published on: 17/02/2026
Author:
W. Jarvis
Fighter Squadron 28 Action Report
Date - 12th March 1945, Time - 1300, 1520 Zn plus 10
Weather - Clear, Visibility - Good, Ceiling - Unlimited
Unit Reporting - Staff Sergeant W.Jarvis, Hog 4, Fighter Squadron 28, USS Saratoga (CV-3)
Nature of Operation - Combat air patrol over Iwo Jima in support of USMC ground forces.
Specific Objectives - Maintain air superiority over Iwo Jima & eliminate IJN naval air wing.
Forces Engaged:
Own - 12 F4U Corsair Fighters, 12 TBF Avenger Torpedo Bombers
Enemy - 12 A6M Zero Fighters, 12 B5N Kate Torpedo Bombers
Brief Description of Action:
Fighter Squadron 28 was ordered to launch from USS Saratoga at 1315 alongside Torpedo Squadron 46 from USS Enterprise (CV-6) following positive contact with an IJN naval taskforce making its way towards Iwo Jima. Torpedo Squadron 46 was ordered to engage Japanese surface vessels while Fighter Squadron 28 replaced the previous Squadron engaged in combat air patrol duties over Iwo Jima.
From 1319 to 1326 I patrolled around Mount Suribachi and the No 1 Airfield at an altitude of 2500m without encountering any Japanese aircraft. Squadron Commander, Hog 1, radioed at 1327 that he had engaged an enemy aircraft heading towards Mount Suribachi, I joined this intercept and could see the enemy aircraft had been heavily damaged by Hog 1, Hog 1 then pulled off and I finished off the aircraft with a short 2 second burst, likely a B5N Torpedo Bomber. At 1331 I was at an altitude of 1500m above the No 2 Airfield and spotted a single Japanese aircraft, an A6M Zero, headed towards allied naval vessels, upon which I performed aggressive manoeuvres to get behind the aircraft which took little evasive action, I fired a longer 4 second burst into the body of the aircraft, igniting a fire and causing it to crash. Due to fuel constraints, at 1334 I returned to and made a landing on USS Saratoga (CV-3), to rearm and refuel my aircraft. I was back on station over Iwo Jima by 1345.
1332, 12th March 1945 - Gun camera footage of A6M Zero shot down over No 2 Airfield
From 1345 to 1400 I continued my sweep for enemy aircraft over Iwo Jima without incident. At 1402 several Japanese aircraft were spotted by Hog 2 attempting to attack allied naval taskforce to the south east of Iwo Jima, one aircraft was shot down by Hog 2 at 1404 to the east of Mount Suribachi while I got behind a second B5N Torpedo Bomber that had just made a successful bombing run against an unknown Cleveland-class light cruiser, despite heavy fire from the rear gunner and evasive manoeuvres by its pilot, it was shot down after several short bursts at 1407. Turning back towards the allied naval taskforce, several more Japanese aircraft were seen making bombing and torpedo attacks against the unknown Cleveland-class light cruiser, both myself and Hog 2 engaged these aircraft from 1408 to 1412, shooting down at least one A6M Zero, downing one B5N Bomber and damaging another that fled towards its carrier. After this engagement I turned back to USS Saratoga (CV-3) after expending all of my ammunition, successfully landing on the carrier at 1415 for a rearm and refuel of my aircraft. I was back on station over Iwo Jima by 1420.
By the time I was back over the island a large-scale dogfight had developed over the No 2 Airfield with all Squadron aircraft engaged with an estimated three Japanese aircraft. I joined this combat and made several passes on and fired short bursts into passing enemy aircraft without any visual kills, when at 1424 I spotted a heavily smoking A6M Zero at around 500m attempting to break away from the fight. I manoeuvred down to the aircrafts altitude and engaged in an extended dogfight before shooting it down at 1426, after which anti aircraft fire struck my aircraft which forced me to make an emergency landing on USS Saratoga.
1407, 12th March 1945 - Gun camera footage of B5N shot down over USN taskforce
Returning on station over Iwo Jima at 1430 I resumed my combat air patrol duties over the island at an altitude of 2500m, mainly focusing my attention on the allied naval taskforce to the south east. At around 1440 I spotted a single B5N Bomber at an altitude of 100m being pursued by a single TBF Avenger after the enemy aircraft had attempted to perform a bombing run against the allied naval taskforce, I increased my throttle and gradually reduced my altitude to meet the enemy plane, where I then overtook the TBF Avenger in pursuit and, after closing in to near point blank range, I fired a long 5 second burst into the plane as it burst into flames and crashed into the ocean.
After having reached my original altitude I continued my patrol over the island without incident from 1445 to 1455. At 1457 Fighter Squadron 28 received a radio transmission from USS Saratoga ordering our aircraft to provide close air support to USMC ground forces attempting to capture an IJA headquarters on the far east of Iwo Jima. I managed to make contact with the ground forces who were storming the headquarters. They had marked a Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tank, that was targeting the marines with cannon and machine gun fire, with orange smoke. I approached from the east and dropped two 500lb bombs on the tank, before making another pass from the south, dropping my remaining two 250lb bombs on enemy occupied huts around the headquarters building. I made another pass, again on the enemy tank, firing four rockets around it, striking dismounts and infantry. Out of bombs and rockets, I shot down a B5N bomber that was attempting to bomb the marines and a final A6M Zero as it attempted to shoot down a TBF Avenger. Completely out of ammunition, I returned to USS Saratoga at 1515, landing at 1520, with my taskings complete.
1504, 12th March 1945 - Gun camera footage of RP3 rockets striking Japanese infantry
Results:
Destroyed (Certain) - 3 A6M Zero Fighters, 4 B5N Torpedo Bombers
Damaged (Probable) - 1 A6M Zero Fighter, 1 B5N Torpedo Bomber, 1 Type 97 Chi-Ha Tank
W.Jarvis
Staff Sergeant, United States Marine Corps Aviation
Marine Aviator, Fighter Squadron 28