| SCOUTING SQUADRON SIX U. S. S. ENTERPRISE | |||
| At Sea 14 December, 1941 | |||
| From: | Ensign E. T. DEACON, USN, (Pilot of 6-S-14). |
| To: | The Commander, Scouting Squadron SIX. |
| Subject: | Report of Action with Japanese on Oahu on 7 December, 1941. |
| Reference: | (a) Art. 874 U.S. Navy Regs. |
- First contact with the Japanese aircraft was made approximately 30 miles west of Kaena Point. About 30 fighters were observed in a long column formation on course 350°, speed about 150 knots, altitude 100 feet. They appeared to be P-40's but could not distinguish any markings on the wings although they passed within about 400 yards of us. They made no attempt to attack and we proceeded on course 105° to Barbers Point at 500 feet altitude. Arriving at Barbers Point at 0833 we circled once at which time 6-B-3 came on the air and said "Don't shoot - Navy Plane". We then charged our guns and climbed to 1000 feet and headed for Luke Field. Ford Island was not visible due to heavy smoke at Ewa. Upon passing Ewa we noticed some 20 fighters (P-40 type) overhead at about 2000 feet and about 25 dive bombers heading directly for us at our altitude which had just pulled out of a dive over Ford Island and were heading toward Barbers Point. We immediately dove for the ground and headed toward Hickam Field passing over Fort Weaver at about 200 feet altitude. The ground crews opened up with .50 cal. and 20 mm. machine guns hitting both planes causing my engine to sputter and lose power. I then made a full stalled landing in about 2 feet of water just short of Hickam Field. My wing plane although hit continued into Hickam Field for a landing. After landing I was under rifle fire and machine gun fire from the beach some two hundred yards away.
- A number of shots came into both cockpits one striking my radio man in the right wrist and another hitting him in the right side of the neck. The shots in the front cockpit nicked my left leg in the thigh and cut the parachute straps at the cushion. After landing I used the rear seat radio cord as a tournequet on COSELETT's forearm then broke out the life raft and paddled about 100 yards to the crash boat which was in the channel. The boat took us to Hickam Field dock where an ambulance carried us to the Field Hospital. COSELETT was given emergency treatment there and after the bombing of Hickam Field was transferred to Tripler Hospital.
- I observed the second bombing attack on Hickam Field and noticed that low wing fixed landing gear type dive bombers were being used. They came out of the sun at approximately 8000 feet altitude in a dive of about 55° without flags but slow speed and pulled out at about 300 feet altitude. It was not a column dive but appeared to be a loose formation dive of 4 and 5 planes with a total of about 40 planes participating. The bombs were judged to be about 100 lbs. and 250 lbs. with delayed action fuses. I observed no other than the P-40 type fighter and the dive bombers.
| (Signed) E. T. DEACON |