FlyPast 02.2018

22 FLYPAST February 2018

“After the conversions, we moved

up to Dobodura, on the north

side of New Guinea, which put us

in easy reach of enemy airdromes

and shipping. In the early days of

operations, we were known as ‘Tree-

top Terrors’. Later while operating

out of Nadzab, the group became

known as the ‘Air Apaches’. This

name stuck, and the rest is legend.”

Normally American medium-

bomber units struck Japanese targets

at set altitudes, allowing sufficient

time for the enemy to launch fighters

and use its anti-aircraft guns with a

degree of accuracy. Without warning

the Air Apache’s B-25s came in fast

and low – 50 to 60ft (15 to 18m)

• with all guns blazing and the
  bomb bays open. The Japanese were
  not prepared for this tactic; it was
  devastating.
  The Mitchells carried an assortment
  of ordnance, but at low level,
  parachute-retarded fragmentation
  bombs – ‘para-frags’ – were used,
  giving the bombers time to clear the
  area before the explosions. To have
  dropped a 500lb (226kg) bomb
  at this level could have been fatal
  because the blast would have severely
  damaged the aircraft.
  With ‘Murphy’s Law’ looming
  around every corner, many of the
  hunter-killer sorties did not go the
  way they were planned. Many crews
  were lost to anti-aircraft fire while
  others had to ditch or bale out due to
  severe damage to their aircraft. They
  were so far behind enemy lines that
  rescue was impossible.

Caught in the open

One of the first major missions

flown by the Air Apaches was to

Wewak on October 18, 1943. A

low-altitude strike against the area’s

airfields was planned. This was to

start with two Consolidated B-24

Liberators with fighter escort to

bomb all but two of the airstrips.

As the intercepting Japanese fighters

refuelled on the two undamaged

strips, two groups of B-25s were to

arrive at tree-top level and catch the

enemy at a vulnerable moment. As

the mission progressed, the weather

worsened with the front appearing

solid up to 12,000ft.

Either the leader didn’t hear the calls

to return to base or went on anyhow.

As the B-25s emerged from the cloud,

they discovered that their fighter cover

had gone.

The Air Apaches pressed on. Lt Vic

Tatelman recalled: “We took the west

side of the Rapopo airstrip and we

found out the anti-aircraft fire was

heavy but totally inaccurate. Smoke

from targets hit by the 498th and

501st on their pass obscured some

of the targets, but it also gave me

protection from the gunners on the

ground. As the pilots in my group left

the strip behind and crossed the beach,

we saw what looked like a ferry boat in

the bay and all of our guys strafed it.”

“About that time, 345th Mitchells

were met by swarms of Zeke

[Mitsubishi A6M ‘Zero’] carrier

fighters. Luckily for the 499th crews,

the squadrons ahead of it attracted

the most fighters. But the 499th was

still not out of the woods. A gaggle

of 15 Zekes [appeared], three of

WORLD WAR TWO PACIFIC THEATRE

ground. As the pilots in my group left

the strip behind and crossed the beach,

we saw what looked like a ferry boat in

the bay and all of our guys strafed it.”

“About that time, 345th Mitchells

Zeke

[Mitsubishi A6M ‘Zero’] carrier

fighters. Luckily for the 499th crews,

the squadrons ahead of it attracted

the most fighters. But the 499th was

still not out of the woods. A gaggle

[appeared], three of

and low – 50 to 60ft (15 to 18m)

Major campaigns: New Guinea, Bismarck

Archipelago, Northern Solomons,

Southern Philippines, Luzon, Western

Pacifi c, China Defensive and Offensive and

Air Offensive against Japan

Logged: More than 10,100 sorties and

58,560 combat hours

Strikes: 10,600, dropping 58,000

bombs, expending 12,500,000 rounds of

ammunition

Sunk: 260 Japanese ships, tonnage of

about 189,140.

Damaged: 275 ships

Destroyed: 260 aircraft on the ground

and another 107 in aerial combat.

Casualties: 712 men dead from all causes,

580 killed on fl ights.

Aircraft lost: 177

AIR APACHES SCOREBOARD

The 498th BS showing off its accomplishments at

Ie Shima in the summer of 1945. JOHN CASEY

Above rightAbove right

Lt Earl Hitt (far left) and Lt Earl Hitt (far left) and

crew standing by his crew standing by his

498th BS ‘Hitt and Miss’ 498th BS ‘Hitt and Miss’

at Dobodura, early at Dobodura, early

1944. JOHN BRONSONJOHN BRONSON

RightRight

A stripped-down B-25C, A stripped-down B-25C,

assigned to the 499th assigned to the 499th

BS to haul food and BS to haul food and

supplies from Australia, supplies from Australia,

at Biak, mid-1944. at Biak, mid-1944.

EDWARD EGANEDWARD EGAN