authors note
The Japanese were indeed extremely well informed about the location of American command and radar facilities and what was at each airfield. Historically they hit and essentially destroyed Iba on the first day and effectively knocked out the only repair facilities at Clark on the first day. From a previous picture you should be able to note how closely packed the buildings were at Clark.
Dyess did use dive and zoom tactics from pretty much the beginning, apparently he paid close attention and so did Wagner about what was happening in China. Having Chennault available for several months (Chennault would have been a frequent guest at the Officers Club at Clark and Nielson) gives them the opportunity to have discussed things with him. The P40Es were better aircraft than the P40B but their pilots were a bit inexperienced, particularly compared to the pilots of the 17th who arrived earlier or the pilots of the AVG. Making the mistake of dogfighting seems reasonable.
Japanese bombing accuracy was very very impressive in the early war. The aircrew of the 11th Air Fleet are the highly experienced veterans you hear so much about of the air war over China. The weakness is that their fighter pilots are more concerned about attack than close escort, hence their being separated from their bombers at a critical moment.
The Betty really was a flying gas tank, with an incredible range (for a twin engine bomber) but at the sacrifice of armor and it lacked self sealing tanks. Their lost rate when opposed was simply frightful.
As of the end of the first day there are no aircraft maintenance or repair facilities remaining, aside from some primitive facilities at the dispersal fields. So only basic repairs are now possible. The principal command centers for the Far East Air Force have been wrecked.
But on the plus side General Chennault now commands. General Frank will make it home and return to duty... next time in England (but is out of the story). Dyess and Wagner are really that bad ass so Dyess commanding such a successful intercept seems in character in my view.
The Japanese were indeed extremely well informed about the location of American command and radar facilities and what was at each airfield. Historically they hit and essentially destroyed Iba on the first day and effectively knocked out the only repair facilities at Clark on the first day. From a previous picture you should be able to note how closely packed the buildings were at Clark.
Dyess did use dive and zoom tactics from pretty much the beginning, apparently he paid close attention and so did Wagner about what was happening in China. Having Chennault available for several months (Chennault would have been a frequent guest at the Officers Club at Clark and Nielson) gives them the opportunity to have discussed things with him. The P40Es were better aircraft than the P40B but their pilots were a bit inexperienced, particularly compared to the pilots of the 17th who arrived earlier or the pilots of the AVG. Making the mistake of dogfighting seems reasonable.
Japanese bombing accuracy was very very impressive in the early war. The aircrew of the 11th Air Fleet are the highly experienced veterans you hear so much about of the air war over China. The weakness is that their fighter pilots are more concerned about attack than close escort, hence their being separated from their bombers at a critical moment.
The Betty really was a flying gas tank, with an incredible range (for a twin engine bomber) but at the sacrifice of armor and it lacked self sealing tanks. Their lost rate when opposed was simply frightful.
As of the end of the first day there are no aircraft maintenance or repair facilities remaining, aside from some primitive facilities at the dispersal fields. So only basic repairs are now possible. The principal command centers for the Far East Air Force have been wrecked.
But on the plus side General Chennault now commands. General Frank will make it home and return to duty... next time in England (but is out of the story). Dyess and Wagner are really that bad ass so Dyess commanding such a successful intercept seems in character in my view.
