Ewa, Hawaii, on February 13, 1943. A Grumman Wildcat is in the background.
Front row: John Thomas(Ground Officer), Walter Hilton, Leland Eckart, William Johnson, Herman Spoede, Wilbur Jackson, Robert Jones, Alonzo Treffer, James Cupp, Foy Garison, Charles Winnia, Edward Shaw, Leonard McCleary, Milton Vedder, Arthur Boag, and Robert Bier (Ground Officer).
Back row: Frederick Buechmann (Ground Officer), Sheldon Hall, Gordon Hodde, William I. Coffeen, John Morgan, Milton Peck, Byron Leary, Gregory Weissenberger, Wade Britt, William Humberd, George Defabio, Robert Votaw, Theron Brown, Don Tate, Stirling Harrison (Intelligence Officer), and William Livingood (Flight Surgeon). VMF-213’s mascot, Doc Schnauzer, is between Cupp and Garison in the first row.
Back row: Frederick Buechmann (Ground Officer), Sheldon Hall, Gordon Hodde, William I. Coffeen, John Morgan, Milton Peck, Byron Leary, Gregory Weissenberger, Wade Britt, William Humberd, George Defabio, Robert Votaw, Theron Brown, Don Tate, Stirling Harrison (Intelligence Officer), and William Livingood (Flight Surgeon). VMF-213’s mascot, Doc Schnauzer, is between Cupp and Garison in the first row.
Events 1st Combat Tour [FN#1.a]
Dates 3 April – 12 May 1943
Tactical Organization (approximate)
Dates 3 April – 12 May 1943
Tactical Organization (approximate)
|
I
Britt 1 Morgan 2 Hall 3 Shaw 4 |
II
Weisenberger 5 Thomas 6 Defabio 7 Garrison 8 |
III
Peyton 9 Vedder 10 Eckart 11 Peck 12 |
IV
Leary 13 McCleary 14 Cloake 15* Votaw 16 |
|
V
Humbred 17 Spoeda 18 Cupp 19 Brown 20 |
VI
Treffer 21 Winnia 22 Boag 23 Johnson 24 |
To
Hall 3 Shaw 4 Morgan 2 Tate 25 |
Spares
Hilton 26 Jones 27 Coffeen 28 Hodde 29 |
* joined squadron April 12.
April 3.
Squadron arrived Guadalcanal from Espiritu Santos via SCAT. [FN#1.b]
Replaced VMF 124. (exception 2 pilots – Winnia & Thomas)
Boag - fever, severe retro orbial & bone aches. Symptomatic treatment 5 sick days
Tate - 5 days after accident, catapult into water when engine failed. Now having sl-productive cough. Fever 100-102. Sulfathiazole. [FN#2]
April 4.
Started operations. – local patrols.
Tate – no improvement to MAG12 Hospital
April 5.
Boag – unimproved, - to MAG12 Hospital.
Livingood – made Mess Officer.
April 7.
Aerial battle – defense of Russels & Tulagi. [FN#3]
Spoede shot down one zero. Britt, Humberds’ divisions contact. [FN#4]
(Big day for 214 & 221 – Swett -> 7 planes) [FN#5]
DeFabio – ground loop landing, plane turned over, no injuries.
APRIL 8
Boag – returned to duty well.
Tate – returned to duty. Had flight without exam., had diff. in landing. Checked à grounded sl. Fever. Rx – rest.
April 10.
Examined for promotion 1. Hilton, 2. Eckart, 3. Harrison to 1st Lt.
Thomas – returned to squadron to duty. From Base III Hosp. Illness – Malaria, species, undetermined.
Jones – developing jaundice, slight.
April 12
Cloake joined squadron.
April 13.
Britt killed in crash on before day break take-off. Mistook tail lights of parked planes for run-way lights(?). Crashed into two planes-all three burned. Apparently killed instantly and burned. Miller and Bernard (214) attempted to extricate but couldn’t. 2 mechs burned - 1 succumbed later. Burial in Army Navy & Marine Corps Cemetery (Row 42 – grave 2) (probably killed from explosion and force of collision - body burned and charred beyond recognition - fire extinguished on body - on removal from plane. Identified by operational roster & attendant circumstances - radio conversation.) Services by army chaplain.
3 divisions on mission over Choiseul & Kolombagara. [FN#6]
Coffeen missing in action – near So. Coast of Choiseul, last seen losing altitude rapidly with apparent engine trouble.
Examined for promotion 1. Johnson, 2. Garrison, to 1st Lt.
Weissenberger becomes C.O.
Peyton “ E.O.
Tate – returned to duty.
Thomas – vesicular, pustular eruption in left axilla. Rx calamine & sulfanilamide [FN#7] powder. No response until taken off atabrine.
April 14.
Examined for promotion 1. Peyton 2. Leary to Major.
Jones – apparently acute infectious jaundice. Atabrine discontinued. High CHO diet. [FN#8] G.I. complaints, Sick days – 7.
April 15.
Examined for promotion: 1. Shaw to 1st Lt.
April 16.
Examined for promotion: 1. Boag to 1st Lt.
April 18
Hilton – Malaise, retro orbital pains, backaches, headaches for past 4 days. Sl. fever. Rx salicylates, High CHO diet.
Winnia – rejoined Squadron from Noumea. D.- Dengue Fever. [FN#9] To duty well.
Hodde – gastric disturbances, anorexia, back pain, sl. jaundice, brownish urine, atabrine discontinued. High CHO diet.
April 20
Brown – began Rx to remove callouse (sic) on foot (Menthiolate [FN#10] & Salicylic acid)
April 21
Jones – returned to duty.
April 22
Greg’s division strafed Vila & Munda.
DeFabio – lost 46 inches of rt. wing due to AA or trees. Able to return to base & made crash landing after dark 1845 on runway as rt. tire blew. Plane went on nose. No injuries.
April 25 (Easter Sunday)
Aerial battle over Vangunu. [FN#11] Peyton’s division on return from strafing mission intercepted 40 Jap planes (about 30 Zeros 10 bombers) apparently headed for Guadalcanal. Peyton shot down three zeros, received 78 holes in plane but returned to base. Puncture wound in left Deltoid and lateral side of left knee, (-?-) [FN#12] shrapnel present. Peck returned to base after shooting down 1 zero. Vedder and Eckart missing in action. Eckart seemed to be straggling in formation.
(Vedder – 3 days later reported in – shot down 2 zeros) [FN#13]
April 26
Treffer – nausea, vomiting, & other stomach disorders – no diagnostic findings – 4 sick days
April 27
Vedder - reported picked up by C.W. [FN#14] DeFabio - acute cat. Fever. [FN#15] Rx apc, [FN#16] Sulfathiazole gargles, bed. Sulf. later by mouth. 4 sick days
Tate - had diff. landing, stalled in from too high off runway. Nosed plane over with brakes. Examined = Shneider O., pulse rapid 130 and prolonged after exercise, T=99.6
Peck- acute cat. fever. Rx apc, Sulfathiazole gargle, ephedrine nose drops. Good results.
April 28
Peyton - 20th station hosp. advised against removal of shrapnel in Deltoid.Vedder returned to base by PBY. [FN#17] Story: shot down two planes then was shot down, parachuted out at 500 ft. Picked up by natives and cared for by C.W. One 20 mm hit sending shrapnel in several places into right leg. Numerous penetrating shrapnel wound, sl. Suppurating – had been dressed c sulfathiazole. Rx Sulfanilamide locally.
Hilton - no improvement. Tests: urinalysis & CBC negative. [FN#18]
April 29
Vedder - wounds healing, edema & redness resolved. Given ½ cc tetanus toxoid & polyvalent anti gas gangrene serum at MAG 12. X rays taken at 20th station hospital - entered in health record.
Hilton - developed acute rhinitis, also cough.
Tate - T=101, pain in left chest, coughed up very foul smelling chunk of sputum – probably Brochiectasis. X-Ray chest impression: Probable unresolved pneumonia process, left lower lobe. wbc 10,000[FN#19]
May 1.
DeFabio- returned to duty well.
May 4.
Evacuated to Base Hospital #2 via SCAT (later reports)
Hilton D.- Chronic bronchitis à chronic bronchitis
Tate D.- bronchriectasis à atypical pneumonia
Hodde D.- jaundice à jaundice & malaria
May 6.
Peyton to duty
May 7.
Livingood -relieved as Mess officer
Vedder – Mess officer
May 11.
1st echelon left for Espiritu Santos. via SCAT
Leary & Halls & Treffer divisions
Vedder to duty
VMF 213 relieved by 124.
May 12
2nd echelon arrived at Espiritu Santos from Guadalcanal. Via SCAT
Greg’s, Peyton’s, Humberd’s divisions
END OF 1st Combat Tour
Squadron arrived Guadalcanal from Espiritu Santos via SCAT. [FN#1.b]
Replaced VMF 124. (exception 2 pilots – Winnia & Thomas)
Boag - fever, severe retro orbial & bone aches. Symptomatic treatment 5 sick days
Tate - 5 days after accident, catapult into water when engine failed. Now having sl-productive cough. Fever 100-102. Sulfathiazole. [FN#2]
April 4.
Started operations. – local patrols.
Tate – no improvement to MAG12 Hospital
April 5.
Boag – unimproved, - to MAG12 Hospital.
Livingood – made Mess Officer.
April 7.
Aerial battle – defense of Russels & Tulagi. [FN#3]
Spoede shot down one zero. Britt, Humberds’ divisions contact. [FN#4]
(Big day for 214 & 221 – Swett -> 7 planes) [FN#5]
DeFabio – ground loop landing, plane turned over, no injuries.
APRIL 8
Boag – returned to duty well.
Tate – returned to duty. Had flight without exam., had diff. in landing. Checked à grounded sl. Fever. Rx – rest.
April 10.
Examined for promotion 1. Hilton, 2. Eckart, 3. Harrison to 1st Lt.
Thomas – returned to squadron to duty. From Base III Hosp. Illness – Malaria, species, undetermined.
Jones – developing jaundice, slight.
April 12
Cloake joined squadron.
April 13.
Britt killed in crash on before day break take-off. Mistook tail lights of parked planes for run-way lights(?). Crashed into two planes-all three burned. Apparently killed instantly and burned. Miller and Bernard (214) attempted to extricate but couldn’t. 2 mechs burned - 1 succumbed later. Burial in Army Navy & Marine Corps Cemetery (Row 42 – grave 2) (probably killed from explosion and force of collision - body burned and charred beyond recognition - fire extinguished on body - on removal from plane. Identified by operational roster & attendant circumstances - radio conversation.) Services by army chaplain.
3 divisions on mission over Choiseul & Kolombagara. [FN#6]
Coffeen missing in action – near So. Coast of Choiseul, last seen losing altitude rapidly with apparent engine trouble.
Examined for promotion 1. Johnson, 2. Garrison, to 1st Lt.
Weissenberger becomes C.O.
Peyton “ E.O.
Tate – returned to duty.
Thomas – vesicular, pustular eruption in left axilla. Rx calamine & sulfanilamide [FN#7] powder. No response until taken off atabrine.
April 14.
Examined for promotion 1. Peyton 2. Leary to Major.
Jones – apparently acute infectious jaundice. Atabrine discontinued. High CHO diet. [FN#8] G.I. complaints, Sick days – 7.
April 15.
Examined for promotion: 1. Shaw to 1st Lt.
April 16.
Examined for promotion: 1. Boag to 1st Lt.
April 18
Hilton – Malaise, retro orbital pains, backaches, headaches for past 4 days. Sl. fever. Rx salicylates, High CHO diet.
Winnia – rejoined Squadron from Noumea. D.- Dengue Fever. [FN#9] To duty well.
Hodde – gastric disturbances, anorexia, back pain, sl. jaundice, brownish urine, atabrine discontinued. High CHO diet.
April 20
Brown – began Rx to remove callouse (sic) on foot (Menthiolate [FN#10] & Salicylic acid)
April 21
Jones – returned to duty.
April 22
Greg’s division strafed Vila & Munda.
DeFabio – lost 46 inches of rt. wing due to AA or trees. Able to return to base & made crash landing after dark 1845 on runway as rt. tire blew. Plane went on nose. No injuries.
April 25 (Easter Sunday)
Aerial battle over Vangunu. [FN#11] Peyton’s division on return from strafing mission intercepted 40 Jap planes (about 30 Zeros 10 bombers) apparently headed for Guadalcanal. Peyton shot down three zeros, received 78 holes in plane but returned to base. Puncture wound in left Deltoid and lateral side of left knee, (-?-) [FN#12] shrapnel present. Peck returned to base after shooting down 1 zero. Vedder and Eckart missing in action. Eckart seemed to be straggling in formation.
(Vedder – 3 days later reported in – shot down 2 zeros) [FN#13]
April 26
Treffer – nausea, vomiting, & other stomach disorders – no diagnostic findings – 4 sick days
April 27
Vedder - reported picked up by C.W. [FN#14] DeFabio - acute cat. Fever. [FN#15] Rx apc, [FN#16] Sulfathiazole gargles, bed. Sulf. later by mouth. 4 sick days
Tate - had diff. landing, stalled in from too high off runway. Nosed plane over with brakes. Examined = Shneider O., pulse rapid 130 and prolonged after exercise, T=99.6
Peck- acute cat. fever. Rx apc, Sulfathiazole gargle, ephedrine nose drops. Good results.
April 28
Peyton - 20th station hosp. advised against removal of shrapnel in Deltoid.Vedder returned to base by PBY. [FN#17] Story: shot down two planes then was shot down, parachuted out at 500 ft. Picked up by natives and cared for by C.W. One 20 mm hit sending shrapnel in several places into right leg. Numerous penetrating shrapnel wound, sl. Suppurating – had been dressed c sulfathiazole. Rx Sulfanilamide locally.
Hilton - no improvement. Tests: urinalysis & CBC negative. [FN#18]
April 29
Vedder - wounds healing, edema & redness resolved. Given ½ cc tetanus toxoid & polyvalent anti gas gangrene serum at MAG 12. X rays taken at 20th station hospital - entered in health record.
Hilton - developed acute rhinitis, also cough.
Tate - T=101, pain in left chest, coughed up very foul smelling chunk of sputum – probably Brochiectasis. X-Ray chest impression: Probable unresolved pneumonia process, left lower lobe. wbc 10,000[FN#19]
May 1.
DeFabio- returned to duty well.
May 4.
Evacuated to Base Hospital #2 via SCAT (later reports)
Hilton D.- Chronic bronchitis à chronic bronchitis
Tate D.- bronchriectasis à atypical pneumonia
Hodde D.- jaundice à jaundice & malaria
May 6.
Peyton to duty
May 7.
Livingood -relieved as Mess officer
Vedder – Mess officer
May 11.
1st echelon left for Espiritu Santos. via SCAT
Leary & Halls & Treffer divisions
Vedder to duty
VMF 213 relieved by 124.
May 12
2nd echelon arrived at Espiritu Santos from Guadalcanal. Via SCAT
Greg’s, Peyton’s, Humberd’s divisions
END OF 1st Combat Tour
The newpaper article, above, recounts the events on April 25, 1943, when four VMF-213 pilots, Peyton, Eckhart, Peck and Vedder, engaged the Japanese, at least 18 enemy fighter and 16 bombers, and turned them back.
|
Footnotes to 1st Combat Tour Entries
[1.a]Events of the 1st Combat Tour start on page 81 of Doc Livingood’s Flight Surgeon Log and continue through page 89. [1.b]AT means Southeast Combat Area Transport, the marine’s airborne transportation system. [2] The handwriting is a bit unclear but “Sulfathiazole” is the best estimation. [3] Tulagi is an island with a deep water harbor off the coast of Florida Island and was a primary target of the August 1942 Allied offensive. [4] In the extreme left hand margin of the page a box with a “1” in it was place with this entry, apparently noting one plane shot down. [5] 1st Lieutenant James Swett of VMF-221 on his first combat mission shot down 7 enemy bombers and received a Medal of Honor. On this day, he flew a Grumman F4F Wildcat. [6] The handwriting is a bit unclear but “Kolombagara” is the best estimation; it is a major island in the New Georgia Group between New Georgia and Vella Lavella. It is distinguished on maps with the Vila Airdrome. [7] The handwriting is a bit unclear but “Sulfanilamide” is the best estimation. [8] CHO has been found elsewhere to reference rice, wheat noodles, potatoes, bread, cereal, etc. [9] Dengue fever is an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes and caused by any of four related dengue viruses. [10] The handwriting is a bit unclear but “Menthiolate” is the best estimation. [11] Island in the New Georgia Group. [12] Could not determine word; could be “several.” [13] In the extreme left hand margin of the page a box with a “6” in it was place with this entry, apparently noting six planes shot down. [14] Doc. Livingood said this probably meant Coast Watcher and is consistent with its use elsewhere. [15] Catarrhal Fever. [16] APC tablets contained aspirin, phenacetin, and caffeine, hence the name APC [17] The PBY, also known as the Catalina, or "Cat", was one if not the most successful and famous flying boats ever in service and saw extensive service in the war, both in the Atlantic and Pacific, in Anti-Submarine Warfare, in search and rescue, in reconnaissance and attack, in freight and mail services, and even as tow plane for gliders. [18] Complete blood count [19] Doc Livingood said this meant “white blood cell count 10,000.” |
Interim between 1st and 2nd Combat Tours
Examinations for Promotion May [FN#1]
- May 12.
- Humberd to Major
- May 13.
- Thomas to 1st Lt.
- Morgan “
- Jones “
- Votaw “
- Spoede “
- Winnia “
- Hodde to. Mar. Gun.
(Examined at Noumea)
Examinations for Promotions June
- June 12.
- Cupp to Captain
- May 13.
- Vedder to 1st Lt.
- Peck “
Transferred at End of 1st Tour.
- Peyton
- - to CO of VMF 221 (6/1/43)
- Leary
- - to Camp Commander Fighter #1, MAG 11. (6/1/43)
- Humberd
- -(6/17/43) -to States. – with VMTB 131. [FN#2]
- Johnson
- – (6-16-43) – went into spin in a division loop –
Operational – last of division, - failed to recover after 4 turns
at 18-20,000 ft., bailed out, left leg struck by tail piece.
(on outside of spin) – picked up by crash boat – simple fracture
of left femur – given 1st aid at MAG 11 – transferred
to Lion One Hospital. [FN#3] - Cloake
- – had malaria in Sidney – due to cold – no smear –
Routine treatment – onset (5-22-43) - Harrison
- – had malaria in Sydney – routine treatment.
Onset (5-30-43) - Jones
- – tropical ulcer – rt. leg. – first mentioned
Has been present 1 month (6-8-43) - Tate and Hodde
- returned to squadron June 10 after special
Sydney trip at conclusion of hospital stay.
Returned to duty.
Tate not examined for promotion due to over
30 days lapse since ( -?- ). [FN#4]
Footnotes - Interim between 1st and 2nd Combat Tours
[1] Interim notes found on page 91 and 92 of Flight Surgeon’s Log.
[2] Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron.
[3] While the location of this hospital is not known, the term “Lion” was used to denote major base.
[4] Handwriting unclear; may be Navy term, looks like “De Nav.”
The Photo, below, is a still from a movie - Left to Right are: Winnia, Leary, Jones, Humberd, ?(Garison?), Votaw, McLeary (back). Identification courtesy General Leary and is from Diary of a Corsair Pilot in the Solomons. This picture with a wider view that includes the Lyster Bag, to the right, is from A Tribute to the Cactus Airforce, and the date approximated for the picture was April 20, 1943.