On 22 December, 1941 a strike force consisting of six A6M2s and 33 B5N2s were launched by Soryu and Hiryu to bomb Wake Island. They were intercepted by the last two flyable F4F-3s of VMF-211. CPT Frueler managed to shoot down two Soryu B5N2s before his plane was crippled by the Hiryu A6M2 flown by PO3 Tahara Isao. Tahara also shot down 2LT Davidson before he could inflict harm on the Japanese strike force.
A third Soryu B5N2 was forced to ditch due to battle damage. Four Hiryu B5N2s were damaged by AA fire.