Nakajima B6N Tenzan Attacks USS Yorktown

Nakajima B6N Tenzan ("Heavenly Mountain" Allied Code Name Jill) approaches USS Yorktown (CV-10) during a counterattack as US aircraft raid Truk. Yorktown was part of Task Group 58.2 (TG 58.2) at the time. USS Cabot (CVL-28) had four F6F Hellcats as an emergency Combat Air Patrol (CAP) on deck in case of Japanese attack. At 0800 Hours General Quarters sounded and Cabot ordered the launched her emergency CAP to intercept incoming enemy aircraft that had gotten past the destroyer screen and the regular CAP protecting Task Force 58. Lieutenant (junior grade) Arthur Ray Hawkins of VF-31 shot down a Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" even before his wheels were up. Another VF-31 pilot shot down a second torpedo bomber and TG 58.2 shot down the rest. The Japanese scored no hits. Fifth Fleet attacked Truk again the next day.