STORY OF THE BLACK CATS

[Music] [Music] he [Music] [Music] night Waters of the Southwest Pacific enemy Waters SE Road for the passage of Japanese armaments going south to smash US troops fighting for Island beaches domain of the escort Destroyer guarding convoys of anti-aircraft machine guns concrete for pill boxes then one night suddenly mysteriously two ships were wiped out of a [Music] convoy one ship left burning one sunk this was only the beginning in 1 month 41,000 tons of [ __ ] cargo vessels were sunk 43,000 damaged next month 13 ships attacked six damaged seven sunk news of the losses leak out radio Tokyo invents aliis new American super planes reported in the Pacific surpassing anything known in speed and maneuverability reverberations in the Japanese High command new detachments of night Fighters called up [ __ ] Fleet adjustments made more destroyers cruisers for Convoy escort the attacker was an unidentified American plane hitting at night they bombed the Destroyers light Cruisers heavy [Music] Cruisers what the is this super plane anything familiar that torso with a middle-aged sag her speed less than some cars can do maneuverable some days all right on others she brings around like a 10ton truck she Dives under protest Wings can't handle half the pressure dive bombers take got her right the old cat Navy Catalina Patrol boat PB and a black night gown for night camouflage a black cat she hides by day in one of the secret US Navy cat bases which the enemy would love to know [Music] about it's 8:00 a.m. base Personnel watching for a black cat overdue last heard from at midnight attacking a [ __ ] merchant ship [Music] but they don't watch long here comes the cat and it's a zoom a signal that she did it again one more enemy ship on the bottom plowing around for the Lee Shore now and quiet Waters await for the toe line up the ramp tail first the squadron commander wanting to know any wounded after 14 hours of flight Commodore Colmes commander of the task force arrives in his Jeep with Captain peek in charge of the group large freighter made two bombing runs exploded ammunition cargo now off to get details and new plans for the coming night's Mission and that beer which all hands look forward to but there's one bottle left over a Navy cameraman hit on the first run so no pictures but tonight's another night with a mate to take his [Music] place as soon as the cat's home she's groomed for the next prow that's a blitz but Towing her into position for overhaul some job for a maintenance officer keeping an aerial antique acting like a dive bummer the bad symptom sheet for propeller throwing oil nothing serious but a new part is needed these cats take plenty some here are nearly 4 years [Music] old now eight bullet holes starboard Wing 6 7 8 not so bad black cats have weeed home with more than a 100 holes showing through their Sid it came out here the shrapnel that nicked our cameraman such holes are penciled first clipped a plate board riveted a leak in the fuel tank plug gas goes in don't ration it we'll be up all night and part of the next day last night's strain told on the tail assembly repaired now wagon or tail and rare in the gold but first she needs her claws sharpened the Black Cat's bomb dump qu tunners and this the size [ __ ] Cruisers have a weakness for 50 calibers defense against [ __ ] fighters [Music] tonight the tail fin screwed on tight when you Swan Dive through anti-aircraft you want bombs that lay in right back to the cat Patrol boats weren't made for bombing she wears them under her Wing because there's no other place for every pound of bombs dropped last month one ton of enemy shipping was sunk or damaged records like that mean plenty in any language dollars or Yen now a Tin Fish for the port WI [Music] and the 50 caliber just in case but we'd rather not have to use it darkness is the cat's best defense darkness and her black night gown but the guns are checked and the cat stands ready feeling her ears but as fit for combat as good wishes can make her but first looking for a Stoneway a yes two kinds of black cats at this base overside you in the meantime the crew we're flying with in an hour is off for a spot of water polo coconuts to [Music] you [Music] now a quick look in on the officer's quarters our cats Masters that's the squadron commander at the mirror big game Hunters at night but the housekeeping has to be [Music] done evening clothes 45s jungle kniv just in case luck runs out and you have to walk home and the picture M off for briefing final instructions final [Music] warnings six black cats will fly tonight they're pilots and [Music] Navigators first discussion new angles of enemy strategy to draw more blood from us invading troops Japan is feeding key defenses with ammunition guns concrete for pillboxes our objective to stop them at Sea where one bomb can sink what a 100 bombing runs ashore might not destroy latest enemy Convoy sighting southbound one tanker three Freighters probably artillery and ammunition estimated position at 0200 watch out for [ __ ] KN Fighters nearest air strip only 60 M away any Destroyer escorts two cans like this 5in guns elevation for anti-aircraft barrage two a one forward two aak top side and you may have a light Cruiser on your hands one sighted yesterday in that area the search plan for locating the Convoy area a for the command plane area B whoever spots the Convoy first will signal other planes immediately including the two standby planes command plane will direct [Music] attack on the way North the command plane will search enemy held Harbor X where the Convoy may have dropped anchor temporarily watch out for landak there's plenty a nest of six Heavies to the north two Heavies here four mediums South last topic weather on some nights even more of a headache than aak storm fronts building up to the north 309 headwinds to fight on the way home turn back early if the night clears don't make a Target out of yourself by getting in front of the moon now a half hour left for some quick [Music] Chow command plane overside in 5 [Music] minutes sandwich making from home California sardines Chicago ham spread orange juice from Florida to wash it down a Squall bearing down from the sea but the cats leave per schedule in all this B's history foul weather has never stopped a [Music] flight he slides in Hall settling deep under bomb Laden wings landing gear disengaged following out for the [Music] takeoff feeling away into the Run Motors growling over the job of lifting Too Many Men off the water too much gas but she's up on the [Music] step we're [Music] up another night another mission another prowl into the dark a cat needs its nine lives on these jobs night and the weather kicks up [Music] rough enough to be air sick if you had time but getting nearer Harbor X where the Convoy might be hiding out whether or no weather the cat gives up altitude to find [Music] out navigator to Captain Harbor X reckoned 10 Mi ahead repeat to waste [Music] Gunners Harbor x 3 mil off Fort [Music] bow Lookout posted in the black cat's nose the last check of the land AAC positions ahead the moon breaks through silhouetting the cat enemy fighter planes coming up Captain Harbor X Dead Ahead no Convoy down [Music] there lower for a second [Music] look Harbor X empty Convoy still out at Sea now to get out quick and we're spotted we took [Music] one another night Fighters hard off port [Music] beam stand by for a dive to hide the cat flattens out here's where a black night gown counts the Japs need better glasses now a cautious Bank to Sea to resume Convoy search Convoy's original 0200 position was 50 Mi varying 5° Convoy Convoy off Port bow tail end of the Convoy ammunition freighter position signal to five other black cats 0420 South 1 1512 East the plane fears into the wake of the cruiser other cats [Music] arrive [Music] pick our angle on the cruiser and [Music] pounce press the pickle and lay an egg a hit and two goes in miss another run a hit Lane three goes [Music] in now the cats get out with one freighter sunk one damaged one tanker burning a cruiser hit the cost black cat number five whose ninth life went up in the Smoke of the freighter she [Music] sank one more flight completed one less Convoy flying the Rising Sun another loss in losses adding up to billions of dollars in equipment that didn't get there a job done by planes that can't maneuver but do that can't dive that can't rev up speed to wiggle out of a run but go in anyway for a second try a third what keeps him going this among other things these are American troops grabbing at a beach a Beach guarded by pillboxes and machine guns by [ __ ] Cannon mortars grenades these things don't grow there they come in ships that can be sunk and every less ship gives the men who are landing a better break that's what keeps the cats flying the