FlyPast 02.2018

which the gunners got.
Amazingly all nine B-25s from the
499th returned safely to Dobodura.
Our gunners were right on point in
hitting the attacking Zekes and we
moved toward our home base without
any more interference from enemy
fighters.”

Island fortress
Large, co-ordinated, strikes against
the island fortress of Rabaul to the
northwest were staged from October

1943. For the first, the 38th BG put
      up two squadrons while the 345th
      sent all four of its squadrons for a
      total of 113 B-25s in the assault.
      These combined with B-24s coming
      in out of Port Moresby and top cover
      was provided by Lockheed P-38
      Lightnings. The Mitchells came in
      from very low level and the escorts
      scored close to 40 ‘kills’ against the
      defending fighters.
      Although air bases and shipping
      were the primary targets for the
      predatory Air Apaches, support for
      US and Australian troops was

also an important element. Lt Albert

W Blasé, a pilot in the 498th gave

an insight into aiding ground troops

that were in a bind: “The group also

flew less spectacular ground support

missions to help our troops. When the

enemy was so well dug in that they

were unable to advance, they would

call on us for assistance.

“We would be given the co-ordinates

of the target area as we started each

bomb run; we would radio to the

ground commander to mark the target

that they wanted us to hit. An artillery

battery would fire a smoke shell on the

intended target and we would come

in at tree-top level and drop a 1,000lb

bomb on the smoke marker. Usually

this did the job.

“As we flew over the friendly troops

below, we could see the jubilant faces

of the GIs below. After the war was

over a friend of mine, who had been

a sergeant in the infantry during that

campaign, told me that after our

bombing was complete, the area was

completely devastated, and troops

moved in with zero opposition.”

Seasoned veterans

Many aircrews stated that going after

enemy shipping was one of the most

dangerous assignments due to the

firepower that opposed them. Despite

going in low, they were out in the

open and easily seen from further

distances than normal.

Most of the gunners on Japanese

destroyers, cruisers and troopships

were seasoned veterans that did

not rattle easily. The Air Apaches

took great satisfaction from sinking

shipping because they were able to

view the results from a safe distance.

The 345th participated in what

was called the ‘Suicide

Mission to Ormoc Bay’ on

December 7, 1944. This

“Without warning the Air Apache’s B-25s came in fast and low with

all guns blazing and the bomb bays open. The Japanese were not

prepared for this tactic; it was devastating”

Above

Apaches fl ying at low

level, hunting for enemy

shipping. JOHN BRONSON

Below

Lt Victor Tatelman’s B-25C,

‘Dirty Dora, of the 499th

BS at Nadzab in 1944.

VIC TATELMAN

February 2018 FLYPAST 23