Page i Prologue HISTORY of the 9th Bombardment Group (VH) 1st, 5th, And 99th Squadrons as a B-29 Superfortress Unit In World War II In Training at McCook AAF, Nebraska and In Combat as a Unit of the 313th Bombardment Wing On Tinian Island In The Marianas under the XXI Bomber Command of the 20th Air Force United States Army Air Forces Page ii 9th Bombardment Group (VH) History Lawrence S. Smith Historian, 9th Bomb Group Association Published 1995 by The 9th Bomb Group Association 296 Mercer Road Princeton, N.J. 08540 Library of Congress #95-070747 Cross References: 1. World War II 2. Strategic Air Warfare in World War II 3. Strategic Air Offensive Against Japan 4. The B-29 Superfortress 5. The Aerial Mining Campaign Against Japan 6. The Use of the Atomic Bombs Cover painting by Aviation Artist, Jack R. Crescenzi Painting commissioned by William L. Wienert, 5th Sqdn. Page iii Figure iii. 9th Bomb Group Emblem 9th BOMBARDMENT GROUP This emblem was approved in 1924. The motto SEMPER PARATUS is Always Ready. The emblem’s official significance The shield contains the old colors of the Air Service (vert and sable), parted by a wavy line representing the Rio Grade and with a gold band containing four black crosses represent- ing the four World War I offensives in 1918 in which the 1st and 99th Sqadrons of the group were involved. The crest, consisting of a rattlesnake entwined about a prickly pear cactus, recalls the group’s 1st Squadron’s combat service in Mexico in 1916-17. Page iv Figure 0iv-a. 1st Bomb Squadron Figure 0iv-b. 5th Bomb Squadron 1st Bombardment Squadron 5th Bombardment Squadron This emblem was approved in 1931. Its official This emblem was approved in 1924. significance: The caveman represents the beginning No written statement of its significance which is symbolical of this being the first squad- was recorded. When it was approved it ron of the Air Service. The caveman’s posture rep- was for the 5th as an observation squad- resents observation (which the squadron was ron; hence, it seems reasonable to assume origiginally so designated) and is symbolical of that the owl, moon, and telescope all sym- man’s eternal look forward with hope and desire to bolize that mission. and that the five stars future accomplish-ments. The five rays of the sun represent the unit's numerical designation. represent the five campaigns during World War I and the crosses the confirmed air-to-air combat vic- tories in that war. Figure 0iv-c. 99th BombSquadron 99th Bombardment Squadron This emblem was approved in 1924. No written statement of its significance was recorded. It seems to assume that the charging buffalo represents the spirit of the squadron. Page v Figure 00v. Map of the Western Pacific region Western Pacific Area Page vi Figure 0vi. Tinian Marianas - 1945 Page vii Contents EMBLEMS .............................................................................................................III & IV MAP OF THE WESTERN PACIFIC ................................................................................... V MAP OF TINIAN ISLAND.............................................................................................. VI FOREWORD ................................................................................................................... IX DEDICATION ................................................................................................................. XI ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................. XIII PREFACE: PRE-B-29 HISTORY OF 9TH GP. & 1ST, 5TH, & 99TH SQDNS. ..................XV CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION: BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS ....................................... 1 CHAPTER 2. CHRONOLOGY OF RELEVANT MAJOR EVENTS ....................................... 13 CHAPTER 3. GROUP COMMANDER’S REMINISCENCES ................................................ 17 CHAPTER 4. PERSONNEL ............................................................................................. 35 CHAPTER 5. AIR CREWS .............................................................................................. 73 CHAPTER 6. MISSION PROCEDURES & AN ILLUSTRATIVE SORTIE ........................... 113 CHAPTER 7. MISSION DESCRIPTIONS & DATA .......................................................... 131 CHAPTER 8. MISSION PARTICIPANTS ......................................................................... 145 CHAPTER 9. THE B-29 SUPERFORTRESS ................................................................... 165 CHAPTER 10. AIRCRAFT AND NOSE ART ................................................................. 169 CHAPTER 11. PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATIONS ......................................................... 193 CHAPTER 12. CASUALTIES AND MEMORIALS ........................................................... 195 CHAPTER 13. REUNIONS ........................................................................................... 205 CHAPTER 14. ANECDOTES ......................................................................................... 211 POSTSCRIPT: 9TH GROUP SINCE WORLD WAR II ..................................................... 325 APPENDICES: A. BIBLIOGRAPHY .............................................................................................. 327 B. GLOSSARY ...................................................................................................... 328 C. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES .............................................................................. 331 D. AIR-SEA RESCUE REPORTS ............................................................................. 355 Page viii Page ix Foreword This history is a segment of the history of World War II. It is focused on the 9th Bombardment Group (VH) as a B-29 unit in the strategic air campaign against Japan in that war. But it also includes descriptions of the context in which this group’s personnel, equipment, and combat operations functioned, both historically and, to some degree, in relation to other military forces in that war. This history has been written primarily for the remembrances of, and tribute to, the 2900 plus men who served in the 9th Group between April l944 and September 1945. It is also for the interest of the families of their generation and of future generations, to help them to know about and appreciate the trials, tribulations, tragedies, and triumphs that these men of the 9th experienced, and their contributions to the victory over Japan in World War II. Page x Page xi Dedication This history is dedicated to the memory of those who gave their lives in the service of our country who were members of: •Our 9th Group. •The Marine and Army Divisions which captured Tinian Island, the Marine Divisions which captured Iwo Jima, and the Navy Seabees and Army Engineers who built our air base on North Tinian and the vital emergency airfield on Iwo Jima. •The VIIth Fighter Command based on Iwo Jima whose P-51 pilots accompa- nied man;y of our daylight missions over Japan and helped us deal with the Japanese fighters attacxking our bombers. Note: To honor the Fifth Marine Division—and through them all the Ma- rines—for their key role in the capture of Iwo Jima, the B-29 depicted on the back cover was given the name and insignia, The Spearhead of that division. (This B-29 was assigned to Captain David Rogan’s crew of the 1st Squadron.) Page xii Page xiii Acknowledgements This history has been written as a combined effort of many members of the 9th Group. The central figure has been the Group Historian, Lawrence S. Smith. Maurice I. Ashland was his right-hand man and dedicated helper throughout. Herbert W. Hobler made major contributions to the whole process. Henry C. Huglin wrote Chapters 1, Introduction, Historical Background and Analysis and 3, Group Commander’s Reminiscences. He also researched and drafted the Foreword, Dedication, Preface, Postscript, and the other chapters, except: 4, Personnel; 5, Air Crews ; 10, Aircraft and Nose Art; and 14, Anecdotes. Erwin Vernon, who has maintained the active roster and list of deceased, has prepared the personnel listing in Chapter 4. Robert Hunt drafted articles for the personnel chapter, while continuing to locate new members. Francis Gulling researched the aircraft histories for Chapter 10. Chaplain Richard P. Chambers “Creative Remembering,” which was read by him at the Tucson reunion, comprises a major part of Chapter 10, Casualties and Memorials. The anecdotes in Chapter 14 and many photos, including aircraft nose art, have been compiled from contributions from many group, and some family, members Bonnie Chiravalle provided expert computer services, including coordinating and input- ting all sources into a composite book, augmented by Virginia Smith and Deborah Vanasek. Other contributors were: • The Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, for the valu- able information from the microfilm files of the 9th Group wartime records and the group’s and squadrons’ emblems and histories pre-and post-World War II • Andrew J. Chakires, Ventura, CA, editing and word processing biographies •William R. Barnhart, Sun City, AZ, photographic printing • Donald Dacier, Hudson, MA, word processing Anecdotes Chapter • Cathy Holmes, Albuquerque, NM, setup and word processing Mission Participants Chapter • Alwlyn T. Lloyd, Bellevue, WA, B-29 photos • Chester Marshall, editor of The Global Twentieth series, permission for reproduc- tion of the submissions by members of the 9th Group published in that series • Kenneth Nicoles,