Alfred D. Perucci Kaneohe Bay |
Information provided by Alfred Perucci. |
I was attached to Patrol Squadron Fourteen (VP-14) stationed at the Naval Air Station at Kaneohe Bay, Oahu. Based at Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay were three Navy Seaplane Patrol Squadrons VP-14, VP-11 and VP-12, totaling 36 planes. I was a First Class Petty Officer (Aviation Ordnance man). I functioned as an ordnance crew leader and duty section leader. On December 7, 1941, I was the duty section leader, waiting to be relieved by the on-coming duty section leader. At approximately 0745, as I was walking toward the hangar, I heard aircraft noise; I looked up and noticed three planes flying in a westerly direction toward Pali. I also noticed the marking under the wings, a red ball or circle; I said to myself these are Japanese planes. Then in a matter of seconds, the planes made a 180 degree turn and began heading back toward our hangars and planes. The Japanese planes plummeted towards the hangers and began strafing our hangars and planes. This happened at approximately 0750. After the initial shock of the enemy attack, a matter of a few seconds, I immediately ran toward the duty barracks located close to the hangar area and alerted the duty section crew that we were under attack. Immediate action was taken. The armory was located next to the duty barracks. I began issuing rifles, machine guns and machine gun mounts. We went immediately to ready the ammunition locker. Not having a key, I removed the lock by shooting it off with my gun. I began issuing bandoleers for the rifles, belted ammunition for the machine guns and unbelted ammunition. I organized a belting crew and a crew to supply ammunition to the men manning the machine guns. Three machine guns were positioned outside the hangar facing the bay, two 50 caliber on either side of the hangar and a 30 caliber in between. The enemy continued to strafe the area while the machine guns were being positioned. To the best of my recollection the above took less than ten minutes. The actions we took made it possible to effectively return fire to the enemy planes. In the meantime, other planes appeared and commenced bombing and strafing the hangars, planes parked on the ramp, and planes anchored in the bay. During the beginning of the first attack, I manned one of the 50 caliber machine guns and I believe Frank Tucci, AMM3, manned the other machine gun, and Glen Cummings, AM2, and manned the 30 caliber machine gun. Knowing that I had to continue supervising the manpower and see to it that ample supplies of ammunition was being belted, and that the crews were supplying ammunition to personnel manning rifles and machine guns, I turned the machine gun over to one of the crew-members of the duty section. Through my initiative, skill and courage, I materially aided in making it possible to have ample supplies of ammunition available at the commencement of the second attack. What I have just stated could not have been accomplished without the assistance of the men in duty section 4. I cannot recall how much time passed between the first and second attack when the squadron personnel began reporting to the scene of action. The first person I recognized was Chief John Finn, who was the Ordnance Division Chief, and my supervisor. Sometime during or between the first and second attacks, I noticed the planes anchored in the bay were on fire. Knowing that plane guards and equipment such as machine guns and belted ammunition were on board, I hailed a coxswain in a whale boat positioned in the bay and with the assistance of Paul Van Nostrand, and we picked up the plane guards and equipment and returned ashore. After unloading the guards and equipment, I spotted depth bombs loaded on the bomb trailers in the hangars. I immediately attached the bomb trailers to a truck that Chief Sullivan procured and we moved them to an area away from the hangar, planes and personnel. While performing all of the above, and throughout this article, we were constantly being bombed and strafed by the enemy. It was a miracle that we escaped with so few casualties; Laxton Newman, AMM3, was killed in action, Chief Finn was wounded while manning a machine gun and Earl L. Jones was also wounded. The attack on the Naval Air Station at Kaneohe Bay, Oahu ceased at approximately 0900, December 7, 1941. I learned later that the 40 Japanese planes that attacked the Naval Air Station at Kaneohe Bay at 0750, on December 7, 1941, were part of the main 300 warplane assault group. The Japanese forces knew that our planes were fueled and were lined up on the ramp and anchored in the bay. Since our planes stationed at Kaneohe Bay could have been able to disrupt the enemy's attack, it is my belief that the Japanese first attacked Kaneohe Bay. The Japanese succeeded in destroying many aircraft and two hangars. I believe the following personnel of duty section 4 were involved in the attack described above: Donald Bullington, AOM3; Frank Tucci, AMM3; Glen Cummings, AM2; Paul Van Nostrand, Sea 1/C; George Gamble, AOM3; Laxton G. Newman, AMM3; Christian Guisness, AMM3; James E. Walters, AOM3; and Earl L. Jones, SEA 2/C. There were others, but unfortunately I cannot recall their names. In conclusion, the actions shown by these men were brave and courageous, and above and beyond the call of duty. "Well done." In my opinion, these men are the unsung heroes. A citation I received is on file in the historian book, and will verify the actions. |
