Navy Patrol Bombing Squadrons 102/14 Association

Bombing Squadron VPB-102

TRAINING AND COMBAT
CONTINUED

Archive and Microfilm Research
by Louise Thoman

6 April 1945: LCDR Pressler, LT. G.L.Stewart and crew bombed the airfield at Tojimbara, Kyushu damaging two hangers, an administration building. They also destroyed four aircraft on the ground and damaged eight others.

10 April 1945: LCDR Pressler, Lt. G.L.Stewart and crews attacked the airfield at Tanga Shima under intense fire from concrete emplacements lining the runway. Destroyed a hanger and severely damaged and set barracks buildings afire.

During the month of May, detachments at Peleliu in the western Carolines flew three daily sectors to the north and all night submarine patrols. A detachment at Iwo Jima flew searches to the coast of Honshu, Japan and to the coast of Kyushu, Japan and to Nansei Shoto. From 18 May through 30 May, ten planes and 12 crews were based Central Field, Iwo Jima flying searches along the coast of Honshu and conducting all night submarine patrols. Searches were flown from Tinian with reconnaissance flights to Truck and Marcus Island. Numerous small cargo ships and utility vessels were sunk and damaged during the month of May.

9 May 1945: LCDR Pressler, E.C.Mildahn, R.M.Barnes and R.L.Holahan, along with three aircraft from VPB-108, conducted a low level daylight bombing and strafing attack on Marcus Island. Five Japanese Bettys and Myrts were destroyed and four more probably destroyed. Holahan's aircraft was shot down by shore batteries as he passed over the island. There were no survivors. (see lost in action) W.T.Pinney, in Barnes's crew was seriously wounded.

23 May 1945: R.A.Busher and crew flying out of Iwo Jima experienced engine failure shortly after take-off and crashed into the sea. Eight members of the crew perished. Three survived the ordeal.

27 May 1945: Gil Stewart and crew sighted three picket boats and a small cargo ship. Three were sunk by bombing and strafing runs.

29 May 1945: Alex Stillman and crew on patrol out of Iwo spotted several vessels but was driven back by shore batteries from the Japanese mainland.

30 May 1945: H.H.Van Buren and crew departed Iwo Jima for the Honshu coast. Sank one small vessel. Later observed huge fires from the B-29 strike on Yokohama from across the Chiba Peninsula from more than 50 miles away.

31 May 1945: Allen C. Morgan and crew out of Iwo Jima observed about 50 Japanese single and twin engine aircraft on at Mito Airfield. Observed 15 small vessels and three well armed Picket Boats. Damaged one small vessel. Attacked by two Petes. Shot both down both. Fire in number three engine cowling as three Zekes approached. Broke off and returned to Iwo.

During the first two weeks of June, numerous small coastal vessels and Japanese aircraft were destroyed or damaged by L.P.Pressler, T.F.Copeland, Alex Stillman, Gil Stewart, R.M.Barnes, W.R.Morey, E.C.Mildahn, J.L.Scott and crews.

On 10 June 1945, L.P.Pressler and Gil Stewart attacked a heavily armed Picket Boat and 2 large vessels. A 20 mm shell penetrated the nose of Presser's aircraft killing R. L. Shile. Sandor Szabo was wounded during the action.

27 June 1945: W.R.Morey and J.L.Scott and crews sighted an SCL. Made seven runs and destroyed the vessel. Sighted a small coastal vessel and made strafing runs. Later found control wiring had been shot out rendering bomb drop impossible. Hydraulic reservoirs punctured by shell. Landed at Iwo Jima without incident.

30 June 1945: H.H.Van Buren and J.E.Woodworth and crews operating out of Iwo Jima searched the east coast of Honshu. Sighted a large cargo ship. While observing the cargo ship, a 37mm shell exploded in the cockpit killing J.A.Ricci and seriously injuring C.J.Lake. Van Buren was slightly wounded, but flew the plane on the return trip to Iwo Jima with Plane Captain J.W.Breyman acting as co-pilot.

03 July 1945: R.M.Barnes and crew sighted 2 small cargo vessels (SD) between Hachijo and Ko-Jima. Destroyed one and left one burning fiercely.

05 July 1945: J.L.Scott, C.J.Anderson and crews operating out of Iwo Jima along the Honshu coast sighted an FTB (Cargo Ship) at a dock. Began attach but shore battery fire was so intense, the attack was broken off. Later sighted and attacked a small cargo ship (SD) and set afire on strafing run.

06 July 1945: Otis G. Andrews and crew were attacked by three Tonys while flying cover for a lifeguard (Dumbo) submarine rescuing a downed Army Air Corps fighter pilot. Andrews' PB4Y was severely damaged and the number one engine was shot out. Upon landing at Iwo, the landing gear collapsed and the aircraft was surveyed.

08 July 1945: Stan Oset, R.R.Lowman and crews operating out of Iwo Jima along the coast of Honshu, sighted a cargo ship (SC). Oset instigated a low level attack. All bombs dropped simultaneously and the ship sank immediately. Only casualty was "Queenie" the German Shepherd mascot who ran aft when the bow guns began to fire and fell off the bomb bay cat walk while the bomb bay doors were open.

09 July 1945: E.C.Mildahn and M.P.Futrell and crews operating from Iwo Jima along the coast of Honshu sighted a cargo ship (FTB) and two escorts. Mildahn made a low level run on the FTB. The bombs exploded on the bow, setting the ship afire. A 20 mm shell struck his #4 engine and it was feathered. Returned to Iwo on three engines.

11 July 1945: W.R.Morey, T.F.Copeland and crews operating from Iwo Jima following Task Force 38 attack of airfields in the Tokyo area. Patrolling north and along the Honshu coast. No aircraft sighted. Morey and crew sighted two XPC's and made a low level bombing run. One vessel was damaged and stopped dead in the water. There was heavy return fire from the two vessels and the aircraft was hit several times.

14 July 1945: A.Stillman and crew heavily damaged a small cargo ship and three large fishing boats.

18 July 1945: A.Stillman, R.M.Barnes and crews operating from Iwo Jima sighted a small cargo ship (Sugar Dog) north of Daiko Saki. Stillman and crew conducted two strafing runs. Barnes and crew made two bombing runs. The vessel was sunk. Later, two large Sea Trucks were sighted off Ominato. Bombing and strafing runs were conducted by both aircraft. One ship was seen to roll over and sink while the other broke into two pieces and sank.

25 July 1945:

26 July 1945: The first PB4Y-2 aircraft (Privateers) were for use by VPB-102.

27 July 1945: R.M.Barnes and crew attacked a heavily armed picket boat outside Taneba Harbor, Honshu. A strafing and bombing run was made. One bomb hit amidships setting the ship afire. It was grounded on a reef.

29 July 1945:

From 22 February to 7 August 1945, 23 men were killed in action, 12 men were wounded and six PB4Y-1s were destroyed or damaged and surveyed due to enemy action.

2 August 1945: A navy aircraft spotted the survivors of the Cruiser USS Indianapolis. The ship had NOT been reported missing due to negligent procedures at Leyte, Philippines.

2 August 1945:

05 August 1945: W.R.Morey, J.E.Woodworth operating from central field Iwo Jima sighted a 100 ton lugger in the bay north of Nikimoto. Morey made two bombing and strafing runs. The bombs landed long on the first run but on the second run scored a direct hit. The violent explosion indicated the vessel was carrying either ammunition or gasoline as cargo.

6 August 1945: The first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima at 0816 by Col. Paul Tibbetts and crew flying the B-29 Enola Gay. Colonel Tibbetts, Commanding the 509th Bomb Group. Two additional B-29s accompanied Colonel Tibbetts to photograph and observe the drop. The final authority and responsibilty for use of atomic bombs rested with Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the United States.

7 August 1945: Change of command: LCDR L.P.Pressler was relieved by LCDR L.W.Bates

9 August 1945: The second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki by the B-29 Boch's Car. Initially it was to be dropped on Kokura, but because of unfavorable weather, the secondary target of Nagasaki was chosen. Drop time was at 1100 hrs. The detonation was at 1900 feet and was the equivalent of 12,500 TONS of TNT.

Quote: Winston S. Churchill, Prime Minister, the British Empire. Explaining why the atomic bomb was utilized. "to avert a vast, indefinite butchery, to bring the war to an end, to give peace to the world, to lay healing hands upon its tortured peoples by manifestation of overwhelming power at cost of a few explosions, seemed, after all our toils and perils, a miracle of deliverance."

PB4Y-1 Landing "Click" for full picture