29 FEB 44
When Princeton crossed the International Date Line and "lost" a calendar day during her western voyage across the Pacific, a clever few among her crew may have thought their war had been shortened by a day. Too clever by half, they would have been wrong.
1944 was a Leap Year.
Throughout the night and into the day "the P" and her Task Group companions maintained 17 knots on an east-southeast course, chewing up the miles toward Majuro. In order to share the load of protecting the Task Group, the squadrons of Princeton, Langley and Saratoga divided the flying schedule. Each carrier would conduct two launches during the daily transit. Each event, or cycle, would last approximately 3 hours and include 4 fighters for CAP and 4 bombers for ASP. Princeton's cycles covered 0700 to 1000 and 1230 to 1530. To ensure no gaps coverage, each cycle time would overlap slightly, the "offgoing" planes being relieved at their patrol stations by the "oncoming" planes just launched.
The reduced optempo allowed squadron personnel the opportunity to compile data for the Air Group leadership to include in the Action Report. Some of which makes interesting reading.
From 16-29 February the squadrons flew a total of 458 flights, of which 330 were fighters and 128 bombers.
Ammunition expended included:
5 2000 pound bombs
8 325 pound depth bombs
453 100 pound bombs
32 fragmentation clusters
250 rounds of .30 caliber
22,500 rounds of .50 caliber
If you were keeping track you would have counted 5 barrier crashes during the 2 weeks of combat operations. In those descriptions we have repeatedly seen the words "minor damage to plane, no injuries to personnel." What does that mean, actually? The Action Report tells us...
"Accident and barrier crashes made necessary the following:
5 engine changes
4 propellor changes
1 left wing change
2 repair of landing gear turned 90˚ on landing
1 Major overhaul to fuselage only
1 Major overhaul, engine and fuselage"
Ensigns can be expensive.
In a separate report covering the Eniwetok operation, addressed from Air Group 23 Commander Miller to Captain Buracker, Skipper of Princeton, CAG Miller closes with this how-do-you-really-feel paragraph:
"2. Pilot fatigue: It is interesting to note that during the subject operation, and all previous operations, the older pilots, and those with experience, always had to substitute for the youth and inexperienced who cracked first when the going got tough. This refutes the theory which is advocated by a great many that all one needs in this fighting game is a youngster with spirit and enthusiasm. Combat flying requires the same amount of experience and common sense as a professional ball club. The pilot who is matured and has the will to win always holds up where youth and enthusiasm fail."
Henry L. "Hank" Miller, apparently, didn't mess around.
NNNN
Comments