Cap Mandrake
Posts: 23184
Joined: 11/15/2002 From: Southern California Status: offline
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***********Update on the Morelia Boys (and Mr. Honda) in Port Hedrand, Nov. 18, 1942(c)********* After the big air battles of the 16th, recon late afternoon Nov. 16 shows airfield damage at PH down to 25% with 18 fighters present. Santa Maria! How did they do that? I think the last landing must have been day laborers from Tantayuca. Those boys know how to work in hot weather and the Mexican economy is just horrible so they are well motivated. We order the mediums to stand down and the B-24's and B-17's to attack the airfield, plus some P-38 sweeps. The Allied carriers were orderd up East of Exmouth to come within range of PH. EVERBODY stays home on the 17th. Boise and a passel of DD's are ordered to PH at night to go after the transports. Instead they run into Jap CA's. Visibility is good with the fight between 6,000-8,000 yds. Acckk. Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Hedland at 57,129, Range 8,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Myoko CA Aoba, Shell hits 3, on fire DD Oboro DD Karukaya DD Yugao, Shell hits 2, on fire Allied Ships CL Boise, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire DD Isaac Sweers DD Decoy DD Encounter DD Fortune Boise will be in the shop for a while if she can avoid the subs. JJ sent some Nells into PH on ground attack on the 17th. Recon late afternoon of the 17th now shows 8% airfield damage and 88 fighters at PH! Santa Maria! Now wonder nobody flew. The situation on the 18th is there are two heavy SCTF's closing on PH from the NE and the Jap transports are retereating the NE. Quite clearly, PH will be bombarded again, then we may be in for another attack! So much for my boast about air superiority.
< Message edited by Cap Mandrake -- 1/18/2012 3:46:54 PM >
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