 Under heavy anti @-@ aircraft fire , they dropped their bombs . Although their crews reported hitting 4 ships , none of the bombs actually hit and no significant damage was inflicted . Early the following morning Japanese oil tanker Akebono Maru sustained the first hit when a torpedo from an attacking PBY struck her around 01 : 00 . This was the only successful air @-@ launched torpedo attack by the U.S. during the entire battle . 
