History of the 348th

The 348th fighter group was formed October 1, 1942.  The group was one of the first to be equipped with the P47 Thunderbolt and under the command of Col. Neil Kirby, received intensive training at Westover Field, Springfield, Mass. , and Green Field, Providence, Rhode Island.  In May of 1943 the outfit left the states for the Southwest Pacific, and in July it was flying combat missions from Port Moresby.

Sunday May 8 1943

Left Westover 6AM Sun 8.

Arrived Camp Shanks 3PM

Left Camp Shanks 7PM

Friday May 14, 1943

Arrived at Dock – 42nd St. Pier 15 at approx. 11 o’clock. Boarded USA T Henry Gibbons immediatly

Shoved off at 5AM

Sat May 15, 1943

Nothing unusual Boat Drill etc. Some of the boys got sick right away

Sunday (May 16) – Nothing unusual. All guns were fired for practice causing some excitement.

Found out where we were going and two descriptive pamphlets ??? passed out

Monday May 17

Water pretty rough. Waves break over bow occasionally. More sick than ever. Don’t feel so hot myself The water is as blue as the skies. Imagine we must be off the Fla. Coast. Rough seas continued thru night. So hot in the hold no one slept much.

Tue May 18, 1943

Feel better today. Water is still pretty choppy but am more used to it now. Been married 1 year and 1 month today. Never thought I’d be here – some where off the east coast of US possibly near Cuba, a year ago

Wed May 19, 1943

Slept on deck last night; real hot below – Feel fine today and ate 3 good meals. It has been real hot so kept out of the sun. Went to a movie this aft. Wm Powell in Varity Show. Old but a change. Planes circled over head most of last night so we were running close to land perhaps. Took a shower this aft in salt water. Shed my socks and am making use of the slippers my honey gave me for Xmas. Flying fish spotted off port bow to-day. Also saw some on Monday. Have my spot all picked out to bunk on deck to-night. Have seen nothing but water since we left New York. Hope to see Panama tomorrow. (Passed Haiti during last night. I was asleep so didn’t see it.

Thur – May 20, 1943

Nothing unusual to-day. Slept most of the afternoon. Its awfully hot in the sun so kept pretty much in the shade. Its pretty hard to find a spot to sit down as most everyone is on deck these days. No Land to-day possibly tomorrow.


Friday May 21

Spotted land at 7:30 this AM. It sure looked good. Wonderful scenery much like you read about. As we ran thru Gatun Lake took a shower in fresh water – wonderful feel clean once more. Spent all day going thru the Canal and tied up at Balboa for the night. Watched the scenery from the rail. Very interesting. In the evening a bunch of boys got an orchestra together and they played and everyone sang. Went to bed on deck about 10 o’clock. The rain drove me below at 4:30 AM.

Sat May 22

Still tied up at Balboa- played cards all morning. After chow went to Confession and Mass at 5 o’clock. Talked to a welder who was working on the boat. Asked him about Panama etc. He gave me a Panamanian 5 cent piece for a souveniour. Some natives brought some bananas aboard so managed to get one after a struggle. Turned in early. I slept below decks as it rained quite hard all afternoon and evening.

Terribly hot.

Sunday May 23

Pulled out of Balboa about 7:30 AM

Went to church at 11 AM

The weather is cloudy and cool so spent the day sitting on deck. Was in sort of funk all day. The land that can be seen looks like mountain Range that runs right down to the water’s edge. Evidently Central America. Had chicken for lunch (Turkey was last Sunday) Ice cream for dessert. Raining now so will sleep below again tonight. A feeling of lonesomeness sort of creeps over as we leave the last bit of land that seemed more or less like home.

Monday May 24

Weather cloudy and cool. Spend all day on deck reading or playing cards. Went to the movies From one till 3. An antiquated cowboy in Indian show. Even though it was old it was a change. Slept on deck but had to go below at 1:00 AM as it rained. Life aboard is pretty much routine sweating out chow lines washing etc.

Tuesday May 25

Had my hair cut short yesterday. Much more comfortable as ???? eve. Slept on deck. Was really quite cool.

Wednesday May 26

Sun is out bright today. We just sat on deck and got a little sunburn. Crossed the equator today. A pool was set up and practically everyone was initiated. I was properly dunked. It was rather unpleasant but wouldn’t have missed it for anything. Am now a “Shell Back” Jumped in the shower with all my clothes On to rinse off some of The Dirty water from the dunking large layered clouds in the evening quite Turned in about 9:30 below decks

Thursday May 27th

KP today not bad at all much easier than ashore and you really get treated well finished about 7:15 and turned in early. The clocks are being set back 20 minutes or 1/2 hour every day.

Friday May 28

quite warm today played cards or read all morning there were boxing matches in the afternoon didn't watch them as there was such a crowd couldn't see much. Oiled my gun in the evening and turned in early.

Saturday May 29th

Spent all day on deck either reading or playing cards also played cards in the evening.

Sunday May 30th.

Memorial Day. Went to church at 11:00 AM then to chow. Had Turkey again with ice cream for dessert. There were memorial services on the aft deck but didn't attend. Took calisthenics this AM and Intend to continue. Most of us need exercise badly. Spent the afternoon on deck reading and dozing In the sun. Notice today that my shoulders were peeling a bit from having Ben without a shirt for a couple of days. She would like to be back home today.

Monday May 31

Spend all morning on deck either dodging the sun or rain . First it rained like the deuce then the sun came out real hot and then more rain etc. After child decided to go to the movie but it was too crowded. Spent part of the afternoon on deck then went below and took a shower and wash some clothes. Watch some boxing matches before I went down. In the evening they had some singing on deck. Not much of a songbird so went Below and laid on my bunk. Intended to read but thinking of home and my honey seemed to give me more pleasure. Just before I went below I notice the sunset. It is always beautiful but tonight the dark clouds came right down and met the water and the sun shows through in just one spot. It looked like a jagged hole burnt in a pile of cloth.

Tuesday June 1st

Spent all morning on deck talking to some of the fellows. The sun was real hot so kept in the shade. After noon went to the movies. Bob Burns in “Alias the Deacon.” Good entertainment and a change. For the rest of the afternoon I ?????????? Went on deck after supper for a smoke. Then below early to lie on the bunk and look at a magazine.

Wednesday June 2nd

Rifle inspection this am. Took up a good part of the morning. Spotted some boats off the port side evidently refueling port for Subs. Laid around on deck all afternoon. Got a little more sunburn.

Thursday June 3rd

Sat on deck all day with my feet hanging off the side. They got a little tan. Which is good for them. Turn down early.

Friday June 4th

Spotted land around 7:00 AM. The society islands. They look like icebergs rising out of the water from the distance. As we drew closer palm trees and other trees could be seen. We dropped anchor at Bora Bora about 11:00 AM. Natives came out in their boats and sold beads beautiful grass skirts coconuts oranges and bananas to the boys. Spent all day on deck watching the sights some of the boys went swimming. It is really beautiful here. Bora Bora rises right out of the water and runs to a high mountain which looks like solid rock. Clouds hang around that tops all day. There are palm trees all along the beach . Natives look like Filipinos and speak French and Tahitian.

Saturday June 5th

Pull out of Bora Bora about 7:30 AM natives were still around the boats selling their wares. Read until 10:30 on Dec until the rain drove me below. I read there until chow time. Spent the afternoon reading two. Turned in early.

Sunday June 6th

A beautiful day but quite cool. Spent all am on deck talking and all afternoon reading or sleeping . Had something something for lunch. After supper went up for a smoke. Listen to the orchestra for a while then below and reading in my bunk.

Monday June 7th

Cool again today so cool I need a jacket to be comfortable. The sun is hot but it is quite windy. (Yesterday afternoon we passed gouqi island . Evidently quite large although we didn't come very close to it. )Spent most of the day on deck reading.

Tuesday June 8th

Cool again today an windy it is more comfortable below decks the sun isn't shining spent most of the morning reading. Haven't spent so much time reading in a long while. If I had something to read that was educational in some way I think I would know that I have gotten in The habit of reading again.

Tuesday June 8th

Cool again today. Spent all morning reading. In the afternoon went to the show. Life of Louis Pasteur. Although I'd seen it some time ago I enjoyed it a lot like the book I'd just finished Arrow Smith by Sinclair Lewis. After the show read some more. Chow and then on decked till dark. A bird landed on the foredeck. Supposedly an albatross. Crawled in my bunk with my clothes on and slept that way a good part of the night. I sleep below deck every night now as it is cold and more comfortable.

Wednesday June 9th

Dropped this day as we crossed the international dateline.

Thursday June 10th

cool today and sort of cloudy not very comfortable on deck. Read awhile this am. Read all afternoon also.

Friday June 11th

I spent most of the morning below decks. It was cold and windy. Red all afternoon on deck. Went below early read and talked. Slept well - about the best since I have been on board.

Saturday June 12

Read all AM spent the afternoon on deck. Went below early took a shower and to bed

Sunday June 13th

Worked a while this am. Weather sort of bad. Windy and rainy. Had Turkey for dinner. I enjoyed this meal far more than some I've had since I left. In the afternoon we gave out ammunition and rations . Later we got our packs ready as tomorrow is the day. OK

Monday June 14th

After breakfast went on deck land inside real plane looks more like some parts of the US. Hilly country and beaches along the water edge. This country seems to be more hilly at home where is sand dunes running along the water's edge behind the beaches. Here we have real high Hills. We ran along the coast for some time then into the mouth of a River. We went up the River to Brisbane and docked about 2:00 PM we were all ready to go ashore our boys asked and we found out we were going to stay aboard

Tuesday June 15

Still at Brisbane spent all AN at the rail watching the shore. In the afternoon was put on a detail to carry some supplies aboard touched land for the first time in a month. Roamed around a bit but didn't get outside the dark area. Bought some ice cream and had some cake. Also bought a newspaper. Have some Australian money for a souvenir. From what we can see of Brisbane that looks like a nice city. very nice homes traffic truck to the left. Quite a few horses and Huggies. We left Brisbane about 8:00 PM.

Wednesday June 16th

out on the open water again. We can see land though most of the time off the port side. The later part of the afternoon we went out of sight of land altogether. Slept until about 3:00 o'clock then hung around on deck and talked until chow time. Saw the sunset about as beautiful as anything I've seen. Different than looked in the states. Went to the show in the evening Edward G Robinson in learning ink. Went to bed early.

Thursday June 17th

On deck about 7:00 AM. Plenty of land insight. Evidently The Great Barrier reef. There are little islands sticking out of the water all along on both sides. Father back on the port side the mainland can be seen. Just a mass of Hills. Reached Townsville about 5:00 PM we anchored quite a distance offshore. There are quite a few boats in the Bay in which we anchored but it looks like a desolate place. Perhaps there is more to it further inland.

Friday June 18th

Still at Townsville. It is getting more and more monotonous every day. There isn't much of anything to do. Just walk around sit or sleep and read if you can find anything to read. Stayed on deck calling and talking and looking over the scenery. In the afternoon something something on deck and taught Anne went to a medical lecture at 4:00 PM yesterday also after chow up on deck and talk with some of the fellows until 8:00 o'clock. Saw the moon come up from behind the Hills. Really beautiful enormous and bright and shown on the water. A pretty sight. Went below and turned in.

Saturday June 19th

Still at Townsville. Spent the morning on deck reading talking or daydreaming of home. A great pastime on this trip. So glad I have a lot of pleasant memories of the past two or three years to think about. Spent the afternoon and after I had seen the show male animal really good. In the evening went on deck again saw the moon come up. Something something the way it comes up. Just as if someone were hauling it up with a rope.

Sunday June 20th

Went to church at 7:00 AM a chaplain came aboard from something. I had a good dinner and spent a good part of the afternoon reading and catching some sunshine. Left Townsville at 4:30. As we pulled out so the sunset. It was really beautiful where on our way. Let's hope we reach the destination soon.

Reference to Townsville: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-11-01-9204090273-story.html

Monday June 21st

My birthday whoever thought I'd be out here on my 31st. Spent all day reading on deck. Went below early in the evening then fell asleep on my bunk.

Tuesday June 22nd

The sun is bright as usual and it will be quite warm during the middle of the day played cards awhile this AM then sat in the sun and dozed until chow time. After chow we had a rifle inspection then went to the movies. Charlie McCarthy in here we go again. After supper went on deck again and stayed until almost seven then hit the bunk.

Wednesday June 23rd

KP today also it's the day we reached land. Came up on deck about 9:00 AM when I was through for the morning and could see land vaguely off the portside. It looks good and yet it may not be so good. I guess most everyone don't just know whether they should be sorry or glad. I finished KP about 12:30 and finished my pack to go ashore. We went ashore about 3:30. Down the gangplank from the Henry Gibson Gibbons onto a smaller boat and from that and two get smaller. Some job with a full pack and a rifle gas mask and Merrick bag jumping from one boat to another they were both bobbing around in the water which was kind of choppy and nonetheless easy to manipulate as we got away from the Henry Gibbons. It looked big and graceful sitting there at anchor. The boys’ feelings were mixed as it sailed away . That is they were glad to get ashore and yet still hated too leave the last connection with home behind. It was really rough getting off the boat up the gangplank and down the wharf to the trucks. It's just about Florida everyone. We rode for about 20 or 30 minutes in a truck to our campsite. It looked rough and not very inviting. We pitched our tents and then to chow. We had meatballs spinach something in mashed potatoes and Apple pie. Everyone was hungry and really enjoyed it After chow we bedded down on the ground that was covered in clumps of grass, sticks and stones. We didn't think much about birds termites and mosquitoes. We finally did arrange are mosquito netting and most of us I guess had a fairly good night.

Thursday June 24th

Went to chow immediately after getting up. About 6:00 AM. Spent the morning clearing up our campsite and digging foxholes.

Moved to our own Camp July 11, 1943

The arrival of the 348 as the first P- 47 outfit in the Southwest Pacific area coincided with the opening of the Allied offensive in New Guinea.  During the summer of 1943 the P-47 missions were chiefly as cover for bombers in the Lae-Salamaua area, and for transports carrying supplies to the new mountain locked airstrip at Tsili Tsili, only a few miles from the Japanese held Markham Valley.  The group met its first air combat over Tsili on August 16, 1943, when two squadrons tangled with the fighter cover of an enemy bomber formation, and shot down three Nips.
In September the 348th's planes provided cover for the paratroop landing at Nadzab in the Markham valley, and with the capture of Nadzab and Lae the group entered into one of the most spectacular phases of its overseas career, in  a series of fighter sweeps, generally by flights of four planes, over the Nip stronghold of Wewak. Colonel Neel Kearby first planned and instituted the sweeps, and won fame when, leading one of the first four plane missions, he attached a formation of more than 40 Japanese planes, shooting down six enemy fighters while the rest of his flight shot down three more. For this achievement Colonel Kearby received the Medal of Honor.

First Air Raid Sept 20, 4:30AM No Damage

Although the 348th's Wewak sweeps won notice in the U.S. press and in Australia where the P47's became known as "the Wewak Scourges", perhaps the most heart-felt tribute was in a captured article by a high ranking Japanese officer. Entitling his study "Battle Lessons Learned", he explained the demoralization and losses that resulted at Wewak from the frequent presence high over the airfields, of "pilots of superior skill in P-47's".
In December of '43 the group moved to Finchhaven,

First advanced detail left Monday Nov 14 arrived Finschhafen area Nov 17. (Dredges Harbor) Travelled by L.S.T. boat\I left Moresby Dec 20 6:25AM arrived Finschhafen area 9:25 Dec 20 assigned Intelligence Department December 24.

A few days after I arrived we had air raids. Sure was scared. Bombs dropped a mile or so away. We could hear them whistle as they came down and that my name must be on one of them.

and in the following month, covering the U.S. landings at Arawe, Cape Gloucestar, and Saidor, its pilots shot down 100 Japanese planes without the loss of a single pilot in aerial combat. The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its work during this period. From Finchhaven the group flew its first fighter-bomber missions.

Moved to Saidor March 14. (1944)

In the early spring of 1944, while the group was at Saidor, fighter-bomber work began in earnest with attacks on the Jap concentrations in the Hansa Bay region just ahead of the advancing Australian troops.
With the U.S. landing in Dutch New Guinea the 348th advanced to tiny Wakde Island,

Boarded L.S.T. 470 about 1:30 May 9, 1944. Put equipment in quarters but didn't have a bunk in which to sleep. Ate supper about 4:30. Chow was good. After chow tried to rig up a bed in a Jeep on deck with Chuck and Campbell. About dark it started to pour and I got soaked. Got disgusted went below and put on dry clothes and decided to sleep there. Laid down on the floor on a couple of life jackets in front of McSee’s bunk . Had about an hour's sleep and we pushed off at 1:00 AM. Sea was rough so rolled around all night with no sleep. Got stepped on a couple of times by fellows walking through the aisles. Glad to see the A.M. come.

10th May

Spent the day looking around at the sea and convoy or reading. Never saw such a large convoy. About 49 votes all together one of which was ours. Rained hard in P.M. so went below and read. Had 3 good meals but the chow line and line to wash mess kits was terribly long. At night slept in the front seat of a Jeep George which had a large tarp over it so didn't get wet . Had a good night's rest.

May 11

Spent the day on deck. Convoy practiced firing so watched them awhile. Quite entertaining. Things went along as usual. Slept in the Jeep again quite comfortable.

May 12

Up about six. Land right off starboard side. After eating watched as we pulled in towards shore. Beached about 9 and got off about 9:30. Worked all day unpacking equipment on beach with just enough time out for lunch - a pretty rough day. At night found some rations and ate a little and topped it off with a cup of coffee from the chuck wagon. Made up our bunks with a tarp attached to the barrack bags ammunition and barrels of gas. Didn't sleep well at all.

May 13

Got up early - had a little to eat and a cup of lousy coffee at the wagon. Helped to pile up a few drums of gas then went swimming in the ocean for about an hour. After a little while hopped on a Jeep that was going to the new area? Was on the road till about 9 P.M. and finally was guided into our area where our convoy was to be reorganized. Tried to sleep on the front seat of the Jeep. Mosquitoes just about ate me up and was generally uncomfortable. Enemy planes came over 3 times. Dropped bombs on the first run a long ways from us. No bombs were dropped on the second run. The third time the plane came up the valley where we were camped which made us quite nervous since we were camped in a Jap ammo and gas dump. Also a lot of Jap equipment around.

May 14th

When daylight came tried to scare up something to eat. Didn't get much but didn't really feel hungry. Spent the day until about 4 o'clock hanging around the area. In the meantime all vehicles returned that had gone on ahead. Had noon chow there made up of rations by a few of the cooks. Pushed off about 4 o'clock for the new area. Arrived in time to get tents up before dark. 8 men in a tent. Had a good night's rest. Two red alerts but no planes came over.

May 15

Got up about 7. Had practically nothing for breakfast. Hopped a truck to go down to try to find my A. Bag. Had good luck - found it at Paueghe Hill. Came back, had chow and then went down to the creek to take a bath, shave and wash some clothes. Felt pretty good after finishing.

May 16

Spent the day laying around camp. Took a couple of walks to the creek where it was cool and plenty of water to wash and take a bath.

May 17

Spent the A.M. around camp and in the P.M. John and I went down to the beach and prowled around the Jap supplies on the beach. Picked up a few things and took a couple of snapshots.

May 18

Went down to the P. O, in the A.M. and sent out the ???? mail. After lunch laid around the tent. About 3:30 P.M. the Jap supplies on the beach started to burn and the bombs and ammo started to explode. The explosions and fire was terrific. Billows of smoke and flames and debris flew into the air and could be seen for miles. It was a hectic night what with those bombs exploding and 3 or 4 red alerts we had. We didn't hear any planes over however.

May 19

Spent the A.M. laying around camp except for the time spent at the creek washing and bathing. The P.M. was as usual. Red alerts at night but heard no planes .

May 20

Loaded our equipment on L.S.T. No. 6 which took most of the day. Went back to camp ate washed and rested awhile.

May 21

Packed up our personal equipment broke camp and boarded the boat around noon. Had quite a time getting off the beach. Finally pulled out and worked our way into the bay and dropped anchor until about sundown then took off.

May 22

Reached Wakde about 8 A.M. Unloaded the boat right after chow which took until about 4 o'clock. Set up camp in a make shift ???? in the woods. Slept under a poncho. Didn't get much sleep as everyone was talking about Japs here and there. One of our boys who was on guard shot another of our boys who was also on guard accidentally. Didn't have much to eat for supper.

May 23

Worked clearing a camp area all day. It's terribly hot here. We are only 2 degrees from the equator. Finally got a tent up just before dark and was fairly comfortable for the night. One red alert but guess it was a false alarm.

May 24th

Worked on the camp area all day again. At night all through the night one can hear the artillery fire on the mainland. The enemy is really not far away. Have really seen for the first time the grim horrors of war. Enemy dead lying everywhere where they had made their last struggle for life. The place is strewn with wrecked equipment mostly aero planes. This place must have been a veritable paradise at one time but now it is just a mess of debris. Practically every coconut tree on the island, and it evidently at one time was one large ptn. have been shot up.

May 25th

Went to the ???? today to set up our department. Spent the day there except for time out for chow at noon.

whence its planes covered the landing on Biak Island, and flew bombing and strafing missions in support of U.S. forces at Sarmi on the New Guinea mainland only a few miles from Wakde. At this time the group's score for air combat stood: 231 enemy planes definitely destroyed; our losses one pilot shot down, four missing in action.
Next moving to Noemfoor Island, the group bombed enemy air fields over a wide area from Halmaheras to Ceram to the Kai Islands. Then after 18 months in New Guinea the 348th boarded ship and plane for the Philippines. One squadron, the 460the arrived several weeks before the other three, and proceeded to roll up an imposing score of enemy planes, shipping, and personnel destroyed. During a three week period it sank 50,000 tons of enemy shipping, which was slightly more than one-tenth of all the shipping sunk by the entire Fifth Air Force during the year 1944. On one mission seven planes of the 460th squadron wiped out a convoy loaded with an estimated 10,000 enemy troops en route to reinforce the Jap army on Leyte. The squadron's planes were the first of the Army Air Force to fly over Manila after the Jap capture of the Philippines. A flight led by Colonel Dunham, the squadron C.O. and the group's leading ace, made the first return flight on 17 November 1944.
The group's greatest day, in point of total of enemy planes destroyed, was December 14, 1944 when, in protection of the invasion fleet heading to Mindoro, 5 planes were shot down, an estimated 75 were destroyed and 20 more damaged, on the airfields of Negros Island only a few minutes flight from our invasion force, which landed on Mindoro the following morning.
In aerial combat at the 348th's best day came on December 24 when its planes escorting B-24's in one of the first heavy bomber strikes on Clark field, met an attempted interception by an estimated 100 Japanese fighters. 32 of the Nips were definitely destroyed, 7 probably destroyed, the remainder were driven off, and the bombers proceeded undamaged to carry out their mission.
Early in December, while the group's planes were operating from Taoloban strip, the majority of our personnel were camped inland near Burauen when the Japs landed several hundred paratroops on a uncompleted airstrip less that a quarter of a mile from the group's camp, cutting the only road leading from the camp. For several days the camp was isolated between the paratroops on the East and the Jap patrols on the West. Two men on guard post were surprised and killed by an enemy patrol, but the camp defense's prevented any breakthrough and the paratroops were finally wiped out by infantry and tanks.
When U.S. troops landed on Luzon the 348th, now in process of conversion from P-47's to P-51 Mustangs, began operation from San Marcelino airstrip a few days after the landing at San Marcelino and Subic Bay. From this location the unit entered upon what many of its members consider its most outstanding work of the war, bombing and strafing in close support of ground troops. This work lacks the excitement and glamour of serial combat, or even of bombing and strafing of seen targets. Bombs and bullets are poured into areas where the enemy is reported to be, and day after day the mission reports repeat "Results unobserved due to foliage". Only rarely are advancing ground troops able to tell what part of the damage found was done by a particular air strike.
At the time the 348th began ground support operations from San Marcelino, the infantry had taken Subic Bay and Olongapo and had started East with the objective of sealing off Bataan so that the Japanese, retreating southward from Lingayen, could not use the Bataan Peninsula's defensive strength as did the U.S. forces in 1942. However, a few miles East of Olongapo stubborn Jap resistance suddenly had been met in Zigzag Pass, where the road climbed in a series of hairpin turns overlooked by the enemy's positions. Our ground forces had suffered some casualties, had dug in, and in four days had been unable to make any appreciable gain.
On Leyte the 348th had done experimental bombing with a new and highly effective firebomb, and it was proposed that it be used to break the deadlock in Zigzag Pass. However the infantry division occupying the west end of the pass was uncertain about the use of the bomb in close support of their troops, for fear of inaccurate bombing. So a Jap supply area, well back of their front line, was bombed as a demonstration of accuracy, and was left neatly blanked with flame. There was no further lack of confidence; the infantry proceeded to direct our pilots bombing and strafing just ahead of their front line, and for seven days advanced steadily until their mission of scaling off the Bataan peninsula had been accomplished.
Occasionally the curtain of "unobserved results" would lift. One strike, directed by Filipino  guerillas who set off smoke pots to mark tan enemy bivouac area, was later found to have caused 700 Jap casualties.
After another strike west of Fort Stotsenburg, ground troops were able to move in quickly and found 574 Japs, all killed by the single air attack. Neigher of those missions involved more than 32 sorties and 30 missions a day. It would be impossible to estimate how many other thousands of enemy dead are covered with the phrase "results unobserved".
During the month of April '45 the 348th net a record for tonnage of bombs dropped on the enemy, with a total of 2091.5 tons. Total ammunition expended was just under two million rounds. So far as is known, this bomb tonnage is the greatest every dropped in one month by any group, either fighter or bomber, and the accuracy of the bombing attested repeatedly by reports from ground observers. Most of the record tonnage was dropped in the IPO DAM area Northeast of Manila, and helped pave the way for the infantry's capture of that vital control-point of Manila's water supply. From San Marcelino the 348th also flew missions over French Indo-China, Hainan, China, and Formosa.
In May '45 the group moved to Floridablanca airfield, west of Ft. Stotsenburg, and from there continued attacks on Jap ground troops, chiefly in the Cagayan Valley in northern Luzon. By the middle of June the enemy forces had disintegrated and scattered so that profitable targets were hard to find - - - so the 348th embarked for the Ryukyus, and began operations from IE SHIMA in mid-July.
Contrary to expectations the Japanese air forces did not choose to fight, and in the following month only 15 enemy planes were shot down - - without loss to the 348th in air combat. However there was an abundance of ground and shipping targets in Kyushu and North China, and the group's P-51's took a constant toll of enemy transportation on water and land before the afternoon of August 14 when the planes of the 348th delivered the last bombs dropped on Japan before the order was given o "cease firing".
No account of the 348th Group would give proper perspective without mention of its members- - particularly its enlisted personnel - -and the life they have led between Australia and Japan. The majority of its members came overseas with the unit 28 months ago. Most of these spent an unbroken 18 months in New Guinea without so much as the opportunity to speak to a white woman; endured, without the loss of a man, uncounted scores of enemy air raids; moved and built a new camp on  an average of once every two months; repeatedly lived for weeks on end on a diet of "C" rations varied with "bully beef";- and in their 24 month overseas showed their undiminished vigor and skill by breaking all Air Force bombing records. The pilots of the group shot down 361 enemy planes and received, in medals and clusters, Medal of Honor -1, Distinguished Service Crosses - 4, Legion of Merit - 2, Silver Stars- 13, Distinguished Flying Crosses - 123, Air Medals - 819, and Purple Heats - 12. It is not a cheapening of their successes to point out that the achievements of the group's enlisted men must pass without equal individual recognition only because their work is less spectacular, and not because their accomplishments and merits have been less worthy of high praise.
The Group leaders of enemy aircraft destroyed are: Colonel N. E. Kearby - 22, Lt. Colonel W.D. Dunham - 16, Lt. Colonel William M. Banks -9, Colonel R.R. Rowland - 8,Major W.G. Benz - 8, Lt. colonel E.F. Roddy - 8, Major S.V. Blair - 7, Captain G.A. Davis Jr. - 7, Captain M.E. Grant - 7, Major J.T. Moore - 7, Major E.S. Popek - 7, Major N.M. Brown - 6, Captain R.H. Fleischer - 6, and Captain W.B. Foulis - 6.