Air Battle over Kyushu

In the previous post of this series, we "briefly" discussed the fierce air battle over South Kyushu on March 18, 1945. Since then, more details have been found thanks to our good friend Patrice Fresnel. We also dug up quite some information from Japanese sources that put the events of the day into order, at least for the fighter units and the shot down Vought F4U Corsair we saw in the previous post.
Here we go.

From Patrice (original post by Mark Herber):
"18 March 1945 (Lucky Day)
Love Day-14
Seventy-eight years ago today, Carrier Air Group EIGHTY-THREE (CVG-83) made their combat debut.
Essex's first two air groups (Nine and Fifteen) had been initiated with hit-and-run raids on Marcus and Wake Atolls, gaining “lower-stress” combat experience before major operations against the toughest targets. Some aviators of Air Group Four had previous combat experience in North Africa and Norway in USS Ranger (CV-4), and in the Philippines on Bunker Hill before boarding Essex.
But CVG-83's first combat missions were strikes on the Japanese Home Islands...
The new or reformed groups joining Eighty-three on this day were Five (Franklin), Six (Hancock), Ten (Intrepid), and Eighty-six (Wasp)...
By design, and like all of the air groups making their debut, Eighty-three’s compliment was leavened with combat veterans, and they could share their experiences and lessons with the rookies to try and bring them home in one piece...
Approximately 17 percent of the pilots had previous combat experience, most as pilots, and a few as ship’s company on surface combatants. For many—but not all—their first combat after forming as a group about ten-and-a-half months earlier was today. All that training would be put to the test...."

Quoting the VBF-83 Unofficial Memoirs:
"Prior to dawn on 18 March 1945, pilots were undergoing an internal struggle of mixed emotions as they assembled in Ready Room One. Each pilot knew his assignment and each pilot also realized that he was going to parade his might and aggressiveness over the Japanese Homeland. But, he was well prepared and very eager. Spirit was high and the Squadron clowns were having a field day with little digs and witticisms. The Skipper, Lt . Cdr. F. A. PATRIARCA requested order as he gave us a last-minute fight speech and a few words of wisdom. Signal, "Pilots man planes", saw all pilots who weren't flying making a gala appearance on the Bridge to see the Corsairs off the deck and on the way. Our slogan was, "Good luck and good hunting."
...As mentioned for the 17th, tensions for the task force increased the night before, when snoopers located TF 58, and Stembel opened fire before midnight. After a lull, condition one was set in Essex’s at 0305 until 0355, and again at 0452!
The accelerated, aforementioned zipper mission consisting of VF-83’s four-plane night fighter contingent launched around 0415 initiated the day’s sorties. One Night Hellcat had to turn back due to a loose hood (canopy), but the other three headed to Nittagahara Airfield in the dark, arriving and strafing before sunrise. Because of the light (or lack thereof), no damage was assessable by the aviators."

So, the first raid against Japanese positions started at 04:52. Let's see what Japanese sources say about that.
In "The fierce battle of the Japanese Air Force over the mainland - B-29s vs. the Japanese Air Force", Bungeisunju 2001, p.372, Watanabe Yoji mentions:
"The first to penetrate were night-fighting F6Fs accompanying a Type 1 land attack plane [Mitsubishi G4M "Betty"] returning from a reconnaissance mission...In the blink of an eye, the land attack plane ["Betty"] was shot down in night combat."

Following this (from Patrice):
"At 0552, VBF-83's first missions were launched, consisting of a task group (TG) combat air patrol (CAP), submarine CAP (SubCAP), and a fighter sweep to Karasahara, Nittagahara, and Tomitaka airfields. Unfortunately, the mission was fouled up from the get go due to a number of factors, with most of the Corsairs forming up on Lt.(jg) Warren O. Sigman, and only three forming up on Patriarca. Over Tomitaka, the Japanese had aircraft aloft, and some wild dogfights ensued. Eight Japanese aircraft were claimed destroyed. However, Sigman and Lt.(jg) W. F. Garner were missing afterwards.
The first victor was Lt.(jg) James C. Sakellariades, who was taken to the bridge after trapping to shake Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman's hand. “The Greek” was so excited with the victory that he hugged the battle-hardened admiral! “Sakes’s” fellow officers in the junior officers' bunk room teased him about hugging the admiral!"

Let's see what Japanese sources say:
""Senshi Sosho #17" mentions that "at 05:50, over Kasanohara [only localy known as "Kasanbara"; not "Karasahara" as mentioned in the previous source], 25 Zeros belonging to the "Sento 312" (312 Fighter Squadron) of the "203 Kokutai" (203 Air Group) took off and fought against F4Us over Kushira and Sakurajima."

In his article in MARU magazine, issue 557, October 1992, CPO Tanimizu Takeo who was with the 312 Fighter Squadron, mentions the following regarding the events of the day:
"As March began, even the previously calm South Kyushu began receiving standby orders. On the early morning of 18 March, while preparing for a reconnaissance mission based on intelligence, at 05:50, the order to form the first line was given simultaneously with the sound of gunfire and flames rising in the direction of Kagoshima. ‘Air raid! Take off!’ I shouted loudly, drawing on my experience from the battlefield. As I later learned, this was due to a surprise attack by enemy night fighters targeting reconnaissance aircraft returning to Kagoshima [Note again the mention of enemy night fighters intercepting Japanese aircraft on a reconnaissance mission]. Immediately, 25 Zero fighters Model 52, which had been on standby, took off.
However, since they were not accustomed to emergency takeoffs as a training unit, three aircraft were severely damaged during takeoff (two crew members were injured). I was on leave for treatment of otitis, so I was excluded from the intercept formation and assigned to ground command. At dawn, I could see two aircraft scattered to the left and three to the right at an altitude of 5,000 to 6,000 metres. I thought we needed to gather quickly and form a formation, so I issued instructions to each aircraft by radio, but they could not gather easily."

From the above it is clear that Tanimizu-san did not fly and did not actively participate in the air combat that day. 
Watanabe Yoji in the previously mentioned book mentions:
"At 5:40 a.m., at Kasanohara Base in Kagoshima Prefecture, Lt Hayashi Yoshihiro, commander of the 203rd Air Group's 312th Fighter Squadron, was delivering a pre-mission briefing before taking off on a reconnaissance mission... All aircraft immediately took off, but before they could gain altitude, the first wave of approximately 150 F4U fighters swept in from above, overwhelming them. Captain Hayashi was hit and parachuted out, sustaining injuries and being taken to the underground bunker at the airfield. For the captain, who had previously served as a squadron leader in a training unit, this was his first aerial combat. He reportedly lamented to his right-hand man, CPO Tanimizu Takeo, ‘If this is how my first battle goes, I'm finished for life.’ "

So, from the above we can conclude that Tanimizu-san did not shoot down anyone that day. The two Corsairs flown  by "Sigman and Lt.(jg) W. F. Garner" were shot down over Tomitaka, so they do not seem to have been shot down by 312 Fighter Squadron Zeros. More about the "Tomitaka Zeros" later.

Moving on (from Patrice):
"By 0630, the first strike was off, consisting of 16 VF, 13 VB, and 15 VT, to hit Nittagahara again. There were three airborne Japanese aircraft in the area, but none approached. Unfortunately, the bombers were rusty and encountered strong (40 knot plus) winds, and results were not what was expected after their months of intense training (and lack of a "warm-up" strike). The pilots had to be impressed to "pick the specific hangar and then a specific nail in its roof."
Sadly, one of the VT-83 Avengers (BuNo 68388), flown by Ens. John L. Kiernan, with gunner William E. Parsons, Jr., ARM3c, lost its wings in a dive--a rare case of a structural failure by a licensed product of the Grumman Iron Works."

"Senshi Sosho #17" mentions that:
"At 06:25, 25 Zeros from the "Sento 303" (303 Fighter Squadron) of the "203 Kokutai" (203 Air Group), split into two groups took off from Kanoya on patrol, when they encountered 15-16 F6Fs ensuing in air battle. The Japanese forces claimed three F6F shot down while admiting to having seven of their own aircraft damaged."

Tanimizu-san remembers:
"Around 0700, a combined enemy fighter and bomber force of approximately 250 aircraft attacked, and our forces engaged in combat with about 30 enemy fighters over various areas including Kushira, Kasanohara, Sakurajima, and Kanoya. The results were one F6F shot down, but LTJG Yabe Yasuji, PO1c Yamaguchi Iwao, and CPO Yukitake Yoshihiro(?) were listed as missing in action. Additionally, during this intercept mission, Squadron Leader Hayashi was hit in aerial combat over Sakurajima, parachuted, but was admitted to the infirmary at Kasanohara Base with burns. The other interceptor aircraft landed at Izumi Base and Kokubu Base, and conducted air patrols over Kagoshima and Kasanohara. No aircraft returned to Kasanohara Base. The enemy's combined fighter-bomber attack destroyed the first barracks and the third and sixth hangars at Kasanohara Base, and fuel drums stored in the open were hit."

Pilots of the 312 Fighter Squadron, in February 1945. The 203 Kokutai was a newly reorganized unit with only a handful pilots having combat experience. Photo credit: MARU #557

Pilots of the 303 Fighter Squadron of the 203 Kokutai, in June 1945. Photo credit: MARU #557

Let's turn our attention to the "Tomitaka Zeros".
Tomitaka Airfield was the base of the "Sento 306" (306 Fighter Squadron) and "Sento 307" of the 712 Kokutai (712 Air Group) a.k.a. "Jinrai Butai", the famous unit equipped with "Ohka". But these fighter squadrons were equipped with Zeros and had altogether 64 aircraft on standby. As of this post, we have not found detailed accounts of the battles of these two fighter squadrons.

The Action Report of VBF83 mentions:
"Course was set for Tomitaka. At 1550 when about 30 miles from TOMITAKA; nine Zekes were called by the sweep leader. They were in 3-3 plane sections, 5000f above. A high speed climb was begun, to even the altitude. They apparently didn't see the F4U’s, as they continued level flight, not maneuvering for better visibility, and drifted away to the south. One bomb that had failed to release was directed at TOMITAKA hangars, while other planes strafed. Rendezvous was begun southeast to seaward. 
Lt. STEVEN’s plane was seen trailing a thin wisp of smoke, apparently having been hit by AA, and here the F4U’s were attacked by 25-30 Zekes. Lt. STEVENS’s plane was taken into the middle of the group and a tight know of weaving and maneuvering planes fought all around him. At high speed, the F4U's were able to maneuver with, and sometimes out-maneuver the Zeke 52’s. For 15 minutes there was continuous action. Lt. STEVENS’s plane was still smoking, and the fight was being maneuvered southward to a submarine position. This was accomplished by pilots who finding themselves on the outer fringe of the fight would rejoin on the south side. The F4U’s were able, because of greater firepower, to either blast or scare, the Zekes off their tails. The F4U pilots, by coming to the aid of one another when Zekes were on their tails escaped with 2 planes damaged by Zeke’s 50 calibre fire. Final score: destroyed nine, probably destroyed four, known to have damaged two….
Pilots feel certain that Lt. STEVENS’s plane was not hit again by Zekes. However, after the engagement, his plane was smoking more heavily. H, had been moved about 15 miles toward rescue sub, and was able to fly another 10 miles before ditching. He was seen to get out of his plane, but did not get his raft out. Three rafts were dropped near by, but he was not seen to have reached any of them. Rescue sub was contacted and given an accurate plot, and Ens. BOULDIN stayed till fuel forced him home. 
An interesting Jap[sic] tactic was observed prior to the ditching. After the fight had been broken off and the divisions were rendezvousing above Lt. STEVENS, the sweep leader remained behind Lt. STEVENS, awaiting the water lending. He looked behind and there at about 1000 yards, slightly above, were 3 Zekes. They made no effort to close, apparently waiting for some choice shots after the ditching. The sweep leader turned directly into them and fired at the leader at long range. They immediately scattered and were not seen again."

Japanese claims and losses:

After the March 18, 1945, air battles the two 203Ku fighter squadrons claimed three enemy aircraft shot down and three damaged. They admited losing: seven Zeros shot down, four failed to return, seven burned on the ground, one seriously damaged, four more slightly damaged and a total of eleven aircraft received hits.
The two 712Ku fighter squadrons claimed 19(!) F4U shot down, five damaged and three unconfirmed. Also three F6F shot down. They admited losing four Zeros shot down, 19(!) failed to return and eight Zeros received hits. 

US claims and losses (from Patrice):
"VBF-83 (flying F4U-1D Corsairs) claimed 18 kills over Japanese aircraft. These kills were claimed by 15 different pilots.... 
In addition to the pilot and air crew losses listed above, two Hellcats (one -5 & one -5N), five Corsairs, and one TBM* were lost."

I'm afraid this a bit confusing to me. So, total eight Corsairs were shot down? Five plus the three (Sigman, Garner and Stevens)?

In conclusion. If the three Corsairs (Sigman, Garner and Stevens) were indeed shot down over Tomitaka, on the "right side" of Kyushu, then they were all shot down by the two 712Ku fighter squadrons, not by the 203Ku fighter squadrons based and operating on the "left side or middle" of Kyushu Island.

Very special thanks to Patrice Fresnel!