The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-02-13
Medal Is Awarded To
Vice Admiral Halsev|
Continued from Page -

the simultaneous attacks at all
points on the two chains, with the
main air attack against Kwajalein
and Roi. Both high and low bomb
ing attacks were made.
"A well developed air base with
modern living quarters and a con-
crete causeway across lagoon was
found on the northeast tip of the
Island Of Roi. The air base had
paved runways and modern hang
ars and storages. The construction
gave evidence Of long planning and
building. Fighter planes were based
there. Our attack was heavy there
was much destruction including the
hangers, one Of which blew up with
an unusually heavy explosion"
Bombed Parked Planes
A wooded area In which planes
were parked was bombed at Roi al
though the number and type of
planes could not be observed. A fire
was started in the living quarters
area and a fuel dump burned fur
iously.
The enemy apparently lost six
fighters in the air there in addition
to number Of planes on The
ground.
AT Kwajalein our forces found
some valuable ship targets. A section
of the air force assigned there was
instructed to sweep the lagoon for
ships and located about 20, in addi-
ton to an old cruiser and misce--
laneous repair and supply vessel
and converted merchantmen. They
also found two four-engined sea.
p-anes and large modern COM
pound of SIX buildings.
THE planes that attacked Roi
joined the others at Kawajalein
after carrying out their original As-
signment. They scored % direct and
certain hits with large bombs On
ships. The compound was demol-
ished and both seaplanes sunk. Two
hours later We returned with an
aerial torpedo attack in which we
scored five direct hits on large
ships, plus one probable hit.
What Yankees Sunk
ut was confirmed that we had
sunk or totally destroyed modern
cruiser, two submarines, one liner,
three fleet oilers and one cargo YES
sci. Two of five vessels also were
damaged and we left the tankers
burning In a sea of oil. No American
planes were lost despite heavy but
inaccurate flank attacks from ships
and from land"
| IN
found an air field and two hangers
but no planes. Planes machine
gunned and bombed the hangers
and radio tower and shore facilities,
including vessels, and then cleared
for the main attack heavy bonn
bardment.
Seven to nine vessels were an
chored west of Wolfe, inside the
lagoon, of which four to five were
approximately 5,00O-ton merchant
men and the remainder apparently
minesweepers and minelayers.
The attacking vessels poured
shells on the island and into the
ships, wrecking the vessels and
silencing shore batteries. Planes
later observed that only two vessels
were above the surface, one Of
which was beached and the other
heavily damaged and apparently
sinking.
Heavy aerial attack followed the
bombardment and completed the
destruction of all military objec-
tives." All hangers were destroyed,
large fuel-storage place was burn
ing fiercely while gasoline stor-
age place and munitions dump
were burning.
AT Taroa we found no ships
Taroa was bombed, machine-g unned
and bombarded In the same manner
as Wolfe. Here we found an esti-
mated 80 large multi-engined bomb
ers and a squadron Of fighter planes
based on modern, well-developed
air base. These planes later made
only an attempt at reprisal.
20 Bombers Damaged
"Twenty-three bclnbers were de-
stroyed aground in the initial raid
and three more during the attempt
ed reprisal. A second air attack at
Tayoa followed the bombardment,
leaving only seven bohbers and all
undetermined number of fighters
functioning. We also completely
destroyed two hangers, an admins
tration building and radio station
while the airfield was torn up"
Attackers OF Jaluit Island hit a
severe storm accompanied by low
ceiling, heavy rain, lightning and
poor visibility. They ran into the
storm about halfway enroute, split
ting their group into smaller sec
tons. Another thunderstorm forced
many planes to approach their OBJ
jectives by instruments and all were
forced to drop their bombs from
low attitudes.
Despite expectations of finding
considerable forces on Jaluit, we
actually found only two auxiliary
vessels of from 1000 to 10000 tons,
some sampans and tugs, but no
other major fleet units. We found
stcrehouses, . warehouse and a
radio station ashore.
"At Enybor Island across the chan
| Llcl CAlI1 dllCC AlOAA OdAuAt AluADoA, VIC
expected to find the main air force,
but discovered only short, dirt run
ways and one building, possibly
hangar. One auxiliary vessel was
fired and destroyed by heavy
bombs and another was damaged
after both were heavily gunned.
Shore detectives also were bombed
and gunned.
1t was impossible to estimate the
exact damage, which I'VE assumed
was severe"
I'VE expected to find a seaplane
base about seven miles north of
Jaluit Island. but the place proved
Of little Importance there were
no planes about. We found no air
opposition, only inaccurate anti
aircraft fire. However. six planes
did not return from Jalu!t and it
was assumed at least some Of them
were lost in bad weather."
At Maxim, which the Japanese