| A United States Navy Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat from Fighting Squadron 5 (VF-5) makes condensation rings as it awaits the take-off flag aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10). Yorktown then hit targets to support the landings in the Gilberts. On November 20, 1943, USS Yorktown (CV-10) launched 8 flights. Flight Number 1 – Yorktown launched 17 Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats for the Combat Air Patrol (CAP) over Makin Island; 19 Douglas SBD-5 Dauntlesses for an attack group for Makin Island; and 8 TBFs for an attack group for Makin Island. Flight Number 2 – Yorktown launched 12 Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats for the CAP over the task group. Flight Number 3 – Yorktown launched 12 Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats for the CAP over the task group. Flight Number 4 – Yorktown launched 6 Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats for CAP over Jaliut Island; 6 Grumman F6F-3 Avengers for an attack group over Jaltut Island; 2 Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats for the Air Group Commander and his wingman. Flight Number 5 – Yorktown launched 10 Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless Search Group out to a 150 miles (240 kilometers). Flight Number 6 – Yorktown launched 4 Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats CAP over the task group. Flight Number 7 – Yorktown launched 6 Grumman F6F-3 Avengers anti-submarine Patrol, 30 miles (50 kilometers). Flight Number 8 – Yorktown launched 12 Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats CAP over the task group. USS Yorktown launched a total of a 116 aircraft and landed a total of a 119; 3 Grumman F6F Hellcats that landed on USS Lexington (CV-16) the day before returned to the carrier. On D-Day on Betio and Makin, Yorktown’s Carrier Air Group 5 (CAG-5) continued operations in support of the Makin invasion by launching 1 landing support attack on Makin, and an attack against Jaluit, 300 miles (480 kilometers) away. The attack on Makin was made up of 19 F6Fs, 8 TBFs, and 19 SBDs, launched at 0631 Hours. Its mission was to strafe Red Beaches 3 on Butaritari Island, Makin Atoll, designated for attack by the United States Army 165th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division, and to bomb installations of the enemy up to a 100 yards (90 meters) inland and 500 yards (450 meters) on either side of these beaches. Because of a rain squall, the attack group circled over Butaritari to await instructions from the Air Group Commander, who reconnoitered over the target. No military installations or activity were found except light anti-aircraft emplacements, but the areas were bombed and strafed. The group landed aboard at 1008 Hours. Jaluit was revisited to destroy the shipping found there the previous day. 8 F6Fs and 6 TBFs were launched at 1303 and arrived over the target at 1432 Hours. Anti-aircraft positions were attacked, seaplanes and observation planes were strafed, and Goryu Maru aground on the north side of Aineman Island, damaged in the previous days’ raid, was bombed. 2 observation planes were set afire, and 1 was sunk at its mooring. 8 other planes were strafed from altitudes as low as a 100 feet, but because they were apparently degassed, they did not burn. However, explosions on the seaplane ramp from bombs dropped by TBFs completed their destruction. Hangars were also bombed, and an oil fire started. Yorktown’s Air Group 5 dropped 22 tons of bombs on Makin and almost 6 tons on Jeluit during the day’s operations. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1641.jpg |
| Image Size | 876.21 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2928 x 2343 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | November 20, 1943 |
| Location | |
| City | Butaritari |
| State or Province | Makin Atoll |
| Country | Gilberts |
| Archive | |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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