g.asher
2LT Darrell D. Irwin, USMCR
F2A-3 BuNo 01550, originally assigned to VMF-221 in September 1941.
"I was pilot of a Brewster Fighter, F2A-3, Bureau No. 01550, on 4 June, 1942. The air raid siren sounded about 0600, and Captain R. L. Curtin and I, the two of us being the entire fourth division, took off approximately at 0603. I flew No. 2 position on Capt. Curtin, and together we followed another division of five Brewsters to 14,000, on heading about 000°. About 20 miles out, at 0625, we see, about 2,000' below, two division of single engine Japanese bombers in large Vee formation. Each bomber division contained from 7 to 9 planes. The division of Brewsters in front of us made an overhead approach followed by Captain Curtin and myself, after which I never again saw Captain Curtin or any of the first division. During the pull-out of my run, I saw one bomber in flames, presumably shot by some one in the first division. I, then., climbed to about 16,500' looking for my division leader. I was just preparing for another run on the bombers, when I saw a Japanese fighter already on my tail. I immediately dove to lose the fighter, attaining speed of at least 300 knots, pulling out about 3,500'. The Japanese fighter was still on my tail and that time shot most of my left aileron away. I dove again to about 500' and headed for Eastern Island, knowing I could not maneuver my plane well enough for combat. All this time, the Japanese fighter, supported by at least on other fighter, continued making runs on me, each time going by me and making steep wing-overs for another run. All this time I carried full throttle, making about 240 to 260 knots. Their gunnery was very good and I doubt if on any run that they missed getting my plane. On several occasion, I heard bullets strike the armor plate in back of my seat which is only shoulder high, and several times I ducked my head as far as I could in the cockpit when a fighter was firing on me. I managed to land my plane with my head still in the cockpit and the Japanese still making runs on me. I landed approximately at 0650, during full scale dive bombing attack.
"On no occasion, did I have the distance between the Japanese fighter and myself to turn back and try any dog-fighting. The Japanese fighter, which I recognized to be a Zero Fighter, apparently had greater speed, much more my plane has several cannon holes in it, although my right wing tank which was struck by cannon fire did not burn, but was hot enough to scorch and blister paint on the wing and aileron. I expended approximately 170 rounds from my four guns, and the ammunition was two armor piercing, two ball, and one tracer. The Japanese had little regard for our ground anti-air-craft fire, which almost always burst behind the plane fired upon. I saw only one fighter shot down by anti-aircraft fire all he was strafing the field from about 100'."
In watching John Ford's wartime documentary on Midway, several SB2Us are seen taking off; it was easy to spot many markings variations between aircraft. I decided to play "Devil's advocate" on Irwin's ship and leave the original, smaller diameter fuselage insignia as it would have appeared in the fall of 1941 - and just eliminated the 'meatball.'
Irwin went on to make a career of Marine Corps aviation. At the rank of Major, he commanded VMF-224 from December 1942 to August 1944, flying both F4Fs and F4Us; during the Korean conflict, flying F9Fs, he led VMF-311 from 27 February to 2 June 1952.
2LT Darrell D. Irwin, USMCR
F2A-3 BuNo 01550, originally assigned to VMF-221 in September 1941.
"I was pilot of a Brewster Fighter, F2A-3, Bureau No. 01550, on 4 June, 1942. The air raid siren sounded about 0600, and Captain R. L. Curtin and I, the two of us being the entire fourth division, took off approximately at 0603. I flew No. 2 position on Capt. Curtin, and together we followed another division of five Brewsters to 14,000, on heading about 000°. About 20 miles out, at 0625, we see, about 2,000' below, two division of single engine Japanese bombers in large Vee formation. Each bomber division contained from 7 to 9 planes. The division of Brewsters in front of us made an overhead approach followed by Captain Curtin and myself, after which I never again saw Captain Curtin or any of the first division. During the pull-out of my run, I saw one bomber in flames, presumably shot by some one in the first division. I, then., climbed to about 16,500' looking for my division leader. I was just preparing for another run on the bombers, when I saw a Japanese fighter already on my tail. I immediately dove to lose the fighter, attaining speed of at least 300 knots, pulling out about 3,500'. The Japanese fighter was still on my tail and that time shot most of my left aileron away. I dove again to about 500' and headed for Eastern Island, knowing I could not maneuver my plane well enough for combat. All this time, the Japanese fighter, supported by at least on other fighter, continued making runs on me, each time going by me and making steep wing-overs for another run. All this time I carried full throttle, making about 240 to 260 knots. Their gunnery was very good and I doubt if on any run that they missed getting my plane. On several occasion, I heard bullets strike the armor plate in back of my seat which is only shoulder high, and several times I ducked my head as far as I could in the cockpit when a fighter was firing on me. I managed to land my plane with my head still in the cockpit and the Japanese still making runs on me. I landed approximately at 0650, during full scale dive bombing attack.
"On no occasion, did I have the distance between the Japanese fighter and myself to turn back and try any dog-fighting. The Japanese fighter, which I recognized to be a Zero Fighter, apparently had greater speed, much more my plane has several cannon holes in it, although my right wing tank which was struck by cannon fire did not burn, but was hot enough to scorch and blister paint on the wing and aileron. I expended approximately 170 rounds from my four guns, and the ammunition was two armor piercing, two ball, and one tracer. The Japanese had little regard for our ground anti-air-craft fire, which almost always burst behind the plane fired upon. I saw only one fighter shot down by anti-aircraft fire all he was strafing the field from about 100'."
In watching John Ford's wartime documentary on Midway, several SB2Us are seen taking off; it was easy to spot many markings variations between aircraft. I decided to play "Devil's advocate" on Irwin's ship and leave the original, smaller diameter fuselage insignia as it would have appeared in the fall of 1941 - and just eliminated the 'meatball.'
Irwin went on to make a career of Marine Corps aviation. At the rank of Major, he commanded VMF-224 from December 1942 to August 1944, flying both F4Fs and F4Us; during the Korean conflict, flying F9Fs, he led VMF-311 from 27 February to 2 June 1952.