PBY4-1 "Liberator" Routine Patrol

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Veteran's Name: Navy Combat Air Crews
Divison/Unit: VPB-111
Service Branch: Navy
Conflict: World War II
Shared By: chiefpeterb on 10/6/07

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This story's category:
World War II

Navy Patrol Bombing Squadron One Hundred Eleven

by Peter P. Bresciano

In the early, pre-dawn hours of 21 February 1945, on an Army airfield across the bay from the city of Tacloban, on the island of Leyte, three crews of VPB-111 were preparing for the days combat operations. Their mandate in this theater of operations was to conduct long range reconnaissance in allocated areas, to prevent the undetected approach of enemy (Japanese) forces, and to destroy his shipping. The three air crews had already visited the mess hall where their wake-up coffee made the pre-patrol mission briefing more a reality than a dream one would have during a comfortable nights sleep. Aircraft pre-flight on this mission was no different than any other, a serious undertaking, for the crew's life would depend on taking out a fit and operational PB4Y-1 "Liberator." It went without saying; the Patrol Plane Commander (PPC) would make certain the airworthiness of his aircraft would not be compromised.

With night rapidly closing on dawn, take-off from this airfield, which had been liberated from the Japanese only four months prior to this patrol, was on schedule, 0440 local time with PPC Lt. Harold Ashton and Combat Air Crew (CAC) #12 crewing their aircraft, number 38906, affectionately named "Reputation Cloudy." Other aircrew members included the 1^st Pilot (co-pilot) Lt.(jg) W.R. Hutchinson, 2^nd Pilot (navigator) Ens. J.R. Hazel, plane captain AMM1c Sam Leonetti who would man the deck gun, first radio ACRM J.C. Gibson, second radio ARM3c Ed Trybala, aerial gunner S1c Ken LaCount who was manning the starboard waist gun position, aerial gunner AMMF3c James Bell the tail gunner, and first mechanic AMM2c F.H. Brauner manning the port waist gun and taking pictures with the bulky K-12 camera. Ordnance AOM1c F.K. "Bud" Mills was manning the bow twin fifties and also performing duties as the planes bombardier. This crew, like many of VPB-111's crews in the early months of 1945, had been together since the formation of the squadron back in mid-July 1943.

Early morning launches were the norm, for they made for maximum daylight patrolling over the vase expanse of the western Pacific Ocean. Today's patrol would take the Liberator out 1000 miles to Mansei Shoto, "south-western" chain of islands, otherwise known as the Ryukyus Islands with Okinawa being the largest in the chain. These islands command the sea approaches to the China coast between Foochow and Shanghai.

The bomb load on this day consisted of five (5) one hundred pound general-purpose bombs with fuze settings of AN-M115 tail, with a four to five second delay on impact. A full compliment of .50-caliber machine gun ammunition was carried for the gun stations. A little over three thousand gallons of fuel was the fuel load for this patrol and with everything else on board, the crew knew this would make for another heart pounding take-off.

Right behind Lt. Ashton and scheduled for a 0445 take-off was the squadron's "Skipper," Lt. Cmdr. James V. Barry, to be followed immediately by a new crew, led by Lt. W.C. Bender. Having only arrived in the Squadron six days prior, this crew had to fill the void left by Lt. Howard Sires and his crew CAC #6. They did not return from a routine patrol where their last know position was over the island of Iriomote in the Ryukyu Island chain.

The "Skipper," flying aircraft number 38892, "Lady Luck," and crewed by CAC #1, included the co-pilot Lt(jg) R.P. Tucker, navigator Lt(jg) C.M. Russ, plane captain AMM1c J.F. Browne, first radio ARM2c O.B. Proehl, aerial gunner AMM2c C.I. Perry, aerial gunner AMMF2c J.M. Banta, second radio ARM2c W.P. Peterson, ordnance AOM2c R.G. Ferreira, and first mechanic AMMF1c K.N. Morrison. "Lucky Lady" was fully armed and her crew ready for combat. Carrying four (4) 250 lb. general-purpose bombs with fuze setting of AN-M116 tail, with a four to six second delay on impact and a full compliment of ammunition, this ‘Liberator" was ready and extremely lethal. With 3400 gallons of av gas in her tanks, she would take this crew on a patrol that would last twelve or more hours and cover up to 2000 miles. Like Lt. Ashton before him, the "Skipper" and his crew must contend with a heavy load and a heart stopping take-off before heading for their patrol sector along the South China coast.

On the heels of the "Skipper," CAC #6, led by PPC Lt W.C. Bender would lift off with the flight deck under his command and ably assisted by his co-pilot Ens. R.L. Wolpert, and navigator W.R. Young. The heart of this crew consisted of the plane captain AMM1c W.W. Kelly, 1^st mechanic AMM2c A.N. Gideon, 1^st radio ARM2c J.R. Jones, 2^nd radio ARM2c J.G. Bunn, ordnance AOM2c W.R. Connors, aerial gunner PhoM3c (Photographer's Mate) R. Rawlings Jr., aerial gunner PhoM1c A.G. Trimble, and aerial gunner AOM2c T.J. Warren, all flying their first combat patrol and one that would result in a positive patrol. Being a replacement crew, CAC #6 numbered eleven crewmembers because crewing a PB4Y-2 "Privateer," which the squadron had not yet received, called for a larger crew compliment.

As the "Skipper" headed for the coast of China and Lt. Ashton out toward Formosa, Lt Bender and his crew headed for Okinawa, the first leg of a 1000 mile flight out into the Pacific. With 3300 gallons of fuel on board, the "Liberator" had a full load it its tanks that could take them on a round-trip flight of 2000 miles. Their ordnance load was five (5) 100 lb. general-purpose bombs with fuze settings of AN-M115 tail; four to five second delay on impact. All .50-cal. machine guns were armed and ready with a full compliment of additional ammunition.

The stage is set and VPB-111 is again about to take the war to the enemy. First to make contact is the "Skipper" and his crew at around eleven-thirty when the bow gunner spots an enemy surface vessel two-mile distance making about eight knots. The "Skipper" had been flying the "Liberator" up the south coast of China toward Hong Kong harbor to check on targets of opportunity in the way of Japanese shipping when the bow gunner spotted the "Sugar Charlie" (300 ton Japanese cargo ship). VPB-111's "Aircraft Action Report" number 24 best describes the events of that encountered:

"While on a routine patrol along the South China Coast and headed toward Hong Kong to reconnoiter the harbor for shipping, Lt-Cmdr. J. V. BARRY was flying on a course of 080 at an altitude of 200 feet, just below the overcast, when his bow gunner sighted an enemy sugar charlie about two miles distant at 1 o'clock, on a course of 020, making about 8 K. Lt-Cdr. BARRY immediately turned to attack dropping down to an altitude of 150 feet and dropped 4/250 lb. G.P. bombs as he crossed the target from abeam. One of the bombs made a direct hit about 30 feet forward of the stern of the target vessel, penetrating the hull, and blowing the after portion of the ship apart upon detonating. Two minutes later as Lt-Cmdr. BARRY circled the scene, the decks were awash and the vessel was sinking - Claim Sunk".

This engagement took place approximately 20 miles off the coast of China and 126 miles from Hong Kong harbor. Visibility was two miles in haze and Lt. Cmdr. Barry chose to make a level bombing attack at 150 feet with bomb spacing at 50 feet apart. An aerial photo of the bomb run shows execution of the attack exactly as planned. Three bombs detonated fifty feet apart, abeam the enemy vessel and the fourth being a direct hit on the vessel. Crew strafing with their .50-cal. machine guns amounted to 40% of the expended rounds hitting the vessel.

This successful sinking of a "Sugar Charlie" was followed forty-five minutes later with a radar contact 29 miles from Macau and 36 miles from Hong Kong harbor. The following is from Aircraft Action Report #24 on that encounter:

"A short while later while on a heading of 070 just below the overcast a radar contact was made at a distance of 8 miles on an object thought to be an enemy ship. Upon approaching to one and one half miles of the target, Lt-Cmdr. BARRY visually determined that the ship was an enemy DE. Lt-Cmdr. BARRY made a strafing run on the target and dropped down as he approached. He opened fire with his bow and deck turret guns at a range of 1,500 feet. The bow gunner delivered very effective fire to the bridge and deck area immediately surrounding it, during the entire run. As Lt-Cmdr. BARRY passed over and away from the target, the tail turret gunner also was able to get in an effective burst. Moderate inaccurate, heavy, and medium A.A. was encountered as Lt-Cmdr. BARRY withdrew. Claim - Slight Damage with possible heavy personnel casualties."

With all bombs having been expended on the "Sugar Charlie," Lt. Cmdr. Barry made a bold move in attacking the Japanese destroyer escort and did so with guns blazing. This 1000-ton enemy vessel was well equipped to rain havoc on a lone Navy patrol bomber and did its best to bring the "Liberator" down. Crewing the "Liberator" were well-trained and experienced Navy air crewmen who were fighting to preserve their nations freedom, unlike those on the destroyer escort who were, at this stage in the war, unmotivated, inexperienced and fighting for an unacceptable cause, to enslave the entire Pacific region.

At approximately the same time Lt. Cmdr. Barry's attack on a "Sugar Charlie" resulted in its sinking, Lt. Ashton's homeward leg of the patrol proved to be anything but uneventful. Flying at an altitude of 2,000 feet in overcast skies, Lt. Ashton spotted a twin engine, Japanese Mitsubishi Army Ki-57, Type 100 transport, U.S. designate "Topsy," apparently headed for Formosa. The transport was painted an intermingling of brown and green with red discs on the wings and fuselage. The enemy aircraft was at a position of 25deg. 43min. north latitude and 124deg., 10min. east longitude, at an altitude of 800 feet. This position put the "Topsy" just north of Miyako Island in the Nansei-Shoto (southwest group) of the Ryukyu Islands, approximately 331 miles from Okinawa and 218 miles from Formosa. The following is the Aircraft Action Report #23, prepared by Lt. F.C. Herbst, the Squadron AIC Officer.

"While homeward bound on his search sector among the Southern islands of the Nansei Shoto Chain, at an altitude of 2,000 feet in the overcast, on a course of 180deg, Lt. H.H. ASHTON sighted an enemy Topsy nine miles away on a course of 270deg at an altitude of 800 feet. Lt. ASHTON changed course to intercept the Topsy, increasing power to 47 inches and 2700 R.P.M. He remained in the overcast ducking in and out of it every few seconds to keep the enemy plane in view and yet remained hidden himself. After a six minute chase, Lt ASHTON caught up with the Topsy and made a steep dive toward her from about 1,000 feet. Topsy had meanwhile dropped down to about 400 feet off the water and Lt. ASHTON opened fire at a range of 800 feet with his bow and deck turrets. The fire of his bow gunner, F.K. Mills AOM1/c was so well aimed that Topsy's starboard engine and wing root burst into flame after only a few shots had been fired, streaming flame for 20 feet behind the trailing edge of the starboard wing. Topsy started a shallow turn to starboard as the fire broke out enabling Lt. ASHTON's starboard waist gunner also to get in a short burst. As Lt. ASHTON passed over the target the tail gunner fired a short burst just as Topsy nosed over into a steep dive directly into the water where it exploded sending a burst of fire and smoke high into the air. This entire action from sighting to Topsy's "splash" lasted only 7 minutes. There were no survivors. Claim Destroyed."

Although only 350 round of .50-cal. ammo had been expended, the crew's performance was exemplary. Mills the bow gunner had hit the "Topsy's" starboard wing root, gas tanks and fuselage, Leonetti at the deck gun hit the top of the fuselage, LaCount on the starboard waist gun hit the fuselage from above, and Bell in the tail position hit the fuselage and empennage. Not to be denied a piece of the action, Brauner was taking pictures with the bulky K-12 camera out the port waist gun position. This teamwork on the part of all crewmembers made for what you might call, a successful day at the office.

With Lt. Cmdr. Barry having just scored a direct hit on an enemy "Sugar Charlie" and Lt. Ashton in the process of shooting down a Japanese "Topsy," Lt. Bender, in this same time period, was commencing his glide-bombing run on an enemy fishing boat off the coast of Okinawa. Having reached his patrol sector and heading toward Naha Harbor, Lt. Bender encountered the first of two targets he would attack within a matter of ten minutes. Visibility was 10 miles and the targets were in haze. Both fishing boats were 60 to 65 feet long and it was known that any type of watercraft was most likely used to supply Japanese troops occupying the Pacific Islands and therefore, fair game. Aircraft Action Report #28 best describes the encounter with these two enemy watercrafts:

"While on a routine patrol in the vicinity of Okinawa Gunto, Lt. W.C. BENDER approached the harbor of Naha from the southwest at an altitude of 5,000 feet when his bow turret gunner sighted a fishing boat 5 miles ahead at anchor about 100 yards off shore. Lt. BENDER lost altitude and made a straight in attack from bow to stern of the target vessel, his bow and deck turrets opening fire at a range of 800 feet delivering effective fire along the entire length of the deck. The target lay too close to shore for a second run so Lt. BENDER proceeded on his way. As the scene was left the enemy craft was smoking and one man was seen to head toward shore in a row boat. Claim Damaged.

A few minutes later as Lt. BENDER proceeded on up the coast at 2,000 feet the bow gunner sighted a second fishing boat about 5 miles ahead. Proceeding north at and estimated 5K. Lt. BENDER flew up along side the enemy vessel and looked it over. He then circled and made one run on the target dropping one 100 lb. G.P. bomb which missed by 30 feet. The bow and deck turrets opened fire at a range of 1,000 feet expending 475 rounds of 50 cal. ammunition along the deck. The target vessel stopped dead in the water but no fire was observed. There were no occupants visible before or after the attack. Claim Damage."

Lt. Bender's bomb run on the second vessel was done using no bombsight and the bomb was released at 150 feet above the water. Sixty percent of the machine gun fire hit the vessel and with that kind of effective fire the occupants, if any, would have had a hair-raising experience.

Within 40 minutes of Lt. Benders attack on the second fishing boat, all three VPB-111 crews would be making for home. Two crews would RTB (return to base) after having each spent over 14 hours in the air, while Lt. Cmdr. Barry would fly into McGuire Field, Mindoro Island and RON (rest over night). With 4 crews temporarily detached to Mindoro under the command of the squadron's Executive Officer (XO), Lt. Cmdr. A.M. Ellingson and known as "Ellingson's Raiders," it would seem likely that the "Skipper" would make this stop. He would have discussed the days activities that were staged out of Mindoro in which Lt. Cmdr. Ellingson was credited with a shoot-down of a Japanese "Nell" aircraft.

Being detached out of the squadron, in this case to VPB-107, was old hat to Lt. Cmdr. Ellingson. On this day, he and another VPB-111 crew would depart McGuire Field, Mindoro at 0850 local time and make course for their respective patrol sectors. Lt. Cmdr. Ellingson's patrol along the coast of Indo-China would result in a positive patrol, while the other patrol would result in a negative patrol, although that crew would fly for 14 hours and cover 2000 miles. Ordnance load would be much the same as other crews flying that day except the XO would carry four (4) 500 lb. general-purpose bombs and the fuel load would be lighter as they would only be going out 750 miles on an eleven hour patrol.

As Lt. Cmdr. Ellingson and CAC #8 were heading north, 5 miles off the coast of Indo-China (Vietnam), having left Nha Trang 68 miles behind them, they encountered a Japanese "Nell," a Mitsubishi G3M2 Navy land-based, twin-engine attack bomber coming straight at them. The following is Aircraft Action Report #25 which describes the encounter:

"At 1308I on 12 (should read 21) February, 1945 while flying north along the China Coast, a plane was sighted flying on a heading of 180deg. Lt-Cmdr. A.M. ELLINGSON was at 1500 feet altitude as was the enemy plane 4 miles away and ½ miles to port. The enemy plane was about 5 miles off shore. We watched it approaching and recognized it as a Nell when abeam of us. Up to this time Nell had not altered course or altitude. Nell must have seen us at this time but evidently thought that we were not going to attack. When Nell was abeam of us and recognized, Lt-Cmdr. ELLINGSON made a 180 turn to the left coming up on Nell's tail about 1 mile astern. Nell, when we started to turn, dropped to 20 to 30 feet above the water to get away. Lt-Cmdr. ELLINGSON increased power to 2500 R.P.M. and 45 inches HG and came within range in 2 minutes after making his turn. The bow gunner opened fire at 1500 feet firing bursts. After the first burst, in which only the starboard gun was firing, the starboard engine of Nell started smoking and she lost speed. Up to this point Nell was probably indicating 200 K and our plane about 250 K. A second burst by the bow turret, this time both guns firing, and there was a big explosion in the port wing and the wing blew entirely off. Nell crashed in a mass of flames just as the third burst was being fired. Lt-Cmd. ELLINGSON circled around once taking pictures and looking over the wreckage. The plane had disintegrated and was burning on the water. Pieces of the plane were floating around but no survivors were seen. Claim Destroyed."

Lt. Cmdr. Ellingson's first mechanic AMM2c A.J. Winward, flying in "Rugged Beloved" as the bow gunner, expended a mere 250 round of .50-cal. ammunition in successfully downing the standard brown with red disc Japanese "Nell." Lt. Cmdr. Elllingson would report that the "Nell" made no defensive maneuvers except to fly close to the water at full throttle, maximum speed about 200 knots. The encountered happened so quickly that aerial photo showed only the burning Japanese aircraft on the surface of the water where it had crashed.

Other crewmembers assigned to Lt. Cmdr. Ellingson crew were, co-pilot L.B. Shanks, navigator Ens. T.C. Harding, plane captain AMM1c H.J. Rosler, 1^st mechanic AMM2c A.J. Winward, 1^st radio ARM3c Ray Jr., 2^nd radio ARM3c W.T. Garland, ordnance AOM1c J.A. Zike, aerial gunner AOM3c V. Kalman, and aerial gunner S1c H.C. Cain.

These VPB-111 air crews were but five among many Navy aircrews that day, flying and fighting in their PB4Y-1 Liberators over the Japanese controlled waters of the Pacific Ocean. Single ship sorties on routine patrols that lasted 15 hours or more, and extended out a thousand miles into enemy waters. These young men in their teens and early to mid twenties, putting aside creature comforts to fly in machines built for war, were the backbone of a nations quest for survival against world domination by those seeking to eliminate freedom across the globe. Routine patrols? It's all in the matter of how you look at it. So went the sacrifices of five Navy aircrews, stationed on islands in the South-West Pacific, on that 21^st day in February 1945.

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