September 28
I left Roses at 0200 for Cactus--arriving there about 0745. Went up in a DC-3 to clear up a few administrative problems and talked them into giving me a plane for any air raid that might materialize. Well--the Japs came through in noble fashion. They brought over 27 bombers and about 30 zeros. We got 132 mile warning so had all our fighters up stairs to give them a welcome. We shot down 23 bombers and 1 zero. All our fighters returned safely--one had to make a deferred forced landing. I got credit for one Jap bomber. Am going to return in a couple of days and try to increase said total. Will try to run a rotation of about 4 of my pilots at a time up there until all who want to go have had the opportunity. It was the greatest sight of my whole life to see the Jap bombers fall out of the sky like flies. I saw all the gang besides Gen. Geiger, Col. Woods, Lt. Cooley, Frank Daily, Toby, Walt, Joe Renner, Ray Scollins, Charlie Fike, Col. Wallace, Smitty, Gale, Dobbin, Armistead, etc., etc.
September 29
Left Cactus at 0930 on a DC-3 after a poor nites rest on a bare cot with one blanket. I'll do better for myself next time. Stopped in at Buttons to square away the transfer deal on Payas, etc. Arrived in Rose at 1630, tired but with a rejuvenated spirit. They had a small amount of rain in Roses today. Badly needed.
September 30
Went to Buttons today in a fighter to see Parmalee and ComAirSouPac. Got permission to take 4 of my pilots per week to Cactus for combat experience. It actually rained up there today. Came back at 1715.
October 1, 1942
Arose at 0130 and departed in an R4D-1 for Cactus at 0200. Took Faulkner, Flaherty, and Watkins. We arrived at 0735. It had rained the & nite previously and the field was very wet & muddy as a result. No raids were attempted by the Japs. At about 2045 a Jap plane slipped in and dropped 3 bombs--doing no damage. It was practically impossible to sleep due to SBD's turning up and taking off at all hours of the nite.
October 2
At about 0345 a couple of Jap planes came in and dropped about 6 bombs--again doing no damage. We took off at noon to meet an enemy air raid. I had Faulkner and Watkins on my wing and we were never able to get joined up with our proper division leader. We waited at 30,000' indicated for the bombers which never came while several of our boys fooling around at 23-25,000' were surprised by Zeros from above. Galer & 3 others are missing. Smitty had a forced landing about 4 miles from the field. Word came in this evening that Galer was over on Salagi and was OK . That was some relief. There is artillary & machine gun firing going on day and nite. Still was unable to get any sleep. "Maytag Charlie" was over again tonite by didn't drop.
October 3
Galer was brought home this morning and told of a very exciting and amusing experience. The Japs came today about the usual time but left their bombers behind. Our division (6 planes) led by Capt. Carl dove on 10 zeros. We got 3 on the first pass. They all shoved right away leaving me to play with the zeros all by myself. I definitely shot down four and might have got more. At the end of the affair I noticed a parachute going down in the water when suddenly a zero came out of nowhere and fired a very long burst at the dangling pilot. This infuriated me and I went after the zero with much gusto. I know I scored several hits on him and chased him away smoking. I'm positive he didn't get his plane back to his base. I returned to the field nearly out of gas--jumped in another plane and went back to locate the parachutist for rescue. The boy's name was Frazier--one of Smitty's favorites. 2 Japs were back again about 2100. A Jap task force wes expected about 2230 but didn't show up.
October 4
2 more planes were over the field early this a.m. and dropped 2 bombs. The 37 mm boys opened up on them. No Jap raid today altho' we were standing by our planes at noon rather expecting one.
October 5
A single plane came over early this a.m. and dropped one bomb. The Japs didn't spring a raid today either. Our SBD's and TBF's have been kept busy day & nite bombing would-be task forces. Our boys have met with considerable success. I was presented with a historic Japanese Battle flag today for my successful attack on the zeros the 3rd. I in turn presented it to Group 23. It will be put on display in the Marine Corps Trophy room in Quantico, Va.
October 6
There was no excitement today other than the bombing of Jap task force. I took a 2 plane fighter escort out for a photo plane. On the way back to the base we had a dog fight and I was later told that my adversary had accidentally fired his guns at me. I really am a lucky fellow.
October 7
Left Cactus at 0600 by R4D-1. Arrived Roses at 1050. Found we had acquired 37 F4F-4's at Roses. Maybe we will get to Cactus in a group yet. Also found Gordon Bell in here with a squadron of SBD's ready to go to Cactus. He and Beanie went up to talk it over with Capt. Gardner.
October 8
6 group 14 SBD's left here this a.m. for Buttons. A navy crew of SBD mechs came in from Buttons to fix up the 16 SBD's whose hydraulic gear didn't seem to function properly. They fixed them up in no time. In the meantime, however, the pilots and gunners went to Noumea. I rec'd a letter of commendation from Adm. McCain for work I had done while he was ComAirSouPac. Also rec'd a letter of commendation from Gen. Geiger for my activities on Sept. 28 at Guadalcanal (1 bomber). It is a grand and glorious feeling to get patted on the back for one's efforts. Makes one really want to do things. Had the colored band out for the boys tonite. They really enjoyed it.
October 9
Work is continuing on the field touching up the runway here and there and rebuilding some of our revitments which were torn up to put in the mat. Gen. Rose and Gen. Lynd came in from Buttons on a B-24. Gen. L. will leave for Noumea in the morning.
October 10
MacLeod left us today on the Solace. He was trasferred aboard for evacuation. Flew up to our fighter strip at Havannah Harbor. It is a very excellent field.
October 11
A very quiet and dull day what with very few of our people here and all the planes being worked on. The field is being touched up to improve drainage. It's beginning to look much better. We need a rain very badly.
October 12
Work continues on the field. The Hammondsport is enroute here from Buttons with all our F4F-3a's aboard with the exception of one--which will be loaded here. It is already on the barge along with 4 engines and some other gear waiting to be loaded aboard the minute she arrives. Beanie is on her, having remained at Buttons to supervise the pickling and loading.
October 13
The Hammondsport arrived early and we had our stuff ready. The Army held them up a bit with their gear. Smitty, Carl, and rest of 223 came in about 2 p.m. They will at least stay over one day and maybe more. Would like to have them for a long time.
END OF THE DIARY KEPT BY HAROLD W. BAUER
Ed. notes:
October 14th sent the men of the 212th packing, this diary being stowed for the last time and probably left behind with personal gear. The men were ordered to ferry SBD's from Santo to Guadalcanal, return to Efate and bring their 19 F4F's to Guadalcanal. They arrived Cactus on the 16th amid an air raid. Joe Bauer proceded to smoke four Zeros, saving the MacFarland.
Bauer was now Fighter-commander at Cactus and was kept busy. The men of 212 were relieved in early-November and shipped out for San Diego. Bauer was to follow.
The afternoon of November 14 found Bauer flying high cover for the straffing bombers. He went low and was set upon by 2 zeros. He bagged one while his wingmen pursued the other. Bauer was last seen alive, appearing healthy and unhurt, in the water with darkness approaching. The rescue plane was unable to get their before the night hid his location from fellow aviators. His body was never recovered.
Abbreviations and Codes:
Roses was code name for Efate
Buttons was code name for Espirito Santo
Cactus was code name for Guadalcanal
S., Sara. = USS Saratoga
H. = USS Hornet
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