NOTES TO TABLE 38

This table presents the additional target detail available for 1944 only, plus a division of the carrier-based offensive between fast carriers and CVEs, and thus illustrates in more detail the employment of various models of carrier aircraft. Among items worthy of note are:

(a) The concentration of fast carrier F6Fs on parked aircraft, while the bombers concentrated on runways and other airfield installations.

(b) The fast carrier emphasis on the larger land targets, as contrasted with the CVE emphasis on personnel, guns and vehicles.

(c) The CVEs' concentration of 75% of their offensive effort on land targets other than airfields, against the fast carriers' 50%.

(d) The fast carriers' 25% on shipping targets, against the CVEs' 13%, much of the latter representing the Leyte Gulf battle.

(e) The fast carriers' 25% on airfields, against the CVE's 11%.

(f) The dearth of grounded aircraft, warships, and large merchant vessels available for attack by land-based planes other than VPB.

(g) The predominant neutralization nature of the employment of land-based VF, VSB, VTB, and PBJs (PVs and PBYs to a lesser extent); in 1944 these plane types were used primarily against by-passed enemy bases in the Solomons, Bismarcks, Marshalls and Western Carolines. Typical is the concentration on airfield runways, defenses, guns, personnel, transportation, and small craft.