Briefing Failure in Ready Room 4: The Question of Culpability for U.S. Navy Air Strikes on Macau, 16 January 1945

This article draws upon the records of the U.S. Navy court of inquiry convened to investigate the strafing of neutral Macau by naval warplanes from the aircraft carrier USS Hancock on 16 January 1945. The article fills in the historical record by providing details of the commanders, air combat intelligence officers, pilots, aircraft, and munitions involved in this incident. The article chronicles the findings of the court of inquiry, which ruled that the attacks on Macau occurred due to the failure of officers aboard the Hancock to properly brief the naval pilots tasked with flying combat air patrols over enemy air installations south of Hong Kong. This briefing failure stemmed from confusion about Macau’s neutral status and the nature of the mission pilots were ordered to fly over Macau and nearby targets. The article also describes who the court found culpable for the violation of Portuguese neutrality at Macau and what disciplinary actions were recommended.