Background History
General Ralph Royce was a native of
Marquette, Michigan and is one of the members of the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame. His
grandson, also Ralph Royce, is head of an aviation museum outside Houston and
used to be head of the Confederate Air Force (CAF Commemoraive Air Force).
The Royce
Mission consisted
of 7 B-25Cs and 3 B-17s of the 5th Air Force. In mid Aprilin
the Philippines of 1942,
they flew from Australia to
a staging field of Del
Monte Airfield on Mindanao. For three days, the aircraft flew bombing strikes
against the Japanese in Manila, Cebu, and Davao. All of the aircraft
returned to Australia without the loss of one flyer, and they brought
out a number of important military and diplomatic personnel who had
gathered at DelMonte to await evacuation.
The group of planes was led by General Ralph Royce; hence the name "Royce
Mission." The Dolittle Raid of April 18, 1942 overshadowed this equally
important effot of the Royce Mission. Still, the Royce raid did make
the front page of the "New York Times" in mid-April.
Three Days of Bombing Missions
For three days, the aircraft flew bombing missions against Japanese
occupied targets in the Philippines.
STRIKE #1 SUNDAY, 12 APRIL 1942
Australia-based B-25's, staging through Mindanao Island,
hit the harbor and shipping at Cebu, Cebu Island while B-17's carry
out single-bomber strikes from Mindanao against
Cebu harbor and Nichols Field on Luzon.
STRIKE #2 MONDAY, 13 APRIL 1942 (MORNING)
Australia-based B-25's hit targets in the Philippine
Islands for the second consecutive day. Staging through Del Monte Airfield
on Mindanao,
the B-25's take off just after midnight during 12/13 Apr and bomb shipping
at Cebu on Cebu Island and installations at Davao on Mindinao.
STRIKE #3 MONDAY, 13 APRIL 1942 (AFTERNOON)
Later
in the day the B-25's again attack Davao, bombing the dock area.
Crew Members
B-25C
41-12442 (pilot) Lt. Gustave M.
Heiss, who was awarded a Silver Star for his particpation.
Surviving Aircraft
Only one aircraft that flew the Royce Mission still exisits today. This
B-25 had a lengthy service with the 5th AF in both combat, and as a
"Fat Cat". Abandoned at Aitape, today, it is displayed
as a memorial outside the Aitape High School.
