Fletcher
Posts: 3386
Joined: 10/26/2006 From: Jerez, Spain, EU Status: offline
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FROM: VADM. CHUICHI NAGUMO, 1ST AIR FLEET, CEYLAN STRIKING FORCE CARDIV2, ABOARD HIJMS KAGA. TO: ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMOTO, COMBINED FLEET CINC, KURE. SUBJECT: COLOMBO AIR RAID. HMS INDOMITABLE CHASED AT SHIPYARD. DATE: APRIL 09TH, 1942 UNDER HEAVY STORMS, OUR FORCES APPROACHES TO LAUNCH AIR STRIKE OVER COLOMBO. HIJMS CHIKUMA AND HIJMS TONE LAUNCHED SEVERAL FLOAT PLANES TO RECON FLIGHT OVER COLOMBO NAVAL STATION. 45 A6M2, 118 B5N2 AND 95 D3A1 TAKE OFF FROM CARDIV2 AND CARDIV5 CARRIERS TO MET WITH 23 HURRICANES AT CAP OVER COLOMBO SKIES. 04 HURRICANES WERE DOWNED IN THE DOGFIGHT. 6 A6M2, 6 B5N2 AND 6 D3A1 WERE LOST BY SEVERAL CAUSES, ENEMY FIGHTERS, FLAK AND OPERATIONAL DUE THE BAD WEATHER. 01 ENEMY FULMAR AND 1 BLENHEIM WERE DESTROYED AT GROUN. AT SHIPYARD, TWO ENEMY SHIPS WERE SURPRISED: HMS INDOMITABLE, 05 BOMB HITS, HEAVY FIRES ABOARD. SS S-40, 1 BOMB HIT. REPAIR SHIPYARD: 01 HIT. AIRFIELD DAMAGES: 05 AIRBASE HITS, 2 AIRBASE SUPPLY AND 35 RUNWAY HITS. DOCKYARD DAMAGES: 01 PORT HIT. A SECOND RAID WAS LAUNCHED AGAINST DAMBULLA AIRFIELD WITH 24 D3A1 ESCORTED BY 9 A6M2. NO ENEMY AT CAP. 1 FULMAR DESTROYED AT GROUND. 2 D3A1 WERE DOWNED BY ENEMY FLAK. 5 RUNWAY HITS WERE REPORTED. TOMORROW OUR PRIORITARY TARGET WILL BE TO SINK THE ENEMY CARRIER AND AVOID ENEMY SURFACE ENGAGEMENTS. LONG LIVE TO THE EMPEROR ! END//
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