US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

554 Amphibians Came To Conqner
The 4th Echelon was not quite so fortunate as the 2nd. While it was
enroute to Rendova, the LCI-66 and LCI-70 had a bow-on collision during
execution of change of course, and there was the usual rash of bogies, which
sent them to their guns. These amphibians beached about 0730 on the 4th
of July.
Before the 4th Echelon completed their unloading, sixteen Japanese
bombing planes, in tight formation, swept low over the beached landing
craft dropping their bombs. On Independence Day 1943, LCIS 23, 24 and
65 picked up their war wounds, but the landing ships and craft had the
satisfaction of assisting in putting no less than ten Japanese aircraft to final
rest.
TU 31.3.12, the 2nd Echelon for Viru Harbor, with one APC and three
LCTS, was diverted to Rendova and arrived in Rendova Harbor four hours
after the LCIS, as part of the 4th Echelon for Rendova, The interesting and
exciting experience of these amphibians was described by one of them as
follows:
At about 1413, although no warning had been received over the only
frequency we were guarding, 3000 KCS, it was seen that the guns of the two
LSTS near us were being put on battery, Our guns were on battery and had
been fcom before daylight so it was only necessary to warn the gun crews
that there might be a condition red. General quarters was called and the
ammunition passers and reloaders hurried to their stations, when some bombers
were sighted.
As the planes approached, they could be identified as Japanese, probably
twin-engine heavy bombers of the Mitsubishi 96 type. The planes were in a
tight V, flying at from 2500 feet to 3000 feet. Staff Sergeant Biggerstaff,
correspondent of the News Service Division of the Marine Corps, who had
just come aboard for passage to the Russell Islands, agrees about the height
of the planes.
They were coming almost out of the sun which bore about 115 “T. The
planes were coming directly at us a little off our starboard bow. They dropped
a few bombs, which as far as we could tell did little darnage, most of them
striking harmlessly in the water. The guns on the USS APC-24 opened fire
when the planes were at a range of about 4000 feet. The planes approached
in our direction and passed almost overhead. Our guns, four 20 MM
Oerlikons and two 50 caliber Browning Navy type machine guns fired
steadily at the planes and tracers could be seen hitting squarely in the
fuselage, wings and tail assembly. Some of the tracers from the 50 caliber
could be seen passing through the wings.
The lead ship in the formation which took the fire from three 20 MM
machine guns and one 50 caliber machine gun was fatally hit by our guns.