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Chapter 11: “Navy, Hell, It’s the Japs!”
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Chapter11 311 C H A P T E R 1 1 “Navy,Hell,It’stheJaps!” J oe Moore was still outside the 20th Pursuit Squadron operations shack at Clark Field at12:35 p.m., waiting for orders from Major Groverat24thGroupoperationstoscramblehispilotsfortakeoff. Suddenly,oneofthesquadron’screwchiefsstandingneartheshack cried,“GoodGodAlmighty,yondertheycome!”The20thPursuit’s COlookedupintothecloudlessskyandsawalonglineofplanesflying veryhighinaVofVs.TheylookedawfullysmalltoMoore.Couldthey possiblybecarrierfighters?Readyforjustsuchasituation,Mooreordered thesquadron’sredflagrunuptheflagpoleoutsidetheoperationsshackas asignaltothepilotsofhis1stSection,waitinginthecockpitsoftheiraircraft neartheflightline,totakeoffimmediately.Runningtohiswaiting P-40B,heyelledathiscrewchiefto“Windherup!” BehindMoore’sship,hiswingman,2dLt.RandyKeator,wasstanding nexttohisP-40B,parkedinthenumber-twopositionfortakeoff.Second LieutenantEdwinGilmorewassittinginhiscockpitinthenumber-three position,anxiouslyawaitingtheorderthatwasnowreceived.Behindhim, parked near the operations shack, wereA Flight’s other three P-40Bs. Spreadoutinthesquadron’sdispersalarea,thepilotsofBandCFlights alsoreactedtothesignaltotakeoff.1 SecondLieutenantJackGatesofCharleySneed’s2dSectioncameoutof theoperationsshackandstoodlookingskywardattheformationoftwinengine planes.Theywereinperfectformation,comingfromthenorthwest intwowaves,whichwouldcarrytheminastraightlineoverClark.When theleadVofninebomberswasalmostdirectlyoverhead,Gatesbeganto countthem.BehindtheleadshipstoeachsideweretwootherVsofnine planeseach,wideningouttheformationintoabig VofVs.Ashesawbombs fromthefirstnineshipsbegintofall,thesecondbigVcameintosight, flyingonthesamenorthwesttosoutheastcoursebutpositionedabitsouth ofthefirstgroup.Gatescountedfifty-fourinallbeforerunningtoalarge ch11 4/2/03,1:06PM 311 PartIV 312 L-shapedtrenchsomethirtyfeetawayandjumpinginforcover.Hewas joinedbymanyoftheother2dSectionpilotsaswellasenlistedmenfrom thesquadron.Stillotherspiledintoanothernearbytrench.2 WhenSgt.BillKingsawthehigh-flyingJapanese,hefiredhispistol threetimesintheairasawarningbeforerushingintothe20thPursuit’s operationsshacktophonegroupoperations.FirstLieutenantBennyPutnam answered.Kingtoldhimtosoundtheair-raidalarmbecauseJapanese planeswerejustaboutoverthefield.Putnampassedthemessagetohischief, MajorGrover,butthe24thGroupCOquestionedKing’sidentification. “HowdoesheknowtheyareJapaneseplanes?”Groverasked.Overhearing thequestionKingyelled,“Wedon’thavesogoddamnmany!” Afewmomentslater,someoneburstintothehangarandshoutedthat therewerebombersoverhead.Putnamand 1stLt.BillCummings,the groupoperationsofficer,ranoutthebackdoorofthehangarjustintime toseebombsstarttumblingdown.Astheair-raidsirenwailed,thetwo ranforthenearestslittrenchanddivedin,withGeorgeArmstrongjust TheClarkFieldoperationsbuildingasitlookedinSeptember,1941.Photo courtesyJamesH.CookeviaKathleenCooke. ch11 4/2/03,1:06PM 312 [54.160.244.62] Project MUSE (2024-03-19 08:35 GMT) Chapter11 313 behindthem.ButGroverelectedtostayinthehangar,huddlinginthe sandbagareaforprotection.3 InthewoodenClarkFieldoperationsbuildinginfrontofthe24th Group’shangar,Sgt.LeroyCookingham,theseniorNCOintheWeather Detachmentquarteredintherearofthebuilding,alsoheardthesiren begingrinding.Wonderingwhatwasup,Cookinghamandthedetachment ’sradiooperatorcheckedwiththebaseoperationsofficer,theonly persontheyfoundinthefrontofthebuilding.“Waitaminute,I’llsee,”1st Lt.WillieStratherntoldthem.Heputthroughacallto...