Strategic nodes question

[usafphantom2 19]

What about JOE FOSS the first Marine aviator to get the Medal of Honor in F4F?

[regula50 47]

In theme Hellcats in he Solomons: Hellcats of the VF-33 were land based at Munda by Sep , 1943. The unit worked together in strikes against Ballale-Kahili with the well known VMF-214 of Boyington deployed near about the same time in the Solomons( the 214 was a based at Banika).  The other Hellcats unit in the Solomons were the VF-38 and VF-40 also based at Munda. Already by Sept 9, things went quite bad over Ballalé and the Zeros downed four Hellcats and the squadron CO, Anderson was also loss .

The deployment in the Solomons by early Oct 1943:

 

USN

 

48 F6F-5(VF-33, 38 and 40)

20 SBD(VC-38 and VC-40)

18 TBF(VC-38 and VC-40) 

14 PV-1 Ventura(VB-140)

29 PB4Y-2(VB-102 and VB-104)

7 PB4Y-2(VD-1)

27 PBY(VP-14, VP-23 and VP-54)

14 SBD(VS-54)

8 OS2U Kingfisher(VS-64)

 

USMC

 

81 F4U-1(213, 214, 221 and 222)

89 SBD(VMSB-132, 144, 235, 236)

57 TBF(VMTB-143,232 and 233)

 

RNZAF

 

45 P-40 Kittyhawk(15th and 18th Sqn)

12 PV-1 Ventura(1th BR Sqn)

 

USAAF

 

31 P-38s(339th FS)

69 P-39s(12, 67,68 and 70 th FS)

39 P-40s(44th FS)

57 B-24s(31, 370, 371, 372 and 424th BS)

47 B-25s(69, 70, 75 and 390th BS)

9 F-5A(17th RS)

7 B-25(18th RS)

35 C-47s(13, 63 and 64th TCS) 

Edited July 2, 2013 by regula50

[regula50 47]

And by the boys of the other side of the street:

 

204th Kokutai with 38 A6M2 Model 21, A6M3 Model 22 and 32 "Hamp" (Kahili-Ballale)

201th Kokutai with 21 A6M2 Model 21, A6M3 Model 22 and 32 "Hamp" (Kahili-Tobera)

253th Kokutai with detachments at Tobera and Rabaul.

552th Kokutai with 15 D3A1/D3A2 at Kerevat.

582th Kokutai- A mix unit with some 12 A6M2/A6M3 and 15 Type 99 D3A1/D3A2(Kahili-Ballale)

 

The 251th Kokutai(Ex Tainan Kokutai)was disbanded by July 1943 and his surviving effectives were transferred to the 204th.

Quality of pilots of his kokutais was quite good, were actually the last reserves of high seasoned veterans of the IJN. Then, together with the loss of the Solomons was also the loss of most of his last skilled pilots and the situation deteriorated very fast with the IJN, with point final at the disaster of the Mariannes in Jun 1944.

Production of the first A6M5 Model 52 by Mitsubishi started on early Aug 1943. Nakajima start to produce the Model 52 by Feb 1944.

A few first A6M5 Model 52(KO)arrived at Rabaul by later sept 1943 but production of the improved model was slow and only 391 were produced by Apr 1, 1944 when production switched to the A6M5b Otsu. Nakajima close production of the old Model 21(1940)at the end of Feb 1944(2882 built)and switch direct to the Model 52.

Edited July 2, 2013 by regula50