This Military Service Page was created/owned by
David Myers (Strider), OS1
to remember
Wilkinson, Richard (Wilkie), ARM1c.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Last Address New Bedford
Date of Passing Sep 30, 1999
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Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Retired from Honeywell Corp. Richard Wilkinson was my wife's uncle. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, and two children, Richard & Susan. Anyone who knew of or served with Dick is more than welcome to contact me for or with any other information.
Other Comments:
Central Pacific Campaign (1941-43)/Operation Cockpit
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
December / 1943
Description Operation Cockpit was a bombing raid by aircraft from two Allied naval forces (Force 69 and Force 70) on 19 April 1944. The forces were made up of 22 warships, including two aircraft carriers, from the Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy, French Navy, Royal Netherlands Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy, and United States Navy. The targets were Japanese port and oil facilities on Sabang Island (off the northern tip of Sumatra).
The raid was launched at 5.30am on 19 April, with 17 Barracuda bombers and 13 Corsair fighters from HMS Illustrious and 29 Dauntless and Avenger bombers and 24 Hellcat fighters from USS Saratoga. It was highly successful, the Japanese were caught by surprise, there was no fighter opposition. Sabang harbour and the nearby Lho Nga airfield were bombed. Two merchant ships were hit and two Japanese destroyers and an escort ship strafed and set on fire. Thirty Japanese aircraft were destroyed on the airfield and a direct hit by a 1000-pound bomb set a large oil tank on fire. The power-station, barracks and wireless station were badly damaged. The submarine HMS Tactician reported large fires in the dockyard burning fiercely hours after the fleet had left the area.
Twelve US aircraft were hit by anti-aircraft fire; all but one made it back to Saratoga. The pilot of the one lost aircraft was recovered by Tactician, under fire.
The Japanese had been caught by surprise and the raid was a clear success - Somerville said that the Japanese "had been caught with their kimonos up". The destruction of oil installations and shipping successfully contributed to the cessation of Japanese offensives in the Arakan. There was a follow-up raid on Surabaya, Java in May 1944, named Operation Transom.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
December / 1943
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories On 16 April, the Eastern Fleet, with Saratoga, sailed from Trincomalee, and on the 19th, the aircraft from the two carriers struck the port of Sabang off the northwest tip of Sumatra (Operation Cockpit). The Japanese were caught by surprise by the new offensive ("caught with their kimonos up"), and much damage was done to port facilities and oil reserves, with minimal losses. The raid was so successful that Saratoga delayed her departure in order to carry out a second. Sailing again from Ceylon on 6 May, the force struck at Soerabaja, Java, on 17 May with equally successful results. Saratoga was detached the following day, and passed down the columns of the Eastern Fleet as the Allied ships rendered honors to and cheered each other.