1944-Contin ued

6 March A new specification for color of naval air-

craft went into effect. The basic camouflage scheme,

used with fleet aircraft, was modified slightly to pro-

vide for use of non-specular sea blue on upper fuse-

lage surfaces; airfoil surfaces visible from above

remained semigloss sea blue and other surfaces visible

from below, semigloss insignia white. A new basic

non-camouflage color scheme, all aluminum, was

specified for general use on aircraft not in the combat

theater. The maximum visibility color scheme used on

primary trainers became glossy orange yellow overall.

15 March The twin-engined North American

Mitchell, PBJ, was taken into combat for the first time

in its naval career in an attack on Rabaul by pilots of

Marine Bombing Squadron 413.

18 March Task Group 50.10 (Rear Admiral Willis A.

Lee), composed of Lexington, two battleships, and a

destroyer screen, bombed and bombarded bypassed

Mili in the Marshalls.

20 March Two escort carriers provided cover and

airspot for the battleship and destroyer bombardment

of Kavieng and nearby airfields in a covering action

for the occupation of Emirau.

22 March A new specification for color of fighter

aircraft went into effect. It directed that fighters be

painted glossy sea blue on all exposed surfaces.

26 March Corsairs of VMF-1l3 from Engebi flew the

first fighter escort for AAF B-25s on the 360 mile

bombing mission against Ponape, and were so effec-

tive in destroying enemy interceptors that later mis-

sions over the island were unmolested.

27 March Saratoga (Captain John H. Cassady) and

three destroyers, assigned to temporary duty with the

Royal Navy, joined the British Eastern Fleet in the Indian

Ocean approximately 1,000 miles south of Ceylon.

30 March-1 April Strikes on the Western

Carolines-In an operation designed to eliminate

opposition to the landings at Hollandia and to gather

photo intelligence for future campaigns, a strong Fifth

Fleet force, built around Task Force 58 (Vice Admiral

Marc A. Mitscher) with 11 carriers, launched a series of

attacks on Palau, Yap, Ulithi, and Woleai, and shipping

in the area. Aerial mining of Palau Harbor by Torpedo

Squadrons 2, 8, and 16, was the first such mission by

carrier aircraft and the first large scale daylight mining

operation of the Pacific war. The attacks accounted for

UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995

137

157 enemy aircraft destroyed, 28 ships of 108,000 tons

sunk, and denial of the harbor to the enemy for an

estimated 6 weeks.

15 April Air-Sea Rescue Squadrons (VH) were

formed in the Pacific Fleet to provide rescue and

emergency services as necessary in the forward areas.

Prior to this time the rescue function was performed

as an additional duty by regularly operating patrol

squadrons.

16 April Carrier Transport Squadron, Pacific, was

established for administrative and operational control

over escort carriers assigned to deliver aircraft, spare

parts, and aviation personnel in direct support of

Pacific Fleet Operations.

18 April In preparation for the campaign to occupy

the Marianas, photo-equipped Liberators of VD-3

obtained complete coverage of Saipan, Tinian, and

Aguijan Islands. For the 13-hour flight from Eniwetok

and return, B-24s of the AAF flew escort for the photo

planes and bombed the islands in a diversionary

action. This was the first mission by shore-based air-

craft over the Marianas.

19 April Saratoga, operating with the British Eastern

Fleet, participated in the carrier strike on enemy instal-

lations at Sabang in the Netherlands East Indies.

21-24 April Landings at Hollandia-Task Force 58

(Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher) supported the land-

ings of Southwest Pacific Forces in the Hollandia-

Aitape section of the north New Guinea coast. The

force of five heavy and seven light carriers orga-

nized in three groups, launched preliminary strikes

on airfields around Hollandia and at Wakde and

Sawar (21 April), covered the landings (22 April) at

Aitape, Tanahmerah Bay, and Humboldt Bay, and

supported troop movements ashore (23-24 April).

Eight escort carriers of Task Force 78 (Rear Admiral

Ralph E. Davison) flew cover and antisubmarine

patrols over ships of the Attack Group during the

approach and provided support for the amphibious

assault at Aitape. Carrier aircraft accounted for the

destruction of 30 enemy aircraft in the air and 103

on the ground.

23 April VR-3 operated the first regularly scheduled

NATS transcontinental hospital flight between

Washington, D.C., and March Field, Calif.

26 April Headquarters of Fleet Air Wing 4 was

established on Attu, western most island of the

Aleutians.