Warm Reception by James Dietz

On January 25, 1943, without losing one aircraft, Capt. Joe Foss, led his “Flying Circus” squadron of eight F4-F Wildcats, plus four P-38 Lightnings in a “brilliant tactical maneuver” that saved Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. Forseeing a massive aerial enemy attack, Foss and his men flew out to meet an approaching armada of over 100 bombers and fighters and played hide-and-seek with them between cloud layers. Tricked into thinking they were outnumbered, the enemy planes eventually gave up and headed back up the slot toward their home bases on Bougainville and Munda.

Signatures:

Joseph J. Foss, Capt., USMCR
and three surviving members of Foss' Flying Circus VMF-121;

Lt. W.B. "Bill" Freeman

Lt. Thomas W. Furlow

Lt. Roger A. Haberman