Defense of Bataan Far East Air Force (United States)

aircraft mechanics of 24th pg 1 of last p-40es @ bataan field in january 1942

combat , accidents reduced did not eliminate p-40 complement, , group of pursuit pilots, called bataan field flying detachment, continued fly missions until last day of campaign, employing 30-pound fragmentation bombs , machine gun fire ordnance. 4 of 6 p-40s sent del monte on 8 january recalled bataan 2 weeks later, 3 arrived, leaving detachment still 7 p-40es , 2 p-40bs. small detachment, gradually attrited, had few notable successes:

26 january 1942, morning missions strafed boats attempting reinforce japanese landings behind usaffe lines on west coast of bataan, , shot down 3 mitsubishi ki-30 (army type 97) ann dive bombers trying support landings. night detachment conducted successful attack on japanese aircraft @ nielson field, shot truck convoy on north shore of manila bay.
1–2 february 1942, night attack 4 p-40s flying 2 sorties each bombed , strafed 13-barge convoy attempting delivery 700 reinforcements japanese beachheads, destroying 9 , killing approximately half troops aboard, confirmed later japanese records.
2 march 1942, all-day attack on shipping in subic bay , supply dumps on grande island resulted in 12 sorties. claims included total destruction of ammunition ship, japanese records not located corroborate more subchaser sunk. apparently extensive damage @ least 4 large ships made. 4 of 5 remaining p-40s used in attacks, 1 shot down , pilot killed, , 2 others destroyed in landing accidents @ mariveles.

a single flyable p-40e remained @ bataan field, although 5 march mechanics had repaired damaged p-40b @ cabcaben using p-40e parts, facetiously calling composite p-40 . occasional individual reconnaissance flights made in following month 2 craft. brig. gen. george evacuated pt boat on 11 march, ending effective usefulness of detachment, pilots severely debilitated starvation , disease. churchill succeeded nominal command 12 days before surrender, unable evacuate , became prisoner of war.

accidents put 3 p-40s based on mindanao out of commission 9 february, leaving 2 p-35s had escaped bataan. transfer of propeller put p-40 in commission 2 days later, , shipment cebu submarine of parts taken wrecks on bataan put in operation mid-march, when fire destroyed 1 of them on ground. 3 new p-40es, still in crates, shipped brisbane, australia, blockade runner on 22 february ran aground on 9 march on reef between bohol , leyte. hidden , moved barge @ night, crates reached mindanao on 26 march, makeshift air depot had been established in coconut grove @ buenavista airfield using mechanics of 19th bomb group , 440th ordnance company. 2 april, 3 p-40s assembled , flight-tested, making mindanao p-40 force twice large on bataan.

the 2 p-40s on bataan both flew out on 8 april, p-40e iloilo city on panay, landed wheels up, , p-40b cebu. 2 p-35s on mindanao flew bataan field on 4 april , evacuated 3 pursuit pilots in baggage compartments. navy grumman j2f duck 20th pursuit squadron raised mariveles bay , placed in service again on 24 march evacuated 5 officers. bataan surrendered next morning. p-40b reached mindanao crashed on 14 april trying land @ dalirig in heavy rain.

although feaf no longer existed command, p-40s , service troops on mindanao supported final offensive air operations of campaign. on 11 april ten b-25 mitchell medium bombers of 3rd bomb group , 3 b-17es of 40th reconnaissance squadron took off batchelor field , arrived evening @ del monte. small task force, commanded maj. gen. ralph royce, had planned break japanese blockade of luzon long enough supplies delivered sea bataan. surrender obviated mission , instead aircraft flew 2 days of attacks against landing forces @ cebu city , davao on 12 , 13 april.

the 3 new p-40es , sole remaining p-35 operated out of maramag field until 3 may. p-35 transferred philippine army air corps , 2 surviving p-40es captured intact japanese army on 12 may.

against loss causes of 108 p-40s , 25 p-35s (25 in air-to-air combat), feaf pilots credited usaf historical study no. 85, usaf credits destruction of enemy aircraft, world war ii, 35 aerial victories between 8 december 1941 , 12 april 1942. 33 pursuit pilots killed in campaign , 83 surrendered become prisoners of war, 49 of dying in captivity. 95% of enlisted men became pows, , 61% of died before repatriated.

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