A War of Their Own: Bombers Over the Southwest Pacific [Illustrated Edition]

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Text originally published in 2002 under the same title.

© Pickle Partners Publishing 2014, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

A WAR OF THEIR OWN: BOMBERS OVER THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC

MATTHEW K. RODMAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS 7

DEDICATION 8

Illustrations 9

Table 10

Foreword 10

About the Author 10

Preface 11

Acknowledgments 12

Chapter 1 — Pre-war Doctrine and Tactics 14

Chapter 2 — December 1941-November 1942 27

Chapter 3 — November 1942-March 1943 52

Chapter 4 — March 1943-August 1943 70

Chapter 5 — August 1943-June 1944 88

Chapter 6 — June 1944-September 1945 107

Epilogue 130

Bibliography 134

Primary Sources 134

Secondary Sources 138

REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 142

DEDICATION

For Uncle Phil

Illustrations

Southwest Pacific Area

SWPA battle map, December 1941-November 1942

Low-altitude bombing, 63d Bombardment Squadron

Skip bombing, 63d Bombardment Squadron

Parafrag bomb

Parafrag-bomb fuse

Phosphorous bomb

SWPA battle map, November 1942-March 1943

Cutaway view of the B-25G

SWPA battle map, March 1943-August 1943

Matching tactic to target

SWPA battle map, August 1943-June 1944

Airdrome attack with covered flanks

Two-plane approach

Diversionary feints

SWPA battle map, June 1944-September 1945

Multiple armament packages for the A-26

Parademo: bent fins stop vane, prevent arming

Strikes on Formosa

Wrecked A-20A with modified nose

Early modification of B-25

B-25s drop bombs from 5,300 feet against January Lae convoy

A-20 strafes Lae Airdrome

Cargo vessel under attack from 6,000 feet

Cargo vessel under attack at mast height

100-pound parademo bomb with nose fuse and tail-mounted chute

Original 250-pound parademo chute/fuse configuration

B-25 bracketing a cargo vessel, Wewak

Results of bracketing a cargo vessel, Wewak

Line-abreast, staggered-altitude B-25s strafing Wewak area

Tube rocket launchers on an A-20G, Hollandia

Smoke and fire protect Rabaul Harbor raid

Machine guns on an A-20G

B-25 element attacking cargo vessel, Sorong area

C-47s deliver paratroops to Nadzab

Second major assault on Wewak-area airdromes

B-24s over Hollandia area

A-26 Invader

Parafrags failing to arm

Two modified 250-pound parademos

500-pound parademo

B-32 Dominator

A-20s attacking Philippine rail targets

Phosphorus bombs and parafrags over Clark Airdrome

A-20 attacking oil-storage facilities on Ceram

B-25 attacking Japanese warship, Ormoc Bay

B-25 attacking Japanese warship, Amoy area

Parafrags and .50-caliber casings

B-25 attacks cargo vessel in South China Sea

Table

Bomb strikes during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea

Foreword

Capt. Matt Rodman’s book is an intriguing study of a moment in history when combat airpower played a key role in achieving victory. He expertly recounts how Fifth Air Force quickly developed new tactics and procedures that saved the day. The perfection of low-altitude bombing, strafing, and skip bombing made differences that in hindsight are easy to recognize and quantify. Without them the Fifth would have found itself in a longer, costlier fight with an uncertain outcome. However, these new tactics hurt the enemy to the extent that the Allies eventually prevailed.

The real value of Captain Rodman’s study, however, lies not so much in his excellent retelling of significant developments in airpower as in his pushing the need for us to be flexible, adaptive, opportunistic, and entrepreneurial while safeguarding our core values and capitalizing on our core competencies. He therefore helps us take some of the uncertainty out of the largely unpredictable future by stressing the importance of effective adaptability. Obviously, many components determine success—preparation, resources, knowledge, and determination, to name just a few. None of these, however, have nearly the importance as the creative ability to adapt effectively in order to confront the threat and deliver victory. By telling us the story of Fifth Air Force in the Southwest Pacific, Captain Rodman schools us on our need to employ all of our resources creatively, no matter their limitations. Our future battles will be new and different, as will the actions we take, even though they derive from our past successes.

In the mid-1980s, experts would have had difficulty forecasting the effectiveness of the precision and near-precision aerial strikes we executed in Iraq just a few years later. In the mid-1990s, almost no one could have envisioned allied and joint ground forces, some riding on horseback, communicating through satellites to a multitude of aircraft that produced effects leading to our triumph in Operation Enduring Freedom. Today we can only venture a guess—and probably not very accurately— at what we will confront in the coming years. But this much is certain: we will face challenges unlike those of the past, and victory will go to the team that can best adapt its resources to stop the enemy. Captain Rodman’s great effort convinces us that it is our legacy to maintain and even enhance that ability.

JONATHAN D. GEORGE, Colonel, USAF

Deputy Director, Plans and Programs

Air Combat Command

Langley AFB, Virginia

About the Author

Capt. Matt Rodman was born on 1 April 1971 in Lovington, New Mexico. Growing up primarily in the Texas Panhandle, he was drawn to flying from an early age, attending local warbird shows at every chance. He obtained the rank of Eagle Scout and later graduated with honors from Lubbock High School in 1989. From there he went on to earn both a bachelor of science degree in radio-television-film and a bachelor of arts degree in history from the University of Texas at Austin in 1994. In May 1995, the author received his commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force and then completed a master of arts degree in history from Texas Tech University while on active duty in 1998. His first assignment was as a television producer-director in the 436th Training Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, graduating from both Basic Communications Officer Training and Combat Camera Officer Training while fulfilling this role. Following this first tour, he was selected to attend Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. After earning his wings in March 2000, Captain Rodman attended Squadron Officer School and then moved back to Texas to begin training as a B-1B weapon systems officer at Dyess. Since 2001 he has served with the 9th Bomb Squadron of the 7th Bomb Wing, and is now an instructor weapon systems officer with over 1,000 hours in the B-1B. At press time, Captain Rodman is on his third deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, having accumulated over 600 combat hours on more than 50 combat missions thus far.

Preface

Without question, attack and bombardment aviation during World War II is a huge topic. To cover it all would quickly become a monumental task. A very interesting piece of the larger picture, however, lies tucked away in a small corner of that war. Focusing mainly upon Fifth Air Force, I have done my best to present an accurate account of the nature of the air war in the Southwest Pacific Area. This study does not presume to be an all-encompassing operational summary; instead, it aims to provide a representative picture of American bombardment in that area.

To maintain focus, I discuss Army and Navy engagements only when absolutely necessary. This limitation in no way discredits their importance to the war effort but simply allows me to concentrate upon Air Force tactics. Also, by no means was Fifth Air Force the only numbered air force to make things up as it went along. But the frequency and fervor with which the Fifth confronted tactical challenges warrant study. Furthermore, I am interested in exploring its relationship to the pre-war Army Air Corps and to the Air Force that followed. I believe that the Air Corps establishment never anticipated the success of the undermanned Fifth Air Force and that the post-war Air Force never truly appreciated it.

It is impossible, of course, to divorce the Fifth from Gen George Kenney. Without question, his background and personality shaped the air war in the Southwest Pacific. But I did not design this book as a biography. Frankly, it would pale in comparison to works already available. Instead, I hope my study illustrates what airpower can accomplish under inspired leadership.

Finally, I think it is critical that we consider Fifth Air Force in light of current events because we can easily establish parallels between its experiences and those of the modern Air Force. Ours is not a world in which the next war is obvious. The challenge, met so well by the Fifth over 60 years ago, lies in establishing an air arm capable of responding quickly and effectively to whatever combat environment presents itself when war does come.

Acknowledgments

This book is based upon the master’s thesis I wrote at Texas Tech University. Although there’s no doubt that, as a graduate of the University of Texas, I bleed burnt orange, I owe a great deal of thanks to faculty and friends who helped me at Tech, particularly Dr. James Reckner. My thesis director and academic mentor, he never took it easy on me. He is the driving force behind a burgeoning history department and a trusted friend to all of his students. Thanks for pushing me to publish. Thanks also go to my compatriots in Holden Hall: Lt Col Doug Campbell, USAF, retired; Ryan Lovell; and Craig Hannah not only made my studies better, but also became fast friends.

I had the good fortune to visit several research facilities during the preparation of my thesis. I am indebted to countless staffers at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland (National Archives II), the Air Force History Support Office, and the National Air and Space Museum. They willingly spent an inordinate amount of time assisting a hapless graduate student who most often showed up unannounced. I also thank the 436th Training Squadron for introducing me to Air Force life and for providing several opportunities to conduct research after temporary-duty assignments near those archives. A special thanks to Lt Col Mike Green, USAF, retired, and Lt Col Jon Langford, as well as fellow lieutenants (at the time) Dawn Koegler, Mark Nelson, and the rest of the Multimedia Flight. Of course, no Air Force book would be complete without at least a few visits to Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. I am indebted to both the Air Force Historical Research Agency and Air University Press. In particular, I extend thanks to Dr. Marvin Bassett at the press for keeping up with me and sticking with this project while I spent so much of the past three years shuttling among forward operating locations. I’m glad we finally got it all together from halfway around the world!

Thanks certainly go out to Col Jonathan George for taking the time to write the foreword to this book. I have yet to see a finer wing commander. Your impending star is well deserved. I wish you continued success, both for you and our Air Force.

Obviously, since I now fly bombers for a living, this book has become much more personal. My time as a Bat in the 9th Bomb Squadron has been nothing short of phenomenal. Although not happy about what motivated the deployments, I’ve been proud to be part of America’s response to 9/11 and will always be thankful to Col Eldon Woodie for having the faith in me and a handful of other new guys when it came time to go out the door and off to war. I have no doubt that I experienced the highlight of my career under his leadership on that first trip to the desert. Thanks also to squadron commanders Lt Col Robert Gass and Lt Col Robert Maness for ably carrying on the best traditions of the 9th—and for letting me play my small part. There are too many Bats to thank individually; just know that I’m proud to have shared the squadron with all of you. Shape, Roadkill, Rotorhead, Crew 13: that means you too. Of course, a few fellow history buffs have made my time in the 9th even more enjoyable. Thanks to Maj Michael Pugs Pugsley, Maj Tony Rivet White, Maj Allen Stump Wilson—and even Reapers Capt. Dave SARDOT Marten, Capt. Dave Fodre Pafford, and Capt. Todd Eddie Moenster—for talking about history or touring sites whenever we had the chance. Stump, Rivet, and Pugs—a special thank-you for lending your time, editing skills, and historical perspectives to the completion of this book.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without friends and family. Jeff, Dan, and Harv: it seems that we’ve been friends forever, yet I can’t wait to get back to Austin for some more Mexican food and football! Thanks for being such good friends for so long. Thank you Stephanie not only for being one of my best friends, but also for helping me complete research both at Maxwell and from a distance. Chuck, thanks for being a great family friend and for always talking about airplanes with me, even as a kid. Paul, I also thank you for feeding the airplane habit as our careers have progressed. Many thanks go to all of my friends at Hyde Park and Aldersgate United Methodist churches for shining a light on the path, walking it with me, and making the way just a little bit straighter. For my family that has traveled the road ahead of me, I thank you for your influence. Great-Grandparents Phillips, Great-Grandmother Mason, Great-Grandparents Killingsworth, Grandparents Rodman, Grandaddy Killingsworth, Uncles Phil and Ronny—I wish you were here to see this book come to fruition because I know it wouldn’t have happened without you. Thanks. The rest of us miss you all. Big thanks to Great-Uncle Keith, a former A-20 gunner, for opening my eyes to this part of Air Force history and creating the spark that led to this book. I continue to stand in awe of you, Grandaddy, and the other men and women who won World War II. I hope this book is a small measure of thanks and admiration. Mom, you are a constant inspiration, and I can never thank you enough for all you’ve done. You’re simply the best. Dad, thank you for giving me a vision of military service, an appreciation for its history, and an example to follow. Jennifer and Tim, I truly feel sorry for people not blessed to have grown up with such a great sister and brother. I treasure every minute we spend together. The same goes