Schonborg Family - Harold Carl Schonborg - VT-5 Jaluit Bombing Attack

I do not know when I found this listing of Aircrew killed in action on 1 February 1942.

Harold is listed as #8.

The BuNo is 0352

The Pilot was Lt J C Moore*

Harold is listed as  RM3c [Radio Man 3rd class] H C Schonborg*  

AOM1cH F Omo* was the Gunner

The script for this reads as follows: 

     Four significant efforts were mounted during February and March 1942, providing three TBD squadrons with "warm-" experience for greater things. On 1 February the Enterprise task force struck the Marshall Islands while Yorktown's group attacked the Gilberts. The "Big E" kicked off with a predawn launch against Kwajalein Atoll - 37 SBD's and nine TBDs, which bombed a light cruiser and a submarine. Lt Cdr Lindsey's aircraft released 54 500-lb general-purpose bombs with marginal results.

     A false alarm of two carriers in the lagoon prompted the launch of nine more TBD's under the command of VT-6 executive officer Lt Cdr Lance Massey in the US Navy's first aerial torpedo attack. Finding no carriers, the 'torpeckers' attacked other targets and, all told, Enterprise Air Group damaged eight or more ships. But enemy flak and fighters took a toll, downing five SBDs.

     The Devastators claimed four hits on a transport and two oilers when in fact only one ship was torpedoed. The 'torpeckers' were lucky, with only three aeroplanes damaged, but the 'Big E's' report stated prophetically:

     "Fighter protection for VT is mandatory. Fortunately, in this action VT-6 encountered no air opposition, but it is certain that their mission [next page]

would not have been accomplished had they been intercepted by enemy fighters which were in the near vicinity"

     Yorktown's aviators also fared poorly this day (actually 31 January across the International Date Line). In marginal weather they lost six of the 28 first strike aircraft, four of those belonging to Torpedo Five, which apparently fell victim to the weather conditions. Lt H T Johnson, the squadron's executive officer flying No 7 (BuNo 0298), and Ens H R Hein in No 6 (1516), ditched out of fuel.

     With their crewmen they made their way to tiny Gebu Island, where they were accepted by friendly Micronesians. However, two days later the Japanese found the Americans, who spent the rest of the war in captivity. Two more Torpedo Five aeroplanes apparently collided in heavy cloud as Lt Jack C. Moore's No 8 (0352) and Lt Max V Maher's No 10 (1507) were lost with all hands. Additionally, No 5 (0333) aborted when Lt(jg) R Denniston was unable to retract his landing gear.

     Only two enemy ships were damaged in return for these losses.

     Three weeks later, on 24 February, Enterprise hit Wake Island with minimal results. Nine TBDs dropped 108 100-lb bombs from 12,000 ft as VT-6 attacked oil tanks and a moored seaplane, but overall damage was limited. Then, on 4 March, the 'Big E' attacked Marcus Island, without launching VT-6, and without substantive damage to either side.

     Torpedo Six lost an aircraft on 18 February when Lt(jg) John T Eversole became disoriented in high winds and made a water landing about 60 miles from the task force. Happily, the crew of 'Tare 18' was rescued by a destroyer the next day and returned to Enterprise. Additionally, VT-3 lost a Devastator on the 22nd, a reminder that naval aviation posed more hazards than enemy aircraft or AA guns.

     Upon Enterprise's return to Pearl Harbor VT-6's executive officer was reassigned. Lt Cdr Lance E Massey assumed command of Saratoga's Torpedo Three, relieving Lt Cdr J E Clark. Massey inherited Clark's well-conceived doctrine of torpedo attack, and decided to keep the previous CO's tactics, which would be tested in less than 90 days.

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