From: Theodore J Williams [380th.ww2@gmail.com]   

Sent: Monday, October 03, 2005 5:25 PM

To: BAEZADomino@aol.com   

Subject: Re: Night fighters over NEI ???

Dear Mr. Baeza,

In our missions from Fenton the 380th encountered night fighters only on our missions to Balikpapan, Borneo and the Ambon area off the coast of Ceram. Night fighters were definitely identified on the night of January 12/13, 1944 over Balikpapan and on the night of February 8/9, 1944 at Ceram. We lost one B-24 and one damaged at Balikpapan. We had one damaged at Ambon in February. We suspected that the Balikpapan attacker was an IRVING, that at Ambon a NICK. No night fighters were claimed as destroyed by us.

We encountered Ki-45s in daylight many times as our search missions encountered their convoy duty between the Halmahera Is and Ambon.  In most cases no attacks occurred. Our major combat with them was on January 16 and 19, 1944 in the Ambon area. We had one B-24 damaged on the 16th and lost two on the 19th. We claimed one NICK damaged on the 16th and three destroyed on the 19th.

Our first encounter was near the Tanimbar Is on September 5, 1943 when we had one of our aircraft damaged. The attacker was also claimed as damaged.

I hope this information is helpful to you. I would appreciate any information you have, particularly if it is different from this. Thank you. Best wishes.

Ted Williams

BAEZADomino@aol.com wrote:

> Hello,

>

> I am a French reader of your very nice and interesting History of 380th BG. I am particularly interested in the missions flown from Fenton (Australia) and I'd like to get information about two particular points (only for a period from arrival in Australia to the end of February 1944):

>

> 1) When operating from Fenton, how many times did the 380th BG encounter Army twin engine fighters (Ki.45-kai)?

> I'd like to know the date, the place and the result (claims or losses) of these encounters?

>

> 2) When operating from Fenton, how many times did the 380th BG encounter night fighters?

> The same way, I'd like to know the date, the place and the result of these encounters?

>

> Is it possible for you to assist me?

>

> Waiting for your answer, I send you sunny and friendly salutations from southern France and the Mediterranean Coast.

>

> Best regards!

> Bernard Baeza

From: tjwil 380th.ww2@gmail.com]

Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2005 2:07 PM

To: BAEZADomino@aol.com

Subject: Re: Night fighters over NEI ???

Dear Bernard,

Our history of the 380th's combat experiences would be greatly expanded and improved with any information we could get describing and naming the opposition forces which we faced on our missions. If you have such information it would be most appreciated. Thank you for your offer.

Best wishes.

Ted Williams

BAEZADomino@aol.com wrote:

> Dear Ted

>

> Thank you very much for your information. They are very interesting for me and generally confirm what I knew.

>

> If you are interested in details from the other side, I do have the names of the Japanese units and pilots involved in the most important combats against the B-24s. Just tell me if you want to get these details. I'll will have to check my files.

>

> Thank you once again for your kind assistance and best regards.

> Bernard Baeza

Subject: Re: Night fighters over NEI ???

From: BAEZADomino@aol.com

Date: Sat, 8 Oct 2005 06:14:26 EDT

To: 380th.ww2@gmail.com

Dear Ted

I have checked my files and got some information which may be interesting for you.

Here are information dealing with the Japanese Side and some interrogations you will perhaps help me to answer :

1) On June 11. 1943, 16 B-24s raided Koepang (Timor). The opposition came from 6 Zeroes of Ku 202 (Ku means Kokutai. In English "Air Group") led by NAP1/C Mitsuomi Noda.

Japanese claims = 3 kills and 1 probable.

Japanese losses = nil.

2) On June 23. 1943, 17 B-24s raided Macassar (Celebes). The opposition came from floatplanes of Ku 932 (attached to the Netherlands East Indies Fleet HQ). A float biplane (Mitsubishi F1M2 "Pete") manned by Lt(jg) Yuji Kino and NAP2/C Tsuruô Manabe rammed B-24 No.  41-23688 of 319th BS (90th BG). The two Japanese aviators died as well as Cpt Roy L. Olsen and his crew.

As for this action, I have no precision about the exact number of floatplanes involved. Is there any information on this particular point in the 380th records???

3) On August 13. 1943, B-24s raided Balikpapan. What kind of opponent did they face: fighters or AA guns???

The next morning, while returning from Balikpapan, No. 42-40369 "Shady Lady" of 528th BS was attacked near Timor by 2 Zeroes. The 2 fighters of Ku 202 led by NAP1/C Tadaô Yamashita reported a bomber damaged. (Ku 202 was attached to the 23rd Air Flotilla).

4) On August 16. 1943, 2 B-24s flew over Balikpapan. Opposition came from 7 Zeroes of Ku 202 led by the Commanding Officer himself: Lt-Cmdr Minoru Suzuki.

Japanese claims = 2 kills.

Japanese losses = 1 (NAP1/C Takeshi Takahashi was shot down by gunners of No. 42-40489 "Miss Giving" of 528th BS)

5) In the night of August 17 to 18. 1943, B-24s raided Balikpapan again. What kind of opponent did they face: fighters or AA guns???

6) On September 5. 1943, 3 B-24s encountered twin-engine fighters Kawasaki Ki.45 Kai "Nick" of 5th Sentai (Army Air Force). In this action, the 5th Sentai lost 1 plane. With this plane died 1/Lt Yasuhikô Kiyosuki and M/Sgt Yoshitake NakaNo.  1/Lt Kiyosuki was the 3rd Flight CO (in Japanese Chûtaishô).

I'd like to know if records of the 380th BG say exactly how many Ki.45 Kai were involved in this action???

7) In the night of September 11 to 12. 1943, B-24s raided Macassar. What kind of opponent did they face: fighters or AA guns???

8) On September 15. 1943, while returning from Kendari some B-24s encountered Ki.45 Kai of 5th Sentai over Timor. During this action, 1 "Nick" was lost with its crew: 1/Lt Noriuchi Ogata and Sgt Kenichi Kondo.

I'd like to know if US records say exactly how many Ki.45 Kai were involved in this action???

9) On September 21. 1943, 8 B-24s raided Langgoer (Kai Islands). They encountered 2 "Nick" led by Cpt Yoshiaki Yamashita, leader of the 5th Sentai's 2nd Flight (Chûtai).

Japanese claims = 2 kills

Japanese losses = nil

They shot down No.  42-40532 "Little Joe" and No. 42-40509 "Nothing Sacred".

10) On October 26. 1943, 12 B-24s raided Pomelaa and 2 planes were lost. What kind of opponent did they face: fighters or AA guns???

11) On November 21. 1943, 7 B-24s encountered 4 "Rufe" over Taberfane. These float fighters Nakajima A6M2-N belonged to Ku 934 (attached to 23rd Air Flotilla). They were manned by 2 confirmed pilots (WO Takeshi Kawaguchi and WO Sadayoshi Yokota) and 2 rookies (Seamen 1/C Yukiô Setô and Yonetada Sawada).

Japanese claims = nil

Japanese losses = 1 (WO Takeshi Kawaguchi).

12) The same day (Nov. 11, 1943), 7 B-24s flew over Manokwari (New-Guinea) and encountered 2 "Rufe". They too belonged to Ku 934 and were manned by Ens Susumu Kawasaki and NAP2/C Yukiô Okada.

Japanese claims = 1 kill and 2 damaged.

Japanese losses = nil.

This action caused the loss of No. 42-40967 "Black Widow" and the crash landing of No.  42-40683.

"Black Widow" was also claimed destroyed by the AA gunners of Manokwari.

13) On December 12. 1943, 3 B-24s flew over Manokwari and encountered 2 "Rufe" of Ku 934. The float fighters led by NAP2/C Hideô Kawaguchi didn't manage to make contact. Strangely, they reported seeing 7 bombers.

To be continued....

Bernard Baeza

Subject: Re: Night fighters over NEI ???

From: BAEZADomino@aol.com

Date: Sat, 8 Oct 2005 09:10:58 EDT

To: 380th.ww2@gmail.com   

Dear Ted,

Here is the second part of my searches on the Japanese side. There still are some interrogations for me. If you could have some information about them, I'd appreciate very much.

1) In the night of January 8 to 9. 1944, 18 B-24s raided Kendari and No. 42-73115 of 530th BS was lost during this mission. What kind of opponent did they face: fighters or AA guns???

2) In the night of January 12 to 13. 1944, 17 B-24s raided Balikpapan. They were intercepted by 2 Zeroes of the new model 52 (Mitsubishi A6M5) which belonged to Ku 381. This unit was a reinforcement for the 23rd Air Flotilla. The 2 Zeroes were members of an advance party of 5 aircraft led by Lt Kuniô Kanzaki which had arrived 5 days sooner.
Kanzaki himself led the 2 fighters which faced the B-24s that night and managed to shoot down No. 42-41214 "B.T.O" of 530th BS.

Ku 381 claims = 1 kill

Ku 381 losses = nil

I have not managed to find documents about another Japanese unit involved in this action. Some of my friends in Japan think that "Irving" night fighters (attached to the 23rd Air Flotilla HQ) may have been involved. What do reports of the 380th BG say about this combat??? Do they mention the presence of twin engine fighters???

3) On January 16. 1944, 6 B-24s flew over Ambon and encountered 7 "Rex" float fighters (Kawanishi N1K1-J "Kyôfu"). They were new planes of the Ku 934 and were led by Lt(jg) Masamichi Minokota.

Japanese claims = 1 kill (by NAP2/C Kiyomi Katsumi)

Japanese losses = nil

It seems that NAP2/C Katsumi shot down No. 42-73125 of 528th BS.

4) On January 17. 1944, 4 B-24s flew over Manokwari and had to face 6 "Rufe" of Ku 934 led by the CO himself: Lt Toshiharu Ikeda.

Japanese claims = 3 bombers damaged

Japanese losses = nil

5) On January 19. 1944, 22 B-24s raided Ambon and were met by 7 "Rex" and 5 "Nick".

The float fighters of the Navy were still led by Lt(jg) Minokota

Japanese claims = 2 kills and one probable

Japanese losses = 1 (WO Sadayoshi Yokota)

The Ki.45 Kai of the Army belonged to the 5th Sentai's 1st Flight and were led by 1/Lt Yasuhide Baba.

Japanese claims = 5 kills and 2 probables

Japanese losses = 1 shot down and crew killed (1/Lt Kensaku Tsurumi and S/Sgt Kiyoshi Kanaya)

1 crash-landed on a beach (2/Lt Fujitarô Itô and ?)

During this action, the 380th BG lost No. 42-73187 "Paper Doll" of 529th BS and No. 42-73117 "Doodlebug" of 531st BS.

6) On January 31. 1944, 13 B-24s flew over Ceram. What kind of opponent did they face: fighters or AA guns???

7) On February 7. 1944, 12 B-24s flew over Ambon. What kind of opponent did they face: fighters or AA guns???

8) On February 9. 1944, 13 B-24s flew over Ambon. What kind of opponent did they face: fighters or AA guns???
This action caused the loss of No. 42-72775 "Quack Wac" of 530th BS which crash-landed at Fenton due to battle damages.

9) On February 15. 1944, 18 B-24s raided Ambon and Halmahera. What kind of opposition did they face: fighters or AA guns???

10) Same question for the mission to Laha flown by 19 B-24s on February 20. 1944???

11) Same question for the mission to Ceram flown by 13 B-24s on February 25. 1944???

I hope that this will be useful for your work.

As you can see, I lack information from the 380th BG's side. If it possible for you to search and find them for me, it would marvelous. Mainly this would give me a base of work to carry on searches in Japanese!

Hoping to read you soon.

Bernard Baeza

From: tjwil 380th.ww2@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, October 09, 2005 6:39 PM
To: BAEZADomino@aol.com
Subject: Re: Night fighters over NEI ???

Dear Bernard,

Thank you for your two messages, Our information on the other side, beyond our personal observation, including my own, comes from Glenn Horton's book, BEST IN THE SOUTHWEST, published 1995. He had contact with a Mr. Osamu Tagaya who worked with Lawrence J. Hickey, a well known WWII aviation writer. They had some translated Japanese records. I have not seen these, only what information Glenn put in the book. I will comment on your statements using your numbering :

First Message (All in 1943) :

(Item 1) On our June 11, 1943 raid on Koepang (Timor) we lost one plane (CARELESS, 42-40500) No other damage was reported. Our gunners claimed three Zeros. We state 15 of our aircraft participated. Horton had the same information as you have.

(ITEM 2) On June 23, 1943, 17 planes of the 380th and the 90th attacked Macassar (Celebes). According to our information Lt Kino's plane was an obsolete B5M1 Carrier Attack Bomber. The rest of your information matches ours. We saw only one Japanese plane, it had fixed landing gear not floats. It would be hard to mix these up since PETE is also a biplane. No other Japanese planes were reported in our narrative.

(ITEM 3) On our August 13/14 raid only Searchlights and Anti-aircraft, mostly from shipping. SHADY LADY, 42-40369 encountered two Zeros over Koepang but they did not press their attacks and no damage was done to our plane. It later crash landed at Drysdale Mission in Australia but this was due to running out of fuel because of too much time over the target. The attack on Balikpapan was at midnight.

(ITEM 4) On our August 15 mission to Balikpapan in daylight for reconnaissance both plane were separately attacked. Four planes attacked SHE ASTA, 42-40512. According to our data they were led by Flight P/O Takahashi. They made fourteen passes. SHE ASTA had only one hole in an aileron and claimed one Zero downed. Takahashi then left SHE ASTA and joined Suzuki in attacking MISS GIVING. They made only single attacks (fifteen in all). Only major damage was loss of No 4 engine.

They claimed four Zeros. We have learned that Takahashi was killed. Over Timor on the return they saw nine fighters but avoided them in the clouds.

(ITEM 5) On the August 16/17 raid was met only by severe Anti-Aircraft fire from shipping damaging several of our aircraft but all got back safely.

(ITEM 6) On September 5 several of our aircraft flying east of the Tanimbar Islands were attacked by a single Ki 45. They claimed the fighter and we learned their names. Our aircraft all returned safely to base. No other Japanese planes were involved.

(ITEM 7) On the September 11/12 raid on Macassar the target was shipping and the only opposition was severe Anti-Aircraft fire from the ships. We lost on B-24 and another lost an engine. Four crewmen from the lost plane were captured and executed by the Japanese.

(ITEM 8) On our September 14 raid on Kendari there is no description of fighter engagements in our reports. The tracks of a Kendari mission do not generally go over Timor but stay north.

(ITEM 9) On our September 21 raid on Langgoer our aircraft lacked the formation discipline that we would have later and were easy targets for the 6, A6Ms under Superior FP/O Katsuyoshi Yoshida and 2 Nicks of Captain Yoshiaki Yamashita. The Zeros shot out engines on three planes, 42-40509, NOTHING SACRED ;42-40512 SHE' ASTA and 42-40935, QUEER DEER. Captain Yamashita downed 42-40532. LITTLE JOE with cannon fire. She crashed on a reef in the west of the Kai Islands. That crew was taken prisoner and were liberated only at the end of the war. The rest of our planes returned safely to Australia where most of them landed at the first airfield (Darwin). The pilot of NOTHING SACRED, a rookie on their first mission, elected to continue on for another 80 miles to their home base at Fenton. In the failing light of dusk and with a disabled engine he crashed short of the runway killing his whole crew. Hardly a kill for the Japanese since a sensible pilot decision would have saved that plane and crew. Our claims totaled 12 Zekes and 3 Nicks, many more than were flying.

(ITEM 10) On our October 26 mission to Pomelaa again lacked formation discipline. This and mechanical problems doomed two of our aircraft. Only four aircraft reached the target and bombed when our minimum force for this mission was six. On top of this they broke formation at the target and lost sight of each other for a time. Flak was inaccurate so the opposition was mainly fighters. Six Zekes from Kendari under F/PO2 Goro Tsuda attacked them concentrating on FYRTLE MYRTLE 42-40485 which was shot down into the sea. Most of the crew parachuted and were rescued as prisoners and kept for the rest of the war. GOLDEN GATOR, 42-40518, immediately broke formation to go to the aid of the stricken plane and was immediately attacked by all six Zekes who quickly disabled two of the engines but our plane was able to escape into a cloud. Strangely our other two did not attempt to find and escort this disabled aircraft. GOLDEN GATOR struggled 300 miles to Moa Island east of Timor and was readying for a Ditching there when they were attacked again by two transient Ki 45s. They ditched while under attack. Four of the crew were able to get into life rafts and were rescued next day by Australian Catalinas. We did not learn the names for the Nicks.

(ITEMS 11 and 12) On November 21 we had a duel anti shipping mission to Taberfane (14 aircraft) and Maokwari (7 aircraft). Both encountered Float Plane Fighters and Anti-Aircraft fire. The Taberfane mission had a damaged engine on each of two aircraft. Our reports say 6 Rufes were involved. They claimed one Rufe. We learned his name, the same as you report. At Manokwari our information states the Rufes were from Jefman at Sorong on the West Coast. According to all reports BLACK WIDOW's nose was shot off by anti aircraft fire. She was 42-40677. There were no phosphorous bombs near it when this happened. Our other loss was 42-63683 which crashed at base out of fuel, not from enemy action. We had no battle claims.

(ITEM 13) Our mission to the Vogelkopf on December 13 was to Boela on Ceram, Kokas in New Guinea and Larat off Jamdena Is, well south of Manokwari. We had three aircraft involved. It is most unlikely that they would have been seen at Manokwari, especially expanded in number to seven. We claimed 11 of the Attackers.

Second message (All in 1944)

(ITEM 1) Our mission of January 8 was a daylight mission to Kendari. On the run-in to the target 13 Zekes attacked our formation concentrating on the 530th Flight Leader whose plane quickly lost two engines on one side making it virtually unflyable, This plane, 42-73115, crashed on Wowoni Is with the loss of all its crew. One other plane lost an engine but made it back to base.

(ITEM 2) Our mission to Balikpapan on the night of 12/13 January was met by heavy anti-aircraft fire, many searchlights and both Zeke and Irving night fighters. Our crews had been warned of possible night fighters of this class with their "Schrage Musik" type of armament (i.e., 20mm cannon shooting vertically upward from an aircraft directly underneath the victim). Several of our planes experienced or observed this action and reported that 42-41214, B.T.O, was probably shot down this way. They also reported that the Zekes and Irvings were not coordinated and got in each others way. One other of our aircraft was damaged by the Irving but successfully reached Base. This was QUACK WAC, 42-72775.

(ITEM 3) The mission of January 16 had one casualty - 42-73125, which had no name - had its hydraulic system shot out and crash landed on return to base because of poor runway surface due to monsoon rains. This plus no brakes meant disaster but should not necessarily be considered a Japanese victory

(ITEM 4) Our mission of January 17 was intercepted north west of Manokwari by 6 Rufes. No damage was caused by either side as the enemy attacks were not aggressive.

(ITEM 5) The mission to Halong on January 19 resulted in the loss of two 380th aircraft. They were 42-73187, PAPER DOLL, of the 529th Squadron, shot down into the sea South of Amboina Is. Most of the crew escaped to life rafts and sailed to the Kai Islands where they were betrayed by natives and made prisoners until the end of the war. The crew attributed their shoot down to a NICK. The second aircraft was DOODLEBUG, 42-73117 of the 531st Squadron. It was part of a 4 plane element that made two runs on Halong and was the only aircraft to bomb Halong that day. According to our reports, DOODLEBUG was first damaged in the #3 engine by a Nick in their first pass. It was later further damaged by the 6 Rufes that continually attacked us on the bomb run to Halong. The NICK of Lt Tsurumi was shot down at this later time by this element and seen to crash. DOODLEBUG was able to fly to Seroe Is (halfway home) before having to ditch there. Half of the crew were saved and rescued the next day by Australian Catalinas. We claimed in total, 3 NICKS, 2 RUFES, 1 ZEKE and 1 OSCAR. We had no previous knowledge of the REXs. When seeing the silhouettes of the Rufes and Rexs together, we who were there would unanimously say all the float planes we saw were Rufes.

(ITEM 6) The mission of January 31 was to pursue a convoy from Ceram to the Kai Is. A cruiser in the convoy provided sufficient gunfire to keep the formation high and as a result inaccurate in their bombing.

The formation was also harassed by repeated flights of 9 Zekes and 7 Rufes and later 5 more Zekes. Three of our aircraft received light damage. We made no claims.

(ITEMS 7 and 8) These missions were similar with 14 aircraft going to Ambon on the 7th and to Halong on the 9th. Anti-aircraft was always heavy in this area. By this time it was considered to be radar directed. We were also warned of night fighters but they were not considered to have radars. On the 9th a Nick made three passes at our 42-72775, QUACK WAC, damaging the left wing and flattening the left tire. It returned safely to base but was badly damaged on landing because of the tire.

(ITEM 9) On February 14/15, 14 planes were sent to Halong. A successful raid was reported with numerous fires and related explosions. No aerial opposition was reported. The Halmahera mission on the 15th was a photo mission to determine enemy harbor defenses. No opposition was reported for this mission

(ITEMS 10 and 11) By now these large night missions to the Ambon area were becoming routine to try to keep the airfields cratered and the docks and stores decimated. As noted above they always featured severe anti-aircraft fire but little or no aerial opposition.

I hope these remarks are helpful to you in your study of the Japanese side of WWII. I hope you will be able to help us on the March - June 1944 period when we faced our stiffest opposition on our missions to the Vogelkopf, Geelvink Bay and the Halmaheras.

Best wishes,

Ted Williams