Splash One Zero - Titled
by Mark Donoghue
Title
Splash One Zero - Titled
Artist
Mark Donoghue
Medium
Digital Art - Digital
Description
On 30 January 1944, Ira Kepford led one of four VF-17 divisions flying cover for dive and torpedo bombers striking Simpson Harbor, New Britain. Japanese fighters from Rabaul circled the harbor to intercept the bombers. The high cover division led by Blackburn was able to operate with the altitude advantage against enemies, but Kepford's division at 15,000′ was attacked from above by around a dozen enemy fighters. Kepford waited until a Japanese plane broke formation to make a run on a nearby Corsair. When the lone Zero turned to trail the American plane, Kepford followed and riddled the enemy's engine and wing root from behind, causing the plane to catch fire. Shortly after a Tony, came at him in a frontal attack. The Tony’s guns tore into Kepford's right wing causing the ammunition within to explode. Kepford continued firing with the guns in his left wing, leaving the Tony flaming as it passed him by. Kepford limped back to base with a wrecked wing and damaged hydraulic system, forcing him to land on one wheel and leading the plane to ground loop. The plane was a total loss, however Kepford walked away unhurt.
At the end of his two tours, Kepford was the Navy's ranking ace with 16 credited victories. Likewise, VF-17 returned to the United States as the highest scoring squadron to date, credited with 154 enemy planes definitely destroyed in 79 days of combat.
Uploaded
August 19th, 2019
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