IJN 3rd Fleet Zero Squadron decimation from CACTUS Fighters in 2 air battles.

[castro323]

From Senshi Sōsho (War History Series) and Kōdō chōsho (Squadron's Action Record)

昭和17
8月28日朝
南東方面海軍作戦

基地航空部隊指揮官はガダルカナル島方面の攻撃に関し発令。

基地航空部隊電令作第七九号

一 第
三艦隊「ブカ」派遣飛行機隊ハ第六空襲部隊指揮官ノ指揮ヲ承ケ
「ガ」島方面作戦ニ従事スベシ

二 第
六空襲部隊指揮官ハ上記ノ戦闘機隊及麾下陸攻全力ヲ以テ速ニ
「ガ」島敵航空兵力ヲ撃滅スベシ

1942
August 28 morning
Southeast Area Naval Operation

The Base Air Force commander has issued an order regarding the attack on Guadalcanal.

Base Air Force Troop Telegram No. 79

1st
The 3rd Fleet "Buka" Dispatch Air Force shall take over the command
from the Commander of the 6th Air Raid Force and engage in the "Ga" Island campaign.

2nd
The commander of the 6th Air Raid Force shall expedite the above-mentioned
fighter squadron and the landing attack with all its might and
destroy the enemy air force on "Ga" Island.

8月28日
07:30
南東方面海軍作戦

空母「翔鶴」から零戦15機、艦攻2機、同じく空母「瑞鶴」から零戦15機、
艦攻1機が発艦、ブカ島へと向かう。

August 28
07:30
Southeast Area Naval Operation

15 Zero Fighters and 2 attack aircraft from the aircraft carrier "Shōkaku", and
15 Zero Fighters and 1 attack aircraft from the aircraft carrier "Zuikaku"
are launched and headed for Buka Island.

翔鶴號艦戰隊
Shōkaku Warship Fighter Squadron

第11小隊長
11th Flight Leader
新郷英城 大尉
Lt. Shingō Hideki
(former Tainan Squadron Leader,
Invasion of the Philippines veteran, and Invasion of the Dutch East Indies veteran)
零戦×3
Zero Fighter x 3

第12小隊長
12th Flight Leader
安部安次郎 特少尉
Ens. Abe Yasujirō
(Pearl Harbor Attack veteran, Invasion of Rabaul veteran, and Battle of the Coral Sea veteran)
零戦×3
Zero Fighter x 3

第13小隊長
13th Flight Leader
萩原二男 一飛曹
FPO1 Hagiwara Tsugio
(former Kaga Squadron, Pearl Harbor Attack veteran, Kavieng Airfield Attack veteran,
Invasion of Rabaul veteran, Port Darwin Attack veteran, and Battle of Midway veteran)
零戦×3
Zero Fighter x 3

第14小隊長
14th Flight Leader
指宿正信 大尉
Lt. Ibusuki Masanobu
(former Akagi Squadron Leader, Pearl Harbor Attack veteran, Invasion of Rabaul veteran,
Port Darwin Attack veteran, Colombo Airfield Attack veteran, and Battle of Midway veteran)
零戦×3
Zero Fighter x 3

第16小隊長
16th Flight Leader
中本 公 一飛曹
FPO1 Nakamoto Isao
零戦×3
Zero Fighter x 3


瑞鶴號艦戰隊
Zuikaku Warship Fighter Squadron

第12小隊長
12th Flight Leader
住田 剛 飛曹長
WO Sumita Tsuyoshi
(former Shōkaku Squadron, Trincomalee Attack veteran,
Battle of the Coral Sea veteran, and Battle of the Eastern Solomons veteran)
零戦×3
Zero Fighter x 3

第13小隊長
13th Flight Leader
中島輝定 一飛曹
FPO1 Nakajima Terusada
零戦×3
Zero Fighter x 3

第14小隊長
14th Flight Leader
日高盛康 大尉
Lt. Hidaka Moriyasu
(Battle of the Eastern Solomons veteran)
零戦×3
Zero Fighter x 3

第16小隊長
16th Flight Leader
伊藤純二郎 一飛曹
FPO1 Itō Junjirō
(Invasion of Rabaul veteran, Trincomalee Attack veteran, and Battle of the Coral Sea veteran)
零戦×3
Zero Fighter x 3

第18小隊長
18th Flight Leader
光元治郎 一飛曹
FPO1 Mitsumoto Jirō
零戦×3
Zero Fighter x 3

8月28日
09:40
南東方面海軍作戦

空母「翔鶴」零戦隊の14小隊、16小隊が上空警戒を続ける中、次々とブカ基地に着陸。

August 28
09:40
Southeast Area Naval Operation

While the 14th Flight Section and 16th Flight Section of the "Shōkaku" Zero Squadron
continued to patrol the sky, they landed at Buka Base one after another.

8月28日
10:15
南東方面海軍作戦

上空警戒にあたっていた空母「翔鶴」16小隊3番機(高須賀満美三飛曹)
は着陸時に失速して墜落、戦死。

(原因はブカ基地での作戦行動に備えて機体に荷物を積み込んだ為、
機体の重量が増加してバランスが狂ってしまったと言われている)

August 28
10:15
Southeast Area Naval Operation

Aircraft carrier "Shōkaku" 16th Flight Section No. 3 aircraft (FPO3 Mitsumi Takasuka)
on air patrol, stalled on landing and crashed, killed in action.

(It is said that the reason for this is that the aircraft was loaded
with luggage in preparation for the operation at the Buka Base,
which increased the weight of the aircraft and caused it to lose its balance.)

8月28日
10:30
海軍航空作戦

ブカ基地上空にB-17 1機が偵察に来襲し、上空警戒機が追撃するも捕捉出来ず。

August 28
10:30
Naval Air Operations

A B-17 came for reconnaissance over the Buka Base, and
although the air patrol aircraft pursued it, it could not be detected.

8月28日
10:45
海軍航空作戦

空母「翔鶴」14小隊がブカ基地に着陸。

August 28
10:45
Naval Air Operations

The aircraft carrier "Shōkaku" 14th Flight Section lands at Buka Base.

第六空襲部隊の戦闘概報第八号によると、
陸攻隊と第三艦隊零戦隊は空中で合同してガダルカナル攻撃の予定だったようだ。
しかし、「戦闘機隊の進出遅れ天候又悪化せる為攻撃を中止せり」。
第三艦隊零戦29機と艦攻3機は第六空襲部隊の指揮下に入る。

According to the 6th Air Raid Force's Battle Summary No. 8,
the Land Attack Force and the 3rd Fleet's Zero Squadron
were scheduled to join forces in the air to attack Guadalcanal.
However, "the attack was canceled due to the delay
in the advance of the fighter squadron and the worsening weather."
The 3rd Fleet's 29 Zero Fighters and 3 attack aircraft will be
under the command of the 6th Air Raid Force.

[ShindenKai]

August 28
10:15
Southeast Area Naval Operation

Aircraft carrier "Shōkaku" 16th Flight Section No. 3 aircraft (FPO3 Mitsumi Takasuka)
on air patrol, stalled on landing and crashed, killed in action.

(It is said that the reason for this is that the aircraft was loaded
with luggage in preparation for the operation at the Buka Base,
which increased the weight of the aircraft and caused it to lose its balance.)

Firstly, ALL aircraft have a very specific Center-of-Gravity range, which is how much weight can be carried and exactly how far aft (and forward) of the CoG it can be carried (for some aircraft it's mere inches, on others it's several feet. It's literally the pilot's job to know and calculate how much he can load the aircraft. Generally, on warplanes anything that'll fit the size/weight requirements of its hardpoints/pylons will be ok. BUT all the heaviest ordnance must be loaded as close as possible to the CoG.

Secondly, where is the "decimation"? (Incomplete post??)

[castro323]

8月29日
07:00
海軍航空作戦

ラバウルから発進した一式陸攻18機を掩護するため、
ブカ基地から「翔鶴」零戦12機、「瑞鶴」零戦10機が発進。
攻撃隊総指揮官: 森田林次大尉 三澤空
第一中隊: 森田林次大尉
第二中隊: 峯 宏大尉 木更津空
零隊指揮: 新郷英城大尉
天候は曇晴。

August 29
07:00
Naval Air Operations

12 "Shōkaku" Zero Fighters and 10 "Zuikaku" Zero Fighters were launched from Buka Base
to cover the 18 Type 1 Land Attack Aircrafts launched from Rabaul.
Assault Force Supreme Commander: Lt. Rinji Morita of the Misawa Sky
1st Assault Squadron: Lt. Rinji Morita
2nd Assault Squadron: Lt. Hiroshi Mine of the Kisarazu Sky
Zero Squadron Commander: Lt. Hideki Shingō
The weather is cloudy.

8月29日
07:15
海軍航空作戦

母艦航空隊の零戦22機は一式陸攻18機と合同。

Aug 29
07:15
Naval Air Operations

The 22 Zero fighters of the carrier air force are combined with
the 18 Type 1 Land Attack Aircrafts.

8月29日
07:40
ガダルカナル島の戦い

ヘンダーソン基地には沿岸監視員から日本軍爆撃機18機
がブーゲンビル島の南東端を南東に向かっているとの情報を入電。

August 29
07:40
Battle of Guadalcanal

Henderson Base received a telephone call from a coast guard
that 18 Japanese bombers were heading southeast
over the southeastern tip of Bougainville Island.

8月29日
08:30
海軍航空作戦

戦爆編隊は「突撃隊形をとれ」と命じられ、警戒態勢に入る。

August 29
08:30
Naval Air Operations

The bomber formation was ordered
"take Assault Formation"
and went on alert.

8月29日
09:05
ガダルカナル島の戦い

ヘンダーソン基地からF4F10機、P-400 12機が迎撃に発進。

August 29
09:05
Battle of Guadalcanal

10 F4Fs and 12 P-400s depart from Henderson Base to intercept.

8月29日
09:15 （1115「ガ」島）
ガダルカナル島の戦い

ヘンダーソン基地から飛行可能な機体は全機、空中退避のため発進。

August 29
09:15 (1115 "Ga" Island)
Battle of Guadalcanal

All aircraft capable of flying from Henderson Base launch for air evacuation.

8月29日
09:25
海軍航空作戦

陸攻隊にルッセル諸島南方を通過。

August 29
09:15
Naval Air Operations

The Land Attack Force passes south of the Russell Archipelago.

8月29日
09:58
海軍航空作戦

零戦22機、一式陸攻18機はガダルカナル島上空
に突入して米戦闘機隊と空戦を開始し、
一式陸攻1機(山本春雄飛曹長機)が爆撃前に火を噴いて編隊から脱落。

Aug 29
09:58
Naval Air Operations

22 Zero fighters and 18 Type 1 Land Attack Aircrafts
entered the sky over Guadalcanal Island and dogfight begins
with the US fighter squadron.
A Type 1 Land Attack Aircraft (WO Haruo Yamamoto)
spewed fire before the bombing and dropped out of the formation.

海兵隊第3防御大隊は、1159、
21660フィートで針路000で進入してくる15機の双発爆撃機と22機
の戦闘機を確認。
90ミリを発射。
爆撃機2機と戦闘機3機を撃墜と報告している。

at 1159, Marine Corps 3rd Defense Battalion identified
at 21,660 feet, 15 twin-engine bombers and 22 fighters approaching on
Course 000. Fires 90mm.
It reportedly shot down two bombers and three fighters.

翔鶴零戦隊の行動調書では、
「1000（1200「ガ」島）　敵地上空突入　
攻撃隊に来襲せる敵戦闘機と空戦　味方1機自爆」となっている。

According to Shōkaku Zero Squadron's action record, it reads
"1000 (1200 "Ga" Island) Rushing into enemy territory
Air Battle - Enemy fighters attacking the Assault Force
1 friendly plane self-destructs".

8月29日
10:00
海軍航空作戦

一式陸攻17機はヘンダーソン飛行場を爆撃(60kg爆弾143発)、
爆弾は格納庫に入れられていたVMF-223のF4F2機を格納庫ごと破壊し、
飛行場では炎上機の搭載燃料で火災が起き、
誘爆する搭載弾薬の破裂音が轟き渡る。

August 29
10:00
Naval Air Operations

17 set Land Attack Aircrafts bombed Henderson Airfield
(143 60 kg bombs), the bombs destroyed 2 F4F aircraft of VMF-223
that had been put in the hangar, along with the hangar.
The explosion sound of the loaded ammunition roars.

8月29日
10:05頃
海軍航空作戦

零戦22機はF4F10機と交戦(P-400は空戦高度まで上昇出来ず)、
F4F2機をエンジン停止させる。

零戦1機(井石清次二飛曹)未帰還。

※F4Fはエンジン停止になりながらも基地上空での交戦だったため
帰還している。
もし空戦がガ島より離れていたらF4F2機は確実に未帰還だった。

August 29
Around 10:05
Naval Air Operations

22 Zero fighters engage 10 F4F aircraft
(P-400 can not climb to air combat altitude),
engine shutdown of 2 F4F aircraft.

One Zero Fighter (FPO2 Kiyoji Iishi) did not return.

※ The F4F returned because it was an engagement over the base
even though the engine stopped. If the air battle was far from Guadalcanal,
the 2 F4F aircraft would have certainly not returned.

瑞鶴戦闘機隊の日高盛康大尉
のこの日の空戦の回想が書かれているので引用すると、
「ルッセル島あたりから逐次高度を上げて八千メートルでガ島
上空に突入することになっていました。
ところが私の機は酸素マスクの故障で、高度を上げることができず、
編隊を離れて単機、
高度三千メートルでヘンダーソン飛行場の上空にさしかかりました。
今思えばわれながら大胆不敵ですが……。
その時、いきなり目の前を曳光弾が飛んだんです。
ふり返るとグラマンF4Fがついている。
射撃のうまい奴なら一発で墜とされていたところです。
それで、格闘戦に持ちこんで二、三回回ったんですが、
敵機に後ろに回りこまれて、尾部にバンッと被弾した。
F4Fは手強かったですよ。
もう駄目かと思ったところに、佐々木原機が駆けつけてくれて、
あっという間にその敵機を墜としてくれました。
見事な攻撃でした。
私の飛行機は油圧系統をやられて、尾輪が出ないまま、
かろうじて着陸することができました」とある。

Lt. Moriyasu Hidaka of the Zuikaku Fighter Squadron
wrote a recollection of this day's air battle, so to quote,
" It was supposed to gradually increase altitude from around Russell Island
and rush into the sky above Guadalcanal at 8,000 meters.
However, due to a malfunction of my oxygen mask,
my plane was unable to gain altitude,
so I left the formation and flew over Henderson Airfield alone
at an altitude of 3,000 meters.
Now that I think about it, I'm a bit fearless, but...
At that time, a tracer bullet suddenly flew in front of me.
Turn around and saw the Grumman F4F.
A good shooter would have been taken down with one shot.
So, I brought it into hand-to-hand combat and went around
two or three times, but the enemy aircraft came around behind me
and hit me in the tail.
F4F was tough.
Just when I thought it was all over, Sasakihara's plane rushed over
and took down the enemy plane in no time.
It was a good attack.
My plane had a damaged hydraulic system and was barely able to land
without the tailwheel sticking out."

陸攻隊の損害は、前述した木更津空の二小隊一番機、
山本春雄飛曹長機が自爆、
他に同じく木更津空の栗原広治二飛曹機が1325（1525）
にブカ島に不時着大破。

零戦隊は翔鶴の井石清次二飛曹機が自爆。

The damage to the Land Attack Force was the Kisarazu Sky's
2nd Flight Section 1st Aircraft WO Haruo Yamamoto's suicide bombing,
as well as FPO2 Koji Kurihara's crash landing on Buka Island
in 1325 (1525) and was severely damaged.

In the Zero Squadron, Shōkaku's FPO2 Kiyoji Iishi self-destructs.

海兵隊側はポンド少尉機とトロウブリッジ少尉機が被弾により
エンジン停止状態で着陸。
パイロットは両名とも無事だったが、トロウブリッジ少尉
F4Fは再使用不可能だった。
陸軍P-400は空戦高度まで到達できず、交戦できなかった。

On the Marine Corps side,
Ens. (2ndLt) Pond and Ens. (2ndLt) Trowbridge
landed with their engines stopped due to being hit.
Both pilots were unharmed,
but Ens. (2ndLt) Trowbridge F4F was non-reusable.
Army P-400s could not reach combat altitude and were unable to engage.

零戦隊は1245（1445）から1330（1530）までに基地帰着。
陸攻隊は1300（1500）にブナカナウ上空に帰着。

The Zero Squadron returned to base between 1245 (1445) and 1330 (1530).
The Land Attack Force returned to Vunakanau at 1300 (1500).

この日の日本軍第六空襲部隊の戦闘概報第九号によると、
「明日使用可能機　
3F（※第3艦隊、翔鶴と瑞鶴飛行機隊）零戦二〇機」となっている。

According to the Japanese Navy 6th Air Raid Force's Battle Summary Report No. 9,
``Available aircraft for tomorrow
3F (*3rd Fleet, Shōkaku and Zuikaku Air Squadron) 20 Zero Fighters''.

[castro323]

REPORT FOR COMMANDING OFFICER,
MARINE FIGHTING SQUADRON TWO-TWENTY-THREE,
MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP TWENTY-THREE.
Captain John L. Smith, USMC., Commanding.

1200 - Eighteen twin engined enemy bombers
escorted by twenty-two Zero fighters raided
Henderson Field scoring a direct hit on one hangar
and damaging another, destroying two airplanes
(F4F-4's Bu.No. 02086 and 02087) on the ground
and causing sizeable loss to aviation material.

Captains
John L. Smith, Rivers J. Morrell, Jr. and Marion E. Carl
2nd Lieutenants
Charles Kendrick, Noyes McLennan, Hyde Phillips,
Eugene A. Trowbridge, Cloyd R. Jeans,
Kenneth D. Frazier, and Zenneth A. Pond
attacked the enemy.

Capt Smith shot down two bombers,
Capt Carl and Lt McLennan shot down one bomber.
Lts Kendrick, McLennon, Phillips, Frazier, and Pond
each shot down one Zero apiece.
Lts Pond and Trowbridge both landed deadstick
with their engines shot up by enemy gunfire.

F4F-4 Bu.No. 02075 piloted by Trowbridge
was shot up during combat.
Was stripped for all usable parts.

F4F-4 Bu.No. 02086 destroyed on ground
as result of enemy bombing.
Completely demolished.

F4F-4 Bu.No. 02087 destroyed on ground
as result of enemy bombing.
Completely demolished.

[castro323]

Available now in the History Channel at YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXGmCDL ... el=HISTORY
Dogfights: US Pilots vs. Japanese Aces at Guadalcanal (S1, E4)
which documents the August 30 dogfight.

この日の翔鶴、瑞鶴零戦隊とVMF-223の戦いは秦郁彦氏の
「太平洋戦争航空史話（上）第三章「ゼロ戦神話」
の崩れた日ー新郷・スミスの一騎打ち」に詳しい。
それによると、
新郷大尉は29日の空戦の不手際を
第二十六航空戦隊司令部から叱責された。
実際には空戦で2機、爆撃でも2機のF4Fを地上撃破する、
これまでで最高の戦果を挙げていたのだが。
これに怒った新郷大尉は、陸攻の爆撃直前に、
戦闘機だけでの殴り込みを企画する。

The battle between Shōkaku and Zuikaku Zero Squadron and
VMF-223 on this day is detailed in
Mr. Ikuhiko Hata's
"History of Pacific War Aviation (Part 1)
Chapter 3: The Day the 'Zero Fighter Myth'
The collapsed day - Shingō and Smith single combat" .
According, Lt. Shingō was reprimanded
by the 26th Air Squadron Headquarters for his
clumsiness in the air battle on the 29th.
He was actually the best he had ever done,
destroying two F4Fs in air combat and two F4Fs in bombing.
Lt. Shingō, who was angry at this,
planned a strike with only fighter planes
just before the bombing of the land attack.

8月30日
08:15
海軍航空作戦

ブカ基地から母艦航空隊の零戦18機
(「翔鶴」7機、「瑞鶴」11機)が発進、ガダルカナル島へ
「戦闘機隊だけの殴り込み」に向かう。

「翔鶴隊」
指揮官:新郷英城大尉
指揮官:指宿正信大尉

「瑞鶴隊」
指揮官:日高盛康大尉

August 30
08:15
Naval Air Operations

18 Zero Fighters (7 Shōkaku, 11 Zuikaku) of the carrier air force
take off from Buka Base and head for Guadalcanal Island
for a "Fighter-Only Assault".

(Shōkaku Squadron)
Commander: Lt. Hideki Shingō
Commander: Lt. Masanobu Ibusuki

(Zuikaku Squadron)
Commander: Lt. Moriyasu Hidaka

8月30日
08:30
ガダルカナル島の戦い

連合軍の沿岸監視員が、ヘンダーソン基地に
「単発機大編隊がブーゲンビル島の南端を南東に向かう」と通報。

August 30
08:30
Naval Air Operations

Allied coastguards reported to Henderson Base that
"a large formation of single-engined aircraft was heading
southeast over the southern tip of Bougainville Island."

MAG-23の戦時日誌によると、
ヘンダーソン基地では0930に、
ブーゲンビル島のコーストウォッチャーより
南上空を南東に向かう多数の単発機との報告が入る。

According to MAG-23's war diary,
at 0930, Coastwatcher reported to Henderson Base
numerous single-engined aircraft heading southeast over Bougainville Island.

8月30日朝
海軍航空作戦

航空艦隊司令部から掩護の不手際を叱責された新郷大尉
は攻撃を二手に分け、
第一次攻撃をガ島飛行場制圧とする。
出撃にあたっての戦闘命令は単純なものだった。

新郷大尉
「敵を相手に思う存分、暴れまわってこい！」

August 30 morning
Naval Air Operations

Lt. Shingō, who was reprimanded by Air Fleet Headquarters
for his clumsiness in covering, divided the attack into two,
with the first attack being the capture of Ga Airfield.
The battle order for the sortie was simple.

Lt. Shingō:
"Go on a rampage against your enemies to your heart's content!"

8月30日
10:05
ガダルカナル島の戦い

ヘンダーソン基地では「日本軍の急降下爆撃機」
の攻撃に備えてF4F8機、P-400 7機が発進。

※米軍は零戦制空隊の一部を単発の爆撃機と判断していた。

August 30
10:05
Battle of Guadalcanal

At Henderson Base, 8 F4Fs and 7 P-400s
were launched in preparation for an attack by Japanese dive bombers.

※ The US military considered some of the Zero Fighter Air Force
to be single-engine bombers.

MAG-23の戦時日誌では1105、VMF-223の戦時日誌では1145に8機のF4Fと、
7機のP-400が迎撃に離陸する。
その他の稼働機も全機が空中に退避した。
F4Fは9機が残存しているはずだが、前日にポンド少尉機が被弾損傷しているため、
修理中で迎撃に参加できなかったのかもしれない。
VMF-223で離陸したパイロットは、スミス大尉、カール大尉、モレル大尉、
リース少尉、ケンドリック少尉、マクレナン少尉、フレイザー少尉、ポンド少尉だった。

At 1105 in MAG-23's war log and at 1145 in VMF-223's war log,
eight F4Fs and seven P-400s take off to intercept.
All other planes in operation were also evacuated into the air.
There are supposed to be nine F4Fs left,
but Ensign (2nd Lt) Pond's plane was damaged by a bullet
the day before, so it may not have been able to participate
in the interception while it was being repaired.
The pilots who took off on VMF-223 were
Captain Smith, Captain Carl, Captain Morrell,
Ensign (2nd Lt) Reese, Ensign (2nd Lt) Kendrick,
Ensign (2nd Lt) McLennan, Ensign (2nd Lt) Fraser, and Ensign (2nd Lt) Pond.

8月30日
10:20
海軍航空作戦

ブカ基地ではラバウルから飛来したガ島攻撃隊に合流するため、
零戦6機(「翔鶴」所属機)が発進。

August 30
10:20
Naval Air Operations

At Buka Base, 6 Zero Fighters (machines belonging to "Shōkaku")
are launched to join the Ga Island Attack Squadron flying from Rabaul.

8月30日
10:25
海軍航空作戦

ラバウルから発進したガ島攻撃隊
はブカ島上空で母艦航空隊の零戦6機と合同。

August 30
10:25
Naval Air Operations

The Ga Island Attack Squadron, which departed from Rabaul,
joined with 6 Zero Fighters of the carrier air force over Buka Island.

8月30日
11:00前
海軍航空作戦

高度3,000〜4,000mでP-400 7機は母艦航空隊の零戦と遭遇し交戦。
P-400 2機が撃墜され、残る5機全機も零戦に後方から追われる中、
F4F 8機が空戦地点に到着し、
低空でP-400を追跡する零戦隊を優位から奇襲、
一航過で零戦4機が未帰還となり大苦戦に陥る。

August 30
Before 11:00
Naval Air Operations

At an altitude of 3,000 to 4,000m, seven P-400s encountered and engaged
the Zero Fighter of the carrier air force. Two P-400s were shot down,
and while all five remaining aircraft were being pursued from behind by Zero fighters,
eight F4Fs arrived at the air battle site and, from the upper hand,
ambushed the Zero Squadron chasing the P-400s at low altitude.
Four Zero Fighters failed to return due to passage and fell into a tough fight.

MAG-23の戦時日誌では、
「1145　我々の戦闘機は8,000から20,000フィートの高度で敵機と接触」
とある。

VMF-223の戦時日誌では、1230に22機のゼロと遭遇とある。

第3防御大隊の報告では、
「1230　15機の戦闘機を確認。ヘンダーソン上空には来なかった。」
となっている。

MAG-23's war diary states
"1145 Our fighters made contact with enemy aircraft at altitudes
between 8,000 and 20,000 feet."

VMF-223's war diary mentions an encounter with 22 Zeros at 1230.

The 3rd Defense Battalion reported,
"1230 15 fighters confirmed, none over Henderson."

8月30日
11:00前後頃
海軍航空作戦

格闘戦によってヘンダーソン基地上空の空戦高度は600m以下にまで低下。
白煙を曳くF4F(ケンドリック大尉)を零戦が追って高度90mで格納庫と、
第67戦闘飛行隊の整備所付近まで降下。
すぐそこには対空陣地があったが、
零戦がF4Fに肉薄しているため撃つことは出来ず。

August 30
Around 11:00
Naval Air Operations

Due to the hand-to-hand combat, the air combat altitude over Henderson Base
dropped to below 600m. A Zero fighter follows the F4F (Lt Kendrick)
pulling white smoke at an altitude of 90m to the hangar and the vicinity
of the 67th Fighter Squadron maintenance facility.
There was an anti-aircraft position right there, but the Zero Fighter was
too close to the F4F, so they couldn't shoot it.

8月30日
11:00前後
海軍航空作戦

母艦航空隊の零戦6〜7機は高度600m、ツラギ沖でP-400 5機と遭遇。
零戦隊は編隊を解き、空戦を切り上げるまでにP-400 2機
(ワイテス中尉、チェイルスン中尉)を撃墜。
だが、零戦はP-400との空戦は勝利したがF4Fの空戦は1機も撃墜出来ず、
逆に零戦6機が未帰還となった。

August 30
Around 11:00
Naval Air Operations

6 to 7 Zero fighters of the carrier air force encountered 5 P-400s
at an altitude of 600m off the coast of Tulagi.
The Zero Squadron disbanded and shot down two P-400s (Lt. Wytes and Lt. Chilson)
before the air battle ended.
However, although the Zero fighter won the air battle with the P-400,
not a single F4F fighter was shot down, and on the contrary,
6 Zero fighters did not return.

翔鶴零戦隊は行動調書では、「未帰還機×4(搭乗員氏名不明）」
となっているが、秦氏の著書によると、
翔鶴隊の新郷大尉が未帰還のほか、
「荻原二男 一飛曹、中本 公 一飛曹、川西仁一郎 一飛曹、
田中喜義 三飛曹の四名、
瑞鶴隊からは住田 剛 飛曹長、
仲馬輝定 一飛曹、
粟生 稔 三飛曹の三名が帰らず、
翔鶴の指宿大尉はショートランド湾に不時着、
生還した。」となっている。

According to Hata's book, Shōkaku Zero Squadron is described as
"non-returned aircraft x 4 (crew name unknown)" in the action report,
In addition to Lt. Shingō of Shokaku Squadron not returning,
"FPO1 Tsugio Hagiwara, FPO1 Isao Nakamoto,
FPO1 Jin'Ichirō Kawanishi, and FPO3 Kiyoshi Tanaka
from Zuikaku Squadron
WO Tsuyoshi Sumita, FPO1 Terusada Nakajima, and FPO3 Minoru Aō
Shōkaku's Lt. Ibusuki made an emergency landing in Shortland Bay
and survived.

スミス大尉機に撃たれたと推定される新郷大尉機
はエスぺランス岬ビサレの沖合に着水。
岬の陰の教会のシスターに手当てをしてもらい、
日本軍と合流、第十三設営隊の岡村徳長少佐と出会い、
9月4日にラバウルと連絡が取れ、
9月17日に駆逐艦でトラックに帰還している。

Lt. Shingo's aircraft, which is presumed to have been shot
by Captain Smith's aircraft,
landed off the coast of Cape Esperance Bisare.
After being treated by the Sisters of the Church in
the Shadow of the Cape, he joined the Japanese army,
met with Major Tokunaga Okamura of the
13th Construction Corps, and made contact with Rabaul
on September 4th.
He returned to Truk on 17 September by destroyer.

米軍側は4機の陸軍P-400が撃墜され、
チルソン中尉とワイテス中尉が行方不明になった。
海兵隊のF4Fは、ケンドリック少尉
が風防を撃たれて首と左肩に軽傷を負ったのを除いて、
全機無事帰投した。

On the US side,
4 Army P-400s were shot down,
and Lt. Chilson and Wytes went missing.
All Marine F4Fs returned safely, except for Lt. Kendrick,
who was shot in the windshield and sustained
minor injuries to his neck and left shoulder.

この日の第六空襲部隊戦闘概報第一〇号では、
RXC（※ブカ）3F零戦一二

In the 6th Air Raid Force's Battle Summary No. 10 on this day,
RXC (* Buka) twelve 3F Zero Fighter