Operation Se - the last daylight air battle against Guadalcanal

[castro323]

Operation Se was part of a larger effort to destroy Allied air power in the Solomon Islands.
It took place on 16 June 1943.

Here is a timeline of the battle.
From Senshi Sōsho (War History Series) and Kōdō chōsho (Squadron's Action Record)

1943年6月16日 04:20
海軍航空作戦

百式司令部偵察機1機(一五一空)
はブイン基地を発進。

指揮官:杉本通泰中尉

任務:セ作戦第一天候竝敵艦船動静偵察

04:20 June 16, 1943
Naval Air Operations

One
Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane (151 Sky) departs from Buin Base.

Commander: Sub-Lt. Michiyasu Sugimoto

Mission: Operation Se
1st Weather Reconnaissance of Enemy Vessel Movements

1943年6月16日 04:20
海軍航空作戦

百式司令部偵察機1機(一五一空)
はラバウルを発進、ブイン基地に向かう。

指揮官:小古良夫中尉

任務:セ作戦第二敵情竝ニ天候偵察

04:20 June 16, 1943
Naval Air Operations

One
Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane (151 Sky) departs from Rabaul and heads for Buin Base.

Commander: Sub-Lt. Yoshio Kofuru

Mission: Operation Se
2nd Enemy Situation
2nd Weather Reconnaissance

1943年6月16日 05:05-06:55
海軍航空作戦

零戦24機(二○四空)はラバウルを発進、
ブイン基地に進出。

指揮官:宮野善治郎大尉

05:05-06:55 June 16, 1943
Naval Air Operations

24 Zero fighters (204 Sky) departed from Rabaul and advanced to Buin Base.

Commander: Lt. Zenjiro Miyano

1943年6月16日 06:00
セ号作戦

百式司令部偵察機1機(一五一空)はラッセル諸島を偵察。

ラッセル諸島
中型輸送船3隻停泊
中型輸送船2隻航行中
海上トラック1隻航行中

06:00 June 16, 1943
Operation Se

One
Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane (151 Sky) scouts the Russell Archipelago.

Russell Archipelago
3 medium-sized transport vessels anchored
2 medium-sized transport vessels underway
1 marine truck underway

1943年6月16日 06:05
海軍航空作戦

百式司令部偵察機1機(一五一空)
はルンガ泊地及コリ岬を偵察。

・ルンガ泊地
大型輸送船4隻停泊
中型輸送船2隻停泊

・コリ岬
中型輸送船3隻停泊
小型輸送船2隻停泊
海上トラック1隻航行中

06:05 June 16, 1943
Naval Air Operations

One
Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane (151 Sky) scouts Lunga Anchorage and Koli Point.

・Lunga Anchorage
4 large transport ships anchored
2 medium-sized transport ships anchored

・Koli Point
3 medium-sized transport ships anchored
2 small transport ships anchored
1 marine truck underway

1943年6月16日 06:10
海軍航空作戦

百式司令部偵察機1機(一五一空)
はフロリダ諸島を偵察。

・ツラギ港
大型輸送船1隻
中型輸送船2隻
駆逐艦1隻

・ガブツ港
小型輸送船2隻

06:10 June 16, 1943
Naval Air Operations

One
Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane (151 Sky) scouts the Florida Islands.

・Tulagi port
1 large transport ship
2 medium transport ships
1 destroyer

・Gavutu port
2 small transport ships

1943年6月16日 06:25-07:25
海軍航空作戦

敵戦闘機40機近接との報により、
零戦19機(五八二空15機、二○四空4機)
が迎撃に発進したが敵を見ず。

指揮官:関谷㐂芳一飛曹

06:25-07:25 June 16, 1943
Naval Air Operations

Upon receiving reports that 40 enemy fighters were approaching,
19 Zero fighters (15 of 582 Sky, 4 of 204 Sky) launched to intercept, but did not see the enemy.

Commander: PO1 Hoichi Sekiya

1943年6月16日 07:16
セ作戦

第一基地航空部隊指揮官は、敵地付近は稀に見る好天であり、敵艦船も二十数隻在泊している事を確認し、「『セ』作戦ノ成功ヲ期ス」と電報しその壮途を激励。

07:16 June 16, 1943
Operation Se

The commander of the 1st Base Air Force confirmed that the weather was rarely good in the vicinity of the enemy territory, and that more than 20 enemy ships were stationed there.
"I wish the success of the "Se" Operation."
He telegraphed and encouraged his bravery.

1943年6月16日 09:00
海軍航空作戦

百式司令部偵察機1機(一五一空)
はブイン基地を発進。

09:00 June 16, 1943
Naval Air Operations

One
Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane (151 Sky) departs from Buin Base.

1943年6月16日 09:20
セ作戦

零戦30機(二五一空)はブカ基地を発進。

指揮官:大野竹好中尉

09:20 June 16, 1943
Operation Se

30 Zero fighters (251 Sky) start from Buka Base.

Commander: Sub-Lt. Takeyoshi Ōno

第一中隊 1st Squadron
第一小隊長 1st Flight Leader
大野竹好 中尉
Sub-Lt. Takeyoshi Ōno
零戦×4
Zero Fighter x 4

第一中隊 1st Squadron
第二小隊長 2nd Flight Leader
林喜 重 中尉
Sub-Lt. Atsushi Hayashiki
零戦×4
Zero Fighter x 4

第二中隊 2nd Squadron
第一小隊長 1st Flight Leader
橋本光辉 中尉
Sub-Lt. Kōki Hashimoto
零戦×4
Zero Fighter x 4

第二中隊 2nd Squadron
第二小隊長 2nd Flight Leader
大木芳男 飛曹長
WO Yoshio Ōki
零戦×3
Zero Fighter x 3

第三中隊 3rd Squadron
第一小隊長 1st Flight Leader
大宅秀平 中尉
Sub-Lt. Shūhei Ōya
零戦×4
Zero Fighter x 4

第三中隊 3rd Squadron
第二小隊長 2nd Flight Leader
磯崎千利 少尉
Ens. Senri Isozaki
零戦×3
Zero Fighter x 3

第四中隊 4th Squadron
第一小隊長 1st Flight Leader
香下 孝 中尉
Sub-Lt. Takashi Kōshita
零戦×4
Zero Fighter x 4

第四中隊 4th Squadron
第二小隊長 2nd Flight Leader
近藤 任 飛曹長
WO Tamotsu Kondō
零戦×4
Zero Fighter x 4

1943年6月16日 10:00
セ作戦

零戦40機(五八二空16機、二○四空24機)、
九九式艦爆24機(五八二空)
はブイン基地を発進。

攻撃隊総指揮官:進藤三郎少佐
艦爆隊指揮官:江間保少佐

※八木隆次二飛曹はこの時、
暑い中でも艦爆搭乗員は真っ青な顔をしていたと回想している。

10:00 June 16, 1943
Operation Se

40 Zero fighters (16 of 582 Sky, 24 of 204 Sky),
24 Type 99 bombers (582 Sky)
depart from Buin Base.

Attack Corps Commander: Lt. Saburō Shindō
Ship Bomber Commander: Lt. Tamotsu Ema

※ At this time PO2 Ryuji Yagi recalled that even in the heat,
the dive bomber's crew members had pale faces.

二○四空 204 Sky
第一中隊 1st Squadron
第一小隊長 1st Flight Leader
宮野善治郎 大尉
Lt. Zenjirō Miyano
零戦×4
Zero Fighter x 4

第一中隊 1st Squadron
第二小隊長 2nd Flight Leader
大正谷宗市 一飛曹
PO1 Muneichi Taishōya
零戦×4
Zero Fighter x 4

第二中隊 2nd Squadron
第一小隊長 1st Flight Leader
森崎 武 中尉
Sub-Lt. Takeshi Morisaki
零戦×4
Zero Fighter x 4

第二中隊 2nd Squadron
第二小隊長 2nd Flight Leader
渡边秀夫 一飛曹
PO1 Hideo Watanabe
零戦×4
Zero Fighter x 4

第三中隊 3rd Squadron
第一小隊長 1st Flight Leader
日高初男 飛曹長
WO Hatsuo Hidaka
零戦×4
Zero Fighter x 4

第三中隊 3rd Squadron
第二小隊長 2nd Flight Leader
鈴木 博 一飛曹
PO1 Hiroshi Suzuki
零戦×4
Zero Fighter x 4
----------
五八二空 582 Sky
第一中隊 1st Squadron
第一小隊長 1st Flight Leader
進藤三郎 大尉
Lt. Saburō Shindō
零戦×4
Zero Fighter x 4

第一中隊 1st Squadron
第二小隊長 2nd Flight Leader
竹中義彦 飛曹長
WO Yoshihiko Takenaka
零戦×4
Zero Fighter x 4

第二中隊 2nd Squadron
第一小隊長 1st Flight Leader
鈴木宇三郎 中尉
Sub-Lt. Uzaburō Suzuki
零戦×4
Zero Fighter x 4

第二中隊 2nd Squadron
第二小隊長 2nd Flight Leader
八並信孝 一飛曹
PO1 Nobutaka Yatsunami
零戦×4
Zero Fighter x 4
----------
五八二空 582 Sky
第一中隊 1st Squadron
第一小隊長 1st Flight Leader
江間 保 大尉
Lt. Tamotsu Ema
操縱員 Operator
佐伯繁嘉 飛曹長
WO Shigeru Saeki
偵察員 Scout
艦爆×3
Dive Bomber x 3
爆弾250×3 爆弾60×6
250kg Bomb x 3 60kg Bomb x 6

第一中隊 1st Squadron
第二小隊長 2nd Flight Leader
前田祥夫 上飛曹
CPO Yoshio Maeda
操縱員 Operator
福本 武 一飛曹
PO1 Takeshi Fukumoto
偵察員 Scout
艦爆×3
Dive Bomber x 3
爆弾250×3 爆弾60×6
250kg Bomb x 3 60kg Bomb x 6

第二中隊 2nd Squadron
第一小隊長 1st Flight Leader
川鍋 淳 中尉
Sub-Lt. Atsushi Kawanabe
操縱員 Operator
島村正人 上飛曹
CPO Masato Shimamura
偵察員 Scout
艦爆×3
Dive Bomber x 3
爆弾250×3 爆弾60×6
250kg Bomb x 3 60kg Bomb x 6

第二中隊 2nd Squadron
第二小隊長 2nd Flight Leader
磯沼芳男 一飛曹
PO1 Yoshio Isonuma
操縱員 Operator
千葉正史 上飛曹
CPO Masashi Chiba
偵察員 Scout
艦爆×3
Dive Bomber x 3
爆弾250×3 爆弾60×6
250kg Bomb x 3 60kg Bomb x 6

第三中隊 3rd Squadron
第一小隊長 1st Flight Leader
中西義男 飛曹長
WO Yoshio Nakanishi
操縱員 Operator
前川末次 中尉
Sub-Lt. Suetsugu Maekawa
偵察員 Scout
艦爆×3
Dive Bomber x 3
爆弾250×3 爆弾60×6
250kg Bomb x 3 60kg Bomb x 6

第三中隊 3rd Squadron
第二小隊長 2nd Flight Leader
肥後安雄 二飛曹
PO2 Yasuo Higo
操縱員 Operator
松浪 清 上飛曹
CPO Kiyoshi Matsunami
偵察員 Scout
艦爆×3
Dive Bomber x 3
爆弾250×3 爆弾60×6
250kg Bomb x 3 60kg Bomb x 6

第四中隊 4th Squadron
第一小隊長 1st Flight Leader
向島重徳 二飛曹
PO2 Shigenori Mukaishima
操縱員 Operator
安藤 潔 飛曹長
WO Kiyoshi Andō
偵察員 Scout
艦爆×3
Dive Bomber x 3
爆弾250×3 爆弾60×6
250kg Bomb x 3 60kg Bomb x 6

第四中隊 4th Squadron
第二小隊長 2nd Flight Leader
中條勝武 一飛曹
PO1 Katsutake Nakajō
操縱員 Operator
伊藤哲男 一飛曹
PO1 Tetsuo Itō
偵察員 Scout
艦爆×3
Dive Bomber x 3
爆弾250×3 爆弾60×6
250kg Bomb x 3 60kg Bomb x 6


1943年6月16日 10:45
海軍航空作戦

百式司令部偵察機1機(一五一空)
はラッセル諸島を偵察。

・ラッセル諸島
中型輸送船2隻停泊
小型輸送船3隻停泊

10:45 June 16, 1943
Naval Air Operations

One
Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane (151 Sky)
scouts the Russell Archipelago.

・Russell Archipelago
2 medium-sized transport ships anchored
3 small transport ships anchored

1943年6月16日 10:55
海軍航空作戦

百式司令部偵察機1機(一五一空)
はルンガ泊地及コリ岬附近を偵察。

・ルンガ泊地
大型輸送船4隻
中型輸送船2隻

・コリ岬附近
大型輸送船3隻
中型輸送船1隻
小型輸送船1隻

10:55 June 16, 1943
Naval Air Operations

One
Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane (151 Sky)
reconnaissance around Lunga Anchorage and Koli Point.

・Lunga Anchorage
4 large transport ships
2 medium-sized transport vessels

・Near Koli Point
3 large transport ships
1 medium-sized transport vessel
1 small transport vessel

1943年6月16日 11:05
海軍航空作戦

百式司令部偵察機1機(一五一空)
はプルピス東港・西港、ガブツ港を偵察。

・プルピス東港
大型輸送船1隻
中型輸送船1隻
小型輸送船1隻

・プルピス西港
小型輸送船5隻横付

・ガブツ港
中型輸送船1隻
小型輸送船2隻

11:05 June 16, 1943
Naval Air Operations

One
Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane (151 Sky)
reconnaissance at Pulpis East/West Port and reconnaissance at Gavutu Harbor.

・Pulpis East Port
1 large transport vessel
1 medium-sized transport vessel
1 small transport vessel

・Pulpis West Port
5 small transport ships side by side

・Gavutu Port
1 medium-sized transport vessel
2 small transport vessels

1943年6月16日 11:10
海軍航空作戦

百式司令部偵察機1機(一五一空)
はツラギ港を偵察。

・ツラギ港
大型輸送船1隻
中型輸送船1隻
駆逐艦2隻

11:10 June 16, 1943
Naval Air Operations

One
Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane (151 Sky)
reconnaissance of Tulagi port.

・Tulagi port
1 large transport vessel
1 medium-sized transport vessel
2 destroyers

1943年6月16日 11:15
海軍航空作戦

百式司令部偵察機1機(一五一空)
は偵察を終了、帰途につく。

11:15 June 16, 1943
Naval Air Operations

One
Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane (151 Sky)
has finished reconnaissance and is on its way home.

1943年6月16日 11:45
セ作戦

零戦16機(五八二空)
はガダルカナル島南西50浬で第339戦闘飛行隊のP-38 12機を発見。

※この時、ベララベラ島の沿岸監視員からの報告でガダルカナル島とラッセル諸島の基地から104機の迎撃戦闘機を発進させて待ち伏せしていた。

11:45 June 16, 1943
Operation Se

16 Zero fighters (582 Sky) discovered
12 P-38s of the 339th Fighter Squadron
50 miles southwest of Guadalcanal Island.

※ At this time, coastal observers on Vella Lavella reported that 104 fighter interceptors were launched from bases on Guadalcanal and the Russell Archipelago to ambush them.

1943年6月16日 12:00〜12:40
セ作戦

五八二空零戦隊はルンガ泊地上空に到達し、
VF-11「サンダウナーズ」のF4F28機、
VMF-122のF4U8機などと交戦。

12:00-12:40 June 16, 1943
Operation Se

The Zero Squadron of 582 Sky reaches
Lunga Anchorage and engages with
28 F4F of VF-11 "Sundowners" and
8 F4Us of VMF-122.

1943年6月16日
セ作戦

「艦爆隊を襲う敵機を追い払おうと突っこみました。すると私の隊長マークに気づいたんでしょう、全機で襲ってきた。機体を横滑りにして敵弾をかわし、雲の中に逃げ込みましたが、出ると待ち構えてる。最後はスコールに飛び込み、低空飛行して振り切った」
進藤三郎少佐の回想。

June 16, 1943
Operation Se

"I tried to drive away the enemy planes that were attacking the bomb squadron. Then I noticed my leader's mark, and all planes attacked. I skidded, dodged the enemy bullets, and escaped into the clouds. But, when it comes out, it's waiting. In the end, I jumped into the squall, flew low, and shook it off."
Reminiscences of Lt. Saburō Shindō.

1943年6月16日 12:05〜12:20
セ作戦

九九式艦爆24機(五八二空)
は第68戦闘飛行隊のP-39 4機と交戦しつつ、ルンガ泊地の敵艦船に急降下爆撃を敢行(250kg爆弾23発、60kg爆弾44発)、輸送艦「セレノ」と戦車揚陸艦「LST-340」に命中弾を見舞う。

12:05-12:20 June 16, 1943
Operation Se

24 Type 99 bombers (582 Sky)
attacked by 4 P-39s of the 68th Fighter Squadron
while dive-bombing enemy ships in Lunga Anchorage (23 250kg bombs and 44 60 kg bombs),
hit the transport ship "Celeno" and
the tank landing ship "LST-340".

1943年6月16日
昼セ作戦

艦爆隊と共に急降下し、低空で掩護する困難な任務を担う零戦隊(二○四空)はバリカン運動をしながら突っ込み、次々と被害が出始める。

June 16, 1943
Noon Operation Se

The Zero Squadron (204 Sky), which has a difficult mission of covering at a low altitude, swoops down with the dive bombers and rushes in while doing clipper movements, and damage begins to occur one after another.

1943年6月16日
セ作戦

「今や爆撃隊を守り通すために、戦闘機は自らを盾とせねばならなかった。降り注ぐ敵の曳航弾と爆撃機の間に身を挺して、敵の銃弾を尽く我が身に吸収し、火達磨となって自爆する戦闘機の姿、それは凄惨にして荘厳なる神の姿であった。一機自爆すれば、また一機が今自爆した僚機の位置に代わって入って、そして、また、敵の銃弾に身を曝して爆撃機を守った(中略)。
海面すれすれを這って高速避退する爆撃機、これに襲いかかる敵戦闘機、これを追い散らし蹴散らす味方戦闘機、スコールのような敵砲火で真っ白に泡立つ海上で、これらの間に凄烈なる戦闘が展開された。艦爆危うしと見るや、救うに術なく、身をもって敵に激突して散った戦闘機、火を吐きつつも艦爆に寄り添って決別の手を振りつつ身を翻して自爆を遂げた戦闘機、或いは痛手に帰る望みなきを知らせて、笑いながら海中に突っ込んだ艦爆の操縦者、泣きながら、皆、泣きながら戦っていた」
大野竹好中尉の手記より。

June 16, 1943
Operation Se

"Now the fighters had to shield themselves to keep the bombers alive. Leaning between enemy tow bullets and bombers, absorbing all the enemy bullets, the appearance of a fighter plane became a fireball and self-destructed, it was a terrible and majestic figure. If one bomber self-destructed, another one would take over the position of the wingman that had just blown itself up, and the fighter would protect the bomber again by exposing itself to enemy fire. Dive bombers crawling on the surface of the sea and evacuating at high speed, enemy fighters attacking it, friendly fighters scattered and kicked them away, squall of enemy fire hits the white foamy sea, a fierce battle ensued between them. As soon as you saw a dive bomber in danger, there was no way to save it, a fighter closed up to the damaged dive bomber under fire and the bomber turned around while waving a farewell hand and accomplished suicide bombing. Other dive bomber pilots who plunged into the sea where laughing or crying, saying that no hope of returning home, everyone was fighting while crying."

From the memoirs of Sub-Lt. Takeyoshi Ōno.

1943年6月16日 12:35
セ作戦

零戦隊(二五一空)は何十機もの敵機と交戦、P-38撃墜確実2機、不確実1機、
P-39撃墜確実4機、F4F撃墜確実2機、
不明新型撃墜確実1機を報じる。

12:35 June 16, 1943
Operation Se

Zero Squadron (251 Sky) engages with
dozens of enemy planes,
2 P-38s definitely shot down, 1 undetermined,
4 P-39s definitely shot down,
2 F4Fs definitely shot down,
1 unknown new model shot down.

1943年6月16日
セ作戦

爆撃を終えて避退する九九式艦爆(江間保大尉機)は7〜8機の敵機の追尾を受ける。敵機は代わる代わる後上方から攻撃を行い、後部座席の佐伯飛曹長は胸に二弾受けて即死。戦果も列機も確認する暇はなく、集合地に集まった九九式艦爆は24機中3機に過ぎず。

June 16, 1943
Operation Se

The Type 99 bomber (Lt. Tamotsu Ema's aircraft), which evacuates after finishing the bombing,
is pursued by 7 to 8 enemy planes.
The enemy aircraft took turns attacking from above, and WO Saeki, who was in the back seat,
received two bullets in the chest and died instantly.
There was no time to check the results of the battle or the line of aircraft,
and only 3 of the 24 Type 99 dive bombers gathered at the meeting place.

1943年6月16日 12:40
海軍航空作戦

百式司令部偵察機1機(一五一空)
はブイン基地に着陸、燃料補給。

12:40 June 16, 1943
Naval Air Operations

One
Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane (151 Sky)
landed at Buin Base and refueled.

1943年6月16日 13:40〜15:20
海軍航空作戦

百式司令部偵察機1機(一五一空)
はブイン基地を発進、ラバウルに帰着。

13:40-15:20 June 16, 1943
Naval Air Operations

One
Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane (151 Sky)
departed from Buin base and returned to Rabaul.

1943年6月16日 16:10
セ作戦

九九式艦爆2機(五八二空)
はコロンバンガラ基地に不時着。

消費弾薬:7.7mm 22,000発

※艦爆隊は搭乗員48名中28名戦死(内佐伯繁嘉飛曹長、千田茂二飛曹機上戦死)、1名(渡辺千吾二飛曹)負傷と開隊以来最大の被害を出し、最早白昼攻撃は不可能に近いことを意味した。

16:10 June 16, 1943
Operation Se

2 Type 99 bombers (582 Sky) made an emergency landing at Kolombangara Base.

Consumed ammunition: 7.7mm 22,000 rounds

※ Of the 48 crewmembers, 28 were killed in action (WO Shigeyoshi Uchisaeki and PO2 Shigeji Senda), one (PO2 Sengo Watanabe) was injured,
the most damage since the start of the squadron,
meaning that an attack in broad daylight would be next to impossible.

1943年6月16日 16:30
セ作戦

零戦12機(五八二空)
はブイン基地に帰着。

零戦4機(古平克巳一飛曹、篠塚賢一二飛曹、
石橋元臣二飛曹、福森大三一飛曹)未帰還。

消費弾薬:20mm1,889発、7.7mm 29,829発

16:30 June 16, 1943
Operation Se

12 Zero fighters (582 Sky)
returned to Buin Base.

4 Zero fighters (PO1 Katsumi Furuhira, PO2 Kenichi Shinozuka,
PO2 Motoomi Ishibashi, PO1 Daisan Fukumori) did not return.

Consumed ammunition: 20mm 1,889 rounds, 7.7mm 29,829 rounds

1943年6月16日 17:00
セ作戦

零戦6機(二○四空)
はラバウルに帰着
(翌日に11機がブイン基地に帰着)。

零戦4機(宮野善治郎大尉、田村和二飛曹、森崎武予備中尉、神田佐市二飛曹)未帰還ほか、3機(中村佳雄二飛曹、浅見茂正二飛曹、坂野隆雄二飛曹)コロンバンガラに不時着。

17:00 June 16, 1943
Operation Se

6 Zero fighters (204 Sky) returned to Rabaul
(the next day, 11 returned to Buin Base).

4 Zero fighters
(Lt. Zenjiro Miyano, PO2 Tamura Kazuji, Sub-Lt. Takeshi Morisaki, PO2 Kanda Saichi) not returned,
3 aircraft
(PO2 Yoshio Nakamura, PO2 Shigeru Asami, PO2 Ryuu Sakano) forced landed in Kolombangara.

1943年6月16日 17:30
セ作戦

零戦24機(二五一空)はラバウルに帰着。

零戦6機(奥村四郎上飛、寺田幸二上飛曹、
大木芳男飛曹長、大宅秀平中尉、
山本末広二飛曹、香下孝中尉、
清水都造二飛曹)未帰還。

消費弾薬:20mm3,085発、7.7mm 16,002発

写真:大木芳男飛曹長、
この時までに撃墜17機を公認。

17:30 June 16, 1943
Operation Se

24 Zero fighters (251 Sky) returned to Rabaul.

6 Zero fighters
(CPO Shiro Okumura, CPO Koji Terada, WO Yoshio Ōki, Sub-Lt. Shuhei Oya,
PO2 Suehiro Yamamoto, Sub-Lt. Takashi Koshita, and PO2 Tsuzo Shimizu)
did not return.

Consumed ammunition: 20mm 3,085 rounds, 7.7mm 16,002 rounds

1943年6月16日
セ作戦

零戦隊は撃墜確実27機、不確実5機の戦果を報じたが、零戦15機と九九式艦爆13機を喪失。
連合軍は迎撃に上がった104機の戦闘機のうち74機が交戦。対空砲火で17機、空戦で79機、計96機の撃墜戦果を報じ、戦闘機6機とパイロット5名を喪失。しかし4機は空中衝突で、零戦隊が撃墜したのは2機のみ。

June 16, 1943
Operation Se

The Zero Squadron reported 27 confirmed shot downs and 5 uncertain,
but lost 15 Zero fighters and 13 Type 99 bombers.
Of the 104 enemy fighters that intercepted, 74 were engaged.
A total of 96 aircraft were shot down,
17 by anti-aircraft fire and 79 by air combat, resulting in the loss of 6 fighters and 5 pilots.
However, four were in mid-air collisions, and only 2 were shot down by the Zero Squadron.
Japan lost 34 Zero fighters and 31 crewmen in the "So" and "Se" operations,
and suffered devastating damage, with the newly rebuilt fleet also suffering 13 damage.
Allied casualties included the loss of 19 fighter planes and seven pilots killed in action.
In addition, both Japan and the United States had many aircraft that were completely destroyed even after returning to base,
such as bombed aircraft and forced landing aircraft.

九九式艦爆の時代は終わりですね
164機が必要との事だった。
結局、悲劇に終わった「ソ」作戦と「セ」作戦により、搭乗員の平均練度が低下した零戦隊はしばらくの間進攻作戦をとりやめ、防空や援護、哨戒任務に専念することになった。押され気味の現状打破のために実施されたこの作戦で優秀な搭乗員を喪失しことによって生じた

The era of Type 99 dive bombing is over.
It was said that 164 planes were required.
In the end, due to the tragic ``So'' and ``Se'' operations, the crew's average proficiency had declined, and the Zero Squadron decided to suspend the invasion operation for a while and concentrate on air defense, support, and patrol missions.
It was caused by the loss of an excellent crew in this operation, which was carried out to break the pressured status quo.

[castro323]

According to
MAR AIR GR 12
Micro Serial Number 59068

"June 16 was the date of one of the large scale enemy attacks on our shipping
in the Guadalcanal area. An estimated 120-130 dive bombers and Zeros were
intercepted by 74 of the 101 fighters that were sent alert. 81 enemy planes
were destroyed in this action. The unusually high number of enemy planes
destroyed this day may in part be explained by the fact that an exceptionally
large flight swept in "bunched up" in one group, estimated at 100 planes.
This afforded an exceptionally vulnerable target for our fighters as pass
after pass was made at the group before breaking it up into scattered units.
Our plane losses in this action numbered 6 and 5 pilots failed to return."

Results of Fighter Action on Guadalcanal
Enemy losses: 49 Zero and 32 dive-bombers
Our losses: 4 F4F and 1 P-40 (in Combat); 1 F4U (operational)

Pilots Lost:
1stLt JQ Tedder (44th FS)
Lt(jg) CG Boswell (VF-11)
Lt(jg) TL Hull (VF-11)
Lt(jg) GW Ricker (VF-11)
TSgt T Efstathiou (VMF-122)

[castro323]

MAR AIR GR 21
Micro Serial Number 51694

"16 F4U's and 27 pilots of VMF-121 pancaked at Cleanslate
and remained to comprise the first flight squadron to operate
from the Russell Islands.
Section Leaders are
Capt. Francis E. Pierce, Jr.,
Capt. P.L. Sherman, and
1stLt William B. Harlan.

The first scramble from Cleanslate for intercepting
bandit planes began at 1306 when two F4U's took off.
At this time bogey aircraft was reported west of Cactus.
These planes pancaked at 1450.
Three additional F4U's scrambled at 1425 pancaking at 1530,
and two more scrambled at 1400 and pancaked at 1520,
No contact was made with the enemy.

[castro323]

44th Fighter Squadron History

"It was June 16th that became the Squadron's red letter day,
marked by the biggest single piece of aerial combat ever
witnessed in the Solomons or South Pacific Theatre.
Along about 1:30 in the afternoon, an enemy force estimated
at 68 Zeros and 50 dive-bombers was reported converging
over the Russells, about 50 miles to the East.
The unit's pilots immediately began scrambling from their
Guadalcanal field, sending eight of their planes to a
25,000 foot level over shipping in the harbor, and
ten planes to 10,000 feet to catch the enemy bombers.

During the action a P-40 was seen to collide in mid-air with an
F4F4 as they were making opposite side passes on a Zero.
2ndLt John Q. Tedder failed to return after the action and
it was assumed that his had been the plane that crashed in the F4F4.

When this fight was over - a fight that lasted little less than half an hour -
the Squadron added to its laurels by ten Zeros and ten dive bombers."

[Delta Tank]

MAR AIR GR 21
Micro Serial Number 51694

"16 F4U's and 27 pilots of VMF-121 pancaked at Cleanslate
and remained to comprise the first flight squadron to operate
from the Russell Islands.
Section Leaders are
Capt. Francis E. Pierce, Jr.,
Capt. P.L. Sherman, and
1stLt William B. Harlan.

The first scramble from Cleanslate for intercepting
bandit planes began at 1306 when two F4U's took off.
At this time bogey aircraft was reported west of Cactus.
These planes pancaked at 1450.
Three additional F4U's scrambled at 1425 pancaking at 1530,
and two more scrambled at 1400 and pancaked at 1520,
No contact was made with the enemy.

What does “pancaked” mean? Please define. I looked it up and it means to knock flat or to make a pancake landing. A pancake landing means the planes crashed?

Mike

[R Leonard]

Pancaked = Landed safely

[rcocean]

What does “pancaked” mean? Please define. I looked it up and it means to knock flat or to make a pancake landing. A pancake landing means the planes crashed?

Mike

It usually meant a wheels up landing. Pancaking was used when landing with wheels down was not possible or too dangerous. As long as the prop didn't get damaged, it wasn't too bad. I've heard that used by AF personnel. Maybe the Marines just mean a regular landing, but I doubt it.

[R Leonard]

No, in USMC/USN parlance, such as for the F4Us noted above, to pancake meant one landed without mishap, though it does not in anyway refer to landing on a carrier. Strictly a land based term. Read USMC & USN reports of actions and you see the term in use all the time usually something like "Lt's Dewey, Chatham, and Howe pancaked at Piva North at 1625".

If it meant a wheels up landing (which BTW are usually noted as such in the reports) then easily 90% of USMC & USN land-based aircraft were so wiped out at the end of a mission.