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 on 31 May, the date being later extended to 1 June.

ED WARFIELD 457th

Capt. JJ Grant 462nd

We took off separately from Iwo as we were carrying extra-large tanks for sub cover. Captain Ed Warfield and Carmody were my element leader. When we entered the weather Carmody tucked in real close. When we hit the intense storm center, it was impossible to maintain our formation. Carmody broke away. After 30 minutes we hit a calm center. Decided to head for home. The return trip was wild. Carmody stalled out, I left him. Climbed to the top of the storm. Carmody told me that he recovered from his spin a few feet from the water. I am sure if I had stayed with him I would have hit the water. We both returned safely to base.>

STEVE TREACY — 462nd - I was the fourth man in a flight led by Stu Lumpkins. As we entered the front we encountered violent weather which immediately started icing up our aircraft. I was flying Smith's wing. Suddenly, he made a dramatic turn to the right. I lost sight of him almost immediately. Stu's wingman disappeared and I ended up flying his wing. Communications were desperate with several mid-air collisions and various emergency messages. We proceeded to the deck minus Smitty and Stu's wingman who were never heard from again. We tacked onto a B-29 and returned to Iwo. As I sit nd enjoy the good life, I thank the Lord for getting me through that most horrible experience of the war.

Lt. LARRY GRENNAN - 457th Once airborne I noticed my oil pressure was high. I thought the gauge was defective. We entered the storm front. After about the fourth turn, my wing man disappeared and was never seen again. Alone, I climbed what I felt was through the front. After 5 minutes I didn't see any other planes, so I decided to head for home. Rather than going through the front again, I went down on the water. Several other planes joined me, planes from different groups. My engine began to act up, gained altitude so I could bail if necessary. Ten miles out it quit. Called May Day, put my flaps down, trimmed for the glide and rolled out on the wing at 5,000 feet. Was really worried about hitting the tail on the roll out. God, how I hated leaving that plane. The sea was relatively calm, inflated my raft, climbed into it, paddled around spreading dye. Several B-29's called in my position. It wasn't long before a beautiful Navy Ship picked me up. Our people on Iwo were in shock from the loss of so many wonderful pilots, and how avoidable it all was.

WORLD NEWS June 1945

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

13: The Australians capture Brunei. : Japanese Admiral Ota Minoru, along with thousands of his surrounded Naval brigade, commits ritual suicide for failing to defend Okinawa, Japan.[1]

15: Osaka, Japan, is heavily bombed.

16: The Japanese are in a general retreat in central China.

19: The United Kingdom begins demobilization.

22: The defeat of the Japanese on Okinawa is now complete.

26: The United Nations Charter is signed in San Francisco.

27: The first oil pump is restored at Tarakan Island.

June 1945

Subscribe Now