Below
is the written statement by 1st Lt Joseph Buckley, AC
Took
off from North Field at 10:48 to complete a Training Bombing
mission against Chi Chi Shima. Reaching the assembly point
they took their position on the lead element at 14:31 local
time. The low element leader joined the formation approximately
15 minutes later. Attempted to join K-64 ion formation but
had to hold a loose formation until K-64 pulled in his trailing
antenna. The joined formation and departed for assembly point
at 15:07.
Formation
started a climb and low element leader dropped back from position
I dropped back and had much difficulty keeping up with him
as he rejoined the lead element. The low element leader again
dropped back and I held my position on the lead element as
I was pulling maximum Manifold Pressure and RPM and just holding
my position. I realized if I dropped back with my element
leader I could not have held my position and rejoined the
lead element in time to make bomb run. During the climb my
element leader pulled up to his position and dropped back
several times and I expected to rejoin my position in his
element on bomb run.
At
approximately 15:36 I was directly behind and slightly lower
than the left wing man on the lead element when the element
went into a quick turn to the right and then back to the left
and rolled out straight and level. I held my position during
this turns with some difficulty due to the suddenness of the
turns but was in the same position in relations to the lead
element as when turns had first been made.
The
leader of the low element K-64 had not been in position when
we went in to the first turn to the right and as we rolled
back to the left and rolled out K-64, was coming toward my
position in a bank to the right. After coming in for some
time K-64 started a sharp bank to the left. As K-64 reached
his maximum bank his right wing tip caught about one foot
of my left wing tip and tore it off. K-64 continued in his
bank and aborted from the formation.
I
dropped back slightly and tested the airplane for control
and found it to be satisfactory to safely fly the aircraft
in formation. I then moved back up into formation and took
my relative position on the lead element. In approximately
5 minutes leader opened his doors and I continued in formation
until bombs away. After bombs away I attempted to contact
leader of formation but failed on four attempts. Finally Terrier
9 who in turn contacted leader and informed him I was aborting
from the formation and requested a buddy ship to accompany
me back home. Terrier 9 then took a position of buddy ship
and accompanied me home.
Returned
to base and landed at 20:35
Landing
was accomplished without difficulty from damaged wing.