Magic Intercept NTF131755 Pt.1 (for Bmac62) by neiwil
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Description
Following Japans disastrous evacuation of Guadalcanal, Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto scheduled an inspection tour of the Solomon Islands to boost Japanese morale.On April 14th 1943 U.S Naval Intelligence intercepted a coded message, alerting affected Japanese units of the planned tour.
The message 'NTF131755' contained specific details of Yamamoto's arrival and departure times, locations as well as the number and type of aircraft that would transport and accompany him.Yamamoto would be flying from Rabaul to Ballale Airfield, on an island near Bougainville, on April 18th.He and his staff would be flying in two G4M medium bombers (Allied code-name 'Betty')
of the 205th Kokutai Naval Air Unit.They would be escorted by six A6M Zero fighters of the 204th Kokutai Naval Air Unit.Departing Rabaul at 06:00 they would arrive at Ballale at 08:00, Tokyo time.
Despite fears that Japan might realise America was reading their most secret messages, President Franklin D Roosevelt ordered "Get Yamamoto".
To avoid detection by radar and Japanese personnel stationed in the Solomon Islands along a straight line distance of 400 miles between U.S forces and Bougainville, the mission required an over-water flight South and West of the Solomons.This roundabout approach flight would be 600 miles with a 400 mile direct return.This 1000 mile flight plan, with extra fuel for combat was beyond F4F Wildcat and F4U Corsair fighters of the Marine squadrons based on Guadalcanal.The mission was therefore given to the U.S Army 339th FS of the 347th FG, who's P-38 aircraft, fitted with drop tanks, would have the range to intercept and engage.The P-38's were often fitted with a pair of 150 gallon drop tanks, for this mission a small number of 300 gallon tanks were aquired from New Guinea, enough to provide each aircraft with one large and one small tank.Despite the size and weight difference, the tanks were located close enough to the aircrafts center of gravity to avoid serious performance problems.Eighteen P-38s were tasked with the mission, with one flight of four aircraft designated the 'Kill Team'.The remainder which included two spares, would climb to 18,000 feet and act as top cover for the expected reaction of Japanese fighters based at Kahili.The mission was to be led by Major John W Mitchell, who set about drawing up a flight plan.Mitchell calculated an intercept time of 09:35 (07:35 Tokyo time), based on Yamamoto's itinerary, this should catch the bombers descending over Bougainville.He worked backwards from that time and drew four precisely calculated legs, with a fifth leg added if Yamamoto did not take the most direct route.
This would prove to be the greatest air intercept mission ever, a flight of 600 miles, over open water, navigating by dead recconing, in complete radio silence at an altitude never exceeding 50 feet.Mitchells only 'non-standard' aid was a more accurate ships compass, which he had fitted in his plane.
On the morning of April 18th, Palm Sunday and the first anniversary of the 'Doolittle Raid', on Rabaul Yamamoto's planes took off on schedule for the 315 mile flight.The bombers climbed to 6,500 feet with their fighter escort at their 4 o'clock position 1,500 feet higher flying in two V-formations of three planes.Even as Yamamoto was taking off, Mitchell and the pilots of the 339th had already been in the air for 35 minutes........'Operation Vengeance' was on
Comments (21)
fly028
Great subject! waiting for the next part! Well done. Like the top one, very natural, well posed. Great image!
preeder
OUTSTANDING mate. I cannot wait for the next installment. Keep em coming.
UVDan
Wonderful job.
Maxidyne
A great telling so far of this historical event. Looking forward to the next part. Great model, i'm guessing it yours but where did you get all those uniforms from. Excellent!
jac204
Great render. The second part is going to be very interesting.
warder348
Great story,excelent render, school is back in session. I love learning, can't wait for the next lesson!!
android65mar
Excellent stuff, can't wait to find out what happens!
debbielove
Wow! Groovy! Another epic brewing here Neil and a Bill request? Nice one Bill!!!! Great work on the info and the renders, top work.....your betty? If so COOL! lol Well done mate, am looking forward! Rob
peedy
Fantastic images! Great posing. Corrie
steelrazer
WOW, what a knockout! Very impressive model of the Betty...and the uniforms!!??? Do you have an "in" with a poser tailor in Tokyo? The figure pose setups are very nicely done as well. All around fantastic...and a great start to great story! All of my opposing thumbs up!
dbrv6
Thanks for the link and like the render with the ship - great look to the uniforms and all.
flavia49
stuning images
T.Rex
OH MAN, Neil! Another classic wherein you try to outdo yourself, again! All I can say is excellent, not just the images (photo real) but also the detailed, suspenseful account. We all know Yamamoto was shot down, BUT.... your way of telling the story is very suspenseful... what happened next? This is Neil at his very best! Keep up the great work! Wonderful history lessons! :-)
bmac62
Wow Neil...sorry...I've been AWOL for almost a day and missed this when you first popped it up:) Great start. Love the Admiral in his white uniform prior to takeoff. Although I know the story, I am thrilled to see how you break it down and retell it. I can tell you are having fun with this one. Super modeling and superb storytelling mate! And thanks for the dedi! I know I've got an email from you...will get to it this evening. Major Mitchell in this account reminds me of Brigadier General Billy Mitchell (US Army Air Corps) and his exploits trying to sell the War Department and particularly the Army's and Navy's old traditionalists on the need for developing airpower between the wars. Some good possibilities for renders here involving old bombers and ships.
Osper
Yamamoto was well know for a demamding puntual manner. The Allies counted on this!. Keep er up!
AliceFromLake
The higher ranks were always welcome targets especially prominent guys like Yamamoto. Well done Neil.
Froggy Online Now!
History brought to life mate, love the descriptivem the building tension - everything. Proper Neiwil entertainment for the masses - rock on bro!
fallen21
Awesome work.
flipomucho
... one of the more exciting WWII's episodes ! Fantastic and unusual (and here lies its main beauty) work my friend, I can see the japanese samurai spirit in your image ;)
Briney
Yes, a date with destiny... real needle in haystack stuff too. The uniforms are certainly the part and the worn out old Betty texture too.
kjer_99
The sad thing was that Yamamoto never wanted to fight America. He had lived and studied over here and knew what our capacity for gearing up for war would be. He was overruled by the Japanese powers-that-be and so he did the best that he could for his country. Having said that, as the Architect behind the Pearl Harbor attack, he was rendered America's public enemy number one. I'm sure that if he had lived, he would have been tried as a war criminal, but I have never read anything that suggests that he supported or was involved in any of the brutality of many Japanese commanders.