Robert E. Copeland of Z-8, "Mission to Albuquerque"
"We were at 7,800 feet and there was smoke towering above us. The radar run was perfect and we dropped in an open spot visually. The city was a 'Dante's Inferno'."
- Robert Copeland on the 9 March 1945 incendiary raid on Tokyo
_____________________________
Young Robert Copeland grew up the the Pacific Northwest of the United States, and his formulative years centered
around aviation and baseball. His older brother, Bill, was taught the basics of aircraft mechanics and how to fly by
Bert Zimmerly.
Bert was a pioneer in what we now call "bush piloting." He delivered mail, people and goods in the Northwest
panhandle of Idaho, western Montana, eastern Washington, and the Okanogan area of British Columbia.
Bill Copeland's fascination with flight transferred to his younger brother Bobby, who he taught how to fly.
Multi-engine, Ford Tri-motors were a specialty. Young Bob learned quickly from his older brother, grasped the basics,
and not only soloed at the tender age of 16, but also qualified in multi-engined aircraft at the same time.
The AAF recognized Bob's ability and immediately upon his high school graduation, he was recruited and then breezed
through basic and advance flight schools.
A 2nd Lieutenant at age 18....without any college experience, but with superior piloting skills. Bob moved on to B-29 training and flying, but his promise as a superior airman sadly ended when his airplane was downed over Kobe, Japan and he was KIA.
One of Bob's goals had been to follow in his Uncle Ray's footsteps, and become a professional baseball player.
In his stead, his young nephew Bill Copeland did realize that goal and played AA baseball in the Cinncinnati Reds organization. (See a picture of Bob holding his little nephew Billie in the photograph below).
- Robert Copeland on the 9 March 1945 incendiary raid on Tokyo
_____________________________
Young Robert Copeland grew up the the Pacific Northwest of the United States, and his formulative years centered
around aviation and baseball. His older brother, Bill, was taught the basics of aircraft mechanics and how to fly by
Bert Zimmerly.
Bert was a pioneer in what we now call "bush piloting." He delivered mail, people and goods in the Northwest
panhandle of Idaho, western Montana, eastern Washington, and the Okanogan area of British Columbia.
Bill Copeland's fascination with flight transferred to his younger brother Bobby, who he taught how to fly.
Multi-engine, Ford Tri-motors were a specialty. Young Bob learned quickly from his older brother, grasped the basics,
and not only soloed at the tender age of 16, but also qualified in multi-engined aircraft at the same time.
The AAF recognized Bob's ability and immediately upon his high school graduation, he was recruited and then breezed
through basic and advance flight schools.
A 2nd Lieutenant at age 18....without any college experience, but with superior piloting skills. Bob moved on to B-29 training and flying, but his promise as a superior airman sadly ended when his airplane was downed over Kobe, Japan and he was KIA.
One of Bob's goals had been to follow in his Uncle Ray's footsteps, and become a professional baseball player.
In his stead, his young nephew Bill Copeland did realize that goal and played AA baseball in the Cinncinnati Reds organization. (See a picture of Bob holding his little nephew Billie in the photograph below).
Fitzgerald Aircrew
FRONT ROW- left to right; George Bauman, radar; D. Holley, right gunner; R. Wray, tail gunner; A. Augunas, radio; J. Barry, left gunner; J. Cutler, CFC
BACK ROW- left to right R. Fitzgerald, A/C; R. Copeland, pilot; H. Connor, flt. engineer; R.Nelson, navigator; V.Caufield, bombardier;
*Robert D. Cookson, radar, does not appear in this photograph.
BACK ROW- left to right R. Fitzgerald, A/C; R. Copeland, pilot; H. Connor, flt. engineer; R.Nelson, navigator; V.Caufield, bombardier;
*Robert D. Cookson, radar, does not appear in this photograph.
All images on this page courtesy B. Copeland unless otherwise stipulated
Training...
Missing in Action - Copeland
Killed in Action - Copeland
Harry S. Truman letter - Copeland
The War Diary of Robert E. Copeland
2 Nov. 44
Had a dry run today and didn't get off. Bad nri-ner solenoid leak
held us up. I think Fitz's wife was happy about it even if I wasn't.
3 Nov 44
Another dry run. weather held us up this time. I'm getting slightly burned up because I want to get over and see what this war is all about.
4 Nov 44
Well, today everything ran smoothly enough and we got off the ground at at 0919. We had a nice trip with a solid undercast to Albuquerque. Ran into clouds over Calif. and picked up some ice over Bakersfield. We used the boots. We landed at Mather Field at 1650 after a 71/2 hour trip. Mather is our POAE and the first stop on our way to combat. I'm anxious to get there and see if I can't realize my ambition of getting my own crew and ship.
5 Nov 44
We briefed all morning on our trip from here to John Rogers Field on Oahu Island in the Hawaiian group. We're scheduled to leave around 0500 tomorrow afternoon. We were processed again. We went thru our ditching procedure also but I hope we never use it. The food here at Mather is wonderful to say the least.
6 Nov 44
Today we left Mather at 0630 and after 11 hrs. we arrived at John Rogers Field, Hawaii. It was a rather uneventful crossing and we had an Undercast most of the way so we saw very little of the ocean. We broke into the clear just
before reaching Oahu and we were able to get a good look at Koko Head and Diamond Head.
Also, we were able to see Waikiki Beach and Pearl Harbor which were supposedly fighting to revenge. From the short look I had at Hickam Field I couldn't see any of the marks the Japs left Dec. 7, 1942. Saw the anti-aircraft batteries
firing at a sleeve target which was well framed by the island searchlights.
7 Nov 44
It looks like Roosevelt will win the election. We briefed today on our trip to Kwajalein Atoll from here. We now know we are at least on our way to the Marianas, probably Saipan. We will pass pretty close to some Jap held atolls
in the Marshalls on our way into Kwajalein so I guess the war is getting closer all the time. After waiting so long for it I think I'm rather glad though. I saw the Navy "Mars" today and it sure is a big airplane. There are quite a few guns
spread around this field. We are steadily getting away from civilization as evidenced by the lack of things that we're always taken for granted, such as milk.
8 Nov 44
Today we crossed the International Date Line, that being the reason for the two days in one. We took off from Oahu at 0745 and made Kwajalein after 10 1/2 hrs.We saw a naval force putting out from Pearl Harbor as we left. It
included a Ranger class carrier, light cruisers, and destroyers. We also saw some subs and a boat that looked like it had taken a torpedo. We passed over Johnston Island on the way. We didn't see a great deal on the trip. One boat to be exact and the
other atolls in the Marshall's Group. We're not exactly sure whether we passed over any of the enemy held atolls or not. Kwajalein is quite a place. It's well built up now and it seems as though every bit of space has been utilized. There is
still evidence of the terrific battle that must have gone on for this place and I don't envy at all those Marines who had to charge these beaches and ran smack into all the pillboxes that covered them. These atolls are very pretty from the
air with their white coral reefs and little Isles covered with palms. The palms on this one have been completely leveled though. Tommorrw we takeoff at 0900 for Saipan, our destination. It is only a 1300 mile trip and the easiest one of the four I
hope.
Oh yes.' We went swimming in the Kwajalein Lagoon 'soon after we landed
10 Nov 44
We took off at 0900 and arrived at Iseley Field, Saipan 6:35 hrs later. It's a swell field with 1 asphalt runway and another under construction. We were quite impressed with the amount of construction that has been done in the Squadron area. We are eating the E.M.'s mess at present but will soon have our own.
The food isn't bad considering everything. We are living in quonset huts which are very nice and a lot better than I'd ever expected. Tokyo Rose announced today at 1600 that every man on Saipan would be dead in 6 hrs. So we're kind of expecting an air raid. There have been two so far since our outfit moved in. The Japs made preposterous claims as to the amount of damage done, although 11 men were killed when a Betty hit a tent after shot down. A few incendiaries hit the runway.
11Nov. 44
Well we're still alive and I was a little diaappointed in that they didn't pull an air raid. We worked on the plane most of the day and we spent an hour censoring mail. What some E.M. don't write. The 500th went on it's first raid today down over Truk. The flak they said was from level to low and behind. Very little fighter opposition. Only one closed in near enough to fire at it and it smoked when Boren shot at it. Fires were started in the target area. 10,000lbs. of bombs were dropped at 25,000 Ft. 60 to 70 percent hits were estimated. No one was lost on the 6 hour mission. 10 ships
12 Nov 44
No raid last night either. We cleaned our airplane today or rather continued the job. We worked on our Quonset this afternoon and put up a tarpaulin roof in front. Louis Charest helped us. He is in the 881st now.
We are planning to do a lot of improving on our hut.
13 Nov 44
Today we had an air raid alert but as yet I don't know whether the Japs ever got near the island. The F4U's TBF's and P-47's all dived at something on the other side of the island and really put on a show. I have never seen so many fighters in all my life, and I don't see how any Japs could get thru in the daytime and then there are P-61's for night fighting.
Nothing much happened diring the rest of the day. The raid lasted from 0700 to 0855
14 Nov 44
We cleaned the airplane and guns today and the guns are a little screwed up. There is a big mission coming up the next few days with the choicest target of all as our destination ,"TOKYO"' I hope we do a good job.
This will be the first official raid on Japan by 29's. There have been Photo recon ships up there from here. We are supposed to carry 10, 500 bombs and 500 rds of ammo per gun and 8000 gals. of gas.
15 Nov 44
We loafed around most of the morning and I did some of my back laundry. This afternoon we test hopped our ship for 45 mins. I got to make both the takeoff and landing from the left seat. I enjoyed this flight more than any
I've made in a long time. We got a good look at Tinian. It seems to be well cultivated. There are about 3 strips on the island. It is rumored that we'll make a milk run up to the Bonin's before the big raid. Probably the day after tomorrow.
16 Nov. 44
We were briefed today on our Tokyo trip. It shouldn't be to bad as far as flak and fighters are concerned. We are to bomb the Nakajima engine plant along with two other plants which make nearly 40% of Japan's combat engines.
Weather prevented us from going tomorrow. Four of us took a trip around the island in an jeep today. I enjoyed it very much. We went thru Charan Kanoa and Garapan. Both were beaten up horribly during the fighting.We looked at the sugar
mill et C.K. the one that was mentioned prominently in the newspapers during the fight. The Marines were out in force today cleaning up the Japs left on the island. We also went swimming at the beach at C.K. the Water was swell and it
was the nicest beach I've ever seen.
17 Nov 44
We didn't do a great deal today. Made a trip after some bananas though and they do grow upside down. We had our specialized briefing on the Tokyo raid. today and it was lousy. We will encounter 400 to 500 fighters in the Tokyo area. Zekes,Oscars, Nicks, ' Franks, Jacks and lrwins. There are possibly 2300 fighters in the home islands. The air-sea rescue facilities are well set up and anyone forced down at sea has a good chance of getting back. The closest sub is only a few miles off the coast of Japan and they are strung out at various points between here and there. There will also be one airplane out, namely Dumbo. We drove near some of the graveyards on the island and it's plain to see that it took a lot of hard and bitter fighting to take this place.
18 Nov 44
Maybe we'lll go tomorrow, I hope. If we do. Hirohito is going to be rather upset after we cut loose with 5,000 lbs of bombs from nearly 90 airplanes. Toured the island again today. We went to the far end and I can see now how so many Japs can be holed up yet because it's a plenty rugged island. This raid is to be announced to the U.S. by the President himself so it's going to really make history and I wouldn't miss being on it for the world.
19 Nov 44
1 had expected this to be our big day but the mission was called off because the wind was blowing the wrong way. Maybe we'll go sooner or later. I spent part of the day building myself a shelf to put odds and ends on. It was
a rather dull day for the most part. We got up at 0300. It rained considerably harder today than it ever has before. I saw a helicopter today. The first one I've ever seen. It flew along quite nicely.
20 Nov. 44
Getting up at these ungodly hours just to bomb Tokyo is getting very monotonous. We arose at 0430 this morning and after we got all prepared they called the mission off. I didn't accomplish a thing this morning but in the afternoon I managed to write seven letters. It's been raining hard most of the day. There seems to be a tropical storm or two running loose in this vicinity and thats the reason for our not going. I hope we go soon because this inactivity is beginning to get everyone.
21 Nov 44
We crawled out at 0500 this morning and had everthing in the airplane before the mission was called off. I'M getting slightly bitter about this whole thing. We laid around the rest of the day writing letters. We wont go tomorrow. We had pork chops for dinner and boy did they taste good. This evening Bob checked me out on his A-14 sextant.
22 Nov 44
Ray and I went over to East fighter field today and I ran into Brunner and Bennett over there. Brunner was at Marana and Bennett was at Thunderbird Two. Had a big talk with them and we discussed old times and old friends They've been on the island since D Day plus 12 and were brought here on a carrier. In the afternoon we went swimming at Blue Beach. The water was swell. I saw a woman down there for the first time since I left the states. She was a nurse.
23 Nov 44
Thanksgiving Day. Today was another dull one. We had a nice dinner with chicken, potatoes, peas, fresh butter, and pumpkin pie. I went to church a nd was glad I did. It was a good sermon. This afternoon we did nothing but clean the rocks out of the recreation field they're fixing up out to the side of out hut. Fitz said today there is some talk of making ours a lead crew and if that happens I'll have to ride in the tail. All I can say is, why did they give me wings?
24 Nov. 44
This will be a day to long remember. We made the first raid over TOKYO today. It was also my first combat mission.
We arrived over the target in the early afternoon soon after the first groups had bombed the primary. I could see a large
pillar of smoke rising from it. Clouds covered the target when we closed in and we went to the secondary. Boren said he saw his bombs working over docks so I guess we may have done some some good. The formation was generally poor although we were together over the target. The flak was from meager to moderate and most of it was accurate as far as altitude was concerned. We didn't lose a ship from our group. A ship from one of the other groups was reported to have ditched just
off the coast of Japan. One tail gunner died of anoxia and a bombardier was shot in the leg so we had very few casualties. We had a few shots at fighters. Vince got at one but didn't knock him down. He came in at 11 o'clock low. Another came in from the front but no one got a shot at him. Another came in at 7 o'clock high but no one got him either. Ten to 15 sat out of range but never came in. The first one was a two engine job and the second was probably a Tony.
Saw Mt. Fujiyama today. The island of Honshu is quite mountainous and very pretty with the snow on the peaks.
25 Nov. 44
Went to a critique on the mission today and we decided our bombs definitely must have hit around the dock area of Tokyo. Apparently bombs hit all over Tokyo. Went up this evening to East Field and had a few drinks with Bennett and Brunner. Had a big talk with them and a couple of their friends. There is liable to be another mission in the next few days according to the rumors.
26 Nov 44
Helped on the ball diamond this morning and then went to church. Spent most of the afternoon up at the airplane. We have a blister out and screwed up bomb racks. We briefed this evening for another trip to Tokyo and another try at bombing out the original primary target. Photos said that we didn't get but 12 hits in it. I'm not particularly anxious to go back there because I think the target was hit worse later on. We also aren't going to use any sort of evasive tactics and sooner or later someone is going to get it.
27 Nov 44
At 0007 we had an attack by 3 Betty's. Tracers flew right over our heads. 3 B-29's were lost and 3 men. At 1227 from 8 to 10 Zero's strafed the field. The AA was terrific and they got two for sure. I saw one of them get it right near the cockpit and he burst into a flame that trailed way behind him and he dove into the ground near the 883rd area and exploded. One 29 is burning in it's hardstand on the hill above us and two more to the right down the taxiway. We built our air raid shelter this morning and we're darn glad of it. I went down and saw the Zeke near the 883rd and the biggest part left was a prop
blade. Saw the remains of the pilot and it was the first dead man I've ever seen. Four ships were shot down by a fighter. They shot hell out of our ships. Lucas put out the fire caused in the No. 2 engine and as he and another fellow were doing this the Japs strafed the place again and very nearly hit them. They shot up the cockpit badly and the center wing section, tanks and bomb bays and all the gas leaked out but the ship didn't catch fire. We're out and airplane for a while now.
28 Nov. 44
Last night at 2230 we took Maj. Goldsworthy's ship down here to Guam. It was a very pretty trip with a full moon above the clouds. It reminded me of my first solo night X-C in Basic. It was a 45 min. flight and it's purpose was to get the ships out of Saipan in case it was raided by the Japs again. Guam isn't quite as mountainous as Saipan and here at Depot Field it isn't badly battle scarred. It's very pretty with lots of vegetation and plenty of coconut palms. Climbed one of the palms and got a coconut. The meat tasted good but it sure was job husking it.
Capt. Irvin ditched his plane on the Tokyo mission yesterday but we've had no report on him as yet. The boys on the raid didn't encounter any fighters of flak and bombed thru the overcast by radar.
29 Nov. 44
We flew back from Guam today and found everything essentially the same as when we left. Two Japs came over high last night but the AA boys didn't get them. We saw Rota and it has a landing strip on it. I flew the ship back and made the landing. Saw some battleships out in the harbor. We had an alert at 1930 but nothing materialized. I suppose we'll have another one tonight. On the raid of the 27th I heard that six ships were shot down by fighters and seven by AA guns at various parts of the island. Ten B-29's were burned up or damaged badly according to the rumors.
30 Nov. 44
Payday. Nothing today but I was up to East Field today and Brunner said there were 30 Jap bombers at Iwo Jima and they expected them down tonight. The B-24's just got back from there at 2030 though so maybe they knocked them out, I hope. Was over to the 24 outfit tonight and found out that Gallagher, Auerback(Charlie) and Garlock are over there. Garlock is in Oahu on a rest leave nnd the other two were on the Iwo raid so I'll have to see them some other night. We're going to have a big reunion on the fifth up at East Field of the 43-K boys. The boys bombed Tokyo last night with 17 incendiary clusters and
three frag clusters. 10 ships took off from this squadron. Maj. Hansen was never heard from from the time he took off and Capt. Irvin hasn't been found.
1 Dec44
Well last night we were routed out of bed at 2305 but nothing showed up over the island altho some flak was tossed up at something. The Japs said today that our boys started a number of fires in Tokyo on there Weds. nite raid. They were unable to see anything themselves and bombed the ETA as their radar was jammed. The Japs dropped window on their raid of the 29th and thats why the AA wasn't able to get at them. Saw Brunner last night and the 38's are going to follow any Japs that come down back to Iwo and get them there as they go in to land, Good deal. Bennett flew top cover two days ago on a strike
against Pagan and the low ships got two in the air.and a two engine job in an underground hangar. Tokyo Rose promised that we wouldn't sleep tonight and with a full moon I wouldn't doubt it. She dedicated the song "I Didn't Sleep a Wink Last Night" to us. Saw a man yesterday who is scared to death of these air raids and I really feel sorry for him. I don't exactly feel comfortable but when it's over I get quite a bang out of it, talking about it and I'm not bothered particularly.
2 Dec44
Found out today that the raid last night was merely a B-24 with his IFF off. I didn't do a thing that was exciting today. I did try to dig a foxhole though and would have succeeded except for the coral.Wrote a couple of letters and now that we can say something I can write fairly good notes. Nelson was an eager beaver today and did his laundry. I'll try to do mine tomorrow. I beat around in our backyard today also.
3 Dee 44
It was a sad day for the 881st Maj. Goldsworthy and crew were lost over Tokyo. Col. King was riding with him. Fighters shot away parts of his No. 3 and when last seen he was trailing either smoke or gas and his nose wheel was
down as though he were going to jump. McNamer took a 20 mm shell in the rear as he was over the target and his gear started down but he brought it back up with the normal switch. When he landed though the nose gear collapsed. The nose took it beautifully. The boys met a lot of opposition but very few got hit. Maj. Luman had his nose shot up and a 50 cal. shell casing came thru it. A blister also blew out. The boys are beginning to crack. Capt. Field started for the cliff last night before he was stopped and taken to the hospital. I'm wondering what'll happen to Sollock (Maj. Goldsworthy's co-pilot). Sollock was kicked off so King and the Wing A-3 could go. The AA was still moderate and inaccurate. The bombing results as far as our Sqdn. was concerned were lousy. Some groups reported 50% bomb hits on the target. I didn't do much today except work on our backyard and also do some laundry. I went to church too.
4 Dec 44
Another dull day. For excitement I worked on the backyard again. Went to the line and saw "old 692". They're rapidly patching it up and getting it ready to fly. Capt. Hatch sighted a raft on the Tokyo raid and Curtiss and crew searched for it today in a B-24 but were unable to find any trace of it. It may be Capt. Irvin. Saw Kimmet and Parker today. They're in the 499th I can't help but be bitter about the matter of fact way the radio commentators speak of the loss of Just one B-29 yesterday. It really brings home the war to us though. It's a sad thing about Capt. Field. He'll probably be sent home. If so I hope Dodds gets the crew.
5 Dec 44
The only exciting thing I did today was to go to our 43-K get together up at East Field. Saw "Fat Boy" Bennett and Halpin for the first time. Charlie A. was there playing beat up piano and a big time was had by all. Brunner took care of everything very nicely. Bivins, Dodds, Craig, Bennett and Gallagher were the other fellows that I knew who were there. We had an alert in the morning and a 38 shot down a Jap Mert at 27,000'. The Japs dropped funeral wreaths on parachutes to there honorable comrades who died on this island. They should have used them themselves.
6 Dec 44
It looks like were getting set for another mission. This time it will be up to the Bonins where we'll probably help with an invasion of the place. We're scheduled to fly group lead with me in the tail gunner's position. We'll be carrying 40 500 lb. bombs.
7 Dec 44
I'm tired this evening after four hours of baseball. We were routed out of bed at 0400 this morning by bullets and planes going over the hut. Fitz said he saw one get shot down just after he passed over here. I sure took to the shelter in a hurry and without shoes, helmet or clothes. Nelson went out naked. At 0450 another Jap came in and I saw him catch fire and go in and explode. He hit on a taxiway and when I got there at 0700 the bodys were still lying around and there was very little left of anything. It was the most horrible sight I had ever seen and all my illusions as to the grrndeur of war vanished.
8 Dec 44
We raided Iwo Jima today with 20,000 lbs of 500 lb. G.P.'s We were flying group lead with Col. Doughtery riding with us. He is now Group Commander. We bombed by radar and our bombs missed the island but the rest of the squadrons hit on it.
The formation was slightly improved, I rode in the tail gunners seat and it's really horrible back there. We made a practice run on the Pajores on the way. It's an active volcano that rises out of the sea 326 miles north of here. It was
smoking some today. I saw about four fighters today and no flak. The fighters didn't bother us. We had to make two runs before we dropped our bombs. The lst run was on the wrong target and it was only luck that the bombs didn't drop.
9 Dec 44
This morning at 0412 we were awakened by the air raid alarm but nothing materialized down here. Went to a mission critique at 0930 and yesterdays mistakes were quite thoroughly discussed. Col. Dougherty seems to he making progress on the errors present within this group. The formation problem is being attacked in particular. This afternoon we censored mail and attended a chemical warfare lecture by Lt. Craig. We have another airplane now but I haven't seen it yet.
10 Dec 44
We spent the day giving our new ship an acceptance check. We flew up to Pagan and dropped 5 bombs. Four by radar and one visually. Canfield said he saw three Jap twin-engine ships on the field, but I think they are all shot up. I don't know whether any bombs hit the island or not. Pagan isn't too small and has a fairly large strip. When we came back we calibrated our airspeed indicators. We had turkey for supper. McKinney seems to be more or less going on the rocks since he got the news that his wife and Mother-in-law were murdered. He hasn't eaten in three days.
11 Dec 44
Worked on the guns with the boys today. They're in pretty good shape. We'll probalbly go on another Tokyo raid soon'. Didn't do much this afternoon but went to a movie this evening. We acquired a new radar operator today. His name is Cookson.
12 Dec 41
Spent the morning washing our airplane to see if we can't get a few more mph out of it. Didn't do a darn-thing this afternoon except sleep. Some of the crew briefed this evening on the Nagoya mission. They are to bomb an aircraft engine plant up there. By quirk of fate we aren't going.
There's a rumor goink around that the "wreaths" the Japs dropped on Dec 5 were not wreaths but heads of some of the men from a captured crew, probably Goldsworthys. Wish we knew for sure, because if we did we could go up there with
a vengeance from now on. I wouldn't give a darn then whether we bombed indiscriminately or not.
13 Dec 44
Our boys pulled another raid today. The bombing results seemed to be good. They saw a couple of big fires in the target. They dropped visually and there were no clouds. The formation Rood was in got nearly a hundred miles off course and spent an hour over the mainland of Japan. There was some fighter opposition and according to Ray there was a lot of flak at their altitude. Craig said it was even rocking their ship. About three fighters made passes at Ray when they dropped back to help Capt Guise. Capt. Brown ended up following him down and he ditched about 100 miles from Japan. A gunner said he hit
straight and didn't seem to break but when Brown got down below the clouds Grise was no where to be seen. One ship crashed on the east side of the island after apparently tried a go around with very little fuel. Haven't heard the full story yet. There were more than 100 planes took off yesterday and the formation in the 2nd squadron was far better than usual. Ray said one bombardier was killed on one of the other groups. .
14 Dec 44
Nothing of importance happened yesterday. One or two ditched crews were picked up by the Navy. One crew was on the Dec 3rd raid. The wing lost 4 ships altogether yesterday. I read "Magnificent Obsession" most of the day for amusement.
15 Dec 44
Nothing happened today either, 'went up to the airplane and it's nearly ready for the mission to Nagoya tomorrow. Will be glad to be doing something again. It's rumored that we have to have 300 hours of combat time before we can go home or apnroximately 25 missions. Sure hope we make it. Had a letter from Dorothy today and was more than happy about it.
16 Dec 44
Helped clean guns this afternoon in preparation for the mission tomorrow. But it was called off. Went to East Field and the 30th B. Gp. area this evening. Bennett and Brunner are in Oahu on a rest leave. I saw Auerback and Halprin at the 30th
17 Dec 44
Went to church and I've never seen such a large crowd before. The going is getting a little rougher over Japan and it's having a profound effect on everyone. We briefed this evening on the raid which we are going to pull over Nagoya tomorrow. We're bombing the home office of the Mitsubishi plant and factory which is situated in the dock area of Nagoya. It's different than that bombed the 13th. There will be 24 ships taking off with each carrying ten 500 lb G.P.'s
18 Dec 44.
We took off for Nagoya at 0729 with Father Hickey's blessing and a "God Bless You" written on the nose wheel hatch by the ground crew. We went to 31,000 feet to do our bombing. It was a 47 mi. long bomb run with a 101 knots ground speed. Most of the run was made by radar with last minute refinements by the bombardier. Capt. Hatch said our bombs hit the target. I hope so. Maj. Luman aborted and that left us the lead and we led six ships over the target. The flak was meager but accurate. It was bursting just a few hundred feet off our nose and some burst right underneath where I could hear it go ''whump" whump." A couple fighters pressed there attacks. One was a Zeke 52 and one a Tony. Both came in at 11 o'clock low with all guns blazing. They didn't hit anyone in the formation. Coming in on the target I heard some pilot tell his crew to bail out because of a fire in the ship. Bricker and crew had to ditch up near Iwo Jima because he was unable to transfer gas. Capt. Hatch saw him hit and the ship broke in two. Someone got out though because Hatch saw them in their rafts. A lot of crews were sweating out gas and one man with one engine feathered and another which quit on the final ,crashed on the right side of the field killing two men in their tents. The crew survived.
19 Dec 44
Went to a critique this morning and the mission was thoroughly discussed. Col. Dougherty is getting this outfit on the ball. Thompson and Sullivan went on a search mission for Bricker and found him 20 miles from where Hatch said he was. From 7 to 9 men were reported in the two rafts. Rood said it was exceptionally hard to see the rafts at 10O0 feet. They contacted the sub and it was supposed to reach them at 1800 this morning.
20 Dec 44
Helped the gunners clean guns all morning. At 0400 this morning we had an alert caused by a B-24 with a weak IFF coming in from Guam. Did some laundry in the afternoon and had a big bull session with Clanton this evening.
21 Dec 44
Did absolutely nothing this morning but this afternoon Harrell, Ofeisch and I went to Tanapag Harbor where we took and LCI out to the sub tender Fulton. A Torpedoman took us aboard the Submarine Trigger and a good many questions were cleared up concerning subs. They are very compact and crowded but nice and clean. The men aboard the Fulton were crowded also. Harrell's friend got us some ice cream and it was the tastiest delicacy I've had since getting on this island.
Cold water from a fountain tasted good too. We briefed this eve. on another raid to Nagoya. This time we'll bomb the Mitsubishi plant bombed first on Dec 13th . We're carrying oil bombs. 11 of them
22 Dec 44
We got up at 0345 and took off for Japan at 0707. We started out No. 3 ship in the 3rd element and after all the abortions we were deputy lead. We went over the target with only six out of the 14 ships scheduled. We bombed at 32,000 by radar and I have my doubts as to the results. I was scared to put it mildly until we started getting fighter attacks just as we turned off the target. There were more fighters than I have ever seen before. We had 27 attacks that we counted and included one Zeke, a large number of Tonys and quite a few Irvins and possibly some Nicks but they're doubtful. They made attacks from
everywhere-1, 2, 3, 11, 12, 10 , 8 and 7 o'clocks. I think it all happened within ten minutes, but it seemed years. The Japs really pressed their attacks home to within a few feet.
One Tony came in at 1230 o'clock rolled up on his side and pulled his nose in towards us and I thought he would ram us but he went between us and the No. 3 man in the 2nd element. Wray is being credited with a probable the other gunners are splitting credit for another probable.
The boys really worked together good yesterday during the fighting. Cutter got in plenty of shots on the the left side and burnt out his barrels. Wray saw the two probables spin down but didn't see them hit. Flak was meager and inaccurate
but down by Hammamatsu I saw one patch of white flak which was bigger than any I've seen before. One ship in our formation had an engine shot out one had a couple of 20 mm holes. We wern't scratched. One or two ships ditched from other groups and one was shot down in flames.
23 Dec 44
Slept as much as I could and then went to a critique at 11 o'clock. Just as we finished the air raid siren blew but nothing materialized. Went to the line this afternoon and watched the boys clean guns.
24 Dec 44
Didn't do very much today. It's Christmas eve but one would never know it. The new Officer's Club was opened tonight and it is pretty nice. When completed it will be super.
25 Dec 44
CHRISTMAS This is the first time in my life that it's been hot on Christmas. We had a very nice dinner with pork chops, and chicken, potatoes, real butter and buns, with cake and pie for dessert. Four letters were my Xmas presents and they were certainly nice ones. This afternoon we went on a test hop and took along fifteern of the ground crew men, among them was Louis Charest and we let him sit in the bombardiers seat. They all seemed to enjoy the trip. I shot two landings, one from each seat. At 2010 we had an air raid which lasted until 2302. The Japs dropped one large bomb. I saw one or two of the Japs get shot down in flames. The bomb caused one 29 to go up in smoke.
26 Dec 44
We briefed this morning on a mission in which we were to take a bunch of P-38's up to Iwo where they " were going to strafe the place. It was called off about 4 though. Last nights raid resulted in 3 Japs shot down by P-61's and one by AA.
The 61's got two probables. Our losses were one B-29, and probably 1 and 11 with holes in them. At about 2005 this evening we had another raid which lasted until about 2130. Saw one Jap in the lights but the AA was way off.
There was lots of firing but I didn't see anyone go down. The Japs dropped a lot of window both tonight and last night and it seems to have really screwed up our gunners.
27 Dec 44
At 2205 last night we had another raid which lasted until 2330. "Condor Base" was broadcast over the PA system so we heard them announce that both targets 3 and 27 had been shot down by a Charwoman (P-61). Immediately after the deed was done. At least three were shot down by AA and 61's. We didn't see any over the island. On the first raid they dropped a bomb
killing some Navy men on the other end of the island. Today I worked some on our backyard and this afternoon censored mail and also went up to the ship where they will have to change the No. 2 engine. Eight ships from our group started
for Tokyo today and six bombed the same factory we bombed on the first raid. They had some fighter interception.
28 Dec 44
Yesterdays raid was really screwed up. They missed the primary and tried to make a 180 degree turn and hit it again but didn't succeed and dropped their bombs in Tokyo with dubious results. Hiat ( a 43*K man in the 499th) ship got in the prop wash over Tokyo and was flipped over on its back and then split S'd from 32,000 ft. to 25,000 ft. and there airspeed went to 380 mph. They climbed to 33,000 ft. before they could level the ship out. I spent most of the day cleaning up my section of the Quonset. Washed the floor even. Then this afternoon I went to the line and watched them work on No. 2. Also started No. 3 and No. 4. Some of the turns the formation made yesterday were so steep that Taylor said they completely stalled and lost a thousand feet.
29 Dec 44
Nothing, except I tried to keep rather busy.
30 Dec 44
Nothing important today either. Spent the morning in S-2 learning what I could about the Jap war machine.
Did some washing this afternoon.
31 Dec 44
Went to church this morning and generally took it easy until 1400. At that time we had a general briefing for our lead crew training mission tomorrow. We're going to Pagan again and drop a few bombs.
1 Jan 45
We flew today from 0815 until 1415. Went up to Pagan and dropped bombs for practice.
2 Jan 45
This morning at 0430 we had an air raid and one Jap came over the field and dropped some type of frag bomb and holes in two or three ships. Spent the day up at the ship cleaning guns and the inside of the ship. I more or less took care of the lower forward turret. Briefed this evening for a raid tomorrow on Nagoya. We're dropping mostly incendiaries and will try to burn the town up as it produces more of Japans war goods than any other town. 24 ships are scheduled to take off from this group.
3 Jan 45
We had an air raid this morning at 0415. No Japs reached the island, but two of them were shot down by P-61's. Then we ate and went to our ship and got it ready to go to Nagoya. We took off at 0810 and got out 365 miles and it was discovered that our fuel transfer pumps were inoperative so we aborted. We found another note written on the hatch by the ground crew and it helped my morale a lot. We couldn't lose with a ground crew like that. We just layed around this afternoon doing nothing. Drove up to East Field tonight but Brunner and Bennett are still in Oahu..Saw Jack Bussell, he's in the 497th Breeland is
too and he brought his ship back from Tokyo a few days ago when the AC was wounded.
4 Jan 45
Cleaned guns all morning and spent most of the afternoon at the ship. I had a nice talk with Wray and Cutter. Wray is a very smart lad and has his ambitions.
4 Jan 45 Cont.
He intends to try and get an International Harvester agency in his home town and go into business for himself. Cutter just plans to get out of the Army and tell everyone to go to hell " if he so pleases.E.M. for the most part have that attitude. They are both good boys. Went to see the show this evening with Ray.
5 Jan 45
Rood, Harrel and I went to the Navy docks this morning where we watched them in their flying boat operations. We went thru a PB29 Coronado. They are sure big ships. They have eight bunks in them and also an electric stove and a refrigerator. This island is sure expanding. All thru the area on the east side new warehouse buildings are going up. Isely Field is in the process of being completed also. Runway B was used for the first time on the third. Roads are being built all over. Spent the afternoon doing nothing and wrote letters this evening.
6 Jan 45
Layed in the sack or thereabouts this morning but spent the afternoon censoring mail and wrote a letter this evening plus some blinker practice. Also went to a picture show at S-2 on one of the nine targets we are to bomb in Japan.
7 Jan 45
We briefed again this morning for another raid on the Musashima plant at Tokyo. This will be the 4th or 5th attack on this plant in an attempt to knock it out. We took our equipnent to the airplane this afterroon and when we got there we found that someone had just salvoed the bomb bay tanks out on the ground. The mission has been postponed at least 24 hours. I also went to communion services this morning.
8 Jan 45
With nothing elso to do today Nelson and I cut weeds this morning and also did some laundry. This afternoon we messed around and tried to get something done on the porch in the back but didn't accomplish much. I wrote a letter this evening. We aren't going on the Tokyo mission after all but insteed will run on a weather strike mission up to that city on the night of the 10th according to the present schedule. Personally I'd rather go to Tokyo in the daytime.
9 Jan 45
Started on a letter opener today made from the shell casing of a 105 mm cannon. Then Nelson and I got started on the back porch and by 1700 we had it completed except for one more board. We had a lot of fun building it. We are scheduled to bomb an oil works in the heart of Tokyo tomorrow. The mission to Tokyo was run today, and so far three ship from the group have ditched.
10 Jan 45
It turned out that only one ship from the 500th ditched but three more from the Wing. The mission was generally screwed up and only 15 ships hit the primary target. 30 some out of the 73 which got off the ground hit targets of opportunity. We briefed this morning on the trip to Tokyo tonight.
11 Jan 45
We took off yesterday at 1400 for Tokyo rith twenty M18 incendiaries and a Capt. weather observer aboard. We dropped our bombs by radar at 2154. Tokyo itself was blacked out but one town to the right of Mt. Fujiyama wasn't. Instead of the predicted 10/10 over the target it was as clear as a bell. The Japs had an estimated 60 searchlights on when we over Tokyo. They weaved around for a few minutes then picked us up and followed us thru the bomb run and on out to sea even tho we did some violent evasive action. One fighter attacked us but none of us in the nose were able to see him because we were
blinded. He came in from 0230 accodding to Barry. The flak was meager but accurate and we picked up one hole in the vertical stabilizer. We got back at 0430 this morning. I said a prayer as we started on the bomb run and it was answered.
Had ice cream for supper.
12 Jan 45
We cleaned guns this morning and practiced some on our ditching drill. Had gas mask drill this afternoon and also played some bridge. Wrote letters this evening.
13 Jan 45
Spent the morning pulling the de-icer boots off the stabilizer. This afternoon we took our equipment to the planes and put the guns in the airplane. Also wrote a few letters.
14 Jan 45
We flew to Pagan this morning and dropped four bombs for practice. by radar. Kimmet and !fiat were down this afternoon from the 499th Learned that .,el Fish and Ed Daves were lost in England somehow.
14 Jan 45
Our airplane is being harmonized today. Played bridge this morn and cleaned up around my bed with a vacuum cleaner. The mission to Nagoya yesterday seems to have been a flop Got shot this afternoon and generally messed around. Bricker is back now and they must have had quite a time on the sub that picked them up. They were up to Jepan and back once and sunk one Sampan during the trip. Three men of their crew were lost during the ditching. Chidester was banged up some.
15 Jan 45
Layed around this morning and also did some laundry in our new washing machine. Cleaned guns this afternoon. Went up to Last Field and saw Brunner and Bennett. They just got back from Oahu where they had a big time.
16 Jan 45
Forgot to enter until the 18th
17 Jan 45
Did very little this morning. Went to see a gas mask drill this afternoon and also cleaned guns. We briefed this evening for a mission to bomb the Kawasaki works at a small town SW of Kobe. It is supposed to produce 6% of Japan's engine and 10% of it's assembled aircraft. It should be an easy mission
18 Jan 45 Played bridge most of the day and squeezed a lead crew inspection in between.'We'll probably go on the mission to Akashi tomorrow. Our ships have been stripped somewhat of armor plate and we are now carrying only one bomb bay
tank and that's in the rear. We weigh about 133,000 on take off now.
Wo I= am a
19 Jan 45 We got up at 6400 and took off at 0707. Both Sqdns. of 11 ships each took off at the same time and joined together as a group. We led the 2nd sqdn.. We got to the target in fine shape and made an up wind visual run. There were some fires going when we got there and we put our bombs squarely on the target. We saw approximately 18 fighters and maybe 10 made attacks on the formation. I saw one Zeke and one of the new twin engine fighters and some Tonys. The flak was moderate and accurate and we received one hit in the vertical stabilizer. All ships from the Wing returned home to base which is the first time weve done that. On the way home we picked up the heaviest ice I've seen yet. It even got on the props and was nearly 3/8" thick on the nose glass. It started as rime ice and went to light clear ice before we got below the
freezing level. We landed with 370 usable gallons of gas.
20 Jan 45
Saw the pictures the other sqdn. took and the target was really mauled. It's estimated 75% out of commision. It's believed now that this plant was producing that new twin engine fighter. We didn't get pictures of our bombs. Went to the Group critique this afternoon and it's generally conceded that this was the best mission we've run yet.
21 Jan 45
Cleaned a gun this morning, and also went to the Wing critique on the Akashi mission. General Lemay was there end he spoke a few words. He didn't seem like a bad Joe at all. We went to and escape and evasion lecture this afternoon and it was very interesting. It was given by a naval Lt. (S.G.)
22 Jan 45 Didn't do so much today. Went to the club this evening and the view out on the veranda is sure beautiful. The moon is about half full now.
23 Jan 45 Started to build a chair for the porch this morning. Will finish it as soon as I get time. This afternoon Rood, Harrel and myself went on a tour of the island which took us to the airstrip being built up on Marpi Point. I become more amazed every time I tour this island because the amount of progress is tremendous. Also went swimming at Blue Beach this afternoon.
24 Jan 45
Went to the hospital this morning and had my eyes tested. Will probably get glasses in about three wks. Have had a stomach ache all day so spent the afternoon in bed. Feel somewhat better now. A mission to Nagoya was run yesterday and our group went in at 26,000'. The flak wasn't too bad but at that altitude the fighters ran rings around them. The wing as a whole shot down or damaged about 60 fighters. Maj. Roberts was was shot down and crashed off the coast of Japan.
Taylor took Z Square 8 and brought it back all shot up so I guess We'll get a new airplane again. The big Mitsubishi plant in the NE part of Nagoya was the target. The second sqdn. hit it but the first missed.
25 Jan 45
We started ground school today, but so far it's a farce and next to worthless. In the afternoon we were spoken to by
Col. Dougherty and the more I see of him the more I like him. He is very definite and positive in his decisions. His ideas are numerous and sound. Spent my odd moments playing bridge.
26 Jan 45
Went to the Wing briefing this morning and we are going to either Nagoya or Tokyo tomorrow depending on what a weather ship going in ahead of us reports. We will be the first Group in and we'll go in at 25,000 feet. Went to the Group briefing and cleaned guns this afternoon. Wrote a letter to Mom this evening.
27 Jan 45
We got up at 0415 and took off at 0655. We were instructed to bomb Tokyo. This we tried to do but the Mushashino plant was covered and we dropped on Tokyo itself. We got our first attack by fighters over Hammamatsu. We saw one Jap explode and go down in flames over by Mt. Fuji.We got at least 57 fighters accounted for by Augunas and probably 50 of them attacked us personnally. They came for the most part between Kofu and 30 miles out to sea. We saw Carrico get
hit in his No. 2 engine but he got back. We escorted a 497th ship home which had his left stabilizer off and left wing beat up by what must have been a ramming. He got home Okay but crashed on landing. We didn't get any holes in our ship but
according to Craig we came near to being rammed by a Jap who stalled out just above us. The Wing lost seven ships but the 500th didn't lose any. We had a wonderful supper when we got back.
28 Jan 45
Went to ground critique, but otherwise sacked it,
29 Jan 45
Went to Wing Critique this morning and I think Lemay is highly agitated as everyone is recommending that we adopt policies contrary to his theories. They want to go back up for one thing to 28,000 ft. and above. Spent the rest if the day playing bridge or writing letters.
30 Jan 45
We flew to Tinian this morning in an ATC C-47 where we messed around and finally ferried a 29 back over here. Tinian is a rather flat island and it isn't bad at all. We landed at the Navy field.We got a new ship-today.
31 Jan 45
T Messed around up at the ship this morning and it's in darn good shape. It has many new modifications such as a manual landing gear system. Played ball and cleaned up the backyard this afternoon. Played bridge and wrote letters this eve.
1 Feb 45
Worked in the yard today and spent the afternoon at the club painting deck chairs. A mission is being run tomorrow to Kobe. They are going to try and burn the town out. The Tinian group will go for the first time tomorrow.
2 Feb 45 Did my laundry and also played a game of baseball this morning. The afternoon was mostly taken up by and officer's call at Group. Col. Dougherty gave an excellent performance.
3 Feb 45
Did a small washing this morning and then went to the airplane and cleaned up the front end of it inside. Didn't do a darned thing this PM.
4 Feb. 45
Went to church this morning and did a little work on the yard. flew a little while this afternoon. I made the landing and it was the best I've made.
5 Feb 45
Didn't do a thing this morning. Went to a critique on yesterdays mission this afternoon. The conclusions drawn were that we didn't d~ bit of good. Also taxiied our ship back from the harmonization range this evening.
6 Feb 45
Had ground school all day so didn't accomplish a great deal. Wrote a letter this evening. We're going to Pagan in the morning.
7 Feb 45
Got up at 0500 and took of at 0715 for Pagan. Over the field we were inter- cepted by P-47's and they made pursuit curves on us for some time. We dropped 4 bombs on Pagan by radar and then calibrated our instruments. After we
got down I and the gunners cleaned guns. We are going on a mission to Japan(Tokayama) in a day or so,
8 Feb 45
Spent part of the morning up at the plane. In the evening I went to East Field and saw Brunner end Bennett. The mission to Tokoyama has been postponed and is tentatively scheduled to go to Ota. We probably won't go.
9 Feb 45
Went to ground shcool this morning and loafed this afternoon. We are going to the Ota briefing later in the evening.
10 Feb 45
Got up at 0630 this morning and took off at 0835 for Pagan where we made one radar run. We spent four hours in the air. "the strike report" sent back from Ota said that the bombing was visual and results from good to excellent. .That really makes me feel good.
11 Feb 45
Went to church this morning and to the mission critique this afternoon. Apparently the mission could have run more sooothly but results were gotten. "Doc" McConnell gave us a medical lecture this evening and I also got in on a jam session at Special Service. It sounded darn good.
12 Feb 45
Got up at 0645 and took off at 0820 for Pagan where we made three bombing runs. A warship task force came in this morning to supplement the landing craft and troopship convoy that came in yesterday. It included a Tennessee class battleship and at least four small carriers. Also saw what may have been two more BB's anchored off Tinian. There were plenty of cruisers and DD's too.
13 Feb 45
This morning we rent to the harbor and took and LCI out to the baby carrier "Wake Island" and went aboard and inspected it. they are pretty nice ships and very clean. A nice way to fight a war. We cruised by the Tennessee and got a good look at it and it's certainly huge. Also saw a number of Fletcher class DD's . We got soaking wet on the trip back from the carrier which is in the Charger class. We are going on a training mission in the morning.
14 Feb 45
Flew on another training mission this morning only it was to Rota, this time and we had a nice ship formation. Col. Reeve rode with us. Dropped our bombs on the runway. We briefed this evening on a flight to the Nagoya district where we're to
bomb "Old Reliable" (The factory in the NE suburbs). It should be a rough mission. It looks like the invasion of Iwo will be coming off soon.
15 Feb 45
Got up ot 0350 this morn. and took off at 0700 for the Mitsubishi plant in Nagoya. We led the 2nd sq.. The wing rendezvoued up at Nashino Shima in good order and all 8 sqdns. took out for Japan but everyone was scattered by the
front. We ended up by bombing Hammamatsu in a four ship element with Col. Goney of the 98th leading. Some ships managed to get to Nagoya. On the way home we used the radio compass and homed in on Capt. Feathers who had two engines out. We escorted him home then and spent 16 hrs. and 15 min. in the air. Maj. Parsons with us. We didn't have any opposition.
16 Feb 45
Had our sqdn and group critiques today and it becomes apparent that we went up yesterday in support of the Navy's strike against Tokyo. Gautsche came down today. He's flying P-51's and will soon be up on Iwo, and escorting us over Japan. Boy, am I glad of that. The Wing didn't lose an airplane yesterday.
17 Feb 45
Went to Wing critique this morning and did nothing else today.
18 Feb. 45
Nothing
19 Feb 45
Got up 0345 and took off at 0645 for Tokyo where we were scheduled to bomb the Mushashino plant NW of the city. Col. Dougherty rode with us as we led the wing which included nine sqdns. As we passed Chichi and Haha we heard Navy pilots discussing their activities which were in support of the Iwo landing. We didn't have much flak over the target vrhich was the Tokyo dock area and we bombed by radar. The fighters were fewer than usual but were more aggressive than ever before. Samuelson was shot down before we got to the target. Six parachutes were seen to open, but one was on fire and collapsed. We escorted Pearson home when he had an engine shot out and the prop tore into the fuselage. He crashed on landing.
Off the coast of Japan we strafed two Jap Sampans. They fired back at us.
20 Feb 45
Went to critiques during most of the day. The worst thing that happened yesterday was the fact that one ship in the sqdn. almost dropped their bombs on us.
21 Feb 45
Went to ground school and Wing critique this morning. It was brought out that the ships lost over the target were all stragglers. Junior Sanders came over this afternoon end It was nice to see someone from home again. He's aboard the Y0185 which is a cement barge out in the harbor.
22 Feb 45
Went to ground school this morn and practiced ditching in the afternoon. Bob Smith called this evening and I went over to see him and we had a nice talk. Then I went up to see Gautsche. This is the first that I knew about Bob. He's been flying C.P on a 24 over here since the first of January.
23 Feb 45
Went up to the hospital this morning and also had a little G.S. We played ball in the afternoon and won 13 to 3. Engle ditched a plane off Isely II this afternoon and both he and Ray plus a Navy man, who went along for the ride, were drowned. He apparently lost control as he was trying to land with 3 and 4 out.
24 Feb 45
Went to the hospital this morning and my eyes are a lot better. We went to the club this afternoon and spent three hours working down there.
25 Feb 45
The boys went out on another strike in conjunction with the Navy's strike this morning. I went out to the Y0185 with Bob Smith and we had dinner with Al Sanders. It was a very good chicken dinner. I hauled dirt this evening for the backyard lawn.
26 Feb 45
Did nothing today but work on the back lawn. We hauled in dirt last night and smoothed it out today. The grass has arrived so will Plant it in the near future. We plan to have a border of flowers around the yard. Went to the club this evening, besides hauling more dirt.
27 Feb 45
Went to Ground school and worked on the lawn most of the day
28 Feb 45
Went to Ground school this morning and also worked on the lawn. It's now ready for the grass seed. We flew this aft. and I was in the left seat the whole time. (Am still leveling off to high). We're going on a training mission tomorrow.
1 Mar 45
Worked on the yard and went on a training mission which took us down towards Truk and back to Guam and Rota.
We briefed to go to '357 again.
22 Mar 45
Did a laundry and worked on the yard. We didn't go to Tokyo today because of the weather . We're going on a training mission today
3 Mar 45
We flew a training mission to Rota this morning and dropped incendiaries on the runway there. We were told this afternoon that we will get up at 2230 tonight and brief for and night-day mission to Tokyo.
4 Mar 45
We briefed last night and took off at about 0145. the mission was unusual in that we rendevouzed 50 miles off the coast using the radio compasses and signals sent out by the lead ship. It worked fairly well and the group went over in a 15 ship formation. We dropped by radar in the town of Tokyo as the Mushashino plant was covered over. The flak was fairly heavy and accurate. Both our wing ships were hit. We didn't see any fighters whatsoever. Col. Montgomery of Bomb. Com. A-3 rode with us and he was really a swell guy. One of the nicest I've ever met. It was his first mission.
5 Mar 45
Went to Sqdn. and Group critique today. We had a practice alert tonight and it sounded like old times again except that there was no Ack-ack.
6 Mar 45
Went to a semblance of Ground School this morning and to a lecture on pneumatic bomb doors in the fore part of the afternoon. Spent the rest of it playing bridge, with Ray. Wrote letters this evening.
7 Mar 45
Went to the Post Office this morning and also started on a mousetrap which I finished about 1500. Then wrote a couple of letters. Went to the show this evening after Officer's call.
8 Mar 45
Not much happened today.
9 Mar 45
1500 We briefed this morning for another trip to Tokyo. We'll take-off at 1835 tonight and hit there in the morning at 0115 approx. We're going in at between 7,000 and 7,800'. 150 of the 250 ships taking part in the strike will be ahead of us so there should be some large fires when we get there. We're carrying 40 M-18 incendiary clusters. No guns will be carried.
10 Mar 45
We took off last night at 1835 and after a dull trip hit the coast of Japan at 0210. Even before we made landfall we could see the fires at Tokyo. We were at 7,800' and there was smoke towering above us. The radar run was perfect and we dropped in an open spot visually. The city was a "Dantes Inferno" when we dropped. We got some ack-ack which was close enough to hear, but we weren't hit. One night fighter made a run on us but we turned into him and lost him.
The saddest thing about the whole mission was that so many people dropped on Choshi Point. 139 ships hit Honshu from here and aprox. 300 from the Marianas for the biggest 29 raid of the war.
11 Mar 45
Didn't do much except go to church and lay in the sack. Went up this evening tho and watched the ships take-off for Nagoya. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before, and there were 160 that took off altogether. They're carrying M-17 incendiaries.
12 Mar 45
This morning when we woke up the ceiling was zero zero practically and raining hard. It was really a rat race when the ships started coming in from Nagoya. This Wing lost one airplane to unknown causes. according to all reports the results were even better than at Tokyo. It has rained all day so my garden should really start growing. The S-2 pictures of Tokyo came out today and the results were devestating.
13 Mar 45
Went to the airplane this morning and cleaned it up in preparation for tonights mission to Osaka. Everyone in the crew is going tonight. We're carrying 40 M-17 incendiaries and will try to burn the city out. We'll eat at 1530. the raid on Nagoya turned out to be a flop.
14 Mar 45
We took off last night at 1750 as one of the 12 pathfinder ships and had a very uneventful trip. The target opened up at the last minute but it was purely a radar run. We didn't get any flak or fighters. One searchlight held us for a few seconds I saw four or five small fires burning already. We bombed at 0157. Ships bombing later reported huge fires and terrible updrafts from the heat. A good many were shot at and some had fighters on their tails. It looks as tho the raid may have been a big success.
15 Mar 45
Went down to the club with Ray this morning and they're really fixing it up nice. Played some bridge and did a washing this afternoon. It's said that we burned out 10 square miles of Osaka. Went to East Field this
evening and saw Bennett.
This was the last entry
The Author: 2nd Lt. Robert E. Copeland died 17 Mar 45