 Bombing and strafing attacks that morning by carrier-based planes of the Japanese strike force destroyed many assigned aircraft and caused heavy casualties.However, twelve of the group's pilots succeeded in launching their Curtiss P-36 Hawk and Curtiss P-40 Warhawk aircraft from Wheeler and Haleiwa Fighter Strip, and flew 16 sorties, destroying 10 Japanese planes.Second Lieutenants George S. Welch and Kenneth M. Taylor, P-40 pilots assigned to the 47th Pursuit Squadron, shot down four and two Japanese aircraft, respectively, and were later cited for extraordinary heroism during the attack.