US reconnaissance aircraft first noted construction activity during February 1943 and by June a single coral surfaced runway 5400 feet x 390 feet (1646 m x 119 m) was constructed. During April 1942, the Japanese occupied Wakde and started building an airfield on the island. Wakde is an island group, which lies two miles (3.22 km) off the northeastern coast of Dutch New Guinea (today Papua, in Indonesia).
US WW2 TANK BUSTER PLANE CODE
US 12th Army Group (1st, 3rd, 9th and 15th Armies) ETO 1944-45 Code For more information see my post “ Air Battle Over Morocco 1942“. This would have caused the misidentification of the L-4s since US gunners during the heat of battle usually shoot first and asked questions later. At the time, the Vichy French aircraft had their engine cowlings painted yellow with red stripes. The engine cowlings of the L-4s were painted yellow as an Allied identification marking. The other two planes in his flight were not as lucky. Captain Allcom was fortunate enough to be aided by friendly local civilians, who rushed him to a US Army aid station. With part of his cockpit shot away by the friendly fire, Allcom managed to land safely only to be wounded by machine-gun fire from Vichy French forces. While taking evasive action, Allcom’s flight continued to head for the coast, where he was fired on again, this time by anti-aircraft guns of the US ground forces, believing the L-4s were enemy aircraft. At the time, Vichy French bombers and fighters were attacking the ships of the invasion fleet. While flying over the Allied invasion fleet, the L-4 cubs were mistaken for enemy aircraft and were shot at.
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