The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-16


many times of the propensity of the
japanese for the exact duplication
of former military operations. We
were going to get gradually more
vigilant and stronger above the field
for the expected blow. At the same
time we were going as far as was
commensurate with safety to con-
serve the invaluable aviation gaso-
line. Most of the fighters kept right
over the field or slightly away in
the direction of the expected attack
from Burmese bases. Four fight
ers began to patrol from Yeching to
the Mekong, on course to Lashio and
seventy miles from where we were
waiting.
At two o'clock / sent all planes
into the sky except mine. sat in
that on the ground, listening for Har-
ny Pixies expected report from his
patrol to the Mekong River. I was
within shouting distance of the
ground radio operator, who would
tell me of any developments on the
weak-functioning warning net. The
Jap would. come today, knew, be-
tween two and four-that's l4:0C
to 1900 hours.
At 14:54 | saw the radio operator
wildly running for my ship. He
yelled, Report from WI says heavy
engine noise coming this way--the
report is right recent" I was al
ready energizing my starter when
Harry Pike called excitedly: Here
they come-fghters and bombers-
I'm just East of the river" knew
then that the Japs were close to
fifty miles away; we had all we
could do to get set and be waiting
for them.
When Pike called in, as I got the
engine started, heard that the Japs
were at seventeen thousand, and !
called to him to take the fighters.
for / hoped by that move to make
the bombers come in unescorted.
From Yeching at its level of $500
feet I was climbing with full gun,
climbing for all the altitude I could
grab. watched the temperature
but drew all the boost could with
out detonating too badly. At exactly
three o'clock reached twenty thou
sand feet and picked up most of
my Group, which today was made
up Of Hazelett's Squadron.
Just six minutes from the time I
had given the ship the gun, saw
flashes reflected by japanese wind.
shields In the sun. They weren't far
away, but grinned-for they were
below US. heard from the chatter
on our frequency that there was a
fight going on towards where Pike
had seen the formation cross the
river. As the enemy ships materi-
allied on the horizon, knew that
Pike had done his job well, for there
was only one fighter with the bomb
ers as escort-one fighter with nine
heavy bombers. think knew then
that we were going to make it tough
for the Japs.
I called for the attack, In order
to get the enemy before he could
bomb the field. AS I dove for the
attack that ! had always longed
for, I saw one P-40 take the lone
Zero head-on and shoot it down, and
/ knew from the way the shark
nosed ship pulled up in his chan
dele of glory that Dallas Ginger
had become an ace with his fifth
enemy ship.
We made the attack from three
directions simultaneously. Lieuten-
ant Couch led his ships on a stern
attack that I did not see, for I was
diving On the course of the bomb
ers from the flank where the low
sun was. I was going In for full
DETECTION shot from out of that sun,
for I had planned this method Of
how I wanted to attack a bomber
formation long ago. On my wings
were six fighters In two ship ele-
ments. In Couch's flight were four
fighters, and Hazelett had four COM
Ing from above the Japs on the 9TH
er flank.
I had to dive from 10000 feet to
1900 feet to get on the level with
the enemy formation, and when I
got there ! had plenty Of excess
speed over the Japs. I passed them
rapidly from out Of their range,
but could see their tracers curving
short of nv flight. When had over