Posted on 12/24/2011 5:21:03 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
Sinks the SCHARNHORST, December 26, 1943.
Fso301,
I haven’t forgotten you, I have not had the time I need to pull up detailed sources due to real life commitments.
But in short, the simple fact that a large part of the Far East Air Force was caught on the ground, without fighter cover, and destroyed, hours after Pearl Harbor was known about, is in and of itself an indictment of both Brereton and MacArthur’s command ability.
They are in command and responsible.
You can find a good account of the attack in “Fall of the Philipines” By Louis Morton from the US Army in World War II series, (”The Green Books”) which is the Army’s official history of the War.
It is on pages 79-90.
Hyperlink to the Text:
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-PI/index.html
Link to the PDF:
http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/005/5-2-1/index.html
The attackers were sighted but word failed to get to Clark, or to the fighter bases in time. That is a command failure, because it is the commander’s responsibility to make sure his forces are ready, including the early warning system.
By the way, Merry Christmas.
The sad thing about Wake was that had the scheduled re-enforcements been on the island, a complete Marine Defense Battalion, instead of half a battalion, then the Japanese could not have taken Wake. They would not have had enough troops and ships available to overcome a complete defense battalion with a standard TOE.
Ok. We don't get paid for doing this so, this can be expected to drag on.
First things first, I'm going help clarify your misunderstanding about the B-17s at Clark Field being there in order to attend a party. Yes, there was a party thrown in Manila by the 27th bombardment wing for Gen. Brerenton on the night of Dec 7, 1941. The book you linked to even mentions it:
That night the 27th Bombardment Group gave a party, recalled as a gala affair with "the best entertainment this side of Minsky's," at the Manila Hotel in honor of General Brereton.immediately instructed his chief of staff to place all air units on "combat alert" as of Monday morning, 8 December.
Morton, Louis. (1952) "The Fall of the Philippines", (pp72),
The misunderstanding you had is that the 27th Bombardment Group had nothing to do with the B-17s. The 27th was an A-24 dive bomber group whose men were in the Philippines but whose planes had not yet been delivered from the States (they never would be delivered to the Philippines)
One convoy, caught at sea by the outbreak of hostilities, had to be diverted to Australia. Among other items, it carried the 52 A-24 dive bombers for the 27th Bombardment Group, which as a result, except for some 28 of its 1200 officers and men, was destined to fight its air war on the ground.Edmonds, Walter D. (1951) "They Fought With What They Had" Center for Air Force History, Little, Brown & Co., Boston, MA (pp-XI)
But in short, the simple fact that a large part of the Far East Air Force was caught on the ground, without fighter cover, and destroyed, hours after Pearl Harbor was known about, is in and of itself an indictment of both Brereton and MacArthur’s command ability.
Please read the long post I made where I extracted a timeline of events from Gen. Brerenton's diary.
Fighters and bombers were sent up from Clark and other fields in anticipation of a Japanese attack at dawn.
If after reading my post that is still not clear to you, let me know and I will provide additional references.
Once in the air, American fighters of the day did not have an extended loiter time. With no sign of the Japanese and with gas running low, the fighters had to return to Clark and other fields to be refueled. At about the same time the fighters were returning to Clark to refuel, Col. Eubank ordered all B-17s back to Clark.
Recall, even in the reference you linked, at Ilba Field, American fighters were running low on gas and returning to Ilba just as the Japanese attacked. It's hard to fight when your engine is coughing on fumes.
They are in command and responsible.
That's true but when you really look at the record, on Dec 8, 1941, the Gods of War were on the Japanese side. American fighters were up in the air seeking to intercept the Japanese. The bombers were sent aloft in dispersal. That bad weather over Formosa delayed the Japanese attack long enough to catch American fighters low on fuel and on the ground being refueled was to me, a chance event that happened to favor the Japanese.
The attackers were sighted but word failed to get to Clark, or to the fighter bases in time. That is a command failure, because it is the commander’s responsibility to make sure his forces are ready, including the early warning system.
I would ask that you go through by long post where I referenced Gen. Brerenton's diary and point to specific instances where you believe he made an incorrect claim as to fighters being sent aloft, or word not getting to Clark and I will attempt to address it.
Same to you and I wish you all the best in 2012.
Merry Christmas!
Hope you are not too cold in Santa Cruz.
Thank you for all your posts.
The same to you, and all the WWII + 70 Years readers.
Hope you are not too cold in Santa Cruz.
At the Aptos dog park the last two mornings it has been a real winter wonderland of frozen tundra. Or maybe its just global warming.
Thank you for all your posts.
It is my pleasure. I only hope to be blessed with the extra time and the resources required to keep them up for the duration. Not to mention the reliable presence of freerepublic.com as our cyberclassroom.
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