VMF-211 ESCORT MISSION

Re: VMF-211 ESCORT MISSION

feeds@yuku.com (Mark E Horan) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:42:20 GMT

Gentleman;

From conversations with the surviving members of VMF-221, and examining the few extant reference materials, the possibility surely existed that the fighters might be used as an escort force. However, MAG-22 had never implemented a pre-battle strike plan, and certainly never had any kind of organized planning session on the evening/night of 3-4 June for the missions the next day. The loss of the fuel dump and resulting difficulty in refueling aorcraft left no chance for...

Re: VMF-211 ESCORT MISSION

feeds@yuku.com (GigPilot) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:01:13 GMT

I find it interesting many historical documents regarding the BOM refer to the code word Alcatraz long before an airfield ever existed on Sand Island. Could it also refer to the seaplane base and or Sand Island in general?

Re: VMF-211 ESCORT MISSION

feeds@yuku.com (GigPilot) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:36:00 GMT

Thanks Dan.

Re: VMF-211 ESCORT MISSION

feeds@yuku.com (Cubdriver) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:19:22 GMT

Evidently Alcatraz was the name of one airstrip on Midway. (SingSing was another.) The atoll itself was Balsa. Here's the glossary: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ref/USN-NAVEXOS_P-474.html

It's made a bit difficult by the fact that the list is alphabetized by the code name, not the place! Happily the web browser Find utility will get you there (usually).

Re: VMF-211 ESCORT MISSION

feeds@yuku.com (GigPilot) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:51:10 GMT

I thought Midway was referred to as Alcatraz.

Re: VMF-211 ESCORT MISSION

feeds@yuku.com (Cubdriver) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:26:40 GMT

Thanks, Jim. We should probably also bear in mind that at this point in the war the US military was still stumbling around, discovering how its peacetime theories were working out (or not working out) in actual warfare.

Balsa! I didn't know that. So Midway was Balsa, Guadalcanal was Cactus, and Greenland was Bluie. The bored USN officers who came up with those names in the 1930s must have had a lot of fun with the project. One time, on the web, I stumbled across a full list of...

Re: VMF-211 ESCORT MISSION

feeds@yuku.com (Jimmaas) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:36:11 GMT

The reference to Adm. Nimitz makes me suspect that the question stems from a quote found on page 55 of Sherrod's History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II. Nimitz told Capt. Davis (his air operations officer) that "rather than attempting to fight of the initial attacks on BALSA [Midway]....BALSA air force .... should go all out for the carriers...leaving to BALSA's guns th first defence of the field". The problem is that this quote is undated (at least in...

Re: VMF-211 ESCORT MISSION

feeds@yuku.com (panoz 05) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 16:25:42 GMT

RANGE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A ISSUE. AT FULL FUEL LOAD THE DASH-3
FUEL RANGE WHILE CRUISING WAS ABOUT 1680 MILES. EVEN NEAR OR AT FULL
THROTTLE DURING COMBAT THEY SHOULDHAVE HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH
FUEL TO ECSORT FIGHT AND THEN RETURN TO MIDWAY

Re: VMF-211 ESCORT MISSION

feeds@yuku.com (GigPilot) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:33:39 GMT

Paul....I would think the range of the fighters played a large part in the decision. I don't remember reading that and never really thought to ask John Carey why they were held for defense of the island.

BTW Paul....check your emails when you get a chance. Sorry it took so long to respond to yours, I had been away for a stretch.

VMF-211 ESCORT MISSION

feeds@yuku.com (panoz 05) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:08:17 GMT

ONE THING THATS BEEN ON MY MIND FOR AWHILE IS WHY DIDN'T VMF-221
ESCORT THE ATTACK FORCE INSTEAD OF DEFENDING THE ISLAND. ADMIRAL
NIMITZ STATED THAT THE FIGHTERS ESCORT THE BOMBERS WHILE LEAVING
THE DEFENSE OF THE ISLAND TO THE AA UNITS. I SAY THIS IS BECAUSE
1: THE LOSSES INCURRED BY BOTH VMF-211VMSB-241 VT8 DETACHMENT
AND THE B-26'S
2: EVEN THOUGH NAGUMOS ATTACK FORCE WAS BIG IT HAD VERY LITTLE
HITTING POWER.
3: OPINIONS VARY ON FUEL LOADS...