g.asher
2LT Charles M. Kunz, USMCR
F2A-3P BuNo 01521 assigned to VMF-221 in April 1942.
"I was pilot of F2A-3, Bureau number 01521, on the morning of June 4, 1942. Our division was led by Capt. Armistead with 2nd Lt. Sandoval flying on his wing. Leading the 2nd Section in the division was Capt. Humberd with 2nd Lt. Brooks on his wing. I was leading the 3rd section in the division with 2nd Lt. Mahannah flying on my wing.
"Our division had touched down to end of #2 runway to go on standby at 0515. We had all cut our engines, and at approximately 0545, Lt. Musselman, the duty officer, drove down in the squadron truck and told us to turn our engines up and await take off instructions. No one in our division had heard the alarm sound and several sections had taxied down and taken off. Our division was in the air at 0602 when the radar vectored us out on a heading of 310 degrees, angle 12, and very shortly the radar vectored us to a heading of 320 degree. We had been climbing at almost full throttle and sighted about 40 on any planes in 5 to 9 plane divisions. Shortly after reaching 17,000 ft., there was one long F4F-3 thought to be 2nd. Lt. Swansberger flying in my section at about 20 miles. I saw Capt. Armistead make his attack and Capt. Humberd. My attack was a high speed over head approach. I was firing at the 5th the last division and saw 2 planes in flames in the 4th division very likely shot by Armistead and Humberd. It is my belief that Lt. Sandoval was drawn flat in his approach and was shot by enemy back seat gunner. I say my target burst into flames and pull out formation.
"After the initial attack, our division was completely separated and I zoomed up on the starboard side of the enemy Aichi type 99 V SE DB formation. I was about 2000 ft above the formation when I made my 2nd attack. I used the above side approach and was firing short burst frequently when this target caught fire. The pilot on the port outboard side of the Vee pulled out of formation to apparently let the plane on fire next to him get out. I started firing short burst at long range at the plane that left the formation when I was attacked. I was at an altitude of about 9,000 ft., and shoved over in a dive trying to shake the plane on my tail until I was about 20 feet from the water. I was making radical turns hoping the pilot couldn't get steadied on me. I glanced out of the rear and saw that it was a type 00 ISENTO KI Navy fighter. I continued flying on a rapid turning course at full throttle when I was hit in the head by a glancing bullet. After he fired a few short burst he left as I had been in a general direction of 205o heading away from the island. My plane was badly shot up and I knew it could not be used in another attack due to radio being shot and hydraulic system out. I flew for 10 or 15 minutes on this heading and circled until 0730 at which time I came in to the island and made my proper identifying approach and landed. I landed at 0750. I was very dizzy due to wound in head immediately went to dispensary. I expanded 312 rounds from 3 of my guns. In my opinion the 00 fighter has been far underestimated. I think it is probably on of the finest fighters in the present war. As for the F2A-3, (or Brewster trainer) it should be in Miami as a training plane, rather than be used as a first line fighter."
The citation for his award of the Navy Cross:
"The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Charles M. Kunz (0-7470), First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as Section Leader and a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (VMF-221), Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO (MAG-22), Naval Air Station, Midway, during operations of the U.S. Naval and Marine Forces against the invading Japanese Fleet during the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942. Leading his section in a dauntless and aggressive assault against a vastly superior number of Japanese bomber and fighter planes, First Lieutenant Kunz shot down two Navy Aichi Type dive bombers, thereby aiding in the disruption of the enemy plans and lessening the effectiveness of their attack. His courageous determination, maintained at great personal risk against tremendous odds, contributed to the success of our forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
Kunz went on to fly with VMF-224, adding six more to his record for a total of 8 confirmed aerial victories. Later promoted to the rank of Major, Kunz commanded VMF-311 while flying F4Us between 24 October 1944 and 10 February 1945.
2LT Charles M. Kunz, USMCR
F2A-3P BuNo 01521 assigned to VMF-221 in April 1942.
"I was pilot of F2A-3, Bureau number 01521, on the morning of June 4, 1942. Our division was led by Capt. Armistead with 2nd Lt. Sandoval flying on his wing. Leading the 2nd Section in the division was Capt. Humberd with 2nd Lt. Brooks on his wing. I was leading the 3rd section in the division with 2nd Lt. Mahannah flying on my wing.
"Our division had touched down to end of #2 runway to go on standby at 0515. We had all cut our engines, and at approximately 0545, Lt. Musselman, the duty officer, drove down in the squadron truck and told us to turn our engines up and await take off instructions. No one in our division had heard the alarm sound and several sections had taxied down and taken off. Our division was in the air at 0602 when the radar vectored us out on a heading of 310 degrees, angle 12, and very shortly the radar vectored us to a heading of 320 degree. We had been climbing at almost full throttle and sighted about 40 on any planes in 5 to 9 plane divisions. Shortly after reaching 17,000 ft., there was one long F4F-3 thought to be 2nd. Lt. Swansberger flying in my section at about 20 miles. I saw Capt. Armistead make his attack and Capt. Humberd. My attack was a high speed over head approach. I was firing at the 5th the last division and saw 2 planes in flames in the 4th division very likely shot by Armistead and Humberd. It is my belief that Lt. Sandoval was drawn flat in his approach and was shot by enemy back seat gunner. I say my target burst into flames and pull out formation.
"After the initial attack, our division was completely separated and I zoomed up on the starboard side of the enemy Aichi type 99 V SE DB formation. I was about 2000 ft above the formation when I made my 2nd attack. I used the above side approach and was firing short burst frequently when this target caught fire. The pilot on the port outboard side of the Vee pulled out of formation to apparently let the plane on fire next to him get out. I started firing short burst at long range at the plane that left the formation when I was attacked. I was at an altitude of about 9,000 ft., and shoved over in a dive trying to shake the plane on my tail until I was about 20 feet from the water. I was making radical turns hoping the pilot couldn't get steadied on me. I glanced out of the rear and saw that it was a type 00 ISENTO KI Navy fighter. I continued flying on a rapid turning course at full throttle when I was hit in the head by a glancing bullet. After he fired a few short burst he left as I had been in a general direction of 205o heading away from the island. My plane was badly shot up and I knew it could not be used in another attack due to radio being shot and hydraulic system out. I flew for 10 or 15 minutes on this heading and circled until 0730 at which time I came in to the island and made my proper identifying approach and landed. I landed at 0750. I was very dizzy due to wound in head immediately went to dispensary. I expanded 312 rounds from 3 of my guns. In my opinion the 00 fighter has been far underestimated. I think it is probably on of the finest fighters in the present war. As for the F2A-3, (or Brewster trainer) it should be in Miami as a training plane, rather than be used as a first line fighter."
The citation for his award of the Navy Cross:
"The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Charles M. Kunz (0-7470), First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as Section Leader and a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (VMF-221), Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO (MAG-22), Naval Air Station, Midway, during operations of the U.S. Naval and Marine Forces against the invading Japanese Fleet during the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942. Leading his section in a dauntless and aggressive assault against a vastly superior number of Japanese bomber and fighter planes, First Lieutenant Kunz shot down two Navy Aichi Type dive bombers, thereby aiding in the disruption of the enemy plans and lessening the effectiveness of their attack. His courageous determination, maintained at great personal risk against tremendous odds, contributed to the success of our forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
Kunz went on to fly with VMF-224, adding six more to his record for a total of 8 confirmed aerial victories. Later promoted to the rank of Major, Kunz commanded VMF-311 while flying F4Us between 24 October 1944 and 10 February 1945.