Date of Action: December 12, 2008
Base of Operations: A148
Division Assignment: Escort

VMF-251 took off at 2303 with five Bf-109G-14s from airfield 194 to escort strike on Allied airfields. Squadron consisted of:

Capt. Morgan
1st Lt. Sidle
1st Lt. Roche
W.O. King
2nd Lt. Bodie

Maj. Wyatt took off later from 148 on detached flight.

Morgan led squadron to rendezvous with assigned bomber strike group, but contact never made. VMF-251 encountered eight P-47s at about 2330 and engaged.

Sidle shot down 2333. Bodie shot down 2334, King at 2336, and Roche at 2337. Morgan crash-landed 2339.

Wyatt patrolled engagement area at about 0000, engaged multiple B-26s alone on approach but no victories, later assisted CAS squadrons under attack by P-51s, suffered engine damage and crash-landed at 0004.