24 FLYPAST February 2018
WORLD WAR TWO PACIFIC THEATRE
was a crucial battle and a huge defeat
for the Japanese Navy.
A co-pilot on that raid, 2nd Lt
Albert Beiga, recalled events: “On
that morning, a large Japanese convoy
approached Ormoc Bay which
was only 45 miles from Tacloban
[Philippines]. They were carrying
11,000 troops on six transports
including heavy artillery and 3,500
tons of supplies. They were protected
by six destroyers plus a few smaller
ships.
“The call came in from higher up
to load the B-25s up and take on the
enemy fleet. Lt Frederick Dick was my
pilot and we were the first to go against
the fleet. Following us were four B-25s
loaded with 1,000lb bombs.
“Our co-ordinates were off a little
and in a few minutes, we located the
ships as they were unloading their
cargo. All of the protective ships
had their anti-aircraft guns working
and they threw up a lot of flak as we
approached. We let our P-38s go in
first to clear the target. We attacked
the boats in echelon formation and
in a few seconds those gunners on the
ships shifted their attention to us.”
“As the bombers headed for the main
target, Lt Dick let his 50-calibres tear
into several barges loaded with troops.
They seemed to disappear behind
huge columns of spray as hundreds
of rounds hit and the enemy troops
hunched down trying to survive.“Then he lifted the nose and hosed
down the transport ship from bow
to stern! Before he could release his
bombs, an explosive shell smashed
into the rear of his aircraft, shearing
the right vertical stabiliser [fin]
completely away. This caused him to
spin through a complete snap roll.”
But with Lt Dick’s flying ability, he
steadied the plane and continued his
run. A destroyer loomed dead ahead
and he unleashed a lengthy burst with
his 50-cals right before he released
his two 1,000-pounders on the troop
carrier. The bombs hit about 40 feet
away and exploded. As he pulled away,
one of the ships’ gunners hit his left
engine.
“The other three Mitchells had
pressed home their attacks with two
of the bombs hitting the side of theship [leaving it] listing with fierce
fires burning on deck. The transports,
although damaged, finished unloading
the troops during the night and the
convoy left the area. The 38th Bomb
Group caught up with them around
noon, sinking two of the ships and
damaging several others.”Search and destroy
During the first week of August,
the Air Apaches were in search of a
Japanese convoy of close to 40 ships
off the Korean coast. The first of two
waves of strafers took off in the early
morning and located the fleet when
most of them had reached the safety
of the port of Fusan. The Apaches had
been ordered not to enter the harbour
due to the accuracy of the gunners.
The leader of the 501st took hiswas a crucial battle and a huge defeat
for the Japanese Navy.Above
‘Mable’s Stable’, of the
498th BS, was one of
the B-25Js modifi ed in
the fi eld. The artwork
was a falcon’s head
in yellow and green.
AL BLASÉRight - left to right
Apache insignia on the
fi n of 499th BS B-25J
44-29600 at Ie Shima
in August 1944.
EDWARD EGANLt Vic Tatelman with
B-25C ‘Dirty Dora’ of
the 499th BS at Nadzab
in 1944. VIC TATELMANA B-25 of the 498th BS
attacking shipping off
the Indo-China coast.
VIC TATELMANRight
‘Betty’s Dream’, B-25J
44-30934, of the
499th BS at Ie Shima,
Okinawa, August 1944.
EDWARD EGAN