Eyes of the Fleet: The U.S. Navy's Seaplane Tenders and Patrol Aircraft in World War II
by CDR David D. Bruhn, USN (Ret.)
Book Description
Cloaked by jungle foliage, the unheralded seaplane tenders operated ahead of the Fleet, like the Navy's famed PT boats. As Halsey's South Pacific, MacArthur's Southwest Pacific, and Spruance's Central Pacific forces advanced toward Japan, these ships served as afloat-bases for patrol planes referred to as the "eyes of the fleet." The large fabric-clad PBY "Catalinas" and later PBM "Mariners" combed the seaways for Japanese forces and carried out bombing, depth charge, and torpedo attacks on enemy ships and submarines. Nighttime anti-shipping operations-"Black Cat" or "Nightmare" missions-were dangerous and daytime combat operations even more so, when encounters with more maneuverable and heavily-armed fighters necessitated hiding in clouds to survive. The Japanese were keen to destroy the scouts and their floating bases, and seaplane tenders often lived a furtive existence, particularly early in the war. Pilots, plane crews and shipboard personnel received scores of awards for valor, including the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Silver and Bronze Star Medals.
Eyes of the Fleet: The U.S. Navy�s Seaplane Tenders and Patrol Aircraft in World War II
Contents
Foreword by Roland Nino Martinez xiii
Acknowledgements xv Preface xvii
1. Peril in the Java Sea 1
2. Seaplane Tenders 17
3. Patrol Wings/Fleet Air Wings 27
4. Attack on Pearl Harbor 29
5. Japanese Attack on the Philippines 55
6. Defense of the Netherlands East Indies 67
7. Australia�s �Pearl Harbor� 91
8. Japanese Threat to Java Grows 99
9. Battle of the Java Sea and Duty in Australia 111
10. War in the Aleutians 123
11. Battle of Midway 145
12. War in the Americas 163
13. Guadalcanal Campaign 171
14. America Reinforces New Caledonia 193
15. A Swan in the South Pacific 203
16. French Morocco 215
17. European Theater 225
18. Central Pacific Campaign 235
19. Central Solomons Campaign 253
20. New Guinea and Bismarck Archipelago 277
21. Admiralty Islands Landings and Hollandia Operation 285
22. Western New Guinea Operations 297
23. Capture and Occupation of Saipan 311
24. South Palau Islands 323
25. Liberation of the Philippines 329
26. Assault and Occupation of Iwo Jima 353
27. Assault and Occupation of Okinawa 361
28. Third Fleet Operations against Japan 375
29. War�s End 391
Postscript 397
Appendices
A. Seaplane Tender and Patrol Squadron Battle Stars 405
B. Presidential Unit Citations/Navy Unit Commendations 415
C. Medal Citations for Officers and Men of USS Heron 417
D. Patrol Wings/Fleet Air Wings 419
E. Allied Vessels at Darwin, Australia during Attack 421
F. Silver Star Citation for Lt. Comdr. Lester Wood 423
G. Japanese Midway Invasion Force 425
H. Crews of PBY Seaplanes that made a Night Torpedo 427
Attack against Japanese Ships at Battle of Midway
I. Restructuring of Pacific Fleet Aviation Forces 429
J. Japanese Military Aircraft 431
K. VPB-18 Navy Unit Commendation Citation 433
L. Post-WWII Disposition of Seaplane Tenders 435
Bibliography 441
Notes 443
Index 483
About the Author 519
