Text Version


Col. Blair: There were 30 caliber incendiary and 20mm Cannon on the 
 
fighters? Didn't the cannon do the most damage?
 
Major Fisher: It was hard to tell. Sometimes they would start to burn in the 
 
tail. It was not always the gasoline that started the fire.
 
Col. Thomas: Were the ships loaded with gas?
 
Major Fisher: We knew about the Pearl Harbor attack which occurred at 3 
 
o'clock in the morning. We heard about it at 6 or 7. We were prepared for 
 
the first mission at Formosa when we got our first air raid alarm. One of 
 
the stations reported 27 airplanes flying toward Clark Field.  We stayed up 
 
all morning. We landed about 11:30, when given an "all clear". At that 
 
time the order came in to prepare to attack air bases on Southern Formosa 
 
at about dusk. We were getting our ships prepared and our crews ready and 
 
all organized when we looked out of the hangar and there were 54 airplanes 
 
over us. All communications to Clark Field had been cut about an hour or so 
 
before the attack. There was no warning. We were caught with everything on 
 
the ground.
 
Col. Blair: What did you lose in the Clark Field attack?
 
Major Fisher: Around 15 B-17' s, and pursuit about the same number not to 
 
mention B-18's shot up, and miscellaneous airplanes, around a total of pos-
 
sibly 40.
 
Col. Thomas: How about Nichols Field?
 
Major Fisher: They were patrolling when Clark Field was attacked, but for 
 
some reason they did not get word of the attack.
 
Major Fisher: We had no dive bombers in the Philippines. They first went 
 
into action at Java. The A-24 is a very excellent weapon. The most effective 
 
weapon against small surface vessels. If we had had about 50 or 60 we would
 
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