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1275psi -> CAP (10/26/2005 12:06:24 AM)
2660 hours 120 carrier landings Actually flew CAP again today, KB is enroute for Truk - the other carriers are at panope? Little news today -the fighting continues in china -a heavy, heavy raid on port moresby by over 100 bombers. how will we counter those monsters?We will need heavy fighters - but I have not heard of any plans to build them. took a look today at the shattered turbine down in one of the engine rooms - funny to see the almost perverse pride of the black gang - see the machinery we try to control? -look what happens when it gets loose! Incredible stuff But I was glad to clear the armour deck again -the thought of torpedoes is always at the back of one's mind!

1275psi -> RE: CAP (10/27/2005 12:20:52 AM)
The war is not going well. further reports of mass bombings at rangoon - the BBC reports our airforce"destroyed" there. can this be true? only a month ago we seemed to be totally in control there. All those fine planes and fellows destroyed? I cannot picture it. Also another small naval battle near Timor -the enmy aggression is unsettling. Still, no time to dwell on these matters for us. We pulled into Truk late in the evening - and commenced fuelling immediately. At noon today -electric news - a enemy CV task force is sighted 200 odd miles south of Port moresby - and a Duantless dive bomber has hit a AP in the harbour. No mass strike on the shipping there though - maybe the thunderstorms crowding this area have given us a lucky break. We will sail in 4 hours time - when fuelling is completed. KB2 also is sailing further east of us. yamaguchi pipes an address - how tense the men are. he believes that this is a fient -that the gilberts are under threat - so we will move south east as quickly as we can. the men are tense -but confident and eager - amazing how nobody is not concerned about the abruptly cancelled runs ashore -the desire for a show down glows in us. I have many comrads to avenge now.

1275psi -> RE: CAP (10/28/2005 12:06:44 AM)
13/9/42 the great ship again trembles as we power south east as fast as we can, the whine of her turbines a constant presence around us.. I could not sleep , and found myself crowding into a corner of the bridge, to listen and watch the evnts of the night. Yamaguchi was there - A powerful prescence. he is not aloof from us, he frequently will enter discussions with all around him on the situation. Lt Sato was there as well. I think he will not be a Squadron Commander for much longer -Yamaguchi wants him for his staff. Promotion becons. He has earned it. All night the radio crackled with incoming messages, we of course are totally silent. The seas are calm, and the moon bright. Here, on the bridge, the sea is a long, long way down, and very, very beautiful. One hardly feels connected to the outside world -and it is almost impossible to envisange violence occuring on it on such a peaceful night. Yet some 100's of miles to our south many men are dying . The enemy sends a surface force into Port Moresby bay -how well i can picture it -and we listen as the merchant men call for help. they have done a good job- 4 heavily damaged ships deployed as pickets- easy targets -but they soak up time and ammunition - and the enemy do not deliver a bombardment. Finally the air waves fall silent, we have lost 3 MSW, and 4 already crippled ships - mines have damaged one of his. dawn breaks - now I want to sleep! But not today - Drills, more drills, and more drills All day we wait to hear if our bombers at Lea find the enemy carrier -but it has fled south. How hard it is to bring this Kiwi to battle! I will be glad for my bed tonight.

1275psi -> all quiet again (10/30/2005 12:41:11 PM)
I awake after the long night - the captain stood us down today - the emn, all of us are tired. The enemy has retired again. little news, some fighting about hamon in China, no news from Burma. It is Hot again. Ships stink in this heat, and i have a terrible heat rash today.

1275psi -> Worries (10/30/2005 12:46:17 PM)
More troubling news today - a huge naval bombardment of rangoon last night - apparently involving nearly all the british battle line. One wonders what would have happened if we had continued to Indian waters. Instead we flop about here, somewhere west of the gilberts - what are we doing here? Although I do agree with the policy of concentration -but only if we can be at the right place at the right time war can be so frustrating.

1275psi -> RE: Worries (10/30/2005 12:52:02 PM)
The enemy attack shipping at moulmien -more brave men killed. What is the army airforce doing? We are marking time again -little news, little to report - the bridge is out of bounds today late today a muster inthe ready room - LT Sato is now LCDR Sato -and is leaving us. A genuine rush of emotion as we far well him - he goes to the Staff at Truk -maybe i will see him again. a new Sq commander flies in today. This is impressive indeed - a long flight from Truk - to a TF in radio silence. Impressive and brave - an auspicious start. Welcome Lt Tomonaga - already you have earnt the right to lead us into battle. If only we could have one!

1275psi -> grappling (11/2/2005 9:57:34 PM)
17/9/42 Another day deep in the south pacific We spend the day with inspections Our new CO is definately a firebrand he addresses us all together in the hanger - fighter pilots, val pilots and kate pilots The message is simple When we finally engage the american carriers there is to be only 2 possible results We sink them - or do not return.. Still no news from the world today

1275psi -> RE: grappling (11/2/2005 10:04:48 PM)
18/9/42 A report of the war comes into the ready room today - heavy fighting in China -at a place called homan In Burma it appears that the allies are claiming air superiority - "have driven the enemy from the skies over Burma" We debate this for some time here in the mess. It does appear that the Army Oscars are not up to the job of countering the enemy heavy bombers. We agree that the Tony might be our only hope Again I must admire the American planes. I still wonder how will I tackle them if i meet one? The enemy heavily struck PNG bases today. LT Tomonaga informs us that we are going to slide slowly towards Lunga - fishing - he calls it, then if still no action, we are going to LRCAP Gilli, Gilli, and try to engage some of these bombers. So I might have about a week to come up with a method of shooting down a B17 or Liberator.

1275psi -> RE: grappling (11/6/2005 6:54:11 AM)
19/9/42 121 carrier landings 2668 hrs Flew CAP today - very glad to get aloft -it is so hot on deck - so different at 16000 feet The news a sparse today -have to de[pend on tokyo rose for the news today - if she is to be believed there is a renewed offensive towards Kweiyang , heavy fighting about homan We refuel today, as the ships -so small against the wide expanse of the mighty pacific -crawl westwards towards shortlands. the world still truly is beautiful - even in the face of war.

1275psi -> RE: grappling (11/6/2005 6:59:16 AM)
20/9/42 a quiet day on our floating home We spent the day writing letters - how long before they get them at home And what to write? how different fathers world of wood, and nets, and fish is to this steel shell -all muscle and testerone. I struggle to reconcile the two in the letter, but I think i fail. it seems forever since we saw action - the news from Burma seems bad - its what tokyo rose leaves out that matters - the air war is NOT over rangoon - but elsewhere -meaning to me that it may have been abandodned. I hope not. It is hard not to fret over the fate of our empire -our homes.

1275psi -> RE: grappling (11/6/2005 7:08:32 AM)
21/9/42 a strange day today We lost our home today - our mess deck that is The black gang were quite apologetic - but the XO was not That turbine that exploded has to be remved -huge piece by huge piece That means a hole in the roof - which means our deck - which means our home. So we are all moved out - I am sleeping in the ready room today The black gang say it will be at least 4 days to get the turbine out our mess -and out another hole in the STBD side of the ship. A new one is waiting for us At Rabual It takes the black gang exactly 1 hour to trash our room. The stink of cutting torches fills the lower areas. Its a big job - how clever the engineers are. I will however avoid the area like the plague. We catch radio Noumea today - we lost a lot of bombers over burma today -no fighter escort An attack at homan was repulsed. the empire seems to have stalled.

1275psi -> RE: grappling (11/6/2005 7:14:24 AM)
22/9/42 really pissed off today The inevitable -a small fire in the mess today started by a cutting torch - and guess who lost their lockers worth of possessions. I am not happy - now my entire worldly possessions consist of my flying suit - my writing kit - and 1 bottle of illegal sake. There is a bright side to it. The CPO in charge of the black gang is now definately in my debt - and on a ship with continous fresh water restrictions - this can be used to advantage. We are one day out of shortlands - then we will sail into the sub infested coral sea - the plan is to LRCAP ambush one of his heavy bomber raids. Ive got about 3 days to finalise how i am going to tackle a B17

1275psi -> RE: grappling (11/8/2005 10:19:58 PM)
I am writing this by moonlight It is late in the night - and the ship is at action stations As per orders all pilots are on the upper decks - KB is under Submarine attack. To both sides of us I can see land - we are in very close waters -approaching Shortlands. To the south of us we can hear clearly over the wind crossing the deck the crump, crump of depth charges. This is the second attack tonight, I do not expect much sleep. A surreal sight, all the planes lined up on the deck - powerless- with small clumps of men gathered around them. Surprisingly we speak in whispers -why? - I do not know. The thought of submarines make my stomach knot.. Apparently the coral sea is alive with them -will yamaguchi risk them?.

1275psi -> plans (11/9/2005 10:04:05 PM)
the relief from the tension has been shortlived We made Shortlands today without being directly attacked by the hidden menace - our escorts are claiming 2 enemy subs sunk overnight. We refuelled all day, a packed harbour full of shipping. Tomorrow we sail yet again - for the area off Gilli, Gilli - back to familiar waters again. No mail. I did recieve some new Uniforms today to replace the destroyed ones - so Im not that upset with the black gang now. The mess looks like a bomb hit it - but the turbine has been removed. our squadrons have some reserves following us around the world - it is good to have them. A big day of briefings about the B17 and liberator. tactics have been decided - its the head on attack we will adopt. I must trust to my skill. little news in the world -the usual siege about Homan in china -and the army is trying to create a super pocket in the south of china.

1275psi -> RE: plans (11/14/2005 9:41:12 AM)
25/9/42 KB approaches good enough island the situation is tense, so many subs about tomorrow half our fighter strength will fly CAP over PNG - will I see action tomorrow. The day is very grey, overcast -a lot of mist and the humidity! it is very hard on us today.

1275psi -> Op losses (11/14/2005 9:46:26 AM)
a terrible, terrible day we launched into a threatening sky, and over 100 of us spent the next 6 hours doing lazy circles over the base at gilli gilli. pleasant, boring. But as the day wore on, things started to go very, very wrong the storms sprung up so incredibly quickly -huge masses of clouds -between us and our carriers. Our CO took the plunge early -we headed south, then east, then finally got home, safe. others were not so lucky. shokaka lost 6 men today, we lost 10 zeros to mother nature today. they simply vanished into silence, the great maw of clouds simply swallowed them up. a very unpleasant night - sub alerts all night. I am very, very tired.

1275psi -> RE: Op losses (11/14/2005 9:51:49 AM)
28/9/42 simply no time to write yesterday yesterday was a day of huge storms -no flying, heavy seas. non stop lightening. a great, deadly show. We lost 6 more pilots - some idiot insisted on a CAP . today we retire towards rabual - this is a bust. the men are angry, and frustrated. tokyo rose is full of news though, the enmy has struck our shipping at rangoon - big air battles it appears the army is fighting back in the air The black gang promise us our mess deck back within 3 days of arrival at rabual. 3 days!!! i positevly hate this ready room, i hate the navy, i hate ships, I hate this war. I want my own bed back!!!

1275psi -> RE: Op losses (11/14/2005 9:55:38 AM)
29/9/42 we sail back to rabual - arrive tomorrow Sub reports all over the area -but we remain un touched. Tokyo rose is full 0f news about a large raid on Akyab, heavy losses are claimed on both sides It is interesting listening to her - and then the BBC version The black gand have heard of my distress. a bottle of sake appears by magic under my seat in the ready room today. really, they are fine fellows. mail tomorrow? all of us look forward to that.

1275psi -> RE: Op losses (11/15/2005 10:21:25 PM)
30/9/42 The end of ultimately another frustrating and futile cruise. Rabual harbour once again is crammed with ships. After the usual busy day of stores, and fuelling, Sagara and myself took leave. We again got hold of the same beaten up old car we used last time, and again made our way to the airfield. The difference from our last visit was startling. Instead of a busy, grim base, today we found a complacent sleeping base, occupied with only a single zero squadron. Disturbingly one gains the impression that many supplies and spares one would expect were in short supply, twice today we heard comments about "it got sunk enroute" After about a morose hour we went back into town. Lae is the place for action, apparently every day large "milk runs " take place against the troops we chased into the jungles near port Moresby. Tokyo rose again reports very , very fierce fighting in the skies above Akyab - the army seems to have become detirmined to regain control of the skies there. heavy fighting reported at Kweiyang - a look at the map shows that this leaves Wuchow and a large chunk of southern china cut off.. can we keep it sealed, and take the place? But enough of the war, hunger for a good seafood meal beconned. A pleasant evening of crayfish followed.

1275psi -> RE: Op losses (11/15/2005 10:28:30 PM)
1/10/42 Kaga has a horrible rusty AR ship alongside her, when we returned from shore, great news, already the turbine is below, and soon our home will be restored. I was very busy today - many inventories to carry out - a new Kit to be fitted with, personal items to replace. AR ships are faboulous - they hold all a man needs. An alert near lunchtime - 100 heavies hit Port Moresby today - how ironic The BBC came through loud and clear -and a new station - "freedom America", imperial slavery in my mind The fighting over akyab continues, another heavy air day. We recieved some replacements today -fortunately all crack pilots, returning from courses in japan. Mail. The news from home remains good. father and I have organised a code, to defeat any censors A new battle wagon "as big as a mountain" sits in his bay. I look over to yammato - another sister to her?

1275psi -> RE: Op losses (11/15/2005 10:37:24 PM)
2/10/42 amazing what 200 odd black gang can do. we have a new mess - fresh, painted, comfortable. Well done men. A quiet day - many of the same black gang finally get shore time. We spend the day on paper work. After lunch, some staff officers from the air technical branch arrive. We are asked many questions on our zero - what is needed to improve our planes. Soon a new model is coming out - but attention is swinging to 43, 44 - should the war go that long- what is needed. We are deeply divided. some say manouverability is everything, the older pilots seem to tend this way. I dis agree - I feel speed, hitting power, and armour is everything - the bigger the engine , the better. I argue the case about Burma -where today again the war rages. there the Tony is doing well - while the lighter Tojo appears to be struggling. And always at the back of my mind - the heavy bombers - how to knock down bombers - and guns mean everything there. The staff leave satisfied I feel. I am disturbed though - 43 -44?, I thought peace was at hand -that the war was all but won?

1275psi -> RE: Op losses (11/16/2005 10:27:38 PM)
3/10/42 Another quiet day at anchor rabual. The evening news is again concentrating on the airwar over Burma. A huge airbattle over Akyab - which is reported as "closed" by both the BBC and Tokyo rose - to ones amazement, and to a convoy attacked at rangoon harbour -"devastated" -"lightly damaged". regardless -the Army continues to fight very hard, the Tonies, and Tojos are doing well. we understand that some 22 zeros were lost today in the theatre - now we know why rabual is so quiet - and 11 tonies. Tokyo rose claims that some 38 enemy fighters were shot down in reply. To think I have travelled half way around the world this year -for just 1 action of note -and yet daily the war burns brightly . its a very frustrating war.

1275psi -> RE: Op losses (11/20/2005 10:37:17 PM)
4/10/42 sagara and myself went swimming today The enemy sinks a ship inside PM harbour. Cheeky A day of rest. let the war go on with out us for a while

1275psi -> RE: Op losses (11/20/2005 10:40:39 PM)
5/10/42 Another day of routine work onboard the ship -many engine change outs -many major repairs underway on the ship. News is a mixture today. A small naval battle at tarwana -a convoy intercepted, a brave effort put up by the small escorts In Burma the army is claiming a victory in the air -the enemy has ceased to oppose our raids on Akyab. This sounds good to us.

1275psi -> RE: Op losses (11/20/2005 10:43:50 PM)
6/10/42 Another small convoy intercepted today. The enemy is so aggressive -everywhere except where we are! Burma news is still good - another big un opposed raid on Akyab today Fighting at Kweiyang, and homan. here we are awaiting fuel and supplies. Why does paperwork breed so quickly!!!

1275psi -> RE: Op losses (11/20/2005 10:49:12 PM)
7/10/42 A very busy, busy day My zero has a new engine -and has been thourhly inspected for cracking in the main spar. I like to get involved with the inspections. Several zeros have been reported lost this month with main spar failure, this is a very big worry -especially if you throw a plane about like i do. if only there was a way to see into the metal of a wing. The big hustle today is a reaction to the enemy - 100 heavies hit PM again -the army is screaming for cover. All planes are put on 6 hrs notice for a move to Lea Japan has been hit! parishimo jima hit by heavy bombers! surely the enmy will not attack through those frozen wastes.

1275psi -> RE: Op losses (11/21/2005 3:21:15 AM)
8/10/42 Today we flew into lea What a dump. let me describe it to you- This afternoon we assembled for briefing in the airfield command post. I use the words command post freely. The CP was ridiculously inadequate. It failed to deserve even the name 'shack' for it had no walls! Mats hung from flimsy overhead beams to serve as walls, curtains, and doors. The room was barely adequet to hold all thrity filers when they huddled closely together. In the center was a large crude table, hune from local timber. A few candles and one kerosene lamps served for illumination. Our electricity for telephones came from batteries. ... Outside the CP I saw all the vehicles assigned to Lae. These consisted of an ancient, rusty, creaky Ford Sedan, one decrepit truck, and one fueling vehicle. They served the entire base. There were no hangers. We lacked even a control tower! ...Elements of the 18th div man the perimeter. the rookies have been moved out to make room for us -although the tonie guys are remaining- carrying out daily attacks to the south. The whole place is terrible - another no where to sleep joint. we make our own mess in the local luthern church - not the fine stone building you imagine -at least it has grass wall,. I do not think much of the field iether -it faces east west - straight at the mountains that surrounfd the plain this hole rests on. never mind - closer to the action -one hopes. The cheeky allies sent a single DD into Pm last night -it beat up some patrol boats. We are going to fly LRCAP over Pm tomorrow - maybe we will give his milk run something to think about. What really worries me is the fact that it took 6 hrs to fuel all the fighters once we arrived. No where satisfactory! I hope the immenent arrival of a Emperor herbiesan special will rectify the supply shortages.

1275psi -> RE: Op losses (11/21/2005 3:37:32 AM)
10/9/42 a long, and tiring day it started well -the news from Burma is good the tactic seems clear - the major effort over burma has forced the allies to switch his focus. today our airforce appears to have switched back the bombers to china -the fight for kweilang is truly on No enemy air over Akyab again today. In our area of the world a report that the enemy heavies had hit Ndini -our southern most out post. we took off at about 10 in the morning -nearly 100 fighters and after a quick flight began the loiter over PM. An interesting sight once we cleared the stanelys- and let me tell you later what that simple line implies - a AK sinking just out of the harbour - a enemy sub at work. 6 boring hrs later we turned for home. Do you know what 6 hrs in a cockpit at 10000 feet entails - the struggle to remain focussed, alert. Ansd always the jungle below us. then for home -and the stanleys now have a terrible cover of storms - building all over them. fortunately our CO has the right idea - we move to full throttle , and blast our way between the peaks. to the clear air on the north side. terrible Somewhere along the way we lost one of our rookies. another 30 mins and we would have been forced to try to use the moonscape crated PM field. My landing was rough, and hard - i smashed an oleo -burst a tire -and ground looped. My beautiful refitted plane is a write off! I got a shake -a cut for head and a banged up knee. But I was lucky, it could have been worse. sagara has spent all evening pulling the piss out of me - he demands to put an entry in my log book -and has asked do i need a refresher course. It cost me a bottle of beer to shut him up.

1275psi -> RE: Op losses (11/21/2005 3:46:44 AM)
10/10/42 Lt tomowaga asks am i fit to fly its already 85 on the ground, humidity 100% Its 60 at 10000 feet. of course i am fit. Another day doing circles over PM -while the enemy hits ndini. And that was the day -I am so stiff and sore We stand down tomorrow -heavy storms predicted. Already I pine for the kaga -this place stinks interesting news Burma - the army did not fly in Burma today -remaining "on patrol" - expecting heavy attacks - instead pounding china again. the enemy has moved 150 plus fighters into Akyab - the enemy General - "the wobbly wonder one" is declaring that the air has not been surrendered in burma. how will we deal with this challenge. Tokyo rose talks of - "significant naval forces " of ours are on the move. good. Now where can i get a beer in this **** hole?

1275psi -> RE: Op losses (11/21/2005 10:22:53 PM)
2721 hrs of flight time behind sagara, i am the 2nd most experienced pilot in the unit now. 11/10/42 Ironically the weather was clear here and at PM today -fortunately the enemy did not attack. The day was not good -spent most of it playing cards, and sweating. The natives -and i mean the natives -are hostile in this place -one does not wander far from the "CP" - well our hut. My new plane is a creaky old beast, engine test today was not satisfactory, although the fuel quality has a lot to do with it. I suspect the octane is not what it should be. news from the world - our british opposition glares at us in burma - we glare back I did some calculations -if we produce say 200 tonies a month - it only needs a week of little action, and that is another unit converted to them - the oscar is patently in adequate. Tomorrow we try again Also I hear that Gilli, Gilli, is now packed with fighters -maybe we can give him a rude shock or too. how I would like to down a B17, or a liberator.

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