Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 (United States)

Marine Fighter Squadron 323
Type	Marine Fighter Squadron
Nickname(s)	Death Rattlers

Marine Fighter Squadron 323 (Abbreviated as VMFA-323), known as the Death Rattlers, was a Marine Fighter Attack Squadron in the United States Marine Corps during the Second World War

Joe McPhail was one of the members of this squadron

Warren William Bestwick was another member.

John William Ruhsam was another

Dewey Foster Durnford Jr

Glenn O. Thacker

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Formation and history

12 April 1945 - First missions off of Okinawa

0530 - First mission of the day

At 0530 local time, 12 April 1945, with no clouds at twilight before sunrise, 21 F4U-1D Corsairs of VMF-323 scrambled off of Kadena Air Base (spelled Katena in the source) 26° 21’N 127° 45’E as it was currently under a bombing attack just before sunrise.

While 1st Lt. Albert Philip Wells was the sixth plane taking off, a Tony dropped a 250 lb bomb on the edge of the runway. He then sighted the Tony a mile ahead and above at 1,500 feet. Getting on his tail from closing in at it's 6 o'clock below, he opened fire from 200 feet. Up until that point he observed that the plane made no attempt to evade Wells until he opened fire, making him think he took him by surprise. The Tony made a sharp diving turn to the left. Wells turned with it, firing the whole time. He hit its tail, and the enemy plane exploded into flames and crashed into Nakagasuku Wan.

Other than that the flight was uneventful.

Report

Sometime that day a report was prepared by 1st Lt. Atilio Luigi Ferdenzi and approved by Major George Clifton Axtell of what had happened. There was a total of 114 rounds of .50 cal expended, the Corsair going 35 miles out and in return, the average amount of hours in the air being 3, average fuel loaded being 240 gal, with 200 consumed on average.

Apparently there were three damaged Corsairs from the squadron. One had nosed over on muddy runway, another hit by shrapnel on deck, and the third hit a hole while landing. These were reported that they could be repaired locally.

It was also reported that the Tony apparently lacked protection for gas tanks.

1330 - Second mission of the day

At 1330 local time, in the second mission of 323 at Okinawa, 16 F4U-1D Corsairs took off from Kadena at 26° 21’N 127° 45’E for Combat Air Patrol over Okinawa Shima. No kind of ordinance (bombs or torpedoes were carried by each plane), though 240 gallons on average were fueled in each Corsair. Unfortunately two Corsairs had mechanical problems and so had to return to the airfield.

The rest of the 14 planes continued on. While in the air, Japanese planes were approaching North of them, and so the formation split while chasing the different enemy planes.

The Fighter Director vectored six planes under the command of Major Arthur Layton Turner, who was the flight leader, with his wingman 2nd Lieutenant Obie Wesley Stover Jr. The second section was led by 2nd Lt Dellwyn Lewis Davis whose wingman was 2nd Lt. Robert J. Woods. Finally, the third section was led by 1st Lt. Charles E. Spangler. His wingman was 2nd Lt. Dewey Foster Durnford Jr.

Another six planes were vectored North to Motobu Peninsula. These six were led by Captain Felix Stephen Cecot who was winged with 2nd Lt. Leon Abbott Reynolds Jr. Second Section was led by Captain Joe McPhail, with 2nd Lt. Warren William Bestwick as his wingman. Third seciton was led by 2nd Lt. Glenn O. Thacker, with Everett Leland Yager on his wing.

1430 - Engagement over Motobu Penninsula

The Fighter Director vectored the body under Cecot to Motobu Peninsula, where Japanese planes were reported to be at 18,000 feet. The flight climbed to 23,000 feet and began circling.

Captain McPhail spotted some Corsairs chasing Zekes, and called out their position to the others, and rolled over with Bestwick on his wing. As they descended the four Zekes appeared right under the two at 19,000 feet, flying almost abreast in a two-two plane sections. Joe lit his guns on the rear plane on the right from 400yd away above and behind. His first burst of bullets missed and the Japanese plane saw his tracers. It made a couple of small turns, but then eventually McPhail started hitting. Pieces from around the cockpit of the plane came off and the Zero exploded in flames, as it passed under the rest of the formation. The three other planes scattered. Bestwick, upon McPhail's Zeke exploding, picked the second plane of the first section and fired a long burst making it explode. The Zero, however, pulled up and made it impossible for Bestwick to stay on his 6 o'clock.

Cpt McPhail, after his Zeke exploded in flames, pushed over and, although he tried finding his wingman, couldn't, and so went back to base.

By the time that the Zero pulled up, the first plane of the second section had broken off heading down to the right, to which Bestwick continued his run, firing a 20 degree deflection shot from behind the enemy. This Zeke exploded in flames as well.

At this point Bestwick tried looking for McPhail. He saw the first Zeke he killed spiraling down while smoking, but couldn't see the second plane after firing on it.

Thacker had followed Bestwick in on his original pass, and even tackled the fourth Zeke in the formation, making a beam run from its 3 o'clock on the same level. His bullets caused pieces of the fuselage to come off and it started smoking. The Zeke rolled, pulled through tightly, and escaped. It wasn't an exact confirmed kill, but it made Thacker think it was a possible one. Him and Yager then proceeded to return to base.

Not able to find his Captain, he got his bearings when he saw three Zekes ahead and above him doing slow rolls in column. Bestwick began to climb and tail them, until which he was spotted and they turned and started to bracket him. He made a 180 degree turn left and didn't see them any more, as they didn't follow him too far. He turned to look for them after a minute of flying away but didn't see them.

On the way back to base, he saw 4 Japanese planes 3,000 feet above and to the right of him flying in the opposite direction. He shifted his plane toward them to investigate and identified that they were Zekes. They slightly turned towards him but continued North. Unfortunately they were still 2,000 feet above him and several miles past. This, plus the fact that he was low on fuel, made him decide to return to base.

1515 - Encounter North-West of Ie Shima

At 1515 the first six planes under Turner were flying at 15,000ft, 71 miles northwest of Ie Shima, when they spotted an enemy plane at their 10 o'clock, 4,000ft below and 8 miles away.

Spangler and his wingman Durnford peeled off with Davis and Woods following suit. The Japanese plane they were attacking was spotted to be a Betty, which was camouflaged green and brown with the red insignia, and seemed to have the intent of destroying American ships in the area. Spangler closed in on the Betty at its 5 o'clock and began firing at it from 800 ft away. The tail gunner and top of the plane's rudder were knocked out, and the port of its engine was set aflame. It was now Durnford's turn, as he closed in from 7 o'clock. Then, the Betty turned to him, seemingly trying to give the side blister gunner a shot at him. At 200 feet, Durnford opened fire, aiming for the cockpit. Now Davis came in and set alight the plane's right engine 100 feet away from it and now the bomber spiraled down in a flame, exploding upon impact with the ocean. The members of the squadron didn't see any of the Betty's crew parachuting.

They spent the rest of the time working with the Fighter Director, but no more bogies were met.

1530

On the other hand, Cecot and his wingman continued their way north after they got word that bogies were reported at 20,000 feet, while the two were still at 23,000. Cecot then spotted an opportunity, a Jack being camouflaged green and brown with the red insignia. Diving 5,000 feet, he fired at the plane, which rolled, to which Cecot fired at the plane's belly and saw it smoking. However the speed of his Corsair prevented him from identifying more results, so wasn't able to claim a full kill. Therefore he thought he got a probably.

1530 to 1550

Unfortunately for Reynolds his hydraulic system was caput, so was unable to retract one wheel. Despite this the two continued chasing Japanese planes for 20 minutes before returning to base.

Wade and Ruhsam

The other two pilots, John William Ruhsam and Robert Wade of the 14 planes were on their way back to the airfield due to the inability of Wade to retract his landing gear. They were just south of Motobu Peninsula when a Zeke dove from the sun making a pass on Wade. Wade lowered his flaps and made a tight turn. This caused the Zeke to fly past, then rolling, and diving for the ground. Wade persued him down, almost in firing position, when Ruhsam fired upon the enemy with a 30 degree deflection shot. The Japanese plane exploded into flames and crashed.

Ruhsam and Wade then continued their journey back to the airfield and pancaked.

1630 - Return

At 1630 the formations and planes returned back to base.

Post Analysis

One F4U-1D was lost this mission when a pilot landed while the airfield was under artillery bombardment. While taxiing, he hit a tractor and the plane became a total lost. Fortunately the pilot was uninjured.

This was the first time that the squadron's members encountered Japanese planes, and after the attacks were having trouble keeping together as divisions

All these Zekes that had been encountered were camouflaged green and brown with the red insignia.

It was found that the pilots experienced considerable hydraulic problems due to the fact that the mechanics were unable to work on the Corsairs. A lack of time, poor operation conditions, and the fact the squadron just reached the airfield added to the reasons for trouble.

A report was prepared by Lt. Ferdenzi and approved by Major Axtell the same day.

Bibliography

• "Joe McPhail". WWII Archives. 1 December 2023.