Strana 33
#84204
BOXART STORY
In September 1939, the US Marine Corps (USMC)
operated just over 150 aircraft, the vast majority
of which were biplanes. However, the outbreak of
war with Japan prompted a rapid expansion of
its air capabilities. By 1942, twelve Marine Fighter
Squadrons (VMFs) had been established, followed
by sixteen more in 1943, and an additional twenty-
eight in 1944.
In many cases, new units were formed by
dividing existing ones. Such was the case with
VMF-441 "Black Jacks" that was established inn
October 1942 on Tutuila Island in the Samoan
Islands, originating from a section of VMF-111.
VMF-441’s foundation comprised seven F4F-3
Wildcats and eight pilots under the command
of Major D.W. Torey, Jr., who had previously led
VMF-111. The original VMF-111, also known as
"Triple One," was one of the few pre-war USMC
squadrons that failed to achieve a single aerial
victory, largely due to being stationed in remote
locations.
In March 1943, VMF-441 established its first
operational base on the atoll of Funafuti in the
Ellice Islands (modern-day Tuvalu). Located in the
Pacific, Funafuti lies about 1,000 km north of Fiji
and approximately 2,000 km east of Guadalcanal.
VMF-441 gradually transitioned from the older
F4F-3 Wildcats to the newer F4F-4 version. From
this airfield, the Americans planned to launch
B-24 bomber raids against Japanese island
bases in the Pacific beginning in April.
On March 27 (March 28 Japanese time), Kōkūtai
755—formerly the Genzan Kōkūtai bomber unit—
based at Tarawa, was tasked with conducting
armed reconnaissance of Funafuti Island.
Six G3M Nell bombers took off to cover the 1,300
km distance southeast to the target. After about
three hours of flight, two bombers were forced to
return to base due to technical issues.
As the formation approached Funafuti,
Japanese crews spotted two Wildcats climbing
toward them. Bombers dropped their payloads
and about 10 nautical miles from Funafuti, the
Wildcats attacked them from below. During the
five-minute skirmish, the first plane in the second
Shōtai, commanded by Lt. (jg) Takashi Kumamoto,
was shot down, resulting in the deaths of all eight
crew members. The Japanese gunners believed
they downed one Wildcat. However, they later
reported that a third aircraft attacked from the
north before flying southeast after a single strike.
The defenders were just two VMF-441 planes,
piloted by Capt. William P. Boland and 2nd
Lt. Ralph N. Spanjer. According to the unit's
diary, the two pilots encountered the enemy
within 20 nautical miles of Funafuti. Future Maj.
Gen. "Smoke" Spanjer later recalled that they
struggled to position their aging Wildcats for an
attack from above. Unfortunately, Spanjer's guns
malfunctioned. However, under fire from Boland's
guns, the lead Japanese bomber exploded. Boland
managed to damage another one before pursuing
the formation until he exhausted his ammunition.
On April 22, 1943, the bomber unit retaliated
with a raid on Funafuti. The attack caused varying
degrees of damage to all of VMF-441's aircraft,
with one Wildcat being completely destroyed.
Spanjer later recalled that a lone
reconnaissance Nell frequently flew in the area
where VMF-441 patrolled but proved challenging
to intercept. Determined to track its route, Boland
had himself dropped off on Nanumea Atoll
along with a New Zealand observer. For a week,
he hoped to monitor the enemy bomber’s flight
path but was ultimately unsuccessful.
However, upon returning to Funafuti, Boland’s
luck changed. On August 8, 1943, while on patrol
near Nui Atoll with 1st Lt. Samuel C. Middleman,
they spotted a solitary twin-engine Nell. Boland
successfully shot it down, marking the final
victory for a USMC pilot flying a Wildcat.
In late September 1943, VMF-441 relocated to
Nanumea. At that time, the unit was equipped
with F4F-4 and FM-1 Wildcat variants. After
a relatively uneventful tour of duty—depicted in
the box art of this kit—the squadron re-equipped
with F4U-1 Corsairs at Tutuila in December.
The unit then participated in intensive operations,
targeting ground positions in the Marshall
Islands, particularly on Wotje Island. During this
period, VMF-441 lost 15 aircraft.
VMF-441’s finest hour came during the Battle
of Okinawa in the spring of 1945. Commanded
by Maj. R. O. White and equipped with F4U-1C/D,
the squadron played a crucial role in defending
Allied vessels against Kamikaze attacks.
VMF-441 pilots achieved a total of 47 aerial
victories during the campaign, including two aces.
The most notable engagement occurred on April
16, 1945, north of Okinawa, during the defence of
the destroyer USS Laffey. In this intense battle,
the "Black Jacks" shot down 16 of 50 attacking
aircraft attempting to ram the vessel.
This extraordinary engagement merits an
in-depth article of its own in the future.
Illustration: Gareth Hector
Wildcats on the Atolls
Text: Jan Bobek
INFO Eduard
33
January 2025