Reconnaissance delayed Tan No. 2 before its strike aircraft took off. Of seven C6Ns sent toward Truk in February, two returned to base, one ditched, and another was wrecked on landing. The surviving aircraft reached a base without the spares and servicing support their specialized design needed. By 13 February only one was flyable. Its sortie found no carriers at Ulithi, so even successful navigation and photography could not guarantee a target for the planned attack.
Notable Point · 1:03:17-1:07:36
Reconnaissance losses before the raid
Breakdowns and landing losses reduced seven reconnaissance aircraft to one flyable C6N, which found no carriers at Ulithi.