VP22/A16-3/L11-1/A9
(085)
  10-trw
Patrol Squadron TWENTY-TWO
U.S. Naval Air Station,
Pearl Harbor, T.H.,
December 13, 1941.

From: The Commander Patrol Squadron TWENTY-TWO.
To: The Commander-in-Chief, PACIFIC FLEET
 
Subject: Summary of action and damage during Air Raid on December 7, 1941.
 
Reference: CinCPac Conf. despatch 102102 of December 1941.

  1. The following information is submitted in accordance with reference (a).

    1. Offensive measures:

      1. First Attack - A total of three (3) .50 cal. machine guns were manned in three (3) different planes before completion of the attack.

      2. Second Attack - A total of four (4) .30 cal. machine guns and eight (8) .50 cal. machine guns were manned in four different airplanes during the second attack.

      3. Ammunition Expenditure - Approximately 2000 rounds of .30 cal. and 2000 rounds of .50 cal. ammunition was expended.

      4. Damage inflicted - Two (2) enemy planes at which fire was being directed were shot down off the southern end of Ford Island during the second attack and two additional enemy planes were seen shot down during the same attack.

    2. Losses:

      1. Personnel - None killed three received minor scratches from first attack.

      2. Material - One (1) bomb struck Patrol Squadron Twenty-Two parking area (ramp #4), the explosion and subsequent fire completely destroyed six (6) PBY-3 airplanes, damaged one (1) PBY-3 airplane beyond repair and put the remaining five (5) out of commission for from one to ten days. This bomb is believed to be the first one dropped on Ford Island or the adjacent ships.

        One (1) bomb struck the small arms magazine at North East corner of hangar (building #6) and the resulting fire burned the wooden part of about two-fifths of the hangar and numerous miscellaneous squadron spare parts before being brought under control.

        One bomb struck the underwater portion of ramp number four.

    3. Conduct of Personnel:

      The conduct of all personnel was outstanding. Those living ashore reported for duty immediately. Pilots, gunners, and radiomen volunteered to fly and man landplanes with which they were unfamiliar in order to pursue enemy aircraft. A number of these volunteers were assigned to and carried out these duties until regular crews of these aircraft arrived to replace them.

[signed]
FRANK O'BEIRNE.

Copy to:


Transcribed and formatted for HTML by Patrick Clancey (patrick@akamail.com)