Note 7 — Chapter V · A Day: 20 October 1944

The principal bombing and strafing targets were revetments, dispersal areas, supply dumps, and bivouac areas, together with aircraft on islands near Leyte. Grounded planes were strafed and destroyed. The commander of the escort carriers made the surprising estimate that aircraft from his carriers had destroyed 125 planes on the ground and damaged an additional 90 more in the first three days of this “close support at a distance.”7 Aircraft did not bomb the shore line, since gunfire from the vessels within the gulf was considered more effective.