#usaaf in Java

[usafphantom2]

Douglas A-24 Banshee (AAF version of the Navy SBD Dauntless) by Wonder Years Of Aviation Via Flickr: The U.S. Army Air Forces sent 52 A-24 Banshees in crates to the Philippines in the fall of 1941 to equip the 27th Bombardment Group, whose personnel were sent separately. However, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, these bombers were diverted to Australia and the 27th BG fought on the Bataan Peninsula as infantry. While in Australia the aircraft were reassembled for flight to the Philippines but their missing parts, including solenoids, trigger motors and gun mounts delayed their shipment. Plagued with mechanical problems, the A-24s were diverted to the 91st Bombardment Squadron and designated for assignment to Java Island instead. Referring to themselves as "Blue Rock Clay Pigeons" (after a brand of trap shooting targets), the 91st BS attacked the enemy harbor and airbase at Bali and damaged or sank numerous ships around Java.After the Japanese downed two A-24s and damaged three so badly that they could no longer fly, the 91st received orders to evacuate Java in early March. The A-24s remaining in Australia were assigned to the 8th Bombardment Squadron of 3d Bombardment Group, to defend New Guinea. On 29 July 1942, seven A-24s attacked a convoy off Buna, but only one survived: the Japanese shot down five of them and damaged the sixth so badly that it did not make it back to base. Regarded by many pilots as too slow, short ranged and poorly armed, the remaining A-24s were relegated to non-combat missions. In the U.S., the A-24s became training aircraft or towed targets for aerial gunnery training. The more powerful A-24B was used later against the Japanese forces in the Gilbert Islands. From December 1943 until March 1944, the 531st Fighter Squadron of the 7th Air Force flew A-24Bs from Makin Island in the Gilbert Islands against Japanese controlled islands in the Marshall Islands. The A-24Bs were then withdrawn from combat. The A-24B (equivalent to the U.S. Navy SBD-5, with the omission of the arrestor hook) arrived in 1943 with the more powerful 1,200-hp Wright R-1820-60 Cyclone engine, a more powerful engine than either the A-24 or A-24A. As a result, the A-24B could fly slightly faster and higher than the earlier models. The A-24B lacked the small air intake on the top of the engine cowling present on the earlier models and that is an easy way to distinguish the B model. The 407th Bomb Group, assigned to the 11th Air Force, flew A-24Bs against the Japanese held island of Kiska, Alaska, during July and August 1943. A handful of A-24s survived in the inventory of the USAAF long enough to be taken over by the Air Force (USAF) when that service became independent of the Army in September 1947. The USAF established a new designation system for its aircraft, eliminating the "A-" (for attack) category; all of the single-engined "A-" aircraft were given "F-" (for fighter) nomenclature (or were determined to be obsolete and scrapped); thus the few remaining A-24 Banshees became known as F-24 Banshees, soldiering on in a reserve role until 1950 when they were scrapped.

[robertkingsleyposts]

The Loss of the 'Langley'

And the final curtain in Java

From:https://thejavagoldblog.wordpress.com/ USS Langley and USAT Seawitch sailed on February 22, 1942 as part of convoy MS-5. But that same night Langley’s skipper, Commander Robert P. McConnell received a direct order from Vice-Admiral Helfrich (by now ABDA naval commander in chief), to leave the convoy and at his best possible speed – which was 13 knots – set a direct course for Tjilatjap, a port on Java’s south coast that was still relatively safe.  The plan called for USS Langley to reach Tilatjap in the afternoon of February 27, risking a daylight arrival. The  Langley lost precious hours in steaming on various courses waiting for escorts that never turned up. She finally teamed up with two damaged destroyers, USS Whipple (DD-217) and USS Edsall (DD-219), and started her final run in but the time lost proved to be fatal.

At 11:40 in the morning of February 27, at a point about 75 miles from Tjilatjap, nine Japanese Mitsubishi G4M bombers appeared over the ships. Their commander, Lt. Jiro Adachi, immediately singled out the Langley as the important target. The Langley took three hits that set fire to the P-40’s on deck and the drums of gasoline that were stowed between them. Then a fourth and a fifth bomb hit increased the conflagration, near misses buckled the hull and water was rushing inside.

Escorting Zero fighters strafed the decks of the burning ship and soon, the Langley was a raging mass of unquenchable fires. Listing badly and out of control and Commander McConnell ordered abandon ship. Out of a crew of 300, 16 were killed and the survivors were taken aboard the escorting destroyers. To prevent the Langley from falling into Japanese hands, they used torpedoes and 4 Inch shells to sink her.

[airmanisr]

North American NA-122 TF-51D-25-NA Mustang in Santa Teresa by Johnny Comstedt Via Flickr: Marked 44-84658 but is rebuilt from several airframes. 44-84658 was after been converted to TF-51D crashed and destroyed by engine fire at Java, Indonesia in 24 June 1975. More likely the main parts come from c/n 122-39719 which was USAAF 44-73260. After beeing converted to TF-51 went to the Indonesian Air Force. Was found in a salvage yard and brought back to US in 1978 together with parts from other P-51s. Restaurated in 1979-1983 and registered N51TF with new c/n 44-84658. In War Eagles Air Museum at Dona Ana Airport, Santa Teresa, NM, USA 15. October 2017

[robertkingsleyposts]

USAAF P-40's in Java

A series of articles focusing on the ill-fated efforts to bolster the Dutch defences against the Japanese onslaught early 1942 . Four squadrons of P-40 Warhawks were sent on a 6000 mile journey - from Brisbane, Australia to Java. Of the 83 that set out, only 30 ever reached their destination. And they went down fighting against overwhelming odds...

Follow all instalments on https://thejavagoldblog.wordpress.com/

[airmanisr]

North American NA-122 TF-51D-25-NA Mustang in Santa Teresa by Johnny Comstedt Via Flickr: Marked 44-84658 but is rebuilt from several airframes. 44-84658 was after been converted to TF-51D crashed and destroyed by engine fire at Java, Indonesia in 24 June 1975. More likely the main parts come from c/n 122-39719 which was USAAF 44-73260. After beeing converted to TF-51 went to the Indonesian Air Force. Was found in a salvage yard and brought back to US in 1978 together with parts from other P-51s. Restaurated in 1979-1983 and registered N51TF with new c/n 44-84658. In War Eagles Air Museum at Dona Ana Airport, Santa Teresa, NM, USA 15. October 2017