I flew against the Japanese transports making their way from Rabaul to Lae on three separate missions, on three different days.  The first was up over Lae, and we suffered a few casualties then if I recall correctly.  The second was when I shot down a Zeke [his third victory]. 

The third day, that was when we tried to bomb the convoy.  They strapped a 1,000 lbs bomb under one wing, where the drop tank would be, and hung a drop tank on the other side.  So, the idea was that when you dropped the bomb you would also drop the tank too.  Well, the P-38 wasn’t much of a dive-bomber, I’m afraid.  I remember we tried dropping our bombs that day from about 500 feet or so, I dropped one at this ship, but it missed and fell behind it.  When the captain saw me coming, he must have spun that wheel around, because I could see him turn way to the side to avoid the bomb.  So much for us dive-bombing! 

Most of my missions were high altitude interception and patrols.  We never really got down to strafe either.  I know some guys did later, but not that I can remember mu.  We had those B-25 strafers to do that work.

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