506th FG Gazette — Masthead

LOCAL NEWS

IWO JIMA

Carl Molesworth "Very Long Range P-51 Mustang Units of the Pacific War"

01 Jun 1945 NEWS FLASH - tragic mission 26 pilots lost

. FC Field order called for the 506th to escort 400 B-29 over. 148 P-51's of the 506th, in conjunction with the 15th and 21st Fighter Groups to support a maximum effort bombing raid by the XXI Bomber Command against Osaka (MAP) on 31 May, the date being later extended to 1 June.

Capt. JJ Grant - Flight Leader - 462nd - Letters from Iwo Jima: The Air War

Capt. JJ Grant 462nd

Tragedy strikes the halls, tents, and barracks of the 506th tonight. There are 11 empty beds, each one representing a pilot, each one representing a very close and dear friend of somebody, each one a big indication of the vacant spot that will be left in some young girls heart – each one a big indication of the vacant spot that will be left in some young girls heart - each one representing a permanent ache and pain of heart of moms and their dads will hold their heads high and say they gave their sons for America and find some secluded spot and sob, those great choking moments that tear a man apart leaving him shocked and broken for days to come.

The mission started as all missions, I visited each plane, asked if they needed help and wished them the best of luck, good hunting, and a safe return. They took off, formed their squadrons, and headed for Osaka, the Pittsburgh of Japan.

A few hours later a few stragglers return, there are a few more which add to the already sad story and those of us who know the situation that there will be a terrible shock and tragedy that will visit the 506th and in quantity. The weather ship which left an hour before the fighters was supposed to call of the mission due to weather doesn't leave such a message so the B-29s navigating head into the front and soon there is general hysteria, and two Planes collide adding to the confusion. Soon it’s every man for himself.

WORLD NEWS June 1945

2: Air Group 87 aircraft from USS Ticonderoga strike airfields on Kyushu, Japan, in an attempt to stop special attack aircraft from taking off.[1]

5: The Allies agree to divide Germany into four areas of control (American, British, French and Soviet). : The U.S. fleet under William Halsey, Jr., suffers widespread damage from a huge Pacific typhoon.

10: Australian troops land in Brunei.

11: Schiermonnikoog, a Dutch island, is the last part of Europe freed by Allied troops.