Kwik E Mart
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two interesting sweep accounts (first intercepting a sweep, the other conducting one). first one is R. Bruce Porter. second is Alexander Vraciu.
"We were at 18,000 feet and heading northwest, toward the Russell Islands, which were about eighty miles from Henderson Field. The remainder of the squadron, and three other alert squadrons, were dispersed nearby or right behind us, covering different altitudes and sectors. Thus, we had thirty-two new Vought F4U Corsairs and older Grumman F4F Wildcats flying as a leading wedge and nearly an identical number coming on as a follow-up force. Army Air Forces pilots managed to launch thirty P-40 fighters.
For all the long months of practice and performance in Samoa and the New Hebrides, I did not have a calm cell in my body. It is unusual to sweat at altitude, even in the tropics, but bodily fluids were running off me in rivulets. I was even concerned that my canopy would fog up from so much moisture. I had no fear, but my bloodstream had an overabundance of adrenalin and, I'm sure, other life-preserving substances that gave off a rank odor and copious amounts of perspiration. In a way, my discomfort shielded me from dwelling too much on the possible consequences of the onrushing confrontation.
I do not think I was ever as exhilarated as I was during that flight.
The Russells had been seized earlier in the year by Marine Raiders, and a new forward fighter strip was under construction. It was unclear if the approaching Japanese wanted to strike at the new base or if they were bound for Guadalcanal. Whatever the case, we had barely enough time to intercept them just to the northwest of the Russells.
There was no end of chatter among the Corsair and Wildcat pilots, especially about "bogies"--unconfirmed, presumably hostile radar contacts from our ground controllers at Guadalcanal.
We were over the Russell Islands within thirty minutes of the alert. Below, I could see the wakes of boats as they plied the blue waters. I was scanning the entire sky, looking for telltale movement among the distant thunderheads and the lacy white cumulus clouds set against a splendid blue canopy.
I was just commenting to myself what a beautiful day it was when my earphones suddenly crackled with an incoming all- squadrons message: "Tally ho! Zeros at eleven o'clock. Angels twenty-five." This meant that enemy fighters had been spotted as they flew at an altitude of 25,000 feet and on a bearing just to the left of dead center. (Imagine a clock. Dead ahead is twelve o'clock, dead astern is six o'clock, right is three o'clock, and left is nine o'clock.)
I charged my guns and turned on my reflector sight, which cast an image of a gunsight, complete with distance calibrations, on the windscreen in front of my face.
Within seconds, I saw silvery glints against the bright blue background of the sky. The enemy fighter formations were coming in from all directions.
No enemy bombers had been reported by coastwatchers occupying various covert observation posts farther up the Solomons, and none was sighted as the opposing forces rushed at one another in excess of five hundred miles per hour. We were encountering a fighter sweep, pure and simple. More than ?? Zero fighters had come only to challenge our fighters.
...
Everyone was back within thirty minutes or so of my arrival. It turned out that VMF-121 was the only squadron that scored that day. Captain Bob Baker was credited with a probable Zero; Captain Ken Ford got two solid kills and a probable; Captain Bill Harlan got one kill and two probables; Captain Bruce Porter got a kill; and 1st Lieutenant Phil Leeds got two kills. That is six kills and four probables against no losses of our own. A very good day!"
"His next combat occurred with Intrepid's VF-6, on the February 16-17, 1944 strike against Truk airfields on Moen, Eten, and Param Islands. The day started with a large fighter sweep, 72 Hellcats, over the Jap bases. Vraciu arrived over Moen at 13,000 foot altitude just before sunrise. Amidst the anti-aircraft fire, the Hellcats began diving toward the airstrips for their strafing runs. Looking all around, Lt. Vraciu spotted some Zeros above and to port, which he swung toward and attacked. Using the superior maneuverability of the Hellcat at high speeds (over 250 knots), he successfully gained altitude on the Zeros and chased them into clouds and onto the deck. During this action he hit and set afire 3 Zeros, which splashed inside Truk lagoon. He then got another after a bit of cat-and-mouse in a cloud. The afternoon saw little air-to-air action, as Vraciu and the other Hellcat pilots escorted bombers and torpedo planes on their runs. That evening, when the planes had returned, Intrepid was hit by a torpedo and was withdrawn from combat for repairs."
_____________________________
Kirk Lazarus: I know who I am. I'm the dude playin' the dude, disguised as another dude!
Ron Swanson: Clear alcohols are for rich women on diets. 
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