting for at least one Japanese single-seat fighter of a group which attacked this section. One Scouting Six plane was shot down by our own anti-aircraft fire. What happened to the three missing Scouting Six planes is not known. Worthy of special commendation are the following:
Lieutenant C. E. DICKINSON Jr., USN, who fought his plane till spinning and on fire, parachuted to safety, made his way to Ford Island during the attack, and again took the air to search for and attack the enemy.
MILLER, William C., RM1c, who though twice wounded, shot down a Japanese plane and stayed with his ship to the end.
Ensign E. T. DEACON, USN, who, though shot down, still under fire and himself slightly wounded, had the presence of mind to use his radio cord as a tournequet for his gunner's mangled arm, and to rescue the latter from the crashed plane.
Ensign P. L. TEAFF, USN, who did not hesitate to take off in an already damaged plane in order to search for and attack the enemy, and who continued on with defective engine at a time when no chance for rescue existed, even when authorized to return at discretion.
All aircraft and material functioned efficiently so far as is known except when damaged or destroyed by aircraft or anti-aircraft fire. Whether armored seats or leak-proof tanks would have saved any personnel or material is not known.
Addendum to Report of Action with Japanese at Oahu on December 7, 1941

It was noted that stations KGU and KGMB were both broadcasting music (presumably phonograph records) while the Japanese attack was in progress between 0800 and 0815. These were heard by pilots who knew nothing of the engagement and were taking radio bearings. In view of the fact that a broadcast of the attack might have been invaluable to naval forces and would appear the normal thing to expect this report is thought to be of possible interest to Naval Intelligence.

Thanks for the reply Halsey seems to have been a ships in line and cross the T guy than a carrier guy. Being laid up at Pearl for midway may have won the battle. But if he had turned the big E north he may have lost her, easy to be a monday QB. So maybe if maybe no.