I'm posting this for a couple of reasons. 1) I can't let my boy Wilha take all the heat. He's a big boy and can handle it, but I'm gonna try and take some for him. 2) There is some innuendo that is being posted regarding the Claim Jumpers as a "rogue" squad. I want to put that to bed by telling you guys what exactly occurred over the past two weeks.
In the first frame of this FSO we were assigned A6Ms and Ki67s to attack a CV group. We flew to target were intercepted as can be expected and sunk the CV while taking down 11 enemy aircraft. As we flew back to base our leadership inquired about secondary targets. This is normal for us. There hasn't been an FSO that I've been apart of w/ the CJs that we haven't asked for a secondary target. Either we are assigned one or they say they don't have anything for us and we RTB. We did not receive a response. Our bombers, feeling frisky after sinking the CV, saw the strat as a target of opportunity. They re-armed, re-upped and blasted it into oblivion.
In the following days we received some heat on these boards regarding that decision. However, we did not receive any sanction from the CiC or CM or whomever is in charge.
Fast forward to week two. We are assigned Ki61s and N1Ks to defend a CV group. Our departure base had a strat on the radar ring. We decided to up, give it what for, and proceed to target. We went on to defend a CV group, that for some reason didn't have a CV, against all attackers except one lonely TBM. We shot down 21 enemy aircraft. We did as ordered, we completed the mission. We stayed on target til we had just enough fuel to land. We re-armed, re-upped and headed back to the assigned sector w/ the idea of defending any straggling attack on our CV. As we headed out a F4U was reported and we proceeded to the sector in which he was reported. We believe it was one of the recon F4Us. Unfortunately, we couldn't find him. Once again our leadership asked for and received no response regarding secondary targets. Myself and the four other N1K's proceeded to the troop strat, did our thing and RTB'd.
That's the story fellas. We completed both of our missions successfully, as assigned. Somewhere along the line the communication broke down between our squad and the FSO organizers.
We made a mistake both weeks in attacking those strats. We've been sanctioned and warned regarding that decision. We've apologized. I apologize.
We are not a "rogue" squad that is told to fly to point A then decides that we're gonna fly to point B. We successfully completed our missions. Once again, I apologize to those that had to clean up our mess.
<S> to all.
We'll see you in the skies, hopefully w/ me on your six.
Gear
Claim Jumpers
