Insert in Squadron War History following page 19 (5)
The War History of PATROL BOMBING SQUADRON SEVENTY-ONE
Supplement Number 2
(July 1 to September 2, 1945)
Samar
This second and final supplement to Patrol Bombing Squadron SEVENTY-ONE’s War History covers the period from July 1, 1945, to the surrender of Japan on September 2, l945 – V-J Day.
The squadron continued to operate from the Naval Air Base, Samar, although as had been the case during the months immediately preceding, detachments were stationed at various times at other airfields in the Philippines. A wide variety of missions was executed during the period including' air-sea rescue, sector searches, weather reconnaissance, evacuation of sick and wounded persons from isolated points, special searches for missing aircraft and surface vessels, aerial surveys, special courier flights, and a brief period of Black Cat missions to the China coast. One plane was maintained in an alert status at all times prepared to respond to emergency calls.
On July 1 and 2 a detachment of four planes conducted Black Cat operations from Clark Field to the vicinity of Hainan Island off the south-east China coast. Intelligence reports had indicated that the Japs were evacuating Hainan Island by small craft across the narrow straits to the Luichow peninsula of China. Two planes, specially equipped for strafing with eight .50 calibre wing guns, and carrying four 100-pound incendiary clusters were sent out each night. The only sighting during the two nights that this operation was conducted was a two-masted sailing craft which was strafed. Incendiary bombs were dropped on buildings at Hoian, China which
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