EFFICIENCY OF U.S. AIR FORCE

Southland Times, Issue 24769, 13 June 1942, Page 5

EFFICIENCY OF U.S. AIR FORCE

BATTLE OF MIDWAY

HONOLULU, June 11.

The Associated Press of America correspondent says that part of the epic story of the Battle of Midway Island has been told by American Army pilots who collaborated with the Navy in smashing Admiral Yamamoto’s fleet and saving Hawaii from invasion. It is a story of courage and of the fighting efficiency of land-based planes against two formidable invasion fleets, one consisting principally of transports and the other a strong battle formation. It is a story of the effectiveness of high altitude bombing. The principal action occurred on June 3 and June 4. With substantial numbers of American planes waiting in the air for the enemy when he first appeared far west of Midway Island on the afternoon of June 3, first contact was made with the enemy by army “Flying Fortresses” flying at a medium altitude. Their bombs hit and damaged one cruiser or battleship, which was left in flames and also one transport and one destroyer. Then, the following morning, army fliers took off, anticipating that Japanese planes from the second enemy fleet, which was much closer than the force bombed in the previous afternoon, would attack Midway Island. Marine fliers also hopped eft and were waiting in the air when the Japanese arrived. JAPANESE DIVE-BOMBED Within 20 minutes marine divebombers swooped on the enemy, adding further to the destruction. Navy dive-bombers and torpedo-planes also participated, but details of their exploits have not yet been revealed. Meanwhile the Japanese had attacked Midway Island, at first from a high level with demolition bombs. This attack lasted for 38 minutes and was directed at both the south and the east of the island. The Japanese divebombers then slipped in from the sun and attacked ground installations. These were followed by fighters. In these strafings it is estimated that at least 180 enemy planes took part. Marine fighters engaged the enemy, while the ground defenders used everything from anti-aircraft guns to small arms. The Japanese did not bomb the runways, apparently expecting to use them if occupation of the island was achieved. Shortly after this attack American planes returned to load more fuel and bombs. This was a critical period for the defenders, but the enemy did not return. They were too busy protecting themselves. The bombers took off again in the afternoon, made another contact with the enemy fleer, and succeeded in damaging other large vessels. ACCURATE FIRING Colonel Walter Sweeney, leader of the Flying Fortresses, described the attacks lasting two days and said the Japanese anti-aircraft fire was exceptionally accurate, but none of the bombers was shot down, whereas the bombers brought down three or four Japanese Zero fighters He said that the Zeros, evidently respecting the firepovzer of the Flying Fortresses, seldom came close. “When we first made contact with the enemy there were over 20 ships lined in columns,” he said. “When the Japanese sighted us they immediately deployed, trying frantically to avoid attack. We picked out the biggest ships, laid our bombs in patterns and observed direct hits on one cruiser and one transport and possibly on a second cruiser and on one battleship. Frankly, we did not remain long as the enemy anti-aircraft fire was too hot.

“Next morning we attacked a larger force which was closer to Midway Island. The enemy's great battle-line had destroyers outside and then cruisers, battleships and aircraft-car-riers. We picked out the biggest carrier. Our bomb pattern blanketed the carrier. We made at least one direct hit on the port bow and saw flames and smoke follow an explosion. Then we returned to the base and loaded more bombs. “We found the enemy again at 4 p.m. and saw one aircraft-carrier and one capital ship burning. Neither was making headway. There were no undamaged carriers visible so we bombed a heavy cruiser, struck it amidships, and then left the scene, as other American planes were carrying on.”