VT-82’s attack on the Japanese surface force

Author

Torpedo Squadron 82, USS Bennington · prepared by C. Berrien; approved by E. E. DeGarmo

Date

Action 7 April 1945 · approved 16 April 1945

Passage

Aircraft Action Report 35-45 · eight PDF images, including continuation and formation diagram · NDL 4003084

What has been checked

All eight PDF images visually inspected on 20 October 2026. Own-aircraft and supporting-aircraft tables, damage table, attack table, formation diagram, crew list, narrative and approval line checked. Public scan downloaded from Wikimedia Commons; Commons catalogue attributes it to NDL USB-06R04:0141–0148 and the NARA USSBS collection.

How to read it

An American squadron account, not a Japanese damage survey. Target identifications include two cruisers where the Japanese force record identifies one. Hit and sinking claims are not independently confirmed. The damage sheet is numbered 34-45 while the cover and remaining report sheets read 35-45. Its damage table and narrative differ on gun calibre and injury severity; no exact calibre or medical grading is adopted. The eleven SB2C-4Es are supporting aircraft, not an own-squadron bombing or loss return. The ASH-equipped VB is not identified by individual aircraft or crew. Reported times retain the form’s zone convention.