Summary of Operations

F. D. Weir

2nd Brigade, US Marines

Managua, Nicaragua

ca. 1 January 1928

... 12 December 1927.   Two 02B-1 airplanes, Nos. 6911 and 6920, Major Rowell, pilot, with 2nd Lt Chappell, observer, and 2nd Lt Lamson Scribner, pilot, with Gy Sgt Arnold, observer, took off Managua at 0820 on a reconnaissance flight to Ocotal-Chipote area.  While circling Chipote planes were fired upon by outpost on east side of slope.  Fire was not returned and planes were not hit.  At Santa Ana a group of ten or twelve bandits rode into a banana patch adjoining a ranch house.  This group was attacked by bombs and machine guns.  The horses were stampeded but the men remained in hiding.  The planes returned to Managua and landed at 1255.

 

16 December 1927.   Two 02B-1 airplanes, Nos. 6923 and 6920, 2nd Lt. Weir, pilot, with Cpl. Corris, observer, and Gy Sgt Munsch, pilot, with Gy Sgt Tobin, observer, took off Managua at 0830 and made a reconnaissance flight to Jicaro; Guilali; Chipote area.  About two miles south of Las Vueltas ten mounted men were observed in a ravine and were attacked with bombs and machine guns.  During the reconnaissance of the Murra River valley, the planes were fired upon from Chipote.  Fire was not returned and planes were not hit.  The Planes returned to Managua and landed at 1255.

17 December 1927.   Two 02B-1 airplanes, Nos. 6911 and 6909, 1st Lt. Schilt, pilot, with Capt. Pierce, observer, and 2nd Lt Lamson-Scribner, pilot, with Gy Sgt Kurtz, observer, took off Managua at 0940 on a reconnaissance flight of Telpaneca and vicinity.  As San Juan de Telpaneca five or six men and horses were observed around a house.  The planes strafed them with bombs and machine guns.  Casualties - unknown.  At Portal several horses were seen under the trees.  These were strafed with rear machine guns and they scattered in all directions.  The planes returned to Managua and landed at 1325.

 

30 December 1927.   Two 02B-1 airplanes, Nos. 6911 and 6909, Lt. Lamson-Scribner, pilot, with Lt. Chappell, observer, and Sgt. Pabst, pilot, with Gy Sgt Adams, observer, took off Managua at 0810 and made a reconnaissance and liaison flight to the vicinity of Captain Livingston's and Lt. Richal's columns.  One mile southeast of Quilali contact was made with Captain Livingston's patrol who laid out the following panels:  FIRED 4 MARINES KILLED - PROCEEDING QUILALI.  While circling the column the planes were fired upon from the ridge to the right front.  Fire was returned and area around patrol was strafed.  The planes were not hit. 

 

Landed at Ocotal at 1145 and took off Ocotal at 1520 and returned to Managua at 1645. ... One 0L-4 airplane, No. 7057, Lt. Schilt, pilot, with Gy Sgt Kildow, observer, and Mr. Denny a newspaper correspondent as passenger, took off Bluefields at 1235 and landed at Lake San Carlos to refuel, at 1435.  Took off Lake San Carlos at 1525 and landed at Managua at 1730. ...  [Note:  this was Harold Norman Denny, the New York Times correspondent, whose book Dollars for Bullets (NY: Dial Press, 1929) provided an important exposé of US intervention in Nicaragua. ]

43A/16

B-2 Intelligence Report

January 17, 1928

2nd Brigade, US Marines

Managua, Nicaragua

... January 9th.   At El Chipote the air patrol noted great activity near the crest of the mountain.  The planes were fired on by large guns of unknown type and a machine gun mounted on a tripod, also a small amount of rifle fire.  The planes did not return this fire.

 

January 10th.   The air forces kept a continual reconnaissance over the route of Captain Peard's column.  At 1245 the air patrol sighted a group of bandits, horses, and mules under some trees between Las Cruces and Buena Vista, about one mile ahead of the marching column.  This group was in excellent position to do considerable damage to the column.  Bombs were dropped and the position was strafed with machine guns.  The air patrol reported ten known dead in this action.  They estimated that fifteen men and five mules were killed.

 

About 1400 Captain Peard's column was about half a mile east of Las Cruces and proceeding in good order.  About 1500 yards ahead of the column an ambuscade was discovered.  Men wearing straw hats, and some horses were seen in the brush by the air force.  This point was attacked vigorously with bombs and machine guns, by the air patrol.  Fire was also brought to bear on the position of the column with stoke mortars and machine guns.  The bandits were soon dispersed by this combined attack of the air and ground units. 

The ground forces captured one bandit horse and re-captured two of the mules lost by Richal's column during their fight at Sapotillal Ridge.  Four dead bandits were found and fresh blood was seen on the ground which indicated other wounded bandits or animals.  At 1545 the air patrol sighted a group of bandits thought to be the same as dispersed at 1400.  Bombs were dropped on them and they were strafed with machine gun fire.  No known damage done.

 

January 11th.   In reconnoitering the new outpost of Sandino's between San Albino and San Geronimo, the planes observed a series of trenches fox hole type, so constructed as to cover the road from San Albino to Chipote.  The place showed evidence of being occupied by a large force of men.  Nearly fifty horses were seen grazing in the immediate vicinity.  As the planes came in sight a few men were seen disappearing into the heavy timber in a nearby ravine.  The planes opened fire on them.  The trenches, buildings, horses, and woods were strafed with machine guns and bombed.  Due to the heavily wooded terrain it was impossible to observe what effect the attack had on the outpost.

January 14th.  An all-Guardia patrol commanded by Lieutenant McDonald cleared San Albino at 2300, January 13th, and proceeded down the river bed and cross country to the San Geronimo mountain range.  At 1000, on the 14th, the patrol came in contact with a bandit outpost; the attack was a complete surprise to the bandits, who were quickly routed.  One of Sandino's jefes, named Mendez, was killed; on his body important papers of recent date from Chipote were found.  Two others, who were wounded, escaped.  The patrol captured:  One rifle, one revolver, 13 rounds of rifle ammunition, six rounds of pistol ammunition, one mule and one saddle. 

 

On January 14th, Observation Squadron seven-M sent a contact patrol of four planes against El Chipote, Sandino's mountain stronghold.  At 1200, upon arrival two planes attacked the northern end of the mountain and the other two attacked the southern point.  The attack lasted for thirty-two minutes.  Heavy machine gun and rifle fire was encountered during the whole attack.  When Major Rowell made the first dive two rockets of some description were fired at the plane.  One bomb was dropped which made a direct hit on one of the houses.  Upon the bursting of the bomb about fifty men ran from a house nearby.  Immediately another bomb was dropped making a direct hit in the middle of this group.  Fifty pound bombs were dropped in the vicinity of the warehouse with telling effect.  About twelve phosphorous bombs were dropped on the warehouse, but due to the speed of the planes and the terrain, satisfactory results could not be obtained.  The majority of these bombs rolled down in a deep ravine.  It is believed a number of men were in hiding there and results may have been more than observed. 

 

After dropping two bombs and firing about 200 rounds of fixed gun ammunition Major Rowell was forced to proceed to Ocotal due to motor trouble.  A total of four fifty-pound bombs and eighteen seventeen-pound bombs and about 2,800 rounds of machine gun ammunition were expended.  The planes were hit six times.  Approximately forty-five dead were seen in and around the shacks on the hill. ...

B-2 Report, 17 Jan. 1928, 43A/3.