Japanese missions against Gusap Airfield
November 10, 1943–January 15, 1944

November 10, 1943
(JAAF) Three Ki-43 Oscars strafe Gusap Airfield. On the ground, a C-47 was burned and two others were damaged. The strafing Japanese fighters completed their attacks and got away several minutes before U.S. fighters arrived. Returning, several Oscars suffered landing accidents when several 248th Sentai fighters landed at Alexishafen Airfield runway was inadequately repaired marred this otherwise successful attack. The commander of the 248th Hiko Sentai (248th Flying Regiment), 3rd chutai, 1st Lt. Hideo Ota was killed and 2nd Lt. Yoshihari Mayekawa was injured.

November 15, 1943
(JAAF) Ki-43 Oscars from 248th Hiko Sentai (248th Flying Regiment) escort a dozen Ki-48 Lilys on a bombing mission against Gusap Airfield. Over the target, intercepted by defending P-40N Warhawks from 8th FG, 35th FS. The Japanese lost one Ki-48 Lily and six Ki-43s Oscars including (four pilots KIA plus one WIA) plus others damaged. Two P-40N Warhawks were lost including P-40N 42-105509 pilot 1st Lt Robert Parker (MIA). One of the P-40s accidentally attacked B-25G Mitchell 42-64848 pilot 1st Lt. Al L. Behrens that was damaged and force landed. On the ground, a fuel dump was hit and burned, also an aircraft emplacement was hit and 3-4 aircraft hit by shrapnel.

December 12, 1943
(JAAF) Twenty Ki-43s of the 59th Sentai and 248th Sentai provide close escort for nine Ki-49 Helens from 7th Hiko Sentai (7th Flying Regiment) strike Gusap Airfield. Twenty four Type 3 fighters / Ki-61 Tonys were to provide top cover. Things did not go according to plan and the top cover became separated and some of the Type 1 fighters also failed to complete the missio. The Ki-49 Helens bombed Gusap from 4,000m / 13,123' then were intercepted by eight P-40Ns from 7th Fighter Squadron (7th FS) followed by four P-47Ds from 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS). Eight P-39s of the 40 h Fighter Squadron (40th FS) observed the action but failed to get close enough to engage. The Warhawks and Thunderbolts reported encountering 15 Oscars and nine bombers. The P-40s claimed two Bettys [sic Helens] and one Oscar definitely destroyed. One bomber, Ki-49 Helen 3295 from 7th FR) went down and others returned shot up with dead and wounded crewmen on board. The P-39s saw an unidentified aircraft falling in flames. This was No. 3295. It was the only aircraft they observed falling. In all five P-40s were damaged by the fighters or bombers' gunners and two crash-landed. One Warhawk shot up by fighters and another hit by a bomber, limped back to base but were write-offs. The P-47s got in at the end of the action and claimed an Oscar. No Japanese fighters were lost. The reports of some of American fighter pilots state: “The enemy pilots appeared experienced and willing to fight.”

January 15, 1944
(JAAF) In the early morning, four Ki-43 Oscars of the 59th Hiko Sentai (59th Flying Regiment) strafe Gusap Airfield.

References
248th Sentai "Hard Luck" Fighter Unit by Richard Dunn

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