Japanese missions against Hughes Field (30 Mile)
August 23, 1942

August 23, 1942
(IJN) Soon after midday Hughes Field was bombed by 27 G4M1 Betty bombers escorted by 12-15 A6M2 Zero fighters. USAAF 49th Fighter Group P-40s intercepted, claiming four bombers destroyed along with eight fighters, for the loss of just one defending aircraft. Hughes was bombed and destroyed Wirraway A20-599 and Buffalo A51-6. Fuel and ammunition dumps were also hit, 250 drums of aviation fuel destroyed and the runway cratered. Although General MacArthur was prompted to signal to his air commander, Major General Kenney, his ‘heartiest felicitations’ at the stout defense mounted, this was actually the last occasion on when American P-40s intercepted a Japanese air raid.