My dad's ship, APA 90 USS James O'Hara(attack Transport);
en.wikipedia.org
was anchored among the fleet in Leyte Gulf sometime in 1945, when two Japanese dive bombers came out of nowhere on a low altitude level bombing run. The 1st bomb dropped off the stern of the O'Hara's sister ship, the USS Funston & the 2nd bomb dropped right of the O'Hara's stern CLOSE. The two dive bombers then headed out to sea. My dad said he heard them(turbo chargers) before he could see them, then 2 P-38's came right over the fleet with power on. He was manning the 3" cannon on the stern so zeroed the telescopic sight in on the P-38's. He was shocked @ how fast those P-38's caught up & got on the tail of the dive bombers. He said the first dive bomber started smoking, then flames as it splashed into the water. The 2nd dive bomber was more dramatic as dad said the 2nd P-38 opened fire & the dive bomber just literally blew up. It was there & then it wasn't like just evaporated into thin air save for the smoke.
When the two P-38's came back to head home they both pulled what's called a victory roll over the fleet. Dad said there were sailors with knees planted on the deck with arms outstretched hysterically in praise towards the P-38's, others literally dancing on the deck. He could hear sailors on other ships hooting & howling in joy! About six months after he was discharged he took flying lessons down in California, if I remember right in an aircraft called a Piper Cub? He got his license to fly but a CLOSE encounter with overhead high voltage wires ended his flying adventures.
When I was employed in Alaska I got to take in the restored P-38 seen in the link below. The four .50 cal & one 20mm in close proximity to one another look absolutely awesome for sure. Small wonder the dive bomber Dad mentioned just literally blew up & evaporated!
Thanks much for your reply, I truly appreciate it!