Greetings to all.........
Bob Kirk tells me that, of the 179 questionnaires mailed to you, regarding our
reunion in Peoria, about half have responded. At present, the results
show 60 members who hope/plan to attend along with 44 wives and 8 guests.
32 members and wives have indicated that they will make the 2-day river
cruise. 16 want to play golf. 63 members have still to reply.
Bob says thank you to all who have answered indicating your support of this
reunion. Planning an event such as this is no easy task. If you
have not responded, it would be appreciated if you would take a moment to do
so. It would help Bob immensely.
News - Some of our friends have moved:
(Please consult your printed newsletter for their new address.)
Leslie Cole,
George Lauzon and
Robert Nadeau. We wish them well in their new homes.
A New Member: WELCOME
ABOARD!
Vernon (Smitty) Schmidt, Tech (Crew 7)
deployed from Kearney.
New Email Addresses:
Bob Davis aandbdavis@carolina.net
Robbie Roberson hmroberson@earthlink.net
On The Sick/Injured List:
Aurelia Davis (Bob) suffered a stroke in mid
April and has been in rehabilitation at Quail Haven, progressing slowly.
While there, she began experiencing pain and it was discovered that she needed
gall bladder surgery. 13 days of hospitalization and a return to Quail
Haven where she suffered another stroke. Aurelia is improving again and
back at Quail Haven. The best wishes of all of us go to both she and Bob.
Norm Wiltsey had surgery on 6/9 for a tumor
in the intestinal cavity. He was still in ICU when this word came to us.
We wish him well.
A message from Hal Warnimont’s son
Gary tells that Phyllis has been hospitalized due to traumas while suffering
dementia. She has now returned to a skilled care unit at College Harbor
Room 227. Best wishes from all of us to the whole family.
Members We Have Lost:
Raymond Menard
Gerald Dirks on 4/12/2003
Elmer Rose on 10/19/2002
Charles Kalaghan on 9/30/2002
Does anyone have a new address for Franklin (Jake) and Jeannette Jacobs?
John Kacewicz died 6/9/2003 after a fall down
a flight of stairs. Although John was suffering prostate and bone cancer,
the family hoped for more time but, it was not to be.
Dick Silzer lost his battle in April of 2003.
That wide smile and sense of humor will be missed. Our most sincere
sympathies to all who have lost their loved one.
Received some “thoughts” from Gus Martin a
few months ago and was able to pass them on to the family of William
Feaster. They have been interested in hearing more about the life
of Feaster during his time in 102.
John Finn has been honored in a new
book
written by Larry Smith, a veteran newspaper and magazine
editor with the New York Times and Parade Magazine.
 Photographs are by Eddie Adams, a Pulitzer prize winning photographer. It
is titled “Beyond Glory”. The book
contains material developed through interviews with
twelve MOH recipients. A book signing ceremony was
held at the Barnes and Noble book store in San Diego
on July 14, 2003. John and Beverly Sachs, of our
Squadron, attended. John Finn was there to autograph
along with the author and Harvey Burnam, Jr.
John is now 94 years old, the oldest living recipient of the Medal of
Honor. He lives alone on a ranch outside San Diego. He has traveled
extensively, all across the country, representing Medal of Honor recipients.
His wife, Alice, predeceased him several years ago. John attended our last
San Diego reunion Luau.
More Of Your History:
Both Bob Kirk and I have been in contact with Minoru
Kamada who is a native Japanese, living in Tokyo. He was born in
1948 in Fukuoka but mentions that there were many open spaces (bomb craters) for
kids to use as playgrounds while he was growing up in Osaka. He is a very
dedicated researcher devoted to finding the identities and matching crew
members, ships, with incident dates of Liberator records. He has
interviewed as many living Japanese crew members as he can find, to obtain
eyewitness information from them. He has a copy of The
Chronicles and I have sent him a copy of more AARs found on our Microfilms.
I have been making copies of all pertinent data from our Microfilm records to
add to our historic Squadron records. Having them in book form, makes it
all readily available for all.
Excerpts from his messages:
“Most veterans whom I interview always ask me if I know where their comrades
died. I research mainly on Japanese Navy recon plane vs. VPB Squadrons.”
“Two days ago I found another damage caused
to a Japanese shipping by Navy Liberators. Maybe your squadron. On 9
June, 1945, DAITO MARU was attacked by two B24s at the SURUGA bay, SHIQUOKA.
The MARU was one of the air-warden ships (sorry, I do not know the correct word
for this. A ship which stayed in a certain point of the sea during night
and day and watching for US planes approaching to the Honshu. They looked
out mainly B29s heading north)
It is suspected that they were Lt jgs MP
Futrell and S Oset.”
“The position is almost the same as found in
the Japanese document, however, the hours of the attack is a little bit
different. I think it requires to be further researched.” (This is
being done)
“The DAITO MARU was hit at the engine and was
unable to move in the bay anymore. It claimed a kill of B24. Lt jg
Oset’s ship was damaged when attacking so DAITO thought it was about to crash.
However, Oset returned home and DAITO did not sink.”
ANOTHER: AAR
10/6/43 LAT 00 degrees LONG
150 degrees 40E
Engaged: 1 JUNE - Our PPC - Lt Dimmitt
At 2000', in a circling climb preparatory to a
proposed bombing run on an enemy convoy of 2 Aks, one DD, and one DE, 11V29
sighted one JUNE at 1500' altitude, also climbing about a half mile ahead.
11V29 circled off and attempted to close, but JUNE turned off and went into a
dive, followed by 11V29. JUNE leveled off at 1200', but, overtaken by
11V29, was apparently hit several times before whipping up in a chandelle and
outdistancing the PB4Y. 11V29 returned to base without further attempt to
bomb, due to shortage of fuel. No apparent damage to enemy.
None to own A/C.
REMARKS: Rear seat gunner
of JUNE may have been hit during the chase, since his fire ceased abruptly just
prior to the withdrawal of the JUNE.
NOTE FROM MINORU KAMADA:
“I am informed that a “JUNE” is a misidentified “JAKE” (e13a)
believed to be a floatplane version of a VAL(D3A).”
“Now I check several Jake Kus being deployed
in this area (North of Mussau Island, Saint Matthias Group) and I found a Jake
for 958Ku (Kavieng Det.) Was contacted by a B24 for 20 minutes (0850I-0910I) on
this day. The pilot was KOGISO (koh’gee’soh) or OGISO
(oh’gee’soh), SHIZUO (she’zoo’oh) but names
of observer and radioman were not described on the document. It is not
known yet if the radioman was killed or wounded during this contact either.
958 Ku’s report is not well documented at all. It also describes that
the Jake was escorting over a convoy #2058.”
“Now back to the convoy: According to War
Diary for #4 Konkyochitai, a convoy of 2 cargo ships and 2 escort vessels
departed at Rabaul and headed for Truk on October 5. It cruised at 8.5
knots/hour and safely arrived at Truk on the ninth. It is a convoy #2052.
958 Ku’s document says it is #2058 but this one says it is #2052. I do
not know which number is correct. Anyway it seems that this is the only
convoy which was cruising in this area on October 6.”
AK:
AMAGISAN (or(AMAGIYAMA) MARU and SAMPUKU MARU.
AMAGISAN (7620 N.t) sank at Truk on
44/02/14 by the Great air raid over Truk. (No information on SAMPUKU).
DD:
HIYODORI (960 T/ Suiraitei=torpedo boat=a small DD), and
DE is Sub-chaser #28
(442 T/ Kusentei) HIYODORI is believed to
have sunken USS Amberjack on 02/16/1943 but it was sunk by USS Gunnel off Hainan
island on 11/17/44. US plane sank the SC #28 on 2/01/1945.
NEWS:
Those of you who served on Tinian and flew the northern search sector will
remember the most northern island in the Mariana chain–ANATAHAN.
Some of the VPB-102 population referred to the island as “Hot
Rocks” as it was of volcano origin and there was always a wisp of smoke
emitting from the top of the inverted cone. It appeared to be uninhabited
at the time.
 The volcano erupted on 5/18/03 sending smoke
and ash four miles into the air. There are approximately 70,000 people
inhabiting the Mariana Islands today and following the eruption, there is great
concern that there is not an adequate warning system.
Chuck Maginn
Be sure to keep either Bob Kirk
or I, Louise Thoman, informed of your moves, illnesses,
meetings with friends, etc. This news letter is your link to each other.
Your friends want to hear about you as you like to hear about them. We
know that the news is not always happy news, but, it’s about you and that’s
what counts. It’s also important that we are abreast of your whereabouts.
There is a great amount of work involved in keeping a group like this together
and your co-operation in keeping us informed is essential. Word from
family members about a Veteran’s status is very much appreciated.
Send to:
Bob Kirk, 4371 Logrono Drive, San
Diego, CA 92115-5623 Or
Louise Thoman, 86 Driftwood Lane, Trumbull, CT 06611-1861
Friendship, what would the world be without
it..........
Louise Thoman, Editor
Peoria
in 2004
See you then!
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