NOTES TO TABLES 6 AND 7

These tables classify, by assigned mission of own aircraft at time of takeoff, all sorties which actually attacked or engaged the enemy. It should be noted that sorties which did not actually engage the enemy are not included; thus the bulk of defensive patrols, search and reconnaissance missions, and a relatively small number of abortive offensive sorties, are not reflected herein. The purpose of the table is to show the origins of the missions that resulted in action.

It has been necessary to make this presentation in two tables because of differences between the classification methods employed for 1944 and for other years. Table 6 presents yearly data by plane type, with a little less detail for 1944 because of inability to make the 1944 classifications fit those available for other years. Table 7 presents the expanded detailed classification available for 1944 only.

The following explanatory material will assist in an appreciation of the data in Table 6:

(a) Ground Support: The considerable increase in the volume of direct air-ground support missions flown by carrier aircraft from less than 15% of total action sorties in 1942-43, to over 20% of a greatly increased total in 1945, deserves notice. In the case of land-based VF and VSB-VTB the increase was from 2% in 1942 to over 30% in 1945. This reflects the increasing perfection of air-ground teamwork between Naval aviation and Army-Marine ground forces, - the function of direct air support having always been recognized as a primary mission of Naval and Marine aviation. The record of Naval aviation's destruction of such primary enemy strategic targets as aircraft and shipping indicates that this large volume of air-ground support was supplied with no loss of strategic effectiveness.

In fact the number of action sorties on missions classified in the Table as "Air-Ground Support” does not reflect the full weight of offensive put forth by Naval aviation, and particularly by the carrier forces, on behalf of ground forces. Carrier offensive missions were classified as air-ground support only when flown under the control of air support commanders. A number of pre-invasion offensive missions were flown against beach defenses, gun positions, and other ground targets, which were not controlled by air support commands, and are thus classified as strike or sweep missions.

Also, the bulk of the carrier VF action sorties listed under "Defensive Patrols Over Target or Other Forces" involved attacks by patrolling VF on enemy ground forces, under the direction of air support commanders, rather than merely defensive engagements with enemy aircraft. It was a normal practice for fighter combat patrols over invasion beachheads to carry bombs and rockets and to report to the air support commander for assignment of targets on completion of the patrol period. It is estimated that a total of some 40-45,000 carrier action sorties, and some 20-25,000 land-based action sorties, were flown in effective direct support of ground forces.

(b) Search or Reconnaissance Missions: A noteworthy trend was the increasing displacement of carrier bombers by carrier VF on search missions. In part the large volume of carrier VF missions in this category in 1944 and 1945 reflects a vast increase in number of photographic missions, including escort fighters which often strafed guns and other targets. However, there was also an increased use of VF for sector search in place of VSB and VTB.

It should be noted that the action engaged in by most search action sorties was attack on targets of opportunity, rather than combat with enemy aircraft. Only 425 carrier-based search and reconnaissance action sorties out of 4,672, and 789 land-based (mostly VPB) out of 8,431, actually engaged enemy aircraft in combat (See Table 23). Some of those which engaged in combat, and all of the remainder, attacked land or ship targets in addition to carrying out their reconnaissance functions.

(c) Defensive Patrols: The increasing predominance, as the war advanced, of action by defensive patrols over invasion forces afloat and ashore, as against action restricted to defense of base, is clearly illustrated by figures for both carrier and land-based VF. In 1942 our fighters were devoting most of their defensive energies to warding off attacks on their own bases. By 1945 the bulk of the defense could be diverted to keeping the enemy from attacking other land installations or friendly forces.

The relative lack of defensive action by land-based VF in 1944 deserves notice. During this year the enemy was unable to bring any appreciable offensive effort to bear against the bases (largely in the Solomons, Marshalls, Marianas and Palau) garrisoned by Naval aircraft. The 1945 increase reflects the use of Marine VF at Okinawa.

Another interesting variation is the high rate of action by carrier bombers on defensive patrols in 1944. These were largely anti-submarine patrols by VTB over landing force areas; after completion of patrols the planes bombed nearby shore targets. In 1945 this practice generally ceased, or the duties were taken over by fighters.

(d) General: The predominance of offensive missions among sorties involving action with the enemy, for all types of planes other than VPB, is clearly shown. Even in the case of carrier VF, nearly 80% of their missions which eventuated in action were offensive. For single-engine bombers, and land-based fighters, offensive missions resulted in all but 5% to 10% of their action against the enemy. In the case of patrol bombers, over one-third of their action was on search missions; if the primarily offensive Marine PBJs were deducted, well over half of their action would be on search missions.

Table 7 provides a more detailed analysis, for 1944 only, of the missions flown by Naval aircraft which resulted in action. Of interest are the following items,

(a) The high proportions of carrier bombers sent out against shipping targets, and of carrier fighters against land targets.

(b) The relatively small number of fighters sent up especially to reinforce the standing patrols in warding off enemy attacks. Naval air defense was largely by standing patrols already in the air.

(c) The relatively small volume of anti-shipping attacks by land-based VF, VSB and VTB (generally based out of reach of major enemy shipping). A partial exception is noted for VF, which flew many strafing missions against small craft in the Solomons area.

(d) The contrast between the employments of the various types of patrol bombers. The Marine PBJs were used predominantly as formation bombers and night hecklers, rather than as single search planes, while the PVs were used extensively for small strikes by 2 to 6 planes against minor land targets in the Solomons area, at Nauru, in the Southwest Pacific, and in the Kuriles. Both types were used for search, but principally in negative sectors. PB4Ys, on the other hand, were used mainly for sector search. The flying boats were used for a variety of purposes, and the 1944 data reflect such diverse missions as night anti-shipping searches by PBY Black Cats, PBY missions against barges and coastal targets in the Solomons in cooperation with PT boats, sector searches by PBMs and PB2Ys, night heckler missions over enemy bases by PBYs, and bombing strikes on Wake by PB2Ys.