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Lieutenant Junior Grade Peter Jenkin's 2nd combat sortie
I finally got a crack at using Blackronin's Solo Mod, but I was running the maneuver selection for each turn instead of the 1 card delay. The result, 3 Japanese Aces engaged Lieutenant Jenkins and the remaining pilots of VC-10. This is their story:
Cargo Run on Gambier Bay
1511 hours (afternoon), Friday June 30th 1944
Aircraft Procurement Division, Department of the Navy, Naval Ship Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia,
Lt. Commander Jim Worthington looked around his office while shaking his head in embarrassment and anger. He pursed his lips to keep from saying anything he would regret, and simply handed the document back to the orderly so that it could complete its ordered distribution.
The classified document highlighted the severe aircraft shortage that had been created aboard the CVE Escort Carrier Gambier Bay.
It was Jim’s office that created the shortage, and more specifically Jim’s order. He knew he had to act fast to cushion what would be rolling down his way.
Grumman had shifted their production of the F4F Wildcats to the newer F6F Hellcats; and as a result, transferred General Motors Aircraft division the rights to produce the Wildcat. General Motors quickly ramped production, and substantially improved the Wildcat design resulting in the newer FM2s.
Jim had ordered Gambier Bay to dump the older Wildcats in favor of the newer General Motors FM2s; but the order displayed an inherent lack of detail. In response, Gambier Bay literally pushed all F4F Wildcats from her deck leaving only the four FM2s already onboard.
With Douglas SBD–5 Dauntless Dive Bombers being the only aircraft currently available for transport, and his pending career disaster, Worthington did the only thing he could think of at that point; he grabbed his cap, and made way to the local Officer's Club to recruit support for his quick fix plan.
1826 hours (early evening), Friday June 30th 1944
Far left stool, crowded bar at the FBO Officer's Club, Naval Ship Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia,
Jim Worthington had a look of deep thought as he pulled the freshly purchased beer to his lips.
His colleague Commander Hugh Jordan had just swallowed the last bit of his beer. and gestured to Worthington with the empty mug, "OK, go ahead and ask". Unknown to Worthington, Jordan was anxious to move to the opposite side of the bar once Worthington had finished his question.
Worthington took a fast swig of beer and began, “I’ve just proposed a flight plan to have Dauntless SBD's ferry from recently acquired Tinian’s West Field, to the Escort Carrier group, Taffy 3, east of Samar Philippines.
The only alternative to my flight plan would be the traditional cargo ship transportation of those aircraft, ship to ship. The receiving CVEs would have to maintain heading and speed during the cargo line transfer."
Jim staged a serious look on his face for a moment as he continued, "Hugh, I believe the additional time required to cargo-line those aircraft, causes greater risk to the group by leaving them vulnerable to the Imperial Japanese Navy (in reality, he just wanted to cover himself as quickly as possible with that morning’s report). Although I’m aware that my proposal involves the exhaustion of a 9 hour flight time and the necessary carrier landings, I believe it to be an acceptable risk given the stakes."
Worthington takes another mouthful of beer while holding his finger up in the dramatic, lowers the mug and continues, "My Commanding Officer's pragmatic paralysis will likely cause him to deny the flight. Hugh, what do you think”?
Hugh Jordon thought to himself, does this guy not know I ‘m friends with his commanding officer?
Jordan responded, “As to the risk of Japanese submarine attacks on CVE groups, well, I don't recall any happening to date, and certainly none ever succeeded. Just be aware, SBDs don't have folding wings, so they will take up an inordinate amount of space in the tiny hangars of those CVEs, reducing their air group from 16 or so down to about 10. Hours of flight time, debatable fuel economy, chance of meeting enemy aircraft, time to land on deck barring accidents on landing, weather changes......nope. I'd ask the CV group to sail closer or fly to a closer strip and island hop. Otherwise, crate them up and transport them. Either way chance of losing them would probably be the same”.
Jim thanked his colleague while paying for both their drinks, and as he left the Officers Club, he knew that although Jordan’s answer was not what he wanted to hear, Jordan was right.
The fact of the matter was that it’s going to take weeks to resupply the Gambier Bay, not hours, and Lt. Commander Jim Worthington knew that his naval career was essentially over.
Jim returned to his office, and was careful when drafting the appropriate orders to have three Liberty Ships transfer the SBDs to the Gambier Bay. He purposed that avoiding another mishap with his name on it would be prudent.
0643 hours (two weeks later), Sunday July 16th 1944
Aboard a Japanese Imperial Navy Kaidai-type submarine, approximately 32 nautical miles east of group Taffy 3, Samar, Philippines.
A Kaidai-type submarine had been tracking the three US Liberty Ships presumed to be running re-supply to the suspected carrier groups east of the Philippine Islands.
Originally, the Kaidai’s crew had mistaken the cargo ships as fleet carriers because of the fully assembled aircraft staged on deck, but did not attempt to attack the cargo ships.
The submarine’s crew was operating under unique orders, “By authority of the Emperor as disseminated through myself Admiral Kiyohide Shima, cease from current sink and retreat tactics, and instead begin running inelegance on any US supply ship's and their progress. This intelligence is to be coordinated with land based attacks using Aichi D3A1 Val dive bombers converted to carry the lighter German Lt F5b Torpedo. The Emperor has provided for this one demonstration as an alternative to Captain Motoharu Okamura’s Divine Wind concept, and to provide proof that submarine intelligence based aircraft hit and run tactics would be more effective than squandering personnel and equipment through Okamura’s Kamikaze proposal.”
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1113 hours, Sunday July 16th 1944
Ship’s Galley, Below Deck, Aboard the Escort Carrier CVE-73 Gambier Bay, group Taffy 3, approximately 100 nautical miles east of the island of Samar, Philippines.
The Liberty Ship transporting the SBD-5 Dauntless Dive Bombers positions itself along Gambier Bay.
Below deck, Lieutenant Commander John F. Dayton was debriefing Lieutenant Junior Grade Pete J. Jenkins regarding that morning’s loss of Lieutenant Hank R. Renault. Lieutenant Junior Grade Collin F. Duffy was in attendance, and tasked with entering the events into the ship’s log.
Commander Dayton began, “Pete, I’ve lost wingman before and know how difficult it is, not to mention this being your first time. Run me through what happened”.
Pete noticed how Commander Dayton had been checking his watch uncharacteristically, even as Dayton was speaking.
Pete responded in an official tone because it was an official inquiry, but even more so out of respect for Commander Dayton’s rank. Pete didn’t want to take advantage of Dayton’s otherwise informal style.
Pete cleared his throat and began his account, “At around 1000 hours this morning, Lt. Hank Renault and I engaged two Japanese Zeroes bearing approximately west northwest of group (Taffy 3). The Zeros were heading east at approximately 200 knots. As I attempted to form up on Lt. Renault’s port side, I began receiving fire from the lead Zero and immediately returned fire. I made limited contact with the Zero’s cockpit and starboard leading edge, but due to the speed and distance, I was not able to fire a second volley. I could hear Renault over com announcing that he was being engaged by both Zeroes, and that he had splashed one of them. In an attempt to regain firing position, I pulled up into immelmann, leveled, and could see Renault smoking badly while diving for the surface. Renault explained on com that he was trying to get some distance between him and the remaining Zero. I observed the Zero was indeed attempting to gain firing position on Hank, so I pulled into a mild dive, and fired into the remaining Zeroe’s fuselage. I believe I missed anything critical, because the Zero persisted in tailing Renault. I pulled a hard left bank, and fired continuously until the Zero had exploded. With the two Zero’s splashed I regained com with Lieutenant Renault, and he indicated his engine was badly damaged. Renault explained that his manifold pressure was spiking and falling cyclically at the 43hg manifold pressure mark, and he was burning or leaking fuel badly. I lost contact with Renault shortly after he announced on com that he had dead props and was forced to splash. The rest of it was likely observed by the Hoal”.
Dayton had already been briefed by the Skipper of the Hoal; but regrettably, didn’t have time to get into it now.
Dayton stopped looking at his watch and looked up at Pete, “Renault was a good man Pete, I’m sorry we lost him”.
The three men remained silent for moment while considering Hank Renault’s loss.
Dayton, in an attempt to break the repose, elevated his wrist vertically above his elbow, presented his watch by pointing to it with his other index finger, and shared, “I wanted to explain why time is so critical right now”. Denton stood up and continued, “As combat aviators, we can appreciate the need to be in the air. As we were discussing this morning’s events, our aircraft were being fueled and armed. Shipboard radar had identified what is likely a group of enemy aircraft closing due east about 82 miles out. That gives us only 10 minutes to get in the air, form up, and cut them off from group. I know we just got back from CAP this morning, but we are the only available pilots for intercept, and the CAG asked me personally. We lost Renault, and I don’t have to tell you how angry that makes me; but personally, I fight better when angry”.
Navy decorum had already put Pete and Collin on their feet once Dayton stood up, and all three men with flight equipment in hand, bolted up to the hanger deck, through one of the gun crew access points, and up a gantry to the flight deck.
All three aircraft had been positioned for takeoff.
Dayton and Duffy moved hastily toward their respective aircraft, but Pete had stopped.
With consideration to this morning’s events, Dayton had anticipated Pete’s hesitation, and while attempting to maintain an inadvertent demeanor, looked back at Pete, “Pete, don’t forget to move through your checklist. It really is all about the checklist”.
Pete considered the intended weight of Dayton’s comment, and acknowledged the order.
Lieutenant Junior Grade Pete J. Jenkins ran to his FM2 Wildcat, tail #3, placed his foot in the aircraft’s stirrup, pushed off onto the wing, threw his leg over the threshold, and landed naturally into the aircraft’s seat.
Pete recounted the last moment with Dayton as significant, gave pause, and although Pete was tired, he turned his focus onto the aircraft’s flight instrumentation and controls. Peter instinctively glanced forward to coordinate his take off with Renault. Renault wasn’t there.
Pete allowed the violent image of that next exploding Zero into his mind.
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1150 hours, Sunday July 16th 1944
On emergency landing approach, Cockpit of Wildcat FM2 aircraft #3, approaching the deck of Escort Carrier CVE-68 Kalinin Bay, group Taffy 3, approximately 100 nautical miles east of the island of Samar, Philippines.
Pete (Jenk) was able to line his FM2 up on Kalinin Bay perfectly, thanks to Dayton’s low fuel landing drills, and he was getting the roger signal from Kalinin’s flight officer.
Pete was frightened, and obviously it was because he had never attempted a battered aircraft landing before; but damn the sweating. He wiped his brow and was surprised to see his glove covered with blood.
He recalled the canopy being chipped on that first salvo, but didn’t remember getting hit. Whatever it was, it would have to wait, because Jenk was on final, and as his FM2 aircraft moved into the slower approach speeds, he was having difficulty keeping the wings level. He had done his best to inspect the condition of his FM2 before attempting the landing, but noticed the left inboard wing skin had pealed back leaving what looked like claw marks from those two Zeros. The damage was certainly not helping him level the wings.
Pete composed himself and announced on com, “The landing gear, hook, and flaps cranked into position without any problems”.
The Kalinin chirped back on the com, “You got this Lieutenant.
Pete was having trouble controlling his thoughts, and his mind drifted again. Colin was not so lucky Pete thought to himself; he mentioned the chain to the landing gear crank must have been cut by a bullet, because it spun freely, and the gear would not extend. With that level of damage, Duff’s FM2 may as well have been pinned together. No way would that airframe have survived a skid. That’s assuming he could even line it up with only two thirds of a wing. Pete realized he was assuring himself that he gave Duff the right advice in attempting the bail out once he was over group.
Pete thought to himself, why am I having so much trouble focusing on the landing? The deck was coming up fast, he planted the gear harder than usual, and tap… tap… bump… Yank… Pete’s head jerked to the left, and he had to admit the landing was a bit sloppy.
His aircraft tail had pulled to the center of the arresting cable, and his FM2 was now sitting at almost a full diagonal to the landing lines.
Pete broke protocol, he left his flaps extended, the magneto switch on, he attempted to exit the seat without unbuckling, and once he left his seat and put his leg over the cockpit threshold, his back leg caught, and he fell head first onto the wing.
Pete could see the medical staff and ground crew running toward him.
Pete attempted to compose himself, so he sat up and slid down the right wing onto the Kalinin Bay’s deck. Pete stood for a moment, fell onto all fours, and began regurgitating. He looked up at the crew member that had hurriedly driven his tug over to help Pete, and Pete mumbled, “I don’t remember being nauseous”. Pete fell unconscious while the sailor was yelling for the medical staff to hurry.
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1301 hours, Sunday July 16th 1944
Open sea baring approximately 2 nautical miles north of the Destroyer DE-405 Dennis, screening group Taffy 3, approximately 100 nautical miles east of the island of Samar, Philippines.
Ltjg. Colin L. Duffy was standing on a life raft, waiving his 45 caliber pistol in the air, and yelling to the open sea, “If I see one shark, I swear I’ll shoot it”!
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The End (for now).
This was the first part of a 3 part scenario, the 2nd part will be 4 Nakajima Ki-84 squaring off against 4 Wildcat F4Fs using Blackronen's solo mod (correctly this time), and ultimately a flight of 6 torpedo modified Aichi D3A1 Val will finish up the scenario.
Honestly, with Jenkins out of action until his concussion heals, and Colin Duffy is retrieved from the ocean, it will have to be another flight group because VC-10 is not in action right now.
What ever happens, it better happen soon, because the Ki-84s are 20 minutes from group, and the Vals are 1 hour from group.
Chris
