As a part of a fighter sweep, I was launched in my F6F-5 Grumman "Hellcat" from the Intrepid on Oct 12, '44 to attack the Japanese airfield at Shinchecau on the upper West Coast of Formosa.
Each plane in the 16 plane flight was carrying a 500 pound general purpose bomb. We came in from the East at 20,000 feet over the high mountains of Eastern Formosa and proceeded to the target.
There it was - a large airdrome complete with shops, hangers, and loaded with anti-aircraft positions. Our flight leader, a conservative, cautious pilot, circled the airfield an extra time to be certain we were at the proper location. This was nice but it gave the Japanese gunners plenty of time to "load and lock".
We came down as steeply and fast as we could into the face of a tremendous amount of AAA fire. We dropped our bombs on the hangers and pulled up into a swarm of green "zekes" - the Japanese "zeros".
Presently some 32 Hellcats (12 from the U.S.S. Bunker Hill and 4 from a light carrier) were mixing it up with many zeros. I saw 5 parachutes in the air at one time. A burst into a zero would cause it to commence smoking and the pilot would pop out like the cockpit seat was spring-loaded. Just as we pulled out of our bomb run we encountered about 12 light bombers (Lily) circling the field for landing. These were quickly shot down (I got one) and then we pulled up into the zeros.
A tremendous dogfight commenced (just as in WWI) and our flight of 32 aircraft shot down some 30-40 zeros. I got two.
Approximately 12 days later (Oct 24, '44) Carrier Air Group 18 launched about 60 dive bombers, torpedo planes and fighters from the Intrepid for the initial attack on the Central Force of the Japanese Fleet in the Battle for Leyte Gulf.
My wingman and I were parked down on the hanger deck as far back as we could be which resulted in the two of us being launched quite late. The other 60+ aircraft had joined up and were headed for the Japanese Central Force (4 battleships, 4 cruisers and several destroyers).
I set a course for the San Bernardino Straits and cruised at a more-than-normal-power setting in order to catch the strike group but when I arrived at the San Bernardino Straits they were still 40-50 miles ahead of me. I called the strike leader, Commander W.E. Ellis (late Vice Admiral) and informed him of my position and intentions. He ordered me to return to the Intrepid. I made a 180 degree turn and headed back to the task force.
After about 10 minutes on my easterly course I heard the task force fighter director - on Intrepid - telling all aircraft to remain clear of the task force as a Japanese dive bomber had dropped a bomb very close to "Pedro" base (U.S.S. Cabot). I thought that this Japanese aircraft should be returning to its base in the Philippines and perhaps I could intercept it. After a few minutes I saw it on a head-on course to mine at about 7000 feet altitude. I was at 8000 guns, adjusted my gunfight and waited until the right moment. I peeled off and come down on his left side and made a perfect 30 degree pursuit curve run. When in gun range I gave him about 30 mils lead and pressed the trigger. I believe every bullet hit the "Jill" aircraft as it exploded and burned in a spectacular fashion and made a large greasy black spot on the ocean. I was quite pleased with myself and credited many hundreds of hours of training and practice had paid off.
Since the weather was its usual state - low clouds and poor visibility - I dropped down to about 800 feet so I could locate the task force. After several minutes I noticed a twin-engine Japanese bomber (Francis) headed toward our task force. It flew into a small cloud. I thought - it will be coming out of the cloud soon and prepared to attack when it did. Presently it popped out of the cloud and I made a run from the port quarter. I fired about 3 good bursts and knocked on the left engine, cockpit area and then the right engine. The Francis nosed down at a shallow angle, hit the ocean and broke into thousands of small pieces. My wing man told me that the tail gunner was firing his 2 20mm cannons at me but I was so intent on the attack that I did not see this - just as I don't hear the rooster pheasant cackle when it gets up from the cornfield.
I landed back aboard the Intrepid and my wingman ( a new replacement pilot with no prior combat experience) had told everyone in the ready room about I was so "hot with the guns" that he did not get off a single shot. He hounded me about that until the war was over and he returned to civilian life.
Later on Nov 25, '44, the Intrepid had launched a strike group against 4 Japanese destroyers at anchor on the NW coast of Marinduque Island in the central Philippines. This strike group sank two of the destroyers. In the afternoon I was part of a strike group of 12 Hellcats, 8 SB2C dive bombers and 8 TBM torpedo planes launched against the remaining two destroyers. I was the last aircraft to take off. I was airborne and about 1 mile from the Intrepid I glance back at the ship and saw a Kamikaze hit the flight deck of the Intrepid - then another Kamikaze right about where I was spotted prior to take-off. Had I been launched 30 seconds later I would not be here to tell about it. The Intrepid was badly damaged and lost 72 of the crew in the fires that ensued.
And so came to pass a glorious chapter in Naval Aviation in which Carrier Air Group 18 aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid destroyed 182 enemy aircraft in the air, burned another 350 on the ground and was instrumental in the sinking of 2 battleships (including the MUSASHI - a sister ship of the YAMATO), several cruisers, destroyers and 2 aircraft carriers.
Yours truly,
FCM Frank C. Hearrell, Jr.
Fighter Sweep - Oct 12, 1944