Accession Number: 85-236-F
Original work: Conte Crayon on Paper
Original size: 17 by 14 inches
LT Louis H. Bauer -USNA Hometown Philadelphia - Naval Academy class 1935 - entered at 19 years - Pensacola 1938 - commanding officer of Fighting Squadron 6 - (took part in Solomons - Aug 7th- First action)
"Took off from carriers in the dark - our first mission was to get any Jap planes on the Airfield (now Henderson field) and to destroy any motor torpedo boats or naval vessels of any kind - second strafe any military installations you could find in the beach - guns - troops - and things like that- then we provided air coverage, an umbrella over the forces including the ships for the next three days. In the three days we shot down about 21 combinations of all sorts of planes. It was all formation flying except one incident. Pilot named Firebaugh - he chased a group of about 15 bombers - he had a total of six planes in his group who became separated in the chase - they were attacked by a large no. of zeros and became separated - Firebaugh was attacked by five and he shot three and he himself was shot down - His plane caught fire and he held his shoot 'til he almost hit the water. Then swam 4 miles to shore. Fought in battle of southern Solomons Aug 24 - That was the day the, our carrier was attacked and in defending her we all shot down a total of about 41 - We lost three - one man in each ship - those boys died. Squadron score now 48. Took off about 4:15 AM. - land on carrier - gas up - flew all day right up to sunset. Weren't conscious of being tired - too excited - felt it a couple of days later. When they gassed ship we munched coffee and sandwiches in the "Ready room." Slept like top that nite [sic] - Had an early day next day. We lost two pilots who stayed out a little to [sic] late and couldn't get back to the ship and were lost in the dark. Did escort work for bombers for more than a month out of Guadalcanal."
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