On November 1, 1943, 18 Vals escorted by 12 Zeros fly towards our invasion forces landing at Empress Augusta Bay on Bougainville. Eight Corsairs from VF-17 intercept and the Japanese attack breaks up. Above an eerily smoldering Mt. Bagana, Cdr. Tom Blackburn dives out of the early morning sun and blasts a Zero out of the sky, then flies through the fireball for his first of eleven victories: What a sensation!
By: Joseph Szady
