Sailing undetected to a point 90 miles east-northeast of Truk, Task Force 58 launched 72 F6F Hellcat fighters that arrived over Truk at 0800 on 17 February, 1944. Mitscher’s strategy called for the Hellcats to fully engage the enemy fighters and soften up the ground defenses, clearing the way for the bombers. That idea worked perfectly, as 30 of the 80 A6M Zeros that rose were downed against the loss of just four Hellcats. After brushing the air opposition aside, the F6Fs headed for three principal airfields where they destroyed about 40 planes. On the heels of the Hellcats, 18 TBF Avengers dropped incendiaries on the airfields.


Japanese ammunition ships in Truk Harbor explode following a torpedo attack by a US carrier based plane. The pilot and two crew-members of this plane are presumed to be lost since their plane were caught in this terrific explosion. 17 February 1944




A Japanese freighter in Truk Atoll is hit by a Mark XIII torpedo dropped from a Grumman TBF Avenger of Torpedo Squadron 17 (VT-17) from the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), 17 February 1944. Fighting alongside VT-17 in task force 58 was VT-10. Including the ground-breaking night attack of 16-17 February, VT-10 accounted for one third of the total shipping destroyed by the Task Force 58 attack on Truk Atoll. Note the several torpedo wakes, including one very erratic one ending with the torpedo broaching. The photograph is discussed by the photographer W. Eugene Smith in the June 1944 article entitled Camera on a Carrier that appeared in Popular Photography. The aircraft that dropped the successful strike shown in the photo was flown by Lt. Paul Eugene Dickson




Devastation: A recon photo taken on the second day, showing damage to the shore facilities on Dublon Island.

Here is a very nice 9-minute video about the raid.

Today Truk Lagoon is a shipwreck divers paradise, which led to my personal interest in this event. Below are underwater photos I took of these amazing shipwrecks in 1994. The 50th anniversery of Operation Hailstone.



In addition to the related Adventure Pack scenery zip file from our downloads area, you will want the following addons for this mission:

FSX/P3D 3/4 Chance Vought F4U-7 Corsair package - This freeware plane is easy to fly and works well on the carrier used in this adventure.

FSX Truk Atoll Scenery - This freeware scenery covers WWII Truk Lagoon following the attack by US forces. This is vital scenery to install for this adventure.

Carrier Catapult/Arrestor Cable - This very useful freeware addon is a great addtion for this adventure and any other carrier flights past and present (like the previous Titanic mission). It has been tested with the Corsair also recommended for this mission. Note: There are two version of this program, one for FSX called "ArrCab_26.zip" and the one I created for P3d v4 called "SPARRCAB_P3dv4".

• [Flight# AP91 (AC1-AC1)] Strafing Flight
  Carrier - Truk - Carrier
• Aircraft: Corsair (recommended) with gun effect addition included in SPA scenery folder.
• Weather: Your choice - but I would suggest clear so you can enjoy the scenery.
• Time: Daytime.
• Scenario:
  For this flight we start on the center carrier in a fighter aircraft. Load saved "AP9" flight into you simulator. Note that there is a separate folder for the flight and flight plan files for FSX and P3d. P3d calls their flights "scenarios". Put both files for your correct simulator into the directory where the rest of your flight files are located. Load the flight (not the flight plan). The flight files for each simulator have been saved with the flight plan loaded at the correct flight leg of the flight plan. The flight will start with you sitting on one of the carriers in the task force group. If you have the Corsair installed you should also already be sitting on the carrier deck in the Corsair.
  
  If you've loaded things correctly, you are now sitting on the carrier with the flight plan loaded that directs you to your target of the 3 airfields at Truk Lagoon. In the actual mission the planes were about 100 miles away from the target, but we've shortened the distance to about 50 miles.
  
  Take off from the carrier and make your way to the target sites. Upon arrival you can strafe away at the many targets available (both water and land). Note: You cannot use the fsx addon for catapulting the corsair from the deck because it doesn't work with tail-draggers, but it will be very useful upon your return to deploy the arrestor cables to stop your aircraft from rolling out over the side of the ship on landing. I think the P3d version I created will work for catapulting, and it will probably work for FSX too if you wish to try that instead.
  
  
  
  . Upon successful attacks on the 3 airfields and surrounding water targets, return to the carrier.


• [Flight# AP92 (AC1-AC1)] - Reconnaissance Flight
  Carrier - Truk Lagoon - Carrier
• Aircraft: Amphibian
• Weather: Your choice
• Scenario:
  In Scenario 2 you will load files similarly as described in AP91, but this time you'll be picking out an amphibious aircraft to fly.
  
  We will be flying a reconnaissance flight to survey and photograph the success of Operation Hailstone. Although not the type of aircraft that actually flew the reconnaissance flights, we will fly the amphibious aircraft because it's low and slow and will allow us to land in the water and on land so that we can get a better view, and perhaps rescue some of our downed pilots who might have survived.
  
  Take off and fly to the target. Survey the damage at the 3 airfields and take pictures to share at SPA website. Feel free to land various places to affect a rescue or two.
  
  Upon completion of your reconnaissance, fly back to the carrier to complete this Adventure Pack.