June 16, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 16 JUNE 1942

China: Four B-25s of the 11th BS (Medium) from Kweilin or Hengyang with P-40 escort, attacked a storage area with docks and godowns at Hankou, starting a fire that was later reported to have burned for three days. The B-25s were led by General Haynes with wingmen Captain Sheldon, Captain Blair M. Sorenson and Lieutenant C. H. Hagan and landed at Hengyang during the return flight to refuel. The bombers were about half-gassed when an alert sounded- the signal for all aircraft to take-off and go to the dispersal field, Lingling about 100 miles south of Hengyang. One crew experienced unexpected difficulties on the way to Lingling.

This was the crew of No. 72, a B-25C, which included: Captain Skeldon, Pilot 1st Lieutenant S. E. Sewell, Co-pilot 2nd Lieutenant H. D. Hippert, Navigator 1st Lieutenant G. A. Stout, Bombardier Technical Sergeant N. G. Stubblefield, Engineer-Gunner Sergeant J. L. Soikowski, Radio-Gunner

The minute the alert sounded, gassing was stopped and the crew climbed aboard and took off. The weather was poor-low ceiling and thundershowers. When approximately 30 miles from Lingling, several P-40’s were observed. About 10 seconds later, a terrific burst of machinegun bullets poured through and around the ship. It looked like a Fourth of July celebration with the tracers tearing through the ship and past the nose. Stout came through the tunnel out of the nose in a single headlong dive. Stubblefield was in the turret trying futilely to make it fire, but like the left engine, it too was hit in the first burst and was inoperative. Approximately 20 seconds later (it seemed like an instant) the attacking fighter, wearing a shark’s nose, fired its second burst. This burst was worse than the first. It not only disabled the left engine, but also knocked Stubblefield out of the turret. A bullet glanced off his skull, leaving a very neat hole in his helmet. Somewhat in a semiconscious state, he managed to get into his chute. About that time, Skeldon had ordered the crew to bail out as he could no longer control the ship. All bailed out safely, though 1st Lieutenant Sewell made a somewhat delayed opening to prevent strafing and Captain Skeldon was reported down with the ship as he jumped at such a low altitude that his chute was not observed.

Some of the crew spent a cold, miserable night in the hut of a poor farmer. However, the other crew members were fortunate enough to land near the home of General Wong. Madame Wong had been saving several cans of good old USA canned beer for the first American flyer that she met. This, along with a few other luxuries was, to say the least, a pleasant surprise to be found in the heart of China where anything in a can is like a gift from heaven. All personnel arrived the next afternoon at a little town about 20 miles t rom Lingling but located fortunately on one of China’s few railroads. Here the whole population turned out to see, some of them for the first time, the “mai gwa fiji”, or American flyers. The populace really feted and entertained them in the best Chines style. At every opportunity the Americans were required to make a speech with the aid of an interpreter. That evening the crew boarded the train for Kweilin, the home base, and although not feeling very healthy arrived home glad to be alive. It was not until arriving at Kweilin that they knew that it was a P-40 piloted by an AVG which had blasted them from the sky. This was the first bomber lost since the CATF began operations in China. According to some sources this combat and loss took place on 15 July. On 11 November, one of the B-25 crews (Pilot 1st Lieutenant Robert B. Klemann, Co-pilot 2nd Lieutenant John Tyson, Navigator 2nd Lieutenant Arvis R. Kirkland, Bombardier 2nd Lieutenant Charles H. Dearth, Engineer Staff Sergeant Noble Brown, Gunner Staff Sergeant Adam R. Williams) was decorated with the Silver Star for their part in this mission.

The citation states: “On July 16, 1942, the above crew participated in a raid against the Japanese concession in Hankow, China. The actual bombing of Hankow was performed in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire, but so precisely did every member of this crew perform his assignment and duties, that every bomb dropped was seen to land directly in the target area. This one mission was responsible for the destruction of large quantities of gasoline and other war supplies in addition to several hundred casualties, and further resulted in shattering the enemy's confidence in their protection against air raids, as evidenced by Chinese Intelligence Reports confirming the results of the raid. Such gallantry in action in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire while carrying out a successful attack in the area known to be defended by superior numbers of enemy fighters is characteristic of the finest traditions of the Army Air Forces.”

IJN: In the morning A6M2 Zeros from Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group) conduct a fighter sweep over the Port Moresby area. Over the target, intercepted by P-39 Airacobras and P-400 Airacobras from 39th Fighter Squadron and 40th Fighter Squadron claim 17 shot down and 2 probables (in fact, 4 lost and 2 damaged) and lost no aircraft damaged or shot down.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): A joint strike was planned against Lae and Salamaua similar to the operation of June 9, 1942. The morning schedule was interrupted by a fighter sweep by A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group) over Port Moresby. Scrambled to intercept are 32 P-39 and P-400 Airacobra of the 39th Fighter Squadron and 40th Fighter Squadron that result in four shot down and two heavily damaged. Lost is P-39F 41-7204 pilot 2nd Lt. Harvey E. Rehrer (survived), P-39F 41-7136 pilot 2nd Lt. Stanley F. Rice (MIA), P-39F 41-7222 pilot William L. Hutcheson (survived) and P-39 piloted by Lynch (WIA, survived).

In the afternoon, 22nd BG B-26s and 19th BG B-17s bomb Lae and 3rd BG B-25s hit Salamaua hitting runways and buildings and starting several fires. They meet their Airacobra escort on the return flight. Intercepted by A6M2 Zeros from Tainan Kokutai. Lost are P-39 pilot Magre (MIA) and A6M2 pilot Hidaka (MIA) shot down by P-39F Airacobra pilot 1st Lt. Francis "Frank" R. Royal.

References
Fighter Sweep over Port Moresby on June 16, 1942