History of the 348th Fighter Group

Again I must defer to the writing abilities of the following author!


History of 348th Fighter Group
November 1944
If the principle of relative values is binding in any field at all, it is certainly valid in its application to history. In the last sixteenth century early seventeenth the literary skies of England were spangled with a multitude of stars. It was to the misfortune of those less conspicuous rather than to their discredit that the brilliance of Shakespeare came close to bringing the later spectators of those times to those stars of lesser magnitude. In a similar sense, we must fairly note here that if this history of the 348th group covering the month of November seems to be predominantly a story of the 460th Squadron, it is because we too quite properly bow to that natural inclination to consider that which is most spectacular within the range of our senses. To recognize as well, our liability to inaccuracies of observation and assessment, for the particular requirements which dictate the nature and promptitude of these writings necessarily preclude the acquisition of that proper prospect of events which only time can afford. Perhaps some small doing in some obscure corner of our organization neither noted nor touched by this account, may be the deed of subsequent developments which award those things which seem significant now as we view the added element of time would make adequately possible. We merely photograph the landscape and leave interpretation to those who later on may fit our picture into its proper position to give completeness to a mosaic. The 460th Squadron was in a favorable position to be chosen as the first squadron of the group to go to the Philippines. For one thing, it had a complete ground echelon at Nadzab ready to be shipped north on vessels which happened to be more immediately available in New Guinea than at Noemfoor. In the second place, the strongly voiced and efficiently placed persuasion of Major Dunham the squadron’s commanding officer, was not without it’s influence in those places where the final decisions were made in such matters. The up-shot of this favorable bargaining position, plus the Major’s good salesmanship, was that on the 23rd of October the Nadzab ground echelon was aboard ship and moving toward Leyte. The pilots of the squadron left Noemfoor on the 4th of November, were detained by weather at Morotai for six days, and arrived at Tacloban strip on the 10th of November. Enroute, one pilot, 2nd Lt. Adrian A. McClendon, was lost somewhere off southwestern Leyte. He was presumed to have been shot down by friendly airplanes who thought he was enemy as he for some reason flew several miles behind the balance of the formation. The air echelon left Noemfoor hurriedly on the 5th and 6th of November and arrived at Tacloban on the 9th and 10th. It had traveled on C-47’s via Angaur Island in the Palau group.
With a bare minimum of equipment and a taught maximum of operational demands upon it, the squadron entered the Leyte aerial campaign early in the morning of the 11th. Even their cross country trip from Morotai the previous day had not been without its tactical aspect. The Blackram Thunderbolts had escorted B-25’s all the way from Morotai to Ormoc Bay where a Japanese convoy of merchantmen and warships was attempting to reinforce through this small port, the enemy garrison on Leyte.
Setting the standard of conduct which was to inspire the squadron throughout the critical days to come, Major Dunham led his fliers in fierce strafing attacks against an enemy destroyer in the bay, diverting fire from the B-25’s as they pressed their destructive attack on the rest of the convoy.
It should be properly left to the squadron historian to trace in detail the events during the next weeks in which the Blackram Squadron participated. We shall merely outline the highlights here.

By the month’s end the squadron had the following statistic to illustrate its conduct. It had sunk an estimated 50,000 tons of enemy shipping. Contributing to this tonnage were nine large vessels, freighters or freighter-transports. It had dropped on the enemy targets 428,500 pounds of bombs, destroyed one float plane in the water and ten enemy planes in aerial combat. On Nov. 24th, one formation distinguished itself by sinking a Jap convoy consisting of three large transports and an auxiliary gunboat in Port Cataingan, Masbate. For this feat, Major Dunham who led the formation, received an Oak Leaf Cluster to his Silver Star and each of the other six men participating in the Mission was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
These facts serve to exemplify the action which characterized the Blackrams during the weeks when they, the 110th Recco Squadron and the depleted Forty Niner Group were the sole representatives of American Air Power in the Philippines. Indeed, the 49th Group had suffered so severely in losses in the air and on the ground that during the latter part of the month the Blackram squadron was flying nearly half the missions which took off and landed at Tacloban strip. Not in all that time was a patrol or strike cancelled because of a failure of this squadron to absorb the operational demands made upon it. This is remarkable when one considers the coincident facts that during the period there were no plane replacements and no spare parts available to the squadron from outside the organization itself.
The Group was proud of its newest squadron, just as it would have been proud of any of its other squadrons, had it been one of them that fortune had placed in the unique position which the 460th then occupied. That squadron’s exertions paralleled the heroism that was evident in every branch of the service in the Philippines at that time. It was satisfying to see it a part of the military efficiency of the American forces on Leyte. This efficiency and tenacity, combined with a wonderful lack of exploitation of opportunity on the part of the enemy, effected in the course of weeks a solid supremacy of American arms in the islands. A pre-invasion misinterpretation of topography on the part of the Americans plus a rainy season of unusual severity, caused the American airbase foothold in the Philippines to be limited for weeks to the inadequacies of Tacloban strip. Why the Japanese failed in their singular opportunity to destroy the infant American Philippine air force in the rough cradle which was Tacloban is a question which as yet suggest no satisfactory answer. As it was, Japanese attacks on the strip never reached an alarming crescendo in spite of the ominous-ness of enemy capabilities in that period.
While all these events were transpiring in the Philippines the rest of the Group was not idle. Three LST’s left Noemfoor on the 7th of November. Two arrived at Dulag on the 16th. Some 33 officers traveled on the USS Knox and the USS Custer, leaving Noemfoor on the 9th and arrived at Dulag on the 18th. One of the LST’s mentioned was forced to return to Biak because of engine trouble. The personnel which was on this ship was transferred to another and on the 21st of November the entire group was on Leyte Island with the exception of the flying officers of the 340th, 341st, and 342nd Squadrons, who lived with the 309th Bomb Wing at Noemfoor and waited for further air strip development to make room for them to fly their planes to operate at Leyte.
Leyte, to all who arrived there, meant mud, water, bad food and long latrine lines. And it meant a consciousness of real war, a realization of the hitherto unplumbed potentialities of every man an admiration for the ragged Filipino patriots.
The Filipino people furnished a new aspect to the environment of the 348th Group. It was a source of amazement at first to see how consistently the Filipinos could deform the English language and still make themselves understood. But the Filipinos were good natured, intelligent and clean. There was a new refreshing good will and humor wherever American soldier and Filipino citizen met.
It was on the 11th of this eventful month that Colonel Rowland returned from the U.S., where he had enjoyed several weeks of rest. New Guinea and the Netherlands East Indies had not been an easy experience especially for those on whose shoulders rested the weight of greatest responsibility. A campaign in its own right, New Guinea was at this moment proving itself to have been as well a great strategic training ground for the more exacting requirements of the grapple in the islands to the north. Colonel Rowland now returned in time to personally command in its greatest campaign, an organization on which the combined abilities of himself, of Colonel Neel Kearby whose genius in air leadership still reflected itself in the training techniques of the group and in the battle discipline of its pilots and of the other outstanding leaders, Banks, Dunham, Campbell, Wiecks, had not been lavished in vain.

 

HISTORY
December 1944
Early in December the full weight of the 348th Group was set in the scales of Philippine air power. Throughout the month those scales ever increasingly showed a numerical superiority of American planes in the skies over the archipelago. The 340th Squadron reported its first Philippine mission on 11 December. Earlier, planes of the 342nd Squadron after an unfortunate cross country trip from Moratai to Leyte on 1 December in which five planes and three pilots* were lost in violent weather, flew their first mission from Tacloban on the second day of the month.
* 1st Lt. Albert L. Newman, of Memphis, Tenn.
2nd Lt. Douglas H. Mathews of Minneapolis, Minn.
2nd Lt. Samuel S. Kilgore, of Elgin, Ill.
The 341st Squadron flew its first mission in the Philippines on Pearl Harbor day.
The operational activities of the Group during December exclusive of routine patrols, fell in rough percentage in the following categories. Of 281 missions flown by the Group in December roughly 2 ½ percent were flown against enemy shipping, 8 percent in support of our ground troops on Leyte, (includes escort of dropping missions). 14 percent to cover shipping convoys, 10 percent in strikes against Visayan and Southeastern Luzon airdrome, and 3 ½ percent as escort to heavy bombers striking Clark Field. The remainder of the Group’s missions were predominantly local patrols over various parts of Leyte Island. 8 percent of the month’s missions involved aerial combat. Shipping Strikes: On 7 December, Thunderbolts of the 341st and 342nd Squadron attacked an enemy convoy in San Isidro Bay on the Northeast coast of Leyte. The 4 large ships of which the Jap convoy was composed, were attacked at 1030/I by the 342nd and several direct hits were scored, resulting in explosions and columns of black smoke from one of the transports. Other Thunderbolts of the 460th Squadron which flew cover for this mission broke up an enemy attack against our own shipping in Ormoc Bay while enroute to San Isidro. A formation of nine Sally’s attacking our vessels as they were landing troops to invest the Jap stronghold at Ormoc was dispersed with two of them shot down. A Nick also crashed under attack by two P-47’s. Two more Thunderbolts of this squadron attacked 7 Zeke 32’s, killing none, but forcing them to jettison their bombs.
All through the day the Jap convoy in San Isidro was hit repeatedly be the 341st, the 342nd and Marine Corsairs. Evening found all four ships in the Bay destroyed along with two accompanying freighters and support vessels.
In the early afternoon of this same day the 460th Squadron swept the San Isidro area to clear the skies for afternoon bombing, attacking of 13 Zeke 32s, 4 Oscars and 1 Sally, engaged 6 Zeke 32s, 4 Oscars and 1 Sally were destroyed by the nine Thunderbolts in the 460th formation.
This one day’s strikes represent the preponderance of the Group’s activities against major enemy shipping during the month, although several escort missions were flown in support of shipping strikes by other organizations and often there were attacks against smaller enemy surface craft in the Visayas.
It would be well here to picture the general military flow of events in the Philippines during December, the more perspicuous to make the role of the Group.
November had affect a fair assurance of Yankee air force survival in the islands. The air bridgehead at Tacloban had been established and the worst that the enemy had been able or willing to hurl against it from the air had been repulsed by the Forty Niner Group and the 348th’s Blackram Squadron. December sae the initial development of the skillful frustration of Jap air, sea and ground strategy which was finally to bring about their swift military downfall in the Philippines. November had been a time for tenacity, December was a time for audacity.
On 7 December, Pearl Harbor Day, American ships and landing craft slipped into Ormoc Bay early in the morning from the South. The reader will recall that it was on this same day that the destruction of the Japanese convoy in San Isidro Bay took place. Our Ormoc landing and the presence of American naval units in Ormoc Bay had obviously forced the Ormoc bound Jap convoy to attempt to hole up in San Isidro, either to attempt a logistic delivery there or to plan a hasty retreat north or west. By Yankee choice the delivery was rendered a miscarriage and the prospect of retreat was suddenly precluded as the ships attained submarine immobility. The part played by the 348th in this destruction of the enemy’s shipping and in protection of our own has been described.
One of the final sputters of relative effectiveness demonstrated by the Japanese air force in the Philippines was the paratroop incident of 6 December. Approximately 300 Japanese paratroopers were dropped in the Bayug, San Pablo, Buri area, paralyzing for several days our construction work on those strips. Ground echelons of the 348th Group which had been disembarked at Dulag were camped in the immediate area and were foxhole bound for the duration of the paratrooper’s active survival. Two enlisted men of the 341st Squadron were killed by the Japs as they stood perimeter guard on the night of 6/7 December.
Cpl. Daniel V. Maurello, of Chicago, Ill.
Cpl. Milton Sova, of Brooklyn, N.Y.
Three days were required for the infantry to effect a virtual liquidation of the Jap airborne force.
On 11 December the final effort by the enemy to reinforce his Leyte forces by ship convoy was frustrated by fighter-bomber--Corsairs and P-40’s. The dive bombing by these planes was covered by Thunderbolts of the 460th and 342nd Squadrons which between them shot down three enemy fighters.
On the fifteenth of December the forces of General MacArthur landed at Minforo Island just southwest of Luzon and 150 miles south of Manila. The convoys carrying these troops and their supplies had sailed the long route through the Surigao Strait, the Mindanac Sea, then northward around Negros and Panay. The task of the Fifth Air Force in protection of this bold stroke was apparent. The Jap air force had to be kept from the air primarily and in the second place had to be destroyed whenever airborne. Jap suicide pilots were the most feared of enemy potentialities. Every plane available to the Fifth was committed to the accomplishment of this end. A twofold tactical campaign was carried our. The Jap airfields in the Visayas were bombed and scrutinized for serviceability as never before. The convoys plying west and north were constantly covered, except for but a few short intervals when intervening weather fronts prevented, by American fighters--Thunderbolts, Corsairs, and Lightnings.
Five days after the landing in the San Jose area of southern Mindoro, American planes were operating from its strips, making possible a more thorough cover for the western Visayan convoys and thus releasing Leyte fighters for escort duty with the B-24’s which then began to strike the greatest Japanese air center in Luzon, Clark Field.
The 348th shared in the achievements which made the Mindoro strategy a success. Thirty times formations of its Thunderbolts flew to dive bomb and strafe airdromes on Cebu, Panay, Negros and the Mindanao strips that lay below the southern belly of our attenuated shipping route. Of the ninety eight enemy planes destroyed in the sky during the month a large percentage was shot down during these missions. In addition to these, more were destroyed during the twenty five missions which were flown to patrol and protect the Mindoro landing. It might be of interest to mention here that 23 of the missions flown during December resulted in aerial combat, or one in every twelve.
In a scant three weeks beginning with the first of December an offensive against the Visayan Jap air force had been developed and consummated. The stage was set for the great sky borne blows against Luzon air strength. No time was lost. On the 22nd of the month, B-24’s based at Palau rendezvoused with Thunderbolts of the 348th and went over Clark Field. All four squadrons participated flying close and top cover. The mission was repeated twice by the Group before the end of the month. In these three missions a total of 42 Jap planes were destroyed in Luzon skies by our pilots. On 24 December the group formation shot down 32 enemy planes as it escorted the B-24’s to Clark Field.
During December, 348th Thunderbolts flew 5,864 combat hours in 2,213 combat sorties. The average sortie lasted a few minutes over 2 ½ hours. Aside from these, 700 hours were consumed in flying 275 non-combat missions an average mission again of better than 2 ½ hours. 540,858 gallons of gasoline were consumed and45,972 quarts of oil. The gasoline burned in this one month had it been of lower octane, would have taken a Ford around the world 432 times, with fuel left over for side excursions. 346,991 rounds of .50 calibre ammunition were expended in combat. 186 x 1000 pound, 752 x 500 pound bombs were dropped in strikes against enemy targets. 98 Jap planes were destroyed in the air.
By the middle of the month the Group’s camps had been moved to Tanauan and on the 15th and 16th its planes began to operate from the rapidly constructed Tanauan strip. Marine Corsairs were the only other planes based there.
Living conditions for the first time began to approximate the improvement which the men had anticipated to be coincident with a move to the Philippines. More detailed description of the air corps soldier’s life in the liberated Philippines will be presented in a later chapter dealing with a period where the scope of operations is less extensive, thus permitting a suitable expansion on that very interesting subject.
November and December, climatic months in the history of the Pacific war, were also months wherein the Thunderbolts performed at its unexcelled best. It was to be retired soon as the 348th’s instrument of destruction, but it was retiring as an undisputed champion. The Jug was to be supplanted by the “Tin Whistle”, but the Jug was assured now of an honorable retirement with prestige unimpaired.
In the description of the Group’s strikes against Visayan Airdrome presented earlier in this chapter we failed to mention two missions which as combined strafing and not bombing missions, were remarkable. These missions were flown on 14 December.
In the days just prior to the 14th, U.S. Navy planes had directed their best efforts against the airfields on Luzon. The result of this pounding had been a hasty search for refuge by many Japanese planes from Luzon among the fields in the Visayans. On the 14th Thunderbolts of the 341st and 340th Squadrons caught more than seventy Jap fighters and bombers parked on Silay and Talisay strips. At least 40 of these parked planes were left burning after bombing and strafing attacks and many others were assumed to have been damaged. It was a high mark in the Group’s airdrome attacks record never before approached. The tactical value of this destruction, occurring just one day before the landing at Mindoro, when American assault convoys were churning northward not 100 miles to the west of these fields was obvious. At one stroke the escape of these planes from Luzon was rendered disastrous and any plans for their use against our shipping or our Mindoro beachhead were frustrated.
Inclosure--Mission # 1-745--incl. 22
…………..Mission # 1-756--incl. 23

 

HISTORY OF THE 348TH FIGHTER GROUP
(January 1945)
During the month of January the group continued to operate from Tanauan strip. Operations were similar in nature to those of the month preceding. However, the tempo of the campaign in the air slackened somewhat. Mission reports showed that of 371 missions flown by the group during the month, 90 were flown by the 460th, 98 by the 342nd, 94 by the 341st, and 89 by the 340th--a fairly even distribution of the Group’s operational assignments. Mission assignments to squadrons were also made in a manner to enable each squadron to bear a proportionate share of missions in various categories. Of 120 convoy cover missions, the 340th flew 29, the 341st 28, the 342nd 35, and the 460th 31. Of 53 local patrols, the breakdown was: 340th; 9: 341st, 28*; 342nd, 9; and 460th, 7. Armed recco** of Visayan, Mindanao, and SE Luzon airdromes and installations was second to convoy cover, the predominate duty of 348th Group Fighters. 81 such missions were flown in January of these 18 by the 340th, 7 by the 341st, 34 by the 342nd, 22 by the 460th. Weather recco missions were flown by the 340th and 341st squadrons only, the former flew 10, the latter 11. Escort to transport planes, C-47’s and the newly introduced C-46s, accounted for 33 missions. 10 were flown by the 340th, 4 by the 341st, 8 by the 342nd and 12 by the 460th. Most of these flights were to Mindoro, although one was to Dipilog in Northern Mindoro, and one was to Tanjay on Cebu.
Only one enemy plane, a fighter, was shot down by the Group in January. On the third of the month the 460th shot down the plane over one of the convoys SW of Negro.
:::::::::
* The 341st was in transition from P-47s to P-51s during the month and much of its activity was restricted to local patrol and check out flights.
** Combined convoy cover and armed recco missions are arbitrarily listed as armed recco.
::::::::::
A percentage breakdown of the Groups January Missions reveals area of emphasis in its tactical commitments.
_____ Category____No. of Missions__Percentage of total Missions
Convoy cover -----------123----------------33%
Armed Recco------------ 81 ----------------21%
Local Patrol ----------- -52 ----------------14%
Transport Escort -------- 34 -----------------9%
Weather Recco -----------20 ------------------6%
Bombing ------------------15 ------------------4%
All Others -----------------46 -----------------13%
On the 9th of January Luzon was invaded by American Forces which landed on the beaches at Lingayen. The initial landing operation was rapidly developed into a stabbing advance inland down the San Fernando Valley--the road to Manila. The relative ease with which the invasion was effected again was a reflection in large part of good use of air power. Clark Field strikes at the turn of the month had slashed fatal gaps in the Japanese air strength that remained on Luzon. The naval cover and army cover from Mindoro rendered practically useless the perverted techniques attempted by the Japanese to destroy our shipping that lay in Lingayen Gulf. These suicide techniques wherein Jap Pilots, dressed in ceremonial robes and lashed to their controls attempted, often successfully, to ram their bomb-laden planes into the side and superstructures of our ships, were frustrated by swarms of American Fighter Planes that circled constantly above our shipping.
The 348th was largely concerned in one way or another with getting our convoys safely through Visayan waters to the Mindoro area where other Air Force Fighters escorted them up the West coast of Luzon. It was Decembers role all over again, but contact with the enemy dwindled away to scarcely more than a possibility.
On the 2nd, 6th, 9th, 10th, and 14th of the month squadrons of the group continued their escort of heavy strikes against Clark Field. On none of these missions was there combat--additional evidence of disintegration and disorganization in the enemy’s air force in the Philippines. The reason for the suddenness of the Jap air collapse later revealed itself as Jap prisoners-of-war were questioned and the great Clark Air Center captured and inspected; B-24s had paralyzed the enemy air organization at its Clark Field nerve center in strikes of late December. The January strikes insured that there would be no revival.
The 341st Squadron flew its first P-51 mission on 6 January 45. Conversion to P-51 operation broached no simple problems. There were very real difficulties for all departments. Training soon became a paramount concern. The over-all conversion in the Group was planned to be a squadron by squadron process. A period of from 20 to 30 days for each squadron was planned during which time there was to be no operational demands other than for orientation and training. However, scarcely a week after the P-51s were delivered, operations orders began to arrive placing 341st P-51s on regular combat schedules. Pilots little more than checked out in P-51s, if one considers the P-47 training they enjoyed before flying combat in that type, were required to fly regular convoy cover, escort, and armed recco missions. Superimposed on the training program was a combat program of very little less proportions than that conducted by the squadrons-- a period which was to last well into April. The problem was further aggravated by a relatively sudden and complete turnover of pilot personnel. After January, with almost all veteran fliers home or enroute home, a situation was to exist wherein green pilots were being trained by almost equally green flight leaders.
Throughout the period the lack of parts necessitated that almost 100% of the planes in operation had to be committed to combat mission, leaving an inadequate number of planes for training. However with its January difficulties , the 341st lost no pilots in P-51s and performed its operations efficiently.
During January there were 14 operational accidents, 4 in the 340th, 6 in the 341st, 2 in the 342nd, and 2 in the 460th. Of 6 takeoff accidents, 4 occurred in the 340th, 1 in the 341st, and 1 in the 460th. Of 4 landing accidents, 2 were in the 341st and 1 each in the 342nd and 460th. Of various other types of accidents, the 341st had 3, and the 342nd, 1.
In the entire group nine planes were total losses due to accidents and six received major damage. The 341st, flying P-51s, had 1 major damage and 5 total losses. The 340th had 4 major damage. The 342nd had 3 total losses, and the 460th 1 major damage and 1 total loss.
Two pilots were lost in January due to operational accidents and one was missing. Two pilots were lost to enemy action. ****
On the 23rd day of January the Group’s ground echelon was loaded on LST’s--destination, Luzon’s not yet recaptured San Marcelino strip. The ship convoy of which the Group’s LST’s were components lay in Leyte Gulf for two days and then started the long trip though the Surigao Strait, Mindanao Sea and then north to Mindoro.
We leave the 348th on the last day of January with its air echelon flying the last of the missions described in this chapter from Tanauan strip and with the personnel of its water echelon loafing aboard ship wondering when they would proceed to Subic and San Marcelino, which even then were behind the front lines of American Troops advancing easily from the Zembales Coast, where they had landed without opposition, through Olongape and into the Zigzag Pass at the neck of Bataan, where they were destined to meet their first real Jap trouble and where the 38th Division was to gratefully glean from the 348th Group the real value of air-ground support.

****
According to Stanaway (citing the 460th‘s Squadron records) in “Kearby’s Thunderbolts”, Lt. Paul McMath was shot down on January 12th and crashed ten miles northeast of Paridel.
This is the only reference I’ve found to the five mentioned pilots.

 

HISTORY
(February 1945)

During the first few days of February, while the water echelon of the 348th Fighter Group lay off shore waiting for the ground forces to secure San Marcelino air strip, the rear echelon continued to operate from Tanauan, Leyte, patrolling the Visayan Islands, escorting transports and covering convoys.
The advance echelon arrived at San Marcelino the 4th of February six days after the 38th Division landed unopposed on the beaches near San Antonio. The ground forces had quickly secured San Marcelino air strip, the pre-war naval base at Onlongapo, and the extensive harbor in Subic Bay. The air echelon flying from Tanauan in C-46s arrived in separate groups from the 4th through the 7th.
San Marcelino strip had been constructed before the war as an emergency landing strip and had been built up under Jap occupation to accommodate 500 planes. However before retreating the enemy destroyed all installations and grounded planes. Upon our arrival the field was almost barren and the only building was the control tower which was still under construction. Our engineers immediately began work lengthening the strip, topped with hard clay, to 6,000 feet. Communications, operations, and intelligence sections were temporarily set up in the base operations building at the control tower and operations were begun from San Marcelino on the 5th with the 340th flying local patrols and ground support missions were begun on the 6th with a strike in Zigzag pass west of Balsic. Other missions in Zigzag pass were flown from the 6th through the 11th and reports from ground troops in that area said that our planes were a deciding factor in breaking up the concentration of Japanese troops holding out in the pass, and after our 6 day attack they were able to continue their advance.
During the month of February the 348th Group flew 377 combat missions. Of these 377 missions there were 147 bombing-strafing, 132 local patrols, 69 convoy covers, 9 transport or PBY escorts, 9 B-25 escorts in the South China Sea, 2 armed recco, and 11 miscellaneous. Of the 147 bombing-strafing missions 126 were ground support against targets in west-central Luzon, Bataan Peninsula, and Corregidor, and 21 were barge hunts.
The primary objective of the February operations in west-central Luzon was to thwart the Japanese intentions to retreat into Bataan Peninsula and make a prolonged stand such as the American troops did in 1942. In carrying out this objective the ground forces planned to first cut across the neck of Bataan from Subic Bay along the Olongapo-Dinalupihan road. The next move was to cut Bataan in two at the center by securing the Bagace Pilar road, then to occupy the road along the east coast of Bataan between Hermosa and Pilar. The final phase of the plan was to be carried out by a drive from Pilar and a drive from Marivales, where a landing was made on the 15th of February, meeting in the vicinity of Cabeaben. The 348th Group played an important part in destroying Japanese resistance along the road networks of Bataan, flying missions against enemy concentrations or troops, supply and ammo dumps, road blocks, artillery positions and barge hideouts.
As evidence of how well the land escape route into Bataan had been severed, many Japs attempted to escape from Manila to the east coast of the peninsula by barge. These barges were first sighted on the 11th by pilots of the 340th Squadron and the pilots of that Squadron eight missions in four days sinking 31 thirty foot barges, 21 forty-nine foot barges, 10 MLCs of the Victor Baker Division, and 2 fifteen foot motor launches.
The 341st destroyed 2 barges, the 342nd destroyed 3, and the 460th destroyed 2. It was estimated that over 2,000 Japs were killed by pilots of the 348th Group during the four day period in their attempt to land on the coast of Bataan by barge.
Support was also given during the month to the Corregidor landing which took place on the 16th February. Thirty-four missions were flown against the enemy troops and installations on that island, materially reducing the enemy’s ability to resist the sea and air invasion to the once formidable fortress.
In addition to ground support for our own troops, very effective support was given to the Guerilla forces operating in the Botolan area. As a result of our missions, two by the 341st and two by the 342nd, on the 11th it was estimated by Captain Gervasio M. Blanco, USPIF that 700 Japanese were killed.
Of tactical significance during the month was the use of Napalm wing tanks for the first time by 348th Fighter Group. Much of the credit for the success of the ground support missions is due to Napalm, a mixture of napalm jell and gasoline. During the month 556 Napalm wing tanks ranging from 75 to 165 gallons were dropped in ground support missions in west-central Luzon, Bataan Peninsula, and Corregidor. Although gasoline alone had at times been used in dislodging enemy troops from their dug-in positions, Napalm provided a more effective weapon because it cause a flame of longer duration, allowing the fluid to penetrate more deeply into entrenched positions. Evidence of the effectiveness of Napalm was proved as the ground forces advanced into enemy positions and found the charred and burned bodies of the enemy. G-2 of the 38th Division reported that it is believed that human life cannot survive the Napalm attack if anywhere near the surface of the earth. Many enemy troops, although not burned were suffocated and many others were forced from their dug-in positions and exposed to the fire of our ground troops. In addition to the actual destruction caused by Napalm, the psychological effect on the enemy was also of great importance. Captured Japanese testified to the deadly fear which they had for this “liquid fire”.
With the establishment of American air bases in the Philippines the important blockade against Japanese shipping from the Indies to the homeland was begun. Just what part the 348th would play in this operation was the cause of much speculation, until our first mission on the 13th February when our P-51s escorted B-25s on a shipping sweep to the Indo-China Coast. The long range P-51s which were received by the 341st in January and were flown for the first time by the 340th on the 10th of February seemed ideal for this type of operation. During the month the 341st flew six missions escorting B-25s in shipping strikes in the South China Seas and the 340th flew three. These missions were the longest our pilots had ever flown (1400 to 1600 miles), requiring up to eight and one-half hours. Weather rather than enemy interception, was the most formidable for these missions. On four out of the nine February shipping strikes, pilots were unable to reach their target due to inclement weather. However the pattern was being set for future operations which would no doubt completely sever the shipping lanes between Japan and her ill-gotten possessions.
During the month seven planes were total losses and six sustained major damage due to operational accidents. The 340th accounted for 1 total loss; the 341st, 1; the 342nd, 4; and the 460th,1. The 340th accounted for 2 major damages; the 341st, none; the 342nd, 2; and the 460th, 2.
There were two pilots of the 342nd killed* in operational accidents and the 340th and the 341st each had one pilot missing**. One aircraft was lost by the 340th to enemy action and one by the 460th sustained major damage. No pilots were lost to enemy action.
The morale of the group personnel during the month was affected by irregular mail delivery, lack of PX supplies and fresh foods, and by the dust which seemed to forever blow across the line and camp areas.
However escape from the routine of camp life was to be found in frequent visits to San Marcelino and Castillejos where the Filipinos showered their hospitality on all American soldiers. Frequent trips were made to San Fernando on the weekly day off, providing recreation and a chance to visit Filopino markets, stores, and cafes. The menu in the San Fernando cafes read like those in any American Café, tea-bone steaks, pork chops, chicken, fish, fried potatoes, tomato salad, and ice cream. Filipino girls, accompanied by their mothers or older sisters, continued to visit our camp area to pick up “dirty Clothes” and sell fruit and vegetables. All these things along with prospects of trips to Manila in the future, tended to bolster the morale.
With the completion of the February operations the personnel of the 348th Fighter Group could look back on its accomplishments with pride and look to the future with confidence in its ability to carry the war to the Japanese on Luzon and in the south China Sea in an ever increasing tempo.

*
2nd Lt. Earl T. Louks
1st Lt. William M. Anahu

**
2nd Lt. Herbert H. Peterson of the 340th.
1st. Lt. Andrew F. Nix of the 341st.

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HISTORY
348TH FIGHTER GROUP
CHAPTER XVII
(March 1945)

During the month of March the 348th Fighter Group continued to operate from San Marcelino, Luzon Island, Philippine Islands--attached to the 309th Bomb Wing for tactical operations and remaining under the 85th . Wing for administrative purposes.
Three officers and two enlisted men were added to the Group Headquarters roster. 1st Lt. Edgar M. Villchurm 0-855565, formerly of the 340th Squadron became group communications officer replacing Maj. John E. Maersch who was waiting to return to the States. Captain Leo P. Reiner, 0-495467, became the group dentist and Major Walter G. Benz 0-659228, formerly commanding officer of the 342nd Squadron was transferred to group operations. Pvt. Andrew M. Davidson 33807228, was assigned to the S-4 section, and Cpl. Robert D. Fisher, 35564595, was assigned to the S-2 section.
During March three officers received notice of their promotion: Captain Jesse P. Ivey, group operations officer, was promoted to the rank of Major; 1st Lt. Dan N. Perry, group statistical officer, was promoted to Captain; and 1st Lt. Joseph W. Taylor, assistant group operations officer, was also promoted to Captain. There were no promotions of enlisted men during the month.
Orders came through awarding decorations to three officers of the group headquarters. The Silver Star was awarded to Lt. Col. William M. Banks for the destruction of two enemy planes over Clark Field on an escort mission the 24th of December 1944, and to Major Walter Benz for destruction of two enemy planes over Mindoro on the 20th of December 1944. The 4th and 5th OLC (AM) were awarded to Major William D. Dunham for destruction of one enemy plane of the 18th of November and another on the 14th of December 1944.
With the 38th Division now in control of the Olongapo-Dinalupihan road, the push across Central Bataan from Blanga to Bagac completed and the junction of the Mariveles forces with those driving down the east coast from the north, the Bataan campaign was virtually completed. Corregidor was almost cleared of its defenders who had been routed from their cave hide-outs by the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. Now the 348th Group turned its attention to Caballo, a 1300 by 350 yard island just SE of Corregidor, to the 38th Division area around Fort Stotsenburg and later in the month to support of the 43rd Division, 6th Division, and the “Baldy Force” (the 169th and 112th Regimental Combat Teams) who were opposing the Japanese along the new Yamashita Line in the rugged terrain of Rizal Province, which the Japanese had established after their retreat from Manila.
During March the Group flew 620 combat missions expending 879,441 X .50 caliber ammunition, dropping 1,985 five hundred lb. bombs, 8 one hundred lb. bombs, 24 two hundred and sixty lb. Bombs, 6 two hundred and fifty lb. Bombs, 106 seventy five gallon Napalm tanks and 228 one hundred and sixty-five gallon Napalm tanks. There were 271,573 gallons of gasoline and 12,737 quarts of oil consumed. Five enemy planes were destroyed in aerial combat and we lost one pilot to enemy action.
Of the total of 620 missions during March, 222 were ground support, 176 local patrols, 93 Manila patrols 76 convoy covers, 7 reccos, 14 Formosa and China coast mission, and 32 miscellaneous.
The 222 support missions were flown in support of ground forces at Corregidor, Caballo, Ft. Drum, in the Ft. Stotsenburg area, the Pattao and Dugo areas in northern Luzon, and toward the end of the month the New Yamashita Line east of Manila. Due to the heavily wooded ravines, tree covered mountains and coconut groves our pilots were usually unable to observe any results of their bombing and strafing other than bomb bursts. However, the ground controllers were consistent in reporting excellent results and later when the Infantry reached the positions which our pilots had bombed the group had concrete evidence of the results of our missions. Lieutenant General Kruger, 6th Army Commander, sent word to Major General Enis Whitehead of the Fifth Air Force:
“I would appreciate your announcing to all ranks of your command my gratitude for their fine cooperation and effective results obtained in the support being rendered by units of the Fifth Air Force to the Sixth Army during the vital Luzon Campaign. It is superb and is assisting materially in taking of our objectives and holding our own battle casualties to a minimum.”
Eight bombing and strafing missions were flown during the first week of March in the area west of Ft. Stotsenburg and the following message was received from 17 SAP:
“It is a pleasure to notify you that missions flown by 12 P-47s of the 460th Squadron and 8 P-51s of the 340th Squadron 5 March 1945, on ground support targets west of Ft. Stotsenburg are officially credited with killing 574 Nips.” -- “message from 17 SAP with XI Corps dated 9 March 1945”
It was estimated by Anderson, Guerilla, that strikes in Santa Maria Valley resulted in 400 Japs being killed and approximately 300 other casualties. For three days Japs were observed cremating their dead.
There were 95 missions flown against the small Jap garrison on Caballo Island, dropping both Napalm and general purpose bombs. On 68 of the 95, the Manila area was patrolled after bombs were dropped on Caballo. Results of the constant attack is evidenced by a message from 309th Bomb Wing indicating an attempt to evacuate the island: “As a result of the bombing of Caballo Island, the Japs there were attempting construction of rafts on the night of third of March, but a destroyer shelled them”.
Missions flown on the 30th of March by the 342nd one mile east of Infanta obtained very satisfactory results: Anderson, Guerilla, reports: "Attack on Misu (1 mile east of Infanta) accurate, Jap warehouses of food and ammunition and radio station completely destroyed. Estimated 50 Japs killed".
Other ground support missions during the month are listed below:
LOCATION---------------MISSIONS--------LOCATION------MISSIONS
Ft. Drum ..........................7............ Agos River area .........1
Corregidor ......................5.......... Mt. Susungdelaga ........1
Marikina River area......... 8 ............Mt. Mataba .................6
Mt. Pinatuba ...................4........ Mt. Binicayan area ..........1
Mt. Puro ..........................2......... South of Capas trail....... 1
Loobac area ...................1 .................Mt. Oro ..................4
Sacobia River area .........1............... Misua River area ......1
Kay Tain area .................1............... Paete town ..............3
Dugo area ......................5......... Quinaqpicangaslahac..... 1
Linulan river area ...........1............. Siniloan town..............6
Mango River area ...........4........... Mt. Pacawagan .............4
San Andree ....................1............ New Boso Boso............6
Mabatac town ................5.............. Santa Maria ...............2
Mt. Lamite area .............1................ San Mateo................ 2
Famy town ....................2................ Pingil town................ 1
Sapa Cayropa R. area ...1............... Pinugay area............. 1
Puray River area ............3.............. Pattao town ...............3
Wawa ............................2................. Ipo.......................... 4
Antipolo......................... 6.............. Montalban.................. 9
Payns River area............ 2

There were fourteen missions to the China Coast area during March. On the first of March the 341st flew cover for B-25s on shipping strike along the China Coast from Hung Hai Bay to Swatow. On the same day the 340th flew cover for B-25s to Indo China but the mission was incomplete due to weather. The 341st and 340th escorted B-25s on the 2nd of March on a strike on Toyohara and Taichu A/Ds on Formosa. Again on the third the same two squadrons returned to Formosa, this time to Kago town. The 342nd had made the change over from P-47s to P-51s on the third of the month and on the eleventh flew their first long-range mission covering Playmate 27 at Foule-Canton Island. On this mission 2nd Lt. Bert Lee Jr. shot down a Betty bomber which was flying by itself, probably on anti-submarine patrol. On the twelfth the 342nd flew a fighter sweep to Hainan and encountered a transport and five Franks. Two Franks were shot down, one by 2nd Lt. Robert G. Dow and the other by 1st. Lt. Clark E. Kooper. Smoke was seen to emit from Lt. Kooper’s plane and about 25 miles out from Hainan he bailed out and was later seen in a life raft. Although search missions, including one by the 342nd were flown, no trace of Lt. Kooper has been found and at the end of he month he is still missing. The 340 flew a fighter sweep to Hainan on the 14th of March. On the 15th the 341st flew a fighter sweep to Hong Kong and on this missions Lt. Albert F. Gould shot down a Tojo and Lt. Ruben W. Moskaloff shot down a Jack. On the 16th, the 342nd flew area cover for B-25s from Binh Dinh to Phan Rang, Indo China. Due to mechanical trouble only three out of twelve planes reached the target. On the 20th of March the 340th flew area cover for B-25s to Indo China. The 341st flew escort for B-25s to Ylin Harbor, Hainan on 23rd March. On this mission the plane of 1st. Lt. Wilfred H. (N) Joyal developed an oil leak and he was forced to bail out just off the south tip of Hainan and was picked up by a submarine which strengthened the confidence our pilots had in the efficiency of sub rescue in the South China Sea. At the end of the month Lt. Joyal was still enroute back to San Marcelino. The 342nd on the 25th of March flew area cover for B-25s on shipping strike from Binh Dinh to Tourane Bay, Indo China. The China missions for the month were completed by a fighter sweep to Paricel Islands on the thirtieth by the 460th Squadron. The 460th was the last Squadron to change over from P-47s to P-51s and although ground support missions were begun with P-51s on the twenty-fourth this was their first long-range mission.
During the period there were thirteen planes which were total losses due to operational accidents and fourteen received major damage. The Squadron breakdown on losses is : 340th, four total losses and five major damage; 341st, four total losses and one major damage; the 342nd, four total losses and three major damage; the 460th, one total loss and five major damage. The 340th and the 342nd each had two fatalities due to operational accidents (2nd Lt. Robert O. Mc Peak--340th, F.O. Samuel (NMI) Macken--340th; 2nd Lt. Ferdinand H. Pederson--342nd, F.O. James W. Clement--342nd)
and the 340th has one (2nd Lt. Roy F. Martin--340th), and the 341st had two pilots missing due to operational accidents. (1st Lt. Robert P. Redner, 2nd Lt. Richard C Garst)
The only loss to enemy action was one plane a total loss and one pilot missing. ( 1st Lt. Clark E. Kooper)
By the end of the month ground support on Caballo, Ft. Drum and in the Fort Stotsenburg area was completed. However the operation begun the end of the month--neutralizing Japanese Positions in Rizal Province east of Manila--was only begun. The enemy had concentrated a large amount of supplies in this area and were dug-in in preparation for a long struggle. A struggle in which the 348th Fighter Group was to play an important part.

************* **************** ***************

An interesting story was related to me about 1st Lt. Joyal and the sub rescue;
He was observed to be picked up by the sub “virtually before he got his feet wet” and once aboard found he was headed for Hawaii. Due to the submarine mission operation orders he was to be ’dropped off’ at the next port of call. As luck would have it the 348th Fighter Group never saw Lt. Joyal again as he apparently was reassigned or shipped back to the States after arriving in Hawaii.

 

HISTORY OF THE 348TH FIGHTER GROUP
CHAPTER XVIII
(April 1945)

During April the 348th Fighter Group continued to operate from San Marcelino, Luzon Island, Philippine Islands--attached to the 309th Bomb Wing for tactical operations and to the 85th Wing for administrative purposes.
Three officers were added to the group headquarters roster: Captain John W. R. Johnson, 0-568806, communications officer who was assigned to the group headquarters but was placed on D.S. with the 340th squadron; 1st Lt. William W. McDonald, 0-766371, formerly of the 340th Squadron was assigned to group operations; and 1st Lt. Robert C. Schutt, 0-907313, was made personnel officer.
1st. Lt. Stanley S. Stevens, 0-664464, AC, who was on D.S. with the 342nd Squadron was relieved from D.S. and assigned to the 342nd.
Two enlisted men joined the group: Corporal Ralph E. Moye, 31223927, who was assigned to S-1, and Pfc. Harold M. Rutter, 38287431, who was assigned to S-3.
Four enlisted men received promotions: S/Sgt. Charles J. McLean, (Ord) 32505001, and S/Sgt. Elmer J. DeHoff (Ord) 35170601, were promoted to the grade of technical sergeant. Corporal Leo E. Pelkey, 31111205, was promoted to the grade of Sergeant, and Pfc. Walter O. Gilliam, 37613614, to the grade of corporal. There were no promotions of officers.
On April 4th, Brigadier General Frederic H. smith, Jr. Commanding General of the Fifth Fighter Command, officiated at a decoration ceremony awarding decorations to fifty-nine officers and men of the 348th Group. Five officers in group headquarters were presented decorations.
Colonel Robert R. Rowland, group commander, from Lodi, Ohio, received the 3rd and 4th OLV (AM) for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight over Cape Hoskins, New Britain on 27 February 1944, and for operational flight missions from 24th December 43 to 28 May 44. He was also awarded the Soldiers Medal for heroism at Saidor, New Guinea, 16 April, 44.
Lieutenant Colonel William M. Banks, deputy group commander, from Raleigh, West Virginia was presented the Silver Star for gallantry in action over Clark Field 24 December 44 and the 3rd OLC (AM) for meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight over Cape Gluscester, New Britain on 7 February 44.
Major Jesse P. Ivey, group operations officer, of San Marcos, Texas was awarded the 1st OLC (AM) for operational flight missions from 25 November 43 to 22 October 44.
Captain Joseph W. Taylor, assistant group operations officer, of Deep Gap, North Carolina was awarded the Air Medal for operational flight missions from 1 September 43 to 17 October 43, the 1st OLC (AM) for operational flight missions from 21 October 43 to 26 November 43, and the 2nd OLC (AM) for operational flight missions from 27 November 43 to 31 January 44.
Major Richard H. Weddle, group surgeon, of London, Kentucky, was awarded the soldiers Medal for heroism at Saidor, New Guinea on 16 April 44.
Although not in time to be presented at the 4 April ceremony, orders were issued during April awarding the Air Medal to 1st Lt. William W. McDonald, 0-766371, assistant operational officer, for operational flight missions from 1 October 44 to 9 January 45.
During April 533 combat missions were flown. There were 452 ground support missions, 33 local patrols, 23 Manila patrols, 2 barge hunts, 8 reccos, 6 convoy covers, and 9 missions to the Formosa-China coast area. On these missions 2,090.5 tons of bombs and 1,896,817 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition were expended, which members of the Group believed to be a record for tonnage of bombs dropped by any fighter group in the Pacific. Of the 2090.5 tons 1949 tons hit in the target area, 162.5 tons either failed to hit in the target area or hung-up and were jettisoned. In addition to these bombs 92 seventy-five gallon and 24 thirty gallon Napalm wing tanks were dropped. There were 390,515 gallons of gasoline and 15,342 quarts of oil consumed.
There was a larger percentage of ground support missions flown in April than in any other month. Of the 533 combat missions 452 or 84.8% were ground support, while in the preceding month there were 222 out of 620 missions or 35.8%. The primary objective of these support missions was the neutralization of enemy positions north and east of Manila in the XI Corps area.
The Japanese after being pushed down the valley from Lingayen and then defeated in a house to house fight in Manila had retreated to the rugged terrain along the Marikina and Angat Rivers in Rizal province. Here they had concentrated supplies and set up well entrenched defense positions consisting of well hidden caves and intricate trench networks in the gorges and peaks of the Angelo mountains. Although our troops were well supplied and equipped compared to the enemy, their gains were slow and costly due to the tactical advantage the Japanese had in their fixed positions. In order to expedite the campaign and to keep casualties as low as possible, the ground forces called for air support, a large part of which was furnished by the 348th Group, attacking artillery positions, communications and concentrations of supplies and personnel. The geographical location of the targets in the XI Corps area may be roughly divided into three areas: the Marikina-Wawa sector, the Ipo dam area and the Siniloan-Real sector. Many of these strikes were very close support, often as close as 2-300 yards. However, there were no casualties to our troops and ground commanders showed their confidence in our bombing accuracy by their continued demand for close ground support and by their reports of destruction to enemy positions caused by our strikes. Much of the success of these missions is due to coordination of strikes with the ground forces through 309th Bomb Wing ground liaison officers, Captain Karl F. Schmidt and Captain Al H. Stuckey, and our group liaison officer, Captain Vincent L. Tolson.
Thirty-five missions were flown in the Infanta-Real area. The following reports were received from Major Anderson of the Philippine Scouts;
“Results of 3 April strike on Infanta--three truck loads of troops killed and wounded; Gumian; an estimated 300 Japs killed; Batikan, 50 casualties; Pamplona, 40 casualties. Estimated 100 killed at Antikin. Tonohin radio station hit.”
“American officers with Philippine scouts indicate that 107 Japs and three AA guns were destroyed in an air attack on Binangonan Point on or about 3 or 4 of April.”
“Air strikes in Infanta area 5 April hit one army truck loaded with rice in the vicinity of Tigman. Tigman ferry hit killing estimated 100 Japs.”
“Strike on 6 April on town of Infanta demolished 13 homes killing Nip Navy personnel.”
There were seven missions flown in the Mt. Dorst area and the following message was received from GLO,XI Corps;
“38th Division reports 180 dead Japs vicinity 09.7--32.8 (west of Mt Dorst) presumably killed by air strikes of the past few days.”
Twenty-six missions were flown in the Mt Mataba area. The following report was received 11 April from the 43rd Division: “Besides many dazed and stupefied Nips approximately two hundred more were found dead on objective Mt. Mataba taken yesterday (10 April) which has been struck repeatedly by planes before advance of friendly troops. POW captured in different locality reports air strikes have been very devastatinf and they are greatly feared.”
Thirty-six missions were flown along the Marikina River. The following message dated 15 April was received from the 6th Infantry Division: “Strikes on enemy concentrations south of the Marikina River definitely sealed six caves by direct hits and damaged others. One gun position was hit and a large number of Japs running out of caves were thoroughly strafed: number killed could not be estimated.”
Our pilots turned their attention from the ara east and northeast of Manila long enough to make 21 strikes on Carabao Island in the mouth of Manila Bay. Reports from XI Corps 12 April states: “16 direct hits by 500 GP bombs on Caraboa, 2 bombs hitting a block house, 1 landing at the entrance of a cave, and 13 landing on the north one third of the island.”
A more detailed results of air strikes is attached. * (incl 17)
Other strikes were carried out in the following areas:
LOCATION----------NUMBER--------LOCATION---------NUMBER

Sapa Cayropa river 2 -------- Lagunlan -- 2
Kilulron River ----- 1 ----- Kiluburon River 1
Kilulen River ------ 2 ---- Mt. Pacawagan 25
Bakong ---------1 ------ Payna River 1
Mt. Purro ------ 11 -------- Calavario 1
Laiban ---------- 1 ------ Salangbato 4
Osboy (Caboy?) 12 ---------- Luniban 3
Pagus ------- 1 ---------- Mabatac 2
Mt. Balibiran ------ 5 --- Metropolitan Road 32
Mt. Limeta ----- 3 ----------- Antipolo 1
Lukon ---------- 1 ------- Mt. Binacayan 16
Angat river ---- 3 ------------ Kuyapir 1
Mt. Oro --------- 3 ------------- Lual 1
Pangil ---------- 1 -------- Mt. Pemitinan 4
Kapatalin Saw Mill -- 9 -------- Santa Inex 7
Maronalt River --- 1 --------- Mt. Ayaas 1
Lukong -------- 1 --------- Norzagary 3
Puray River --- 1 --- Mt. Haponang Banoy 4
Santa Maria --- 6 ----- New Boso Boso 18
San Mateo -- 11 ----------- Tanog 1
Montalbon --- 6 -------- San Andres 7
Agos River --- 3 -------- Mango River 22
Coralan ------- 1 --- Sapa Mingayan R. 2
Tanay ----- 1 --------- Romero River 1
Sicaw ---- 13 ---------- Famy --- 1
Laiban ------- 1 -------- Mt. Campana 13
Payaguan -- 10 ------------ Longos 2

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

There were nine missions to the Formosa-China coast area. Twenty P-51s of the 460th Squadron on 14 April covered B25s on shipping strike to Canton-Hong Kong. The following airfields in that area were observed to be serviceable but without activity: Kai Tak, Wan Hsin, No Shiu, Lung Kong (Hong Kong?), Chung Shan. On 15 April eleven planes of the 340th and twelve of the 341st made a shipping sweep in the Canton River area sinking three Tugs and three motor barges. Three SC’s were strafed with no observed results except many hits. Two FTD’s and a U/E vessel were strafed. One FTD began burning fiercely. Ten TE airplanes were sighted at Shakik airfield (22-45’N--113-40E) but were not attacked due to shortage of gas. On the same day four planes of the 342nd with sixteen planes made a shipping sweep to Canton Harbor. A concentration of medium sized barges and small junks were bombed. One bomb scored a direct hit on two vessels. Six bombs hit in vicinity of rest of vessels but nil results was observed. On 18 April four planes of the 340th covered a PBY west of Formosa and four planes of the 341st covered a BPY east of Formosa. The 342nd with 12 planes made a fighter sweep to Hong Kong on 26 April with no sightings. On the same day 4 planes of the 342nd covered a PBY at Pratus Island.
During April there was one fatality (1st Lt. Truman E. Ragsdale), five planes a total loss and seven major damage due to operational accidents. A breakdown by squadrons follows: the 340th, 3 total loss and 2 major damage; the 341st, 2 major damage; 342nd, 1 total loss and 1 major damage; 460, 1 total loss and 2 major damage.
Since most of the months missions were confined to Luzon where the enemy air force had virtually ceased to exist there was no interception. However, our losses due to enemy ground fire were high. The 342nd had one fatality and one pilot missing. (1st Lt. Charles L. Nickell- fatal; missing pilot not included in report). The 341st had one pilot missing: 2nd Lt. Richard R. McAffe. And the 460th had one fatality: 1st. Lt. Walter A. Abraham. Six planes were a total loss and four received major damage due to enemy ground fire. The breakdown by squadron follows: 340th, 1 major damage; 341st, 2 total loss and 2 major damage; 342nd, 2 total loss and 1 major damage; 460th, 2 total loss.
Two enlisted men were killed by truck accidents. T/Sgt. Louis E. Conerly, supply sergeant of the 342nd was killed when he accidentally fell off a truck while returning from Manila. Sergeant Thomas Harper of the 340th was accidentally killed when he stepped off the running board of a truck and fell under the wheel while returning to the camp area from the line.
Although we paid a heavy price in men and planes in carrying out our part of the air war against the enemy during April, the casualties of the ground forces had been lessened and the campaign in the XI Corps area had been expedited considerably.

 

HISTORY OF 348TH FIGHTER GROUP
CHAPTER XIX
(May 1945)

Since there was not an all-weather strip at San Marcelino, plans had been made for an intra-island move to Floridablanca before the rainy season began. The advance echelon from Group Headquarters and from the four squadrons was by the 1st of May already at our new location preparing the camp area for the rest of the group. The last missions were flown from San Marcelino on 13 May: most of the personnel and airplanes arrived at Floridablanca on 15 May and operations were begun from there on 17 May. After the move we were no longer under the 309th Bomb Wing. Operations and administration were carried out directly under the Fifth Fighter Command.
Four officers were transferred from Group Headquarters during the month:
Major Richard H. Weddle, 0-417141, group surgeon, was transferred to the hospital. Captain John W. Johnson, 0-568806, was transferred to the 340th Squadron. Captain Joseph W. Taylor, 0-797742, assist. Operations officer, was transferred to the 342nd Squadron; and Major John E. Maersch, 0-914447, group communications officer left on orders to return to the States.
Three officers were added to the roster during the month; Captain Stewart W. Dittmar, formerly of the 460th Squadron replaced Major Weddle as group surgeon. 1st Lt. Richard H. Parker, 0-25962, formerly of the 342nd Squadron became assistant group operations officer and 1st. Lt. Richard H. Denman, 0-869896, was made personnel equipment officer.
Major William D. Dunham, 0-432289, who had been in the States attending gunnery school, returned and was made group operations officer replacing Major Jesse P. Ivey, 0-665804, who was awaiting orders to return to the U.S.
One enlisted man was added to the headquarters’ roster and four wre transferred from the organization. Pfc. Oscar V. Rodgers, 39694824, was assigned to transportation. T/Sgt. Donald F. Wilcox, 11033953, was transferred to the 342nd Squadron. The following men were transferred to the hospital: M/Sgt. Glenn B. Crocker, Cpl. Leo J. Stewart and Pfc. John J. Riley.
S/Sgt. John R. Harris, 18036800 and S/Sgt. William A. Toye, 31076966, were promoted to T/Sgt.; Sgt. Robert C. Keppler, 21323563 and Sgt. Howard C. Amber, 32144868, were promoted to S/Sgt.
There was only one officer promoted during the month, 2nd Lt. Marlin R. Hubler, 0-889034, assist. Operations officer was promoted to 1st Lt.
Orders were issued during May awarding decorations to five officers and one enlisted man.
Colonel Robert R. Rowland, 0-22470, group commander, was awarded the 5th OLC (AM) for operational flight missions from 29 may 44 to 14 March 45.
Lieutenant Colonel William M. Banks, 0-429515, deputy group commander, was awarded the 6th OLC (AM) for destruction of one enemy aircraft on 11th December 1944.
Major Clinton R. Kinard, 0-563514, group executive officer, was awarded the Bronze Star for meritious service and achivement while in command of troops at Burauen, Leyte, Philippine Islands.
1st Lt. Charles A. McDonald, 0-766371, assistant group operations officer, was awarded the 1st OLC (AM) for operational flight missions from 30 December 44 to 25 March 45.
1st. Lt. Marlin R. Hubler, 0-889034, assist. Group operations officer, was awarded the A.M. for operational flight missions from December 43 to Jan. 44.
The Bronze Star was awarded T/Sgt. Elmer J. Dehoff, 35170607, group ordnance, for Meritorious service and achievement from Dec. 43 to Jan. 44.
During April there were 259 offensive missions flown by the four squadrons of the group. Of these 217 were ground support, 30 were weather recco’s, 1 was an armed recco, and two were fighter sweeps to Formosa. In carrying these missions 2,552 sorties were flown amounting to 4,039 flying hours. 949,238 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition were fired and approximately 1,200 tons of bombs and 16,650 gallons of Napalm were dropped. 289,412 gallons of gas and 13,623 quarts of oil were consumed. No enemy aircraft were intercepted during the month and we lost no planes to enemy action. However, one plane received major damage from enemy ground fire.
There were 217 or 86.8% ground support missions flown as compared with 84.8% in April and 35.8% in March. These missions were ivided geographically into two locations: The XI Corps area East and North of Manila, and I Corps area in Northern Luzon.
In spite of the tremendous air activity in April large pockets of enemy resistance still existed in the XI Corps area and 185 missions were flown in support of the units of that Corps during May.
The most stubborn resistance was in the Ipo area. Ground troops had been attacking for from 5 to 7 days meeting stiff opposition and with very little advance being made. Seventy-five missions were flown around Ipo during May. On the 17th and 18th an all out attack was made in this area supported by units of the 5th Air Force. During the two days our group flew 107 sorties and dropped 16,050 gallons of Napalm. Results of this operation is to be found in a communication from the XI Corps through the VFC, Cite M 8330 dated 25 May 1945:
“Napalm Strikes: Ipo Area; Our troops closely followed strikes and over run all target areas with a bare minimum of friendly casualties. Conservatively estimated at least 650 Nips killed by air action with other casualties caused by Nips running from fire and burning area and being caught by a combined frag, bombs, artillery, and mortar fire. All areas hit had previously held up our attack causing friendly casualties to mount. At least five large gas drums of un-estimated gallonage were destroyed and an estimated 68 vehicles including staff cars and trucks were overrun in which guns and ammo, still serviceable and found abandoned by the enemy in his flight to safety. In addition, approximately seventy-five to one hundred caves were sealed by bombs, several of which were known to have contained Nips. Since the last strike enemy resistance has been negligible as our forces continue moving forward. A request has been made and granted for an air evaluation team to go into the area for more definite and detailed account. Forty-third division area; Following closely behind our Napalm strikes the troops captured with negligible resistance areas struck. All target areas hit have been consolidated to date. The division stated they counted 600 to 700 Nips dead in their area killed by air action and artillery with ammo, gas, food supplies in flames for one half hour after strikes. Other information will be forwarded when available”.
Results of other missions are enclosed.
Other missions flown in the XI Corps area were:

.MISSION....NUMBER…MISSION….NUMBER…MISSION…NUMBER
Mt. Pamitinan…….2.……Mt. Binicayan…..7.…….Mt. Purro……..15
Mt. Katitanga……..3……Mt. Narawat….…1……..Kaybanban…….1
Mt. Bang Bang……2……New Boso Boso...3.…….Angat River……1
Metropolitan Road..10.….Marakina River…12.……San Andres…….1
Mt. Haponang Banoy..8.……Mt. Campana…..1.……Kakalatan….1
Mt. Mapayad…………1.……San Isidoa……..1.……Agos River…1
San Mateo……………1.……Mt. Lamita….5.……Pampang River..1
Sapa Binoyan River…1.…….Infanta……….1.……Mt. Ayaas…….8
Wawa………………..8.…….Kahumay……..1.……Mt Oro………7

Toward the end of the month attention was turned to Balete Pass and to targets in the Cagayen Valley of Northern Luzon. Thirty-two strikes or 17.3% of the ground support missions were flown in these areas with the following targets:

MISSION…………NUMBER………..MISSION…………..NUMBER
Balete Pass……………15.……………Dalaya…………………4.….
Fugu Island…………….4.……………Bontoc…………………1
Ipil……………………..1.……………Iguig……………………2
Mapacao……………….2.……………Rest House (Camp 30)…2
Gango………………….1

Weather rather than enemy interception, proved to be the worst foe on the May Formosa missions. On 6 May all four squadrons flew to Formosa attempting to hit targets at Taito, Karenka, Taichu, Kagi, but were weathered out with 10/10 covered cumulus and stratus clouds up to 23,000 feet ten to twenty miles from south tip of Formosa. On the 11th three Squadrons attempted to bomb Shinchiku A/D but they were also weathered out.
During May three pilots were fatally injured in operational accidents. Two from the 341st : 2nd Lt. Leonard C. Houick and 1st Lt. Wayne S. Randolph and one from the 460th : 1st Lt. Gerald (NMI) Economoff. Eight planes were a total loss and five received major damage. The squadron breakdown was: 340th, 1 major damage and 1 total loss; the 341st, 2 total loss; 342nd, 4 major damage and four total loss; the 460th, 1 total loss.
There were no pilots lost to enemy action. One plane received major damage due to enemy ground fire.
The new camp area at Floridablanca was well located on high ground about a mile from the strip. Living conditions were much better than they had been at any previous camp. PX supplies, beer and cigarette issue and mail was more regular than usual. The regular army ration was supplemented by fresh food and group headquarters now had its own mess hall. Frequent trips to Manila also tended to lessen the monotony of army existence.

 

HISTORY OF THE 348TH FIGHTER GROUP
CHAPTER XX
(JUNE 1945)

The 348th Fighter Group continued to operate from Floridablanca (Clark #2 and #4); Luzon Island, Philippine Islands. Operations and administration were carried out under the Fighter Command.
During June one officer was transferred out of the group headquarters and one was added to the roster. Capt. Joseph W. Taylor, 0-797742, was transferred from the 342nd to group headquarters, and 1st Lt. Robert C. Scutt (Scott?), 0-907313, was transferred to the 460th Squadron where he became squadron adjutant.
Two enlisted men were assigned to group headquarters: Cpl. William F. Cruse, 17121762, who was assigned to work in the mess hall, and Cpl. Robert A. Ryan, 37271627, was made mail clerk.
There were two promotions of enlisted men: Cpl. William T. McDonnell, 35057025, was promoted to Sergeant and Pvt. Andrew N. (M?) Davidson, 33807228, to private first class. There were no promotions of officers during June.
On the 8th of June Lieutenant Colonel William M. Banks of Raleigh, West Virginia became Group Commander. Colonel Banks came overseas with the 348th Group in May 1943 as operations officer of the 342nd Squadron. He later became commanding officer of the 342nd and was deputy group commander prior to his promotion to group commander. Colonel Banks has shot down nine enemy aircraft in aerial combat and has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with two OLC’s, the Silver Star and the Air Medal with six OLC’s.
Major William D. Dunham became deputy group commander. Major Dunham has sixteen enemy planes to his credit and has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 OLC’s, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star with 1 OLC and the Air Medal with 5 OLC’s.
Major Merle M Zeine who holds the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 4 OLC’s became operations officer.

On 5 June the 348th Group was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for action which took place over Arawe and Cape Gloucester from 16 December to 31 December 1943. After covering the landings on Arawe and Cape Gloucester on the 16th our planes continues to operate over New Britain in support of ground operations throughout the rest of December. During this period our group destroyed 79 enemy planes in the air with the loss of only two of our aircraft.
The only individual decoration during the month was the Bronze Star Medal awarded to 1st Lt. Edgar M. Villchur, group communications officer for meritorious conduct 25 July 44 to 7 November 1944. By the 18th of June when operations were suspended in preparation for the impending move 168 offensive missions had been flown by the four squadrons of the group. Of these 129 were ground support, 29 were weather reccos, 4 were air alerts over Subic Bay, 4 were search missions, 1 was a shipping sweep to the Canton River Area, and 1 was a patrol over Clark Field. In carrying out these missions 1,317 sorties were flown amounting to 3,093.30 flying hours; 209,067 gallons of gas and 8,179 quarts of oil consumed; and 467.6 tons of bombs and 699,029 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition were expended.
Of the 168 combat missions 129 or 77.2% were ground support as compared with 86.8% in May and 84.8% in April. These missions were divided geographically into two locations: The XI Corps area East and Northeast of Manila, and I Corps area in Northern Luzon.
Enemy resistance in the XI Corps area had by this time been reduced almost to the mopping up stage and only ten mission were flown by our group in this sector.
MISSION & NUMBER
Ipo……….4
Wawa…….3
Mariquina..2
Mt. Ayaas..1
With enemy opposition neutralized in other sections, attention was now directed to the Japanese forces in Northern Luzon where they had been holding out in the Belete Pass area. It was in this area that the majority of our missions in June were flown routing the enemy from dug-in positions in the pass and later destroying his lines of communications, supply dumps, and artillery positions as our ground forces advanced up the Cagayen Valley. One hundred and nineteen missions were flown in the I Corps area.

MISSION & NUMBER
Condon….27.….Alcala…..2
Moscariz..14.….Ipil………1
Anulung…7.…..Baguid…..1
Iguig……..6.…..Lallo…….3
Bagabag…5.…..Allauan….1
Ilagan……5.…..Solano…..1
Cervantes…4.….Daklan…..1
Bone………4.….Fugu…….1
Gosi……….2...Mankayan…4
Bonton……2...Santa Thomas..1
Santa Fe…..2...Kayan………1
Caralucud…1...Tagalog…….1
Massiping…1...Tebbo………1
Tupang…….2...Malasin…….1
Gugulorac…1...Bambag……4
Naguilian….4...Malabalan…1
Penablanca..1...Sabangan…..1
Gattaran…..2...Payawan……1
Tuguegarao.1...Tabic……….1

On 3 June all four squadrons were scheduled for a shipping strike to the Canton River. The 340th Squadron was unable to reach the target due to mechanical trouble; the 460th turned back because of weather and strafed the Bontoc area; the 341st reached the target and strafed five sugar dogs leaving one with its stern down to the water level; the 342nd also reached the target and strafed a PC and three barges scoring many hits but there was no other observed results.
During June one pilot received major injury and three received fatal injuries due to operational accidents. The 340th, the 342nd and the 460th had one fatality each.
2nd Lt. Charles E. Dilts--340th .(initials ? On Dilts&Dow)
1st Lt. Robert E. Dow---342nd
1st Lt. Floyd H. Stone---460th
The 342nd had one major injury-- 1st Lt. Harold T. Langford.
Seven planes were a total loss and seven received major damage. The 340th had 2 major damage and 1 total loss; the 341st: 2 major damage; the 342nd: 2 total loss; and the 460th : 3 major damage and 4 total loss.
Hardly had the last building been completed in our camp area at Floridablanca when orders were issued alerting the group for movement to a new base. Operations ceased on 18 June and packing was completed by the 23rd. Three of the four squadrons were loaded by the 28th but at the end of the month were still sitting in Subic Bay waiting for the convoy to form. The LST assigned to the 341st Squadron and the group headquarters enlisted men had not arrived and they were therefore still at Floridablanca with the air echelon.

 

HEADQUARTERS
348TH FIGHTER GROUP
APO 245
16 JULY 1945
SECRET
AUTH. CG, VFC

2. The material submitted was prepared by 1st Lt. Herman A. Fitts, 0-577558, A.C. Facts and observations included in the narrative and not otherwise credited are based on the personal knowledge and opinions of 1st Lt. Fitts.

HISTORY OF 348TH FIGHTER GROUP
CHAPTER XXI
(JULY 1945)

Although the LST’s carrying three of the four squadrons and the group headquarters officers were loaded on the 27th and 28th of June it wasn’t until the 4th of July that they finally left Subic Bay and headed for the Ryukyu Retto. On 8 July the convoy arrived at Naha Harbor, Okinawa and the following day the ships carrying our group proceeded to Ie Shima. All personnel were brought ashore the afternoon of the 9th with blankets and mess kit---spending an uncomfortable night on the ground in a drizzling rain. The following day equipment was unloaded and work begun on our new camp area.
Due to a shortage of transportation the 341st and group headquarters enlisted men were unable to leave with the convoy on the 4th. They along with the air echelon remained at Floridablanca flying a few routine training missions until the 13th when their convoy left Subic. After turning back three times due to Typhoon weather, they arrived at Ie Shima on 24 July.
Due to the fact that most of the headquarters’ personnel and much of the equipment was on the 341st LST, progress in setting up the camp area was delayed. However, tents and lumber were requisitioned and with this and the equipment which came up on the 12th and 15th on the air echelon, construction was well under way by the time the LST arrived on the 24th. By the last of the month the headquarters area was almost completed, wood floors in most of the enlisted men and officers tents, coral floors for office tents, a plywood mess-hall, a chapel, a PX, and sand sidewalks.
One officer was added and three dropped from headquarters roster during July. 1st. Lt. William W Leitch, 0-865539, came to the group from the 33rd Fighter Control Squadron and was appointed group weather officer. Captain Joseph W. Taylor, 0-797742, assistant operations officer, returned to the States and 1st Lt. William W. McDonald, 0-766371, also assistant operations officer was transferred to the 460th Fighter Squadron. Chaplain Brunson C. Wallace, 0-442933, was transferred to the hospital.
Three officers returned to the States on temporary duty: Major John V. Geary, Captain Altamont J. Cornwell and Captain Leo P. Reiner.
Nine enlisted men were assigned to group headquarters during the period and ten were transferred out. The new men were Cpl. John J. Mayhall, 31203872; Sgt. Thomas W. Smith, 17074539; Cpl. Charles K. Eckerstrom, 17153791; Sgt. John A. Rowan, 11038884; Sgt. Ben D. Barnett, 38101610; Cpl. Donald Cooper, 39560241; Cpl. Glen W. Hargis, 38274573; Pfc. Leasel H. Marquart, 38369417; and Pvt. Robert L. Weldniger, 12231609.
T/Sgt. Clarence H. Metsger, 36146423, returned to the States for discharge under the over-age regulation. Six other men returned under the readjustment plan. M/Sgt. David P. Barnard, 6756831; M/Sgt. Glenn B. Crocker, 6829663; M/Sgt. Lloyd C. Nethaway, 6756831; M/Sgt. Owen C. Keppler, 2032356. The following men were transferred to the hospital; S/Sgt. Domonick J. Bizzoco, 34057381; Cpl. Carl S. Ebert, 37376341; and Pfc. Guy W. Dunlap, 39255791.
Three officers received promotions during the month. Captain Robert D. Baxter, 0-564779, was promoted to Major. Major Baxter came overseas as assistant intelligence officer of the 341st Fighter Squadron in May of 1943. Since that time he has served as Squadron S-2, assistant Group S-2, and Group S-2.
Captain John V. Geary, 0-568264, was promoted to Major. Major Geary came overseas as supply officer of the 340th Squadron. He later became group supply officer and was group S-4 at the time of his promotion.
1st Lt. Edgar M. Villchur, 0-855565, was promoted to Captain. Captain Villchur came overseas as communications officer of the 340th Fighter Sqaudron and was group communications officer at the time of his promotion.
Four enlisted men received promotions. Walter H. Brown, 34443901, Ralph E. Moye, 31223927, and John J. Mayhall, 31203872, were promoted to Sergeant. Melvin Moide, 33696988, was promoted to Corporal.
Orders were received awarding the Legion of Merit to Major Richard H. Weddle, 0-417141, for meritorious service from 22 November 1942 to 1 May 1945. Major Weddle came overseas as medical officer of the 342nd Fighter Squadron and was group medical officer prior to returning to the States in May of this year.
The airplanes of the 340th, 342nd, and 460th arrived on the 12th and the first mission, a fighter sweep to southern Kyushu, was scheduled for the 14th but was incomplete due to weather. On the 15th the 340th covered a PBY south of Kyushu, and the 460th and 340th covered medium bombers to Southern Kyushu and bombed a bridge near Takanabe. The 341st flew their first mission on the 18th destroying two Sugar Charlies near Amami-O-Shima.
During July 76 missions were flown from Ie Shima by planes of the four squadrons. Sixty-five of these were against targets on the Jap homeland and eleven were missions to the Shanghai area. In carrying out these missions 728 combat sorties were flown totaling 3,175.50 flying hours; 82.8 tons of bombs and 161,401 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition were expended; 195,665 gallons of gasoline and 13,509 quarts of oil were consumed and one aircraft and one pilot were lost due to enemy ground fire; 1st Lt. Bernard P. Kane--460th Squadron.
Due to operational accidents one pilot was fatally injured; 1st Lt. Merle M. Miller--340th Squadron. Two planes were a total loss and four received major damage. The 340th had one total loss and one major damage, the 342nd : one total loss and two major damage, and the 460th : one major damage.
During July 5,400 tons of enemy shipping were sunk, 1 DD and 1 CVE received a direct hit, and 41,260 tons of small shipping were damaged.
Although the 348th Group arrived at Ie Shima too late to participate in the aerial defense of the Ryukyu’s, the air offensive against the Jap Homeland was just getting underway. In contrast to the ground support targets on Luzon where there was no aerial opposition and where the results of bombing and strafing was usually obscured by foliage, our pilots were now looking forward to lucrative targets on the ground and a chance to meet the enemy in the air. The harbors and rivers of Kyushu were filled with small shipping and the airfields, warehouses, rolling stock, and factories presented fat targets.
Sixty-five missions were flown against targets on Kyushu and South-western Henahu during the last eighteen days of July. Of these 65 missions 30 were covering PBY’s, PBM’s and B-17s (with Flying Dutchman). On four of the cover missions fighter sweeps were conducted on return to base. On nine of the eleven bomber escort missions our pilots either bombed or strafed. Other missions were: 6 fighter sweeps, 6 bombing missions, 5 shipping strikes, 3 weather reccos, 3 photo plane escorts and 1 mission covering a downed pilot. On these missions in addition to destruction of numerous warehouses and factory buildings 1 SCL, 1 SCS, 2 SC’s 1SD and 1 lugger totaling 5,300 tons were destroyed. On the ground 1 locomotive and 14 trucks were destroyed. The list of damaged shipping included 1 FA, 1 SCL, 1 FTC, 2 SCS, 6 FTD’s, 22 SD’s, 1 NVU, 7 luggers, 2 tugs, and 7 barges totaling 29,260 tons. In addition 1 DD and 1 CVE each received a direct hit. On the ground 4 locomotives, 2 coal cars, 1 truck, 2 passenger cars, two aircraft, 1 storage tank, 2 bridges, 1 radio tower, and 1 lighthouse were damaged.
Of the eleven Shanghai missions 5 were escort of rescue aircraft and 6 were shipping strikes. On the 22nd three of the four squadrons struck shipping in the "Huangpu???? River ( Shanghai area) and although observation was partially obscured by weather the following results were observed: 5 VBs were sunk, 1 FTB received a direct hit, 1 300 ft. tanker received a direct hit and a near miss, 1 FTA was left spurting steam, and 1 FTD was left burning, and a two-masted 30 foot fishing boat was set on fire. A shipping strike to the same area on the 24th was weathered out.
Although the enemy had approximately 1000 planes on Kyushu it was evident that he was husbanding them for future operations. Only once did our group meet aerial opposition. On 31 July one of our planes was jumped by 16 Franks after the pilot had become separated from the rest of the flight. By the time he had evaded the Franks and joined up with the rest of the planes, contact with the enemy was lost.
Opposition from enemy ground fire proved more formidable. Heavy or medium A/A was received on 17 missions. Although it was for the most part light to moderate and inaccurate, one plane was lost and two were damaged. 1st Lt. Bernard P. Kane was shot down by A/A over Kanoya A/D, one plane was holed in canopy by small arms fire over Kajuki, slightly injuring the pilot. The empennage of another plane was holed south of Furue. (Furus?)
Weather greatly restricted operations. Thirteen missions were incomplete due to weather and with the exception of two weather reccos on the 25th all planes were grounded due to typhoon weather on the 19th, 20th, 21st, 24th, 25th, and 26th.
As the period drew to a close there was much speculation on the strategy of the enemy. Would he continue to protect his air strength by not fighting, allowing our fighters and bombers to pulverize his airfields, factories, and communications? How long could he continue to keep his war machine running without a Navy and without sufficient merchant shipping? Would he realize the hopelessness of the struggle and surrender before the Homeland was invaded? No matter how these questions were answered the future for Japan was indeed dark.

 

HISTORY OF THE 348TH FIGHTER GROUP
CHAPTER XXII
(AUGUST 1945)

Far and above the most important occasion for the month of August was the landing of the Japanese emissaries on Ie Shima enroute to Manila for instructions from General Of The Armies Douglas MacArthur. The emissaries arrived at 1240, Sunday, August 19th in two Betty’s, painted white with green crosses on the fuselage and vertical stabilizer, escorted by some 48 P-38’s from Ie Shima’s 8th Fighter Group and 2 B-25’s from the 345th Air Apache Bomb Group. They remained 42 minutes before leaving for Manila in a C-54. Much more important than the spectacle of the visit by the emissaries was the fact that the visit made quite clear that peace and the utter defeat of the Japanese had finally been realized. Here, after long months of sacrifice and effort, and a few weeks of rumors and uncertainty, was concrete evidence that our allied war machine had triumphed over the last Fascist faction.
The end of the war brought much speculation as to whether or not the 348th Fighter Group would take part in the occupation of Japan, and if so, when would the Group leave for the Jap homeland? With the announcement that the Fifth Air Force would be one of the occupation forces, these doubts were partially cleared up, but the movement date still remains a matter of conjecture.
A boost came to the spirit of the twenty eight month veterans when the men with 85 and more points were started back to the States. It also brought about a renewed interest in the battle stars earned by the 348th for those whose points do not quite total 85. The cessation of hostilities and the resulting lessening of operational activities centered attention upon sports and entertainment to a greater extent than in the past. The basketball games between the squadrons and those between the more successful 340th aggregation and teams representing various neighboring groups highlighted the sports program. Further enjoyable entertainment was derived from the group movies which are shown four nights weekly. A great many men took advantage of the Kay Kyser, Dick Jurgens and Service shows held at the Island Command Bowl.
During the month of August operations and administration were carried out under the V Fighter Command except for the first five days when the group operated under the 308th Bomb Wing. In contrast to the unusual calm and routine that settled on the Group during the latter days, quite a bit of activity was experienced during the earlier part of the month by our pilots on escort missions over the Jap homeland. The 340th led in number of planes downed chalking up 8 victories. Four Zeke’s, 3 Zeke 52’s and 1 Frank met flaming destruction by the 6-fifties of our Mustang fighters. On August 6 as a Playmate cover mission over Saishu, 1st Lt’s. Carleton B. Ambler, 0-715428, Detroit, Mich. And Clifford C. McMillin, 0-766393, Ruthven, Iowa, downed a Zeke 32 apiece. While 1st Lt. Charles A. McDonald, 0-766585, Missoula, Montana, accounted for 2 more. On the 8th august while escorting B-25’s to Tauiki, Capt. Jack A. Quinlan, 0-754194, Topeka, Kansas, destroyed 2 Zeke 52’s, bringing his total to 4. 1st Lt. David A. Standiford, 0-827314, Ann Arbor, Mich. got his first Nip planes, a Frank and a Zeke 52. On the 1st of August the 341st Squadron distinguished itself by downing 4 Nip planes on a fighter sweep to Kyushu. Lt. Colonel Willaim D. Dunham, 0-432289, Nezperce , Idaho, brought his score to 16 by knocking down a Frank. Major Edward S. Popek, 0-665609, Hackinsack, New Jersey, brought down 2 Franks to up his total to 7. 1st Lt. Thomas M. Sheets, 0-804049, Hopewell, Va. Clobbered a Frank, giving him three victories. The 460th gained 3 victories this month on a B-25 escort mission on August 8 and a strafing mission on the Sasebo-Kurume-Ashira railroad lines on the 12th. On the 8th, 1st Lt. Reid C. Tait, 0-824774, Arlinton Va. Shot down a Jack and Capt. George C. Elvey, 0-742985, Ft. Meyers, Florida, got a Zeke. 1st Lt. Kermit A. Allen, 0-2059024, Granada, Mich. Shot his first plane, a George, down. Thus the 348th is credited with 15 victories in the air plus four destroyed on the ground in the first two weeks of August. This brings the group’s total to 361 Nip planes destroyed in the Air. In addition to the air victories, the P-51’s of the 348th Fighter Group sunk 9,000 tons and damaged 41,470 tons of enemy shipping. Two Fox Tare Charlies were sunk; Two Fox Tare Charlies, 4 Sugar Charlies, 2 Sugar Charlie Sugars and one each- Fox Able, Sugar Dog, Sugar Able, Sugar Charlie Love, a P.T. boat and a sub-chaser were left burning, while numerous barges and small craft were subjected to damaging strafing attacks.
Ground targets consisted of A/A positions, warehouses, docks and waterfronts, factories, bridges, locomotives, trucks, and radar station. The towns of Kure and Nishinakawa and the island of Amami-O-Shima received damaging bombing and strafing attacks. At least six direct hits were scored on Nishinakawa and 24 hits blasted Kure. The 348th Mustangs ranged far and wide over the Jap homeland, these 114 flights over this area covering every type of mission. A further breakdown of these operations shows 49 cover rescue missions, 13 bomber escort missions, 13 surveillance flights over Kyushu, 12 destroyer cover missions, 9 search missions, 7 shipping strikes, 5 bombing and strafing attacks on ground installations, 3 Foto Joe escorts, 2 local patrols and one fighter sweep. Eleven missions found the group’s planes over the China Coast around Shanghai. Four missions provided cover for rescue planes, 4 were B-24 cover and the remaining three were reconnaissance flights. Amami-O-Shima and Korea did not escape notice by the 348th’s 51’s, for the former was given the rocket treatment on one mission and the doubly potent rocket and bomb message another time, while Korea watched our planes on 5 cover escort missions, one cover for bombers attacking shipping and a Foto Joe cover mission.
In carrying out these 164 missions, 932 combat sorties were flown totaling 4,272.10 flying hours, 44.25 tons of bombs, 2,320 gallons of Napalm, 182,092 rounds of .50 cal. Ammunition and 50 - 5 inch rockets were expended and 278,632 gallons of gas and 5,642 quarts of oil were consumed.
Two pilots received major injuries and two are listed as missing. They are 1st Lt. Richard J. Miller, 0-2062854 and 2nd Lt. Burton E. Bonell, 0-821443. Aircraft lost in combat numbered 6, two of these due to enemy anti-aircraft fire and 4 as a result of a single bomb dropped by a lone Nip intruder. Enemy anti-aircraft fire damaged one plane while the Nip bomb did major damage to 3. Operational accidents caused major damage to 6 planes and made a total loss of 7.
A breakdown of these accidents shows personnel error responsible for 4, material failure for four, personnel error and natural failure 4, and other causes 1.
The only officer to receive a promotion was Captain Ben F. Christian, 0-567654, who was promoted to Major. Major Christian joined the group at Tanauan, Leyte, in January 45 as Group Adjutant under which capacity he now serves. Major Christian’s overseas service began in November 43’ with the 33rd Fighter Control Group.
Three enlisted men received promotions during August. Staff Sergeant Hugh H(R?). Allen, 14051207, was appointed Technical Sergeant, Technical Sergeant John N. Downs, 35353786, was appointed to Master Sergeant and Sergeant William F. Froelich, 35670181, was appointed Staff Sergeant.
One officer was added and three were dropped from headquarters roster during August. Chaplain Brunson C. Wallace, 0-442933, was returned to the States on T.D.. 1st Lt. Richard H. Parker, 0-25962 was transferred to 342nd Fighter Squadron. Captain Dan N. Perry, 0-65003, Group Statistical Officer, was transferred for duty as Statistical Officer with the Fighter Command. 1st Lt. Sam Fox, 0-577558, Group Adjutant was appointed Statistical Officer for the Group. Captain Dewitt R. Searle, 0-797916, was assigned to the 348th Fighter Group for duty in the S-3 section. Five enlisted men were assigned to Group Headquarters during the period and 22 were transferred out.
The new men were: Sgt. Ralph A. Deaton, 1707123; Sgt. Stanley Raymond, 19119604; T/Sgt. Donald F. Wilcox, 11033953; T/Sgt. John R. Harris, 18036800; T/Sgt. Robert A. Hughes, 19122118; Cpl. Louie C. Lynch Jr., 34098409; and Pfc. Frederick W. Phillips, 32475753. Fifteen men were returned to the States. T/Sgt. Bernard J. Piatt, 12016644 and Cpl. Leo J. Stewart, 37101893, were transferred our on V Fighter Command Orders 237 dated 23 August. Sgt. Raymond W. Horstman, 17038280, T/Sgt. Elmer J. DeHoff, 35170601; T/Sgt. John N. Downs, 35353786; S/Sgt Eugene F. Fitsgerald, 15091197; T/Sgt. William A Toye, 31076966; Cpl. Justin A. McKean, 31018078; T/Sgt. Donald F. Wilcox, 11023953; T/Sgt. Hugh R(H?). Allen, 14051207; Pvt. Paul Perez, 12032803; Sgt. William G. Rodgers, 14060201; S/Sgt. Dominick J. Bizzoco, 34057381; Cpl. Paul Niebch, 12030356; and T/Sgt. John Rinkowitz, 32174813; were returned to the States under the point system having over 85 points. Other men transferred from Headquarters were: T/Sgt. John R. Harris, 18036800; Sgt. Thomas W. Smith, 15074539; Cpl. Robert D. Fisher, 35564595; PFC. Chester W. Brodsick, 32751167; Cpl. Louis A. Molewka, 31099665 (could be=Nolewka or Holewka); Cpl. Russell J. Peterson, 36291339; and Sgt. John J. Mayall, 31203872. Awards and decorations for the month of August were confined to the Purple Heart awarded to Captain Steward W. Dittmar, 0-17036001 for wounds received as a result of enemy action at Mokmer Drome Airstrip, Biak, Netherlands East Indies on 7 July 1944. Other awards and decorations are pending and will be included in the September history.
At the end of the month there is still great speculation as to why the Japanese did not press into service the Air Force it had so long husbanded. We knew for a fact that the Japs had a great quantity of aircraft at their disposal, for our pilots reported large numbers of planes amassed on the various homeland airstrips. It is true that on several missions our pilots encountered enemy aircraft but those encountered were drops in the bucket compared to the interception which could have been brought about with the strength the Japs had on hand. Whether the Japanese suffered from fuel shortages, whether her pilot training was lagging behind her aircraft production, whether the untimely (for the Japanese) appearance of the Atomic bomb stunned them to inaction or whether the aircraft were only to be used in case of invasion of the homeland can only remain matters of conjecture until our occupying intelligence can supply the answers.
................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The war just completed is the first war in history in which the enemy surrendered without the conqueror setting foot in conquered soil. Air power made the victory possible. The Fifth Air Force played a major part in this victory. The 348th Fighter Group had its share in the part played by the Fifth Air Force. The 348th Fighter Group, initiating its role at Port Moresby, pushed ever northward until it was knocking down Nips over their homeland and subjecting this same homeland to devastating bombing and strafing attacks. We are proud of our part, proud of the Fifth Air Force’s part and proud of the part of our Comrades in other branches and Services for whom and with whom we worked to bring about the peace we must make a final peace.

 

HISTORY OF THE 348TH FIGHTER GROUP
CHAPTER XXIII
(1-30 SEPTEMBER 1945)

348th Fighter Group
310th Bomb Wing (M)
United States Army

For the 348th Fighter Group, V-J day was somewhat of an anti-climax. The war had been over for 18 days and the tension and those pent-up emotions that are ever present during combat activities had given away to a sort of lethargy. The decrease in combat and the relaxing of schedules allowed more time for contemplation of that day when the present title of Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant or Major would be consolidated into the single pleasant sobriquet of “Mister”.
Rumors on the redeployment and the point system were rampant as were the conjecture on our status in the occupation. In direct contrast to the ebullient Stateside reception of the news of Victory over Japan, our change from combat operations to the routine of peacetime activity was accompanied by no demonstrations. The change was hardly noticeable. The only reaction of the men who for the past months had worked long hard hours and lived the rugged and dangerous life of the combat soldier seemed to be one of relief which implied, “Well that’s over”. Practically the only change was that of substituting CZ (Combat Zone) for CM (combat mission) in the form 1 after September 2.
During September a new count of the ASRS scores was made, making September 2 the final date for compilation of totals. This so increased the individual point scores that almost a third of the group’s personnel went out with the 85 and above draft. Officers’ ASRS critical score was up to 100, which permitted only the more experienced and veteran men to go home. The majority of the men were transferred to the 43rd Bombardment Group (H) which was scheduled to go home. The following men were sent direct to replacement depots: Captain Brunson C. Wallace (0442941), (( I’ve found within the history, reference to a CHAPLAIN Brunson C. Wallace with service # 0442933 to add a little confusion)); 1st Lt. Richard C. Moeller (0827493), 1st Lt. William D. Campbell (0826382), 1ST Lt. John R. C?assed Jr. (0716059), 1st Lt. Irvin S. Kunselman (0704687), 1st Lt. John Pate (071059), 1st Lt. Warren C. Hoopes (0821852), 1ST Lt. Joe B. Clifton (0705548), 1st Lt. Howard A. Lorens (0821739), Ollie D. Miller (0708739), 1st Lt. Earl A. Sigmon (0820672), 1st Lt. Clarence W. Tripp (0766383), 1st Lt. Louis J. Hector III (0821492), 1st Lt. Clifford C. McMillan (0766592), 1st Lt. Edwin A. Rams dell (0827512), 1st Lt. Henry C. Prather (0713981), 1st Lt. Carl H. (R or A?), Peterson (0716229), 1st Lt. David R. Riggins (0713981), 1st Lt. Donald R. DeCamara (0812060), Cpl. Andrew Tempfer (37254570), Captain Frank B. Laseck (Lacock?) (0814707), 1st Lt. George H. Simmons (0715033), Captain Ruben V. Moskaloff (0817075), Captain James B. Mullen (0817076), Captain James M. Nunns Jr. (Munns?) (01636380), Captain William P. Daley (0818345), Captain John K. Duenged (0816752), Captain Jack A. Quinlan (0754194), 1st Lt. Carleton B. Ambler (0715428), 1st Lt. Charles E. Carroll (0720780), 1st Lt. James F. Yealy (0821584), 1st Lt. Joseph E. Russe (0821550), Captain Richard C. Watrous (0816962).
We were still on the small coral island of Ie Shima in the Ryukyus Group. Contrary to the beliefs of some that it would become more like home, the longer we stayed, the more everyone became bored with the cramped and inactive life on the island.
On the 5th of the month, our P-51’s took off in search of a convoy of lost LST’s which was last heard of ninety miles east of Tanaga Island south of the southern tip of Kyushu. Our missions for the month of September were mainly a matter of escort and search without the driving spirit of combat. Due to the large amount of air traffic between the Ryukyus and Tokyo destroyers were located at intervals of one hundred miles between Okinawa and Tokyo. For the first few days our missions were to cover two of these destroyers.
On the morning of the 16th of September, the rain began to fall slowly at first and then it came down in torrents. Previous encounters with high velocity winds and rains had given us respect for the wrath of the elements. We discovered before long that our respect was not deep enough for now we were in the middle of the much vaunted “divine wind”, a first class typhoon in other words. A typhoon had saved the Japanese Empire from being invaded centuries ago hence the name. In fact this particular typhoon slowed up the occupation planned by General MacArthur. This storm caused extensive damage on the island of Ie Shima. The area next morning after the storm had passed presented a rather bleak scene. And as our new replacements put it, “They were on Ie Shima when it was really rough!” The entire area was strewn with torn pieces of canvas, bits of tin and slivers of wood which the day before had all been part of the finest quarters since Moresby and which now were shapeless piles of canvas and tent poles. The latrine tops which had been lifted bodily from the seats which they housed, could be seen perched at odd angles almost any place in the area. The more sturdily constructed seats still in their former locations offered a rather public source of relief. The chapel, PX, and Medics tents were completely demolished, but the Group Surgeon, Captain Dallas A Wagner, changed his “Medics” sign to “Business as Usual” and held sick call amongst the wreckage.
The other organizations fared no better, if not worse than we. Few of them had had huts as sturdy as ours, consequently some group’s entire quarters were damaged one way or another. Telephone poles were snapped off at the base as if at the hand of some vengeful giant. Telephone wires made crisscrossed patterns across roads and runways and until cleared away, slowed traffic considerably. Several ships beached or rammed upon coral reefs were evidence that the Navy had fared little better than those on land.
Because of the simplicity of construction the quarters and installations on Ie Shima presented no difficulty in rebuilding. Therefore it was not long before row on row of quarters, similar but stronger than the pre-storm homes, were completed and the entire island resumed its normal activities.
On September 9th, an air and ground echelon departed for Kanoya, Kyushu, Japan for a stay that was to last well into October. Thirty-two pilots and planes were taken from the 340th and 341st Fighter Squadrons. The primary purpose for this echelon was to cover the Sixth Army occupational landings at Wakayama and in the Osaka area. The secondary mission was to buzz the prisoner of war camps in an effort to boost morale of those Allied soldiers still held there.
The quarters and living conditions at Kenoya were not of the best. The men were quartered in a rather well ventilated building, luckily having a roof that was minus the gaping holes found in the sides of the building. C-rations played a predominate part in the men’s diet, for if not actually served they were used to augment the regular meals. But the new surroundings proved interesting enough to make the present discomfiture a matter of secondary concern.
However in the afternoon and through the night of September 17th, living conditions beamce a matter of primary concern with the arrival of the same typhoon which had touched Okinawa and Ie Shima on its way up. During the night wind increased in tempo until ir was measured at 150 miles per hour. A great deal of damage was done to installations, planes and Japanese property. But the most discussed result of the typhoon’s intensity was the 2 ½- ton truck that was found perched on an overturned C-46. The feat is even more remarkable when viewed with the knowledge that the truck had been originally tied to the C-46 to prevent such an occurrence.
Pilots and ground crews spent most of their free time in gathering souvenirs both for themselves and for buddies still on Ie Shima. Souvenir-hunting was lucrative in this comparatively unexploited area. There were numerous Jacks, Georges, Franks and Tonys, as well as many trainers on this one time Kamikaze base. These were stripped of instruments and accessories before they were assigned to the Engineer’s scrap heap. Several caves were found which had served as storage dumps for arms and military supplies. These offered another fine source of mementos for souvenir-happy personnel.
The reaction of the men in this advanced echelon was one of utter amazement at the extreme politeness of the Japanese people and the comparative backwardness of the race. Here was bowing and saluting unequaled at even the most eager Stateside posts. It was not uncommon to see a rather complicated affair when a GI met a Jap policeman who was in the act of returning some school-boy’s salutation. Long columns of Japanese school girls halted and bowed in simultaneous greeting at the approach of an American soldier.
The amazement of the extreme backwardness of the people soon turned to wonder at the audacity, or gullibility, that led these awkward people, seemingly transplanted from somewhere in the 18th century, into a struggle whose termination they believed would find them masters of the world. When one views the extreme awkwardness of the Japanese, his antiquated methods of farming, manufacturing and transportation and the poor quality of his possessions, it is most difficult to conceive how the Japanese fared as well as they did in the war just finished.
Two tragic events marred the Kanoya episode. Lt. Robert E. Webb (02062920) of the 340th Fighter Squadron was killed neat Wakayama when his plane crashed in the harbor near the USS Tennessee. The cause of Lt. Webb’s crash is unknown. Lt. Harry S. Ellis (0821470) of the 341st Fighter Squadron was reported missing after a two-ship flight from Kanoya to Ie Shima. Lt. Ellis was last seen my his wing man before they went on instruments prior to entering an overcast.
On September 26th, while flying out of Kanoya, Lt. William P. Dent (0836436) of the 340th Fighter Squadron had a forced landing while covering Allied landings at Wakayama. When his right mag went out Lt. Dent was forced to make an emergency landing at Hanshin strip southeast of Osaka. The ship had hardly stopped rolling when a Japanese approached and in perfect English asked how long he planned to stay. The interpreter between smiles and bows, called a driver who escorted Lt. Dent to his car, a U.S. made Chevrolet with a right-hand drive. Thus began Lt. Dent’s ride to I Corps Osaka hotel which was later described by Lt. Dent as being “just like a Stateside presidential parade. Lt. Dent spent a luxurious few days as a guest of I Corps Headquarters, reveling in good food and enjoying his first hot bath in months. He then reluctantly caught a ride home on a C-47. Lt. Dent believes he landed the first fighter plane on the Osaka area.
September saw the parting of the ways of the 348th Fighter Group and the 460th Fighter Squadron. The 460th Fighter Squadron joined the 110th Reconnaissance Group which was slated for occupational duties at Fukuoka, Kyushu. The entire Group felt deeply the loss of the Black Rams Squadron which had so distinguished themselves under the 348th Fighter Group.
The Black Rams had been with the Group for a comparatively short time, joining the Group on 23rd of September 1944, but had in this short period and enviable record. In its first month of real combat operations the 460th Squadron far out shown the remainder of the Group’s representatives. It sunk an estimated 50,000 tons of shipping, dropped on enemy targets 428,500 pounds of bombs, destroyed one float plane on the water and knocked down ten enemy planes in aerial combat. During this period the Black Rams were bearing veritably half the missions that arose from the crowded Tacloban strip.
The 460th squadron continued its successes in the following months when it worked in closer coordination with the rest of the Group. The Squadron dropped 1407.6 tons of bombs, sank 137,000 tons of shipping and destroyed 52 enemy aircraft in aerial combat in the twelve months it was a member of the 348th fighter Group. The Group’s leading ace, Col. William D. Dunham, entered the Group as the first Commanding Officer of the Black Rams.
The Group is proud of its newest fighter squadron and saddened by the separation. It is a certainty that the Black Rams will set for themselves in their future endeavors a record equal to the enviable one gained with its parent group.
Several accidents occurred during the month. With the exception of the two previous mentioned accidents the pilots suffered no injuries. On the 6th of September, 1stLt. Vincent L. Ross had to belly in when his engine cut out. 1st Lt. George C. Murphy ditched his plane on the 8th of September. 2nd Lt. William H. Drishill cracked up on the 10th of September while landing. On the 19th of September 2nd Lt. John W. Gregg bellied in on Plum Strip due to engine failure. And on the 29th of September, 1st Lt. Joseph W. Ozier had to ditch because of coolant loss.
Some pleasant reminders of the fight that had just ceased came in this month when Col. Banks received his 7th Oak-Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal. Major Benz was awarded the 8th Oak-Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal and Lt. Marlin R. Hubler receiving the 1st Oak-Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal.
Due to the personnel change that came about with the cessation of hostilities, it is impractical to list here the various changes. And for the same reason the promotions that were incident to the personnel change can be found in the enclosures.
The loss of the majority of the experienced enlisted men during the month caused a definite slowing up in our operations and some of the departments were forced to work with less than half of the personnel that was necessary during the war, but nevertheless the planes required attention and the paper work continued to flow in. In spite of the shortage of men and destruction caused by the typhoon, the group continued to operate efficiently.
A general air of expectation pervaded the group, everybody felt that there would be a better “deal” for the group as a whole and also the individual than what was encountered on Ie Shima. Several questions were sure to be answered and the thought of living in the midst of our mortal enemies of just a few weeks ago might add a little zest to life. A few of the men were seriously thinking of volunteering for a few more months just to get the opportunity to see Japan.

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Headquarters SECRET
348th Fighter Group By authority of CG, VFC
APO 660 5 January 1946

AG 314.7 D

Subject: “Transmittal of Unit History.
To : Commanding General, Army Air Force, Washington, 25, D. C.

1. In accordance with AR 345-105 and AAF
Regulation No. 20-8, submit herewith Chapter XXIV (October 1945) of the history of this organization, which has been inspected and verified by the undersigned.
2. The material submitted was prepared by 1st Lt. Robert D. Ramsey, 0-719426, and 1st Lt. William W. Leitch, 0-865539, Air Corps. Facts and observations included in the narrative and not otherwise credited are based on the personal opinions of Lts. Ramsey and Leitch.

Walter G. Benz,
Major, Air Corps,
Commanding

HISTORY OF THE 348TH FIGHTER GROUP
*
CHAPTER XXIV
(October 1945)

348th Fighter Group
310th Bomb Wing (M)
Fifth Air force
United States Army



In the past the histories of the 348th Fighter Group have dealt between paragraphs of statistical data with the intangible character of the combat fighter organization. I would like for the October history to reveal something of the more tangible character of one of the individuals who make up the organization. For my subject I have picked for the author of the October history with the idea of showing the individual impressions through his writing, a representative of the Group, who is also a representative of the multitude of half-citizen- half soldier individuals who make up this vast Air Corps of ours.
You might call this man a layman in uniform. His views of the Army and his interpretations of simple Army SOP’s are a bit distorted. It is difficult for this man to see occurrences and their causes and results through the Military eye. Rather, his interpretations spring from those many past years spent in civilian pursuits, memories of which color his every reaction to Army procedure. His reactions are strengthen by the possession of 66 points, which could be raised to 76 if any two of his five pending battle stars would come through. His nineteen months overseas do not rest lightly upon him, but the thought of the coming months he must spend in Japan rest even heavier.
Back a spell, when combat, not the reality of spending Christmas in Japan, was considered the acme of roughness- yes, back when it was really rough - this man worked from daylight to dusk and often through half the night, giving his all to what is probably one of the most thankless, or at least the least recognized, tasks in an Air Corps organization. His purpose was bringing the war to an end so that his one golden dream might be realized, the dream of himself as the repatriated civilian, enjoying all the comforts and satisfactions Stateside living can offer. Well, he, with that vast multitude like him who make up the bulk of our Armed Forces, has brought the war to an end. Now his one all-consuming desire is to return to his wife and family, to once more become a layman- without the uniform.
There you have his history. What follows is his version of our history.

October 1945! That was the month of flying latrines and typhoon-flattened tents - the month of sweating out points - the month of saying goodbye to the last of the homeward bound “old guard” - the month when the bleakness of Ie Shima was traded for the undecipherable civility of the Japanese homeland.
October, dawning, found a widely scattered and slightly befuddled 348th Fighter Group. Headquarters, and part of each Squadron were still sitting on Ie Shima; units of the 340th and 341st Squadrons were stationed in that lovely air-conditioned barn at Kanoya, Kyushu; an advance party was already at Osaka, Honshu, our assigned future home.
The 348th Fighter Group, veteran of New Guinea, Letye, Luzon and Ie Shima was awaking from the let-down, getting the hang of being a peace-time fighter group. Long geared for war where mud, leaky tents and C-rations were mere background to the major task of getting the planes serviced, the bombs dropped, the Zekes and Zeros shot down, the let-down was natural. Solid nights of sleep, unharassed by wailing sirens, staccato blasts of 90’s, grinding of Betty’s overhead, gave each man more time to dream of home, more time to hate C-rations, leaky tents and mud.
Crippled all along the line by loss of the experienced key men, the new men struggled with the maze of unfamiliar details of the job of operating a fighter group. It was a particularly tough job too, because of the shortage of manpower. The 340th Squadron for instance, when the 65 point men shoved off for home, was left with just 8 enlisted men where before had stood 250.
On October 8th the daddy of all typhoons hit Ie Shima - an anemometer on Okinawa registered 170 miles an hour just before taking off in the wake of the weather station itself. A miserably wet and cold night was spent by all, watching belly tanks, corrugated iron sheets and 16 foot boards sail by like Autumn leaves in a hurry. The total damage would be hard to determine - all standing tentage was shredded, supplies and records soaked, equipment broken. The wreckage was raked together, baled and put aboard LSM’s and labeled “348th Fighter Group” -thus we shipped out of Ie Shima for Honshu.
Not an eye was wet as Chocolate Drop Hill faded on the horizon and each man mentally spat at the memories of Ie Shima.
Life on Ie Shima had been a bleak existence. This 6 square miles of mud, coral and monotony that juts some 200 feet above the ocean’s surface was singularly uninviting when we first looked at it. The first impression was not belied. Even the 2 AM air raids became monotonous.
The original capture of Ie Shima however had been anything but monotonous. That story is chronicled elsewhere and occurred before the 348th ever moved there. Reporter Ernie Pile, who survived the worst of the European wars, had been killed and buried there. The island still showed evidence of the terrific bombardment given it. The shell-blasted caves in the cliff faces, where defending Japs had fought, shoving aside jars of sun-dried ancestral bones to mount a machine gun, attested to the Army and Navy accuracy and violence. The blasted remnants of the single village was a mute reminder of the lives lost when the 77th Division had thrice captured and twice lost it in a space of five days. Indeed, there were a few isolated Japs still hiding in the caves as late as mid- July. But when the 348th Fighter Group first arrived there all this activity was already history - every civilian and the big herd of horse that used to roam the island had been transported to Okinawa. All was monotony and remained that way.
Has a description of life aboard an LSM any right in a Fighter Group history? It would seem so. In its 30 months overseas, the 348th Fighter Group has spent a total of almost one and a half months in the holds of the Navy. It would be a gross oversight to neglect attempting a description of water-borne days.
An LSM is an ingenious little device that the Navy calls a ship. And a trim little ship it is. Many people believe that the designer did too much trimming. When one of these trim little ships heaves its bow and stern skyward simultaneously then crashes playfully between two 15-foot waves its easy to believe that someone trimmed off about 200 feet of it. Some other people believe it should have an outrigger. It can make about 400 miles a day, 150 of which is wasted in vertical motion, treating each and every wave as an individual problem, climbing laboriously up the rear side of it and leaping from the crest into the abyss beyond.

Undecipherable paragraph::
Between Ie Shima and ……
… and the ramp is dropped in place it is always exactly 37 feet from dry land.

On this miniature monster we lived. The chow made up for all the tiny unaccustomed irritants. Fresh Potatoes! Ashore fresh potatoes were as unique and delectable as fried chicken, but in the Navy each ship grows its own in flower pots down in some deep hold. Even during the heat of the war they grew them, while the Army had to be content with dehydrated spuds.
So after some days of rolling and pitching, scientifically squeezed-together bunks, blaring loud speakers that invariably said “NOW HEAR THIS!” (in exactly the same tone as an irate cop), good food and uncomfortable, lazy life, land came in sight. Innumerable lights were blinked from us to shore and back again; boy scout flags were semaphored hither and yon; we backed around, took careful aim and rammed the beach. The maws were opened, the gates lowered and there we were - exactly 37 feet from Japan.
The two northward bound streams - C-47’s from Kanoya and LSM’s from Ie Shima - converged on Osaka. By the end of October all of the 348th Fighter Group was again together except for half of Headquarters which made a three week trip out of a 4 day journey because its LSM developed mechanical trouble.
Osaka, with its ultramodern office buildings and department stores, was a glittering sight for the men who had grown so used to endless tents. The whole picture was an enigma. Most incongruous of all the changed environment was the inscrutable Jap himself.
Our quarters, a former apartment house for Japanese factory workers, looked like a palace to us. Glass windows, running water, indoor showers and latrines and a real tile roof gave us that forgotten sensation of being impervious to the elements. It was a distinct pleasure to stand inside and watch the first rain drench everything outside and realize that neither you not your footlocker was catching even a single drop!
One element did reach us - the cold. And as it got steadily colder night by night many a grumbling question was asked about the lack of stoves. And the original delighted gaze we had given our quarters became a slightly jaundiced eye that saw the rooms as remarkably like piano boxes. You can’t please an Army for long!
That was the situation of he 348th Fighter Group as October ran into November. Japan, the goal toward which we’d waded through the mud of several weird countries was itself the most amazing of them all. Here we were, neighbors of the very Japs against which we’d strained every effort - the yellow men whom we’d hated in our very deepest guts since December of ‘41. How to take it all? Gaze into the face of any one of those yellow slant-eyes and it conveyed less than the Sphinx’s. All you could gather was that that runt knew either all the answers or nothing at all! You knew it would take a great deal of time for us to fathom his philosophy.
One basic fact stood out above all else - beer was 2 ½ cents a quart and apparently limitless.
During October the flying done consisted entirely of cat-cover missions and surveillance flights over Japan. The outstanding event was Lt. C.W. Holmes’ feat of bailing out of his P-51 while on a cat-cover mission - at 450 miles per hour! He was severely injured when the tail of the plane struck his back, was picked up by Korean natives and hospitalized. According to Air Force Magazine, which wrote up his experience, he is one of only two or three who have traded air plane for silk at such a speed and lived to tell of it. By the latest reports received Lt. Holmes is getting on well and will fully recover from his injury.

The personnel turnover during October was far too great to list here all the people who went home or those who joined the Group. Enclosures to this history give their names. Past and future histories do and will attest the excellence of the jobs done by them.
The occupation task assigned the Group was still too new in October to become boring. Some treated the Japs very abruptly, some over-politely. The black market had developed to only a light brown tinge. Each man groped and felt his way to his proper seat on this gravy train as he set about to assume his position of diplomat and policeman without portfolio or whistle

 

HISTORY OF THE 348TH Fighter group
CHAPTER XXV
(1 - 30 November 1945)

The renewed activity in the redeployment program set personnel in the 348th Fighter Group frenziedly counting their points all during the month of November. From the time the last LSM carrying half of headquarters personnel and the majority of headquarters records reached Japan until November gave way to December, personnel changes kept S-1 section buried in their work. Orders were examined and re-examined and all those tasks incident to redeployment kept this department in high gear, their work often running far into the night.
In the period from the 3rd to the 25th of November the 348th Fighter Group lost 114 officers and enlisted men through redeployment. On the 3rd of November we lost 9 men, 6 officers and 3 enlisted men. The officers had well over the necessary 75 points, while the enlisted men’s points ranged from 71 to 73. On the 9th three more officers were lost. These men returned through combat fatigue as their respective 180, 117, and 98 points were well over the redeployment minimum. 9 enlisted men with 68 and 69 points respectively left on the 20th, while 10 men, 2 officers and 8 enlisted men, started the journey home on the 21st. In the latter group the 2 officers had 129 and 143 points and the enlisted men fell into the 67 point category.
On the 22nd of November 27 enlisted men with either 65 or 66 points pulled out for the States. The 23rd saw one officer, 79 points and 7 enlisted men, 64 points, depart for Irumagawa’s 11th Replacement Depot. The point requirements took a slight drop on the 24th when the 61-69 point men left. The 26 enlisted men who met these requirements were accompanied by one officer possessing an effective 79 points. The departure of the 60 point men, 18 in all, on the 25th marked the end of the month of November.
The apparently frenzied demobilization policy drained the already undermanned 348th Fighter Group of many of its remaining experienced personnel. This left every department and organization grossly undermanned and for a while operations were pretty much touch and go. Relief came in the form of personnel of the recently deactivated 417th Bomb Group (L) who were assigned to this group, a few from both the 90th and the 43rd Bomb Groups and several assigned directly from Fifth Air Force Headquarters. A total of 175 men were assigned during the month, 104 of these coming from the 417th Bomb Group (L). The picture however was not as rosy as it might seem, since many of these men were bombardiers and navigators and none of the crew chiefs had any time with an inline engine. The crew chiefs, what few could be mustered, had to be trained for work on the P-51’s inline engine as redeployment had taken all but a few of the 348th’s experienced line men.
During November the 348th Fighter Group lost many prominent figures in its chain of command. One of the first to go was Lt. Col. William D. Dunham, 0432289 Deputy C.O., who took advantage of his 180 points and headed Stateside. Col. Dunham was one of the original members of the group, having been with the organization when it was activated. He has served as Squadron Commander of both the 342nd and the 460th Fighter Squadrons as well as Group Deputy C.O. He is the Group’s leading ace with 16 victories to his credit. He has been awarded the Air Medal with 6 Oak-Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 Oak-Leaf Clusters, the Silver Star with one Oak-Leaf Cluster, and the Distinguished Service Cross. Col. Dunham has highly distinguished himself and has brought great credit to the group. His services will e sorely missed by the 348th Fighter Group.
Major Phillip C. Mayer, 0-395172, C.O. of the 341st Squadron since July, 1945, left with Col. Dunham. Major Mayer though a comparatively new member of the group established himself as a competent leader.
Major George W. Orr, 0-665062, and Major Edward S. Popek, 0-665609, left on the 21 November. Major Orr at the time of departure was Group Executive officer and had previously been C.O. of the 340th Fighter Squadron. Major Popek was C.O. of the 342nd Fighter Squadron. Majors Orr and Popek are two of the few remaining original members of the 348th Fighter Group, having been with the group at its activation. Except for short periods spent in the States as R.T.U. instructors, these men were with the group on its march from Port Moresby to Japan. Major Orr has four Nip planes to his credit and has been awarded the Air Medal with 3 Oak-Leaf Clusters in addition to the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak-Leaf Cluster. Major Popek has seven victories and holds the Air Medal with 6 Oak-Leaf Clusters and the D.F.C. with one Oak-Leaf Cluster. Both of these men have distinguished themselves while members of the 348th Fighter Group. The group feels deeply the loss of Major Orr and Major Popek.
Colonel William M. Banks Commanding Officer of the group left on the 26th of the month. Col. Banks was also an original member of the 348th. Col. Banks career with the group may be likened to the group’s island by island advance toward Japan. He advanced from flight leader to Squadron Commander in the 342nd squadron in November 1943. In May 1944, he became Group Deputy C.O., but returned to the States the 25th to attend Staff and Command School. On his return he resumed his position of Deputy C.O. which he held until May, 1945 when he became Group C.o.
Col. Banks holds the Air Medal with 7 Oak-Leaf Clusters, the D.F.C. with 2 Oak-Leaf Clusters and the Silver Star. He has destroyed 8 enemy aircraft in combat, which attest to Col. Banks exemplary leadership. Personnel of the 348th Fighter Group feel deeply the loss of one of its most colorful commanding officers.
Major Walter G. Benz, 0-659228, became C.O. of the group on Col. Banks departure. Major Benz held the position of Deputy C.O. prior to his appointment as Commanding Officer. Major Frank C. Malone, 0-429086, another new-comer to the group, was appointed Deputy C.O. having recently been appointed Squadron Commander of the 342nd Fighter Squadron. Major Merle M. Zeine, 0-665880, Group Operations Officer was appointed Group Executive Officer. Captain William C. McClure, 0-804015, Captain Leslie H. Draayers, 0710068 and 1st Lt. Max T. Beall, 0748523, were appointed C.O.’s of the 341st, 342nd and 340th Squadrons respectively. For other personnel changes refer to the inclosures.
Promotions during the month of November were confined to the enlisted men. 68 men received promotions. A further breakdown shows 21 of these were in the 341st, 7 in the 342, 26 in the 340th and 14 in Group Headquarters.
Operations for November consisted solely of surveillance and search missions. The surveillance missions were flown over two courses covering the island of Shikoku and the western part of Honshu. The three squadrons alternated in furnishing four ships daily for these missions. The group experienced two operational accidents for the month. On the 9th, 2nd Lt. Stanley E. Michalowsky, 02067065, received second degree burns when he taxied his plane into another ship on Itami Air Field. Both planes burst into flames upon contact and were totally demolished. On the 28th of November, 2nd Lt. Antonio J. Chew, 076998, decapitated a Japanese civilian while landing on Itami Air Field. Prior to striking the Japanese, Lt. Chew tried to pull up and go around in an effort to avoid the accident but he had insufficient speed to do so. This caused the plane to slip off to the left and forced Lt. Chew to land on a crossing runway. Lt. Chew ground looped to keep from running off the end of the strip. The left wing tip of the plane was damaged and the right wing tip was smashed. It is believed that Lt. Chew’s left wing struck the Japanese when the plane slipped. Lt. Chew was unhurt.
November presented the opportunity for the 348th Fighter Group personnel to take stock of the Japanese. What they found was indeed unlike any thing previously experienced.
The excessive politeness and the extreme backwardness of the average Japanese was touched upon in the September and October histories. But it remained for November to prove just to what extent these conditions prevailed. Members of the group, in explorations, souvenir hinting and daily contact with the Japanese laborers assigned the group, found the politeness to be a national characteristic and the backwardness a national failing.
At first it was hard to realize that the soldiers who raped Nanking and committed the Philippine atrocities could be remotely attached to the bowing and stumbling people we found about us. But after a few weeks of contact with them, after speaking with repatriated Zero pilots, foot soldiers and sailors, after finding the same disregard for personal well being and the same devout feeling for the Emperor present in each, we can better understand this seeming paradox. The hold the militarists, through the Emperor, had on the people, strengthened by the terrific amount of effective propaganda was so complete that every wish of the militarists could be made to appear as a divine decree.
At once noticeable in the Japanese was a seemingly inferiority complex. This seemed peculiar in a race that has been nourished on the belief that it is the Divine race and daily fed doses of propaganda picturing it as the world conquerors. I spite of all this there is a definite inferior attitude in the average Japanese evident in his ready acceptance of foreign authority, in the individuals profuse apologies for any thing Japanese. Looking at the atrocities with these facts in mind it could well be that the long subservient and inferior feeling average Japanese, given the power and authority of the victor, takes that opportunity to prove, mostly to himself, that he is of the master race.
There were many interesting as well as disturbing discoveries of a less theoretical nature for group personnel. One of the first peculiarities, one that was evident the moment we hit the beach at Wakayama and seemed to become more profound the further inland we traveled, was the devastating odors of Japan. There is little in Japan that does not have its own particularly disturbing odor, but the most predominant and disgusting one is that of the fields and the “honey pots”. “Honey pots”, for those not indoctrinated, are huge wooden buckets, some as tall as six feet and just as wide, in which the Nips haul or store their fertilizer, which is almost 100% human feces. This they spread on their crops with amazing results, for turnips the size of grapefruit are a very common sight.
The Japanese have gone the way of the Philippine natives, but instead of shouting the Filipino’s “Victory, Joe” and giving the V for victory sign with two fingers, the Nips yell a reasonable facsimile of “Hello, Goodbye” and wave both arms as if possessed. So completely universal was the ritual that there was some conjecture as to whether or not the Nip children were following instructions. Like the Filipino’s, the Japanese soon were begging for “cigaretto”, “chocoletto” and gum. As in the Philippines, cigarettes brought the best barter prices in spite of the authorities efforts to curb Black marketing. And as encountered in Manila, poison whiskey soon made its appearance in Tokyo and Osaka areas.
By the middle of the month it was evident that the Japanese were suffering from an acute food shortage. Toward the end of the month this resulted in several Nips being caught by the group guards while trying to pilfer food from the store room. These culprits were turned over to the Japanese police for punishment.
Thus the 348th Fighter Group’s first month as part of the occupational forces ended. It had been a busy and bewildering month because of the recent heavy turnover in personnel that left all departments short. Those men who remained were for the most part, new at their jobs. However, the end of the month saw the administration tangles straightening out and the group settling into its routine occupational duties.
The months end saw no change in our views of the Japanese. We were still puzzled. The hardest thing to realize is how the recent powers in Japan inveigled these backward people into waging a war these many years, the purpose of which was world rulership - world rulership by a people who themselves are some twenty to fifty years behind most of the world and who rely solely on imitation, poor imitation, for the few modern things they possess. These same people who blindly allowed their leaders to wage a war for which they were totally unprepared, we are now introducing to self-government. It is apparent that a long, long occupation or guidance will be necessary before the Japanese common citizen can even realize the scope of democracy, to say nothing of practicing it.

 

HISTORY OF THE 348TH FIGHTER GROUP
CHAPTER XXVI
(December 1945)

The general confusion evident in November settled down into a full if not altogether steady schedule of work as December took hold. The month brought about many changes in the humdrum life at Itami. Men were released for shipment home, elaborate plans for the coming holidays became more than mere wishful thinking, and while operations remained at the rock-bottom minimum of November, numerous social and recreational activities came about--football games at Koshien Stadium for the Pacific Olympics, USO shows over at 310th Bomb Wing, inter-squadron basketball games, the official opening of the 310th Bomb Wing School, the awarding of medals to personnel in the Group, a Judo exhibition and the instigation of a class and many others. All these and a few unexpected events crowded into the pre-holiday period.
Orders were received for the men with 57, 58 and 59 points to report to the 11th Replacement Depot at Irumagawa and eighty-nine men left between the fourth and sixth of December. The Group was rapidly shrinking and the squadrons were finding it difficult to keep the different sections operating at peak efficiency. Maintenance crews were short men, those in Engineering were doing the job of twice as many men and the Group’s motor pool was left with but six mechanics to handle all of the repairs and maintenance of forty vehicles. A plan to consolidate all the enlisted personnel in the three squadrons was proposed and work on it was started.
An exhibition of Judo was held in the Group’s mess hall on December 5th. Mr. Sumitomo of the Mitsubishi Company, acting as MC, interpreted for the men. The origin of Judo and some of the basic holds were demonstrated in detail as well as some of the technical points being explained. A number of the men who had had other than Air Corps Basic Training found that a goodly part of it was rather familiar. It greatly resembled the “punishment” they had taken in the States. The Japs showed a keen knowledge and an air of long practice as they went through the different ways of over-powering adversaries and demonstrated the various holds. Several Judo wrestling bouts were put on which proved very interesting to watch. Following these the Japs donned heavy protective clothing and using wooden replicas of swords gave very lifelike demonstrations of sabre fights. During these fights the Japs uttered piercing screams that could be heard in the wings adjoining the mess hall. They pulled none of their blows and if it hadn’t have been for the heavy padding they wore many a bone would have cracked or broken before the bouts were finished.
Before each event of the evening the participants bowed first to the emperor, then to their audience and finally to each other. At the end of the program Mr. Sumitomo showed how effective a sword can be by suspending a bamboo pole about an inch thick between two tables by tearing holes in two pieces of paper and then tacking them to the table edges. Then, after showing how easily the paper would tear he raised one of the dummy swords and with one sharp blow broke the bamboo pole into two pieces without tearing either of the two pieces of paper. He did this two or three times to show that it wasn’t mere chance. When one of the men asked him to do it with a sword Mr. Sumitomo explained that it was easier to do with the wooden dummy, but when a Samurai sword was produced he did it with that also. Mr. Sumitomo offered to conduct classes in Judo to all those interested and a number of the men signed up. Classes were held three nights a week after duty hours and five or six instructors taught the men throughout the rest of the month.
On December 7th, just four years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a telephone call was received from the 310th Bomb Wing putting the 348th Fighter Group on a double alert. Regular guards were doubled and numerous emergency posts were established. The alert was changed to a yellow warning, then to a red and finally to a blue alert. After the initial phone call FM contact was made with the 310th Bomb Wing and maintained throughout the alert. The men were restricted to the Group area for the ensuing two days and when no definite reason for it was given rumor ran rampant. No positive reason was given for it, but it was thought that it was due partially to it being the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor incident and also because of the repatriation of some 40,000 Japanese veterans being returned from Saipan and Okinawa.
December 9th brought the first in a series of Sunday football games in the Pacific Olympics. The 33rd and 98th Division elevens opened the season at Koshien Stadium between Osaka and Kobe. Games were also played at Mejii Stadium in Tokyo, at Kyoto and at other stadiums throughout Japan. Almost every man in the348th Fighter Group who could possibly get away went to Koshien to see their first football game in many a month. Between the halves Al Schacht, the Clown Prince of Baseball, who has entertained at every World Series game the pat few years, gave his interpretation of the world’s most conceited pitcher and received a huge ovation. Bands from both the 33rd and 98th Divisions came onto the field to play during the half time.
Koshien Stadium seemingly undisturbed in the midst of a bomb-razed area was originally designed and built for baseball and track meets. The World Olympics that were to have taken place in Japan prior to the war were scheduled to be held at Koshien. At one time wooden seats had been built in the bowl but most of them have been torn out, apparently for firewood by the Japanese. The only place in the stadium, which seats some 70,000 spectators, where the football gridiron could be laid out was in the outfield. The press box and scoreboard are directly behind center-field and to those of us who are accustomed to the comparatively huge stadiums of the Major league ball clubs in the States, it seemed as though it would be little trouble to knock a homer over the center-field fence.
That night “Kiss and Tell” was put on over at the 310th Bomb Wing by a traveling USO camp show. Transportation was afforded those of the 348th Fighter Group who wished to attend and those who went really enjoyed the farce.
The 341st Fighter Squadron opened their newly finished Officers’ Club on Saturday, the 15th. The other squadrons also have plans pending for day rooms and clubs for both enlisted men and officers.
Sunday the 16th found most of the men attending the second Olympic game at Koshien Stadium between the 41st Division and the Nagoya Base teams. It was announced that the semi-final games for the Japan-Korea area championship would be held on Christmas Day at Koshien and Tokyo’s Mejii Stadium with the New Years Day final game being played at Mejii Stadium.
The 310th Bomb Wing School, which had been open for approximately two weeks, was officially opened on the 17th with a short ceremony. Many of the 348th Fighter Group personnel have taken advantage of this opportunity to prepare for future schooling and also of the practical courses offered. The best attended courses were those on Japanese language and the ever popular subject of photography.
The entire 348th Fighter Group assembled on the Itami Air Strip the morning of December 18th to participate in the formal presentation of awards. Those receiving awards included Major Walter G. Benz, the Commanding Officer, Major Merle M. Zeine, the Executive Officer, and representatives of all of the squadrons. The decorations included the Silver Star, an Oak-Leaf Cluster to the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, several Oak-Leaf Clusters to the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart.
The week preceding Christmas saw a transformation in the mess hall. Bare walls were festooned with bunting and sprigs of evergreen. A tree was brought in and decorated and a huge cake was baked and placed under the tree, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in the fanciest of icings. Most of the decorating was done at night so that each successive morning the men found “something new had been added”. A festive and ornate bandstand was erected at one end of the mess hall and in the evenings eavesdropping GI’s could hear sneak previews of the forth-coming Christmas Eve program.
Christmas Eve found all f the 348th Fighter Group assembled in the mess hall to chow together. Eggnog had been prepared by the cooks and cigars were passed out to the men as they entered. When the entire Group had been seated the Jap waiters served a steak dinner complete with all the trimmings. 1st Lt. Robert H. Miller, 0703770, of the 340th Fighter Squadron played request numbers both before and throughout dinner on the Chaplain’s portable organ. After dinner the members of the band and the Glee Club took their places on the bandstand and the evening’s entertainment got underway. The orchestra played a series of popular songs, during which Flight Officer Jack N. Strunk, T-128533, a member of the 340th Squadron and the 348th’ Fighter Group’s own personnel Santa Claus, fought his way through the packed mess hall up to the band stand and continually having trouble with his “stomach”, acted as MC for the orchestra. Cigarettes and tobacco were passed out into the Group from his copiously supplied sack. After the orchestra had finished playing their numbers, “Santa” introduced Lt. Miller who led the Glee Club in a few Christmas carols. Pfc. Bowen of the 310th Bomb Wing, sang the solo part in Silent Night and did an excellent job of it. The other members of the Glee Club were Lt. Miller, the director who has his own radio program every Sunday afternoon, playing for half an hour over the Osaka station, Captain Samuel F. Moessmer, 0429086, 341st Squadron, 1st Lt. Charles E. Boyce, 0821560, 348th Group Hdqs, 2nd Lt. Paul C. Andrus, 0784271, 340th Squadron, 2nd Lt. Nesbit (C/G?) Coltharp, 0831475, 341st Squadron, 2nd Lt. Robert D. Outting, 0831547, 340th Squadron and Corporal Arthur D. Bowers, 6847851, 340th Squadron. Also in the Glee Club, but members of the 310th Bomb Wing were Lieutenants Anderson, Hanson, Neuhauf ?, Smith and Stoutland. Those in the orchestra, 2nd Lt. Coltharp, 2nd Lt. Kenneth H. Hamilton, 02064044, 340th Squadron and 2nd Lt. Marvin F. Read, 0710757, 340th Squadron playing trumpet, 1st Lt. Robert F. Barnes, 0466836, 348th Group Hdqs. , 2ndLt. Richard G. Irving, 0701683, 340th Squadron and Lt. Clark another man borrowed from the 310th Bomb Wing, playing sax, 2nd Lt. John B. Dogian, 0869775, 341st Squadron on trombone, 1st Lt. Kenneth B. Brown, 0711939, 342nd Squadron, and Sydney V. Davis, 32821831, 348th Group Hdqs. Playing drums, worked every night for weeks getting their arrangements down pat and their style up to its best.
The final number of the evening was a novelty rendition of “Jingle Bells” by the combined Glee Club and orchestra. Lt. Miller did a noteworthy job of arranging the carols and had admirable support from his Glee Club.
A movie was shown later in the mess hall to round out the evening’s entertainment.
Christmas Day here in Osaka was a quiet one as compared to the ones in the past two years for this organization. No combat flights were flown, no enemy planes shot down, and no air raids to hinder the men enjoying their first relaxed Christmas in three years. Transportation was made available for those wishing to attend the Christmas Day semi-final football game at Kyoto. Last minute changes had been made in the schedule and the game was not played in Koshien Stadium as originally planned. However few of the men thought that sandwiches at ten-thirty in the morning and a cold ride up and back were worth doing without a hot turkey dinner and most of the men remained at the Group. The four-day weekend over, most of the men were to get back to the routine of work from eight to five, but there remained only three and a half days more before another similar weekend was to be enjoyed.
Sunday the 30th, found a goodly number of the men of the 348th Fighter Group watching a game between the 33rd and 98th Division at the Koshien Stadium. This was the second game between the two teams and this time the 33rd came through to beat the 98th Divisions’ heavier team. New Year’s Eve was not the joyous and noisy scene that one would find at Times Square in New York City. Comparative quiet reigned in the building except for those rooms where the men had gathered to usher out one year and a new one in.
As the year and December drew to a close letters began to come in from men who had left during the month for the States. Some had already dropped their former rank and were signing their mail “Mister”. some were lucky enough to get home for Christmas, while others spent the holiday in Seattle or San Francisco Bays.
Operations during December consisted of routine surveillance flights and a few search missions for C-47’s reported missing and also for one of our own pilots who had gone down in Osaka Bay. Two unpleasant events marred an otherwise unclouded thirty days. On December 6th, 2nd Lt. Taswell F. Hackler, 0206746, of the 340th Fighter Squadron, was flying in a surveillance flight when he crashed, landing in shallow water and then going on to plow into an embankment. Lt. Hackler’s plane hit a high tension line which tore off his tail assembly before he hit the ground. Lt. Hackler was killed instantly and his plane was demolished. No cause for the crash was determinable. And on December 11th, Lt. Robert M. Barren, 0710637, also of the 340th Squadron, while on a routine training flight, radioed to 2nd Lt. Lee L. Sims, 0821805, that he was bailing out. Lt. Sims saw him bail out at approximately 2,000 feet two and one half miles southwest of Amagasaki and watched until he saw Lt. Barren’s chute open and saw Lt. Barren hit the water. A heavy wind blew Lt. Barren through the water until he managed to collapse his chute. He was last seen shortly after he had released himself from his chute.
The last few days of December found the men of the 348th Fighter Group who had fifty or more points anxiously awaiting the orders which would send them on their way to the replacement depot and home.


An interesting link on Al Schacht, "the Clown Prince of Baseball".
Baseball in Wartime - Al Schacht

 

HISTORY OF THE 348TH FIGHTER GROUP
CHAPTER XXVII
(January 1946)

1 January 1946 marked the third straight overseas New Year’s celebration for the 348th Fighter Group. This celebration saw the realization of those things which had been only hopes and dreams in the past three years - the utter defeat of the Japanese and the occupation of Japan. The 1946 celebration was held under far different circumstances than 1944’s Finschhafen party, when the group was experiencing nightly Red Alerts and busy with the Wewak, Saidor, Arawe, and Cape Gloucester missions, or 1945 Leyte Island shindig, when the group was far too busy with their convoy cover and armed recco missions and with transitioning from P-47s to P-51s to make any distinction between the days. 1 January 1946 saw members of the 348th Fighter Group, though very, very few of those members were present for 1944’s or even 1945’s New Year festivities, suffering from headaches a bit more acute and pressing than those caused daily by the occupation. But though heads ached and stomachs quivered, the 348th set determinedly about its new job of making a success of the occupation.
During the first two weeks in January the group was completely engrossed in the actualities of December’s consolidation plan. In thee first days of January the group changed from its original 3 squadrons and Group Headquarters to more or less of a single squadron, with Headquarters the nucleus of the organization. Squadron S-1, S-2 S-3 and S-4 completely closed shop with Headquarters units handling these activities and Squadron Engineering and Communications were absorbed by those units of the 341st Fighter Squadron. All of the enlisted men were transferred to the 341st except the First Sergeants, who were left in their original Squadrons, their principle duty being the compilation of the morning reports. These changes were necessitated by the acute shortage of enlisted personnel. The consolidation bore fruit particularly on the line. There operations were considerably simplified and the maximum of efficiency was obtained from the Group’s limited line personnel.
In spite of the Group’s efforts to whip the personnel shortage by consolidation, redeployment kept well ahead of all efforts at normal operation. During January, 95 officers and 234 enlisted men left the 348th Fighter Group with the greater majority of these men leaving through redeployment. On 14 January 18 officers and 60 enlisted men were sent to Tokyo’s 11th Replacement Battalion, AAF, APO 710. 20 officers and 23 enlisted men left for Tokyo on 21st January. 2 officers and 24 enlisted men left on the 22nd. 6 officers and 18 enlisted men left on the 25th, and 17 officers and 70 enlisted men left on the 29th January. Thus 80 officers and 195 enlisted men headed for the United States in January.
The beginning of January marked the end of three months of occupational duties in Osaka for the personnel of the 348th Fighter Group. By this time the novelty of Japan and the Japanese had worn off, so the men of the 348th turned to entertainment more in keeping with what they had been used to back home. January brought a series of football games at Osaka’s Koshien Stadium which were well attended and enjoyed by members of the 348th. The highlights of January’s three game series and a game that offered a fine brand of ball to football hungry G.I.’s was the semi-final game in the Pacific Olympics. The 11th Airborne Angels defeated the Clark Field Marauders 27-6. USO shows played an important part in the Group’s January entertainment. The first show. “International Varities” performed in the mess hall 4 January was not as highly appreciated as the lighter “What A Life”, a Henry Aldrich show put on at the 310th Bomb Wing Theatre January 10. It was acclaimed “best yet” by those who took advantage of the opportunity of seeing an amusing play. The 348th Fighter Group’s own Special Services organization arranged for two enjoyable entertainments, both held in the mess hall. A Mrs. Cato, a German-born Japanese citizen, gave a lecture on the customs and habits of the Japanese on 7 January and an all Japanese Magic, music and dancing show played before a packed mess hall 18 January. Further entertainment was provided by the four nights a week movie schedule and the weekly basketball games between the highly successful 348th Fighter Group team and those from neighboring units. A sightseeing flight in a C-47 was flown Sunday, January 20, on which lucky members of these parties flew over such points of interest as Hiroshima, Tokyo, and Mt. Fujiyama. Duck and deer hunting trips were made available on the weekends.
The 310th Bomb Wing School, attended by quite a few 348th men, had graduation and reenrollment exercises on the 21st. During January an Officers School was initiated in which courses on military correspondence, supply and Squadron duties were given. These classes are compulsory and are held twice a week.
Three awards were confirmed during January. Captain Elmer C. Stuart, 0855206, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal per PACUSA GO 16 dated 15 January 1946 and Flight Officer Donald F. Wallace, T-130697, was awarded the Air Medal on the same order. Both men were members of the 460th Fighter Squadron. Captain William T. Storts, 0564418, formerly of the 342nd Squadron, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal on PACUSA GO 11 dated 11 January 1946.
Eight officers in Group Headquarters received orders promoting them to First Lieutenant. The 340th Fighter Squadron had 6 officers receive promotions, the 341st had 10, and the 342nd had 5. Forty-eight enlisted men received promotions in January.
Operations for January were limited to the daily surveillance missions over that part of Honshu west of Osaka and Shikoku and an occasional search mission. Lack of qualified line personnel necessitated pilots crewing the planes. In addition to this work, the flying officers moved operations, Engineering, Tech Supply and communications from the North to the East end of the ramp at Itami Air Field. The pilots also pickled several old and surplus planes.
January saw an increase in operational accidents for the 348th Fighter Group. One pilot was killed and another seriously injured in the five January accidents.
On 11 January, flight Officer Winfred McCoig, T-6631, was killed on his initial checkout ride in a P-51. As it was his checkout ride he was alone, so no one saw the accident. The investigating officers assumed the aircraft was in either a tumble or a spin when it crashed.
On 31 January, Captain William L. Krueger, 0766563, crashed on landing and suffered two broken legs and a concussion. Captain Krueger made his landing pattern too tight, stalled, and could not take corrective action in time to prevent his plane from mushing into the runway in a nose low attitude. The plane was a complete loss. 1st Lt. Charles D. Boyer, 0823009; 1st Lt. Robert O. Crabtree, 0669457; and Pfc. Leonard B. Hooker, 11119756, displayed exceptional courage and outstanding devotion to duty in removing Captain Krueger from the fiercely burning aircraft. These men have been recommended for the Soldier’s Medal for this example of heroism.
1st Lt. John E. Fritz, 02059266, made a wheels up landing on 14 January when he failed to lock his wheels in the down position. 2nd Lt. Guy J. McGarity, 0838135, made a dead stick landing on 22 January after his engine cut out in an acrobatic maneuver. Lt. McGarity’s approach was high, necessitating the immediate use of brakes when the plane was on the runway. Though he used his brakes, Lt. McGarity could not bring the plane to a stop before the end of the runway where it nosed up in the soft dirt. Flight Officer Harliss L. Imlay, T-65331, bailed out over the field the same day when smoke filled his cockpit after an explosion. At the time of the explosion F/O Imlay was attempting to get his right wheel down.


This is the final installment of my copy of the History of the 348th Fighter Group. I have requested from the Air Force Archives at Maxwell Air Force Base help in obtaining the missing page from chapter XXI (July 1945) and the omitted October 1945 chapter. And any further unit histories pertaining to this Group.
I attempted to get as accurate as I could the names of the members of the Group but in many cases the sixty-four to sixty-seven year old pages would not give up their secrets without a struggle. Mainly the initials of many of the members of the Group, were at best faint, at worse, mere guess work on my part. Hopefully those who are searching for information on relatives who served with the 348th Fighter Group will find useful the material contained herein.

A final thought: As we sit around the table this Thanksgiving I hope we all take a few moments to remember those who spent
their Holidays (And think of those who are spending this Holiday), In Harms Way. I'll be saying a toast to those who served and those who serve, may we all enjoy the Peace they gave us.

 

Thanks to Maranda at AFHRA I've been able to insert the missing page to chapter 21 and now have the missing October chapter. I'll try to sit down long enough to type and post it in a day or two. Also included with the October chapter is the enclosures for the month listing personnel changes and roster of the officers.

 

I've inserted the October 1945 chapter into post #32. Still have the roster, Strength Report, Awards and Decorations for October and some other goodies to add.

 

Here is a roster of officers - Headquarters 348th Fighter Group
Dated 31 October 1945.
Not sure how 'readable' it is. May have to retype this also.

 

(October 1945)
Awards and Decorations

Headquarters
Major Merle M. Zeine, ------- 5th OLC (AM)

340th Squadron
1st Lt. Clarence G. Hanlin --- 1st OLC (AM)
1st LT. Eugene G. Heckman -- 1st OLC (AM)

341st Squadron
2nd Lt. John J. Brady --------- Air Medal
1st Lt. John Colgan --------- 1st OLC (AM)
2nd Lt. Duane A. Kuhlman --- Air Medal
2nd Lt. John A. McAllister --- Air Medal

342 Squadron
Major Edward S. Popek --- 6th OLC (AM)
Captain William L. Kruger - 3rd OLC (AM)
1st Lt. Eugene F. Henry --- Air Medal
1st Lt. John W. Cook --- Air Medal
1st Lt. Carl H. Peterson --- 1st OLC (AM)

All awards or decorations as per FEAF GO #2070 - dated 4-10-45, #2083 - dated 8-10-45, #2097 - dated 10-10-45.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

PERSONAL CHANGES

341ST FIGHTER SQUADRON

Changes in Officer Personnel for October
Bailey, James C. ---- 2nd Lt.
DeBlanc Fred D. --- 2nd Lt.
Grazier, Glenn R. Jr. --- F/O
Berger, Henry M. --- 2nd Lt.
Fortman, Calvin --- 2nd Lt.
Craig, James H. ---- Captain
Brown, Edward L. ---- Captain
Behnfeldt, Earl E. ---- 2nd Lt.
Covington, Harrison W. -- 2nd Lt.
Meeks, Willard C. ---- F/O
Cobb, Elmon R. ----- Captain
Schoenert, Gerald ----- 1st Lt.
Nordell, Paul R. ----- 1st Lt.
Shelton, William J. ----- 1st Lt.
Stangel, Harold F. ----- Captain
Ryan, Conrad W. ------ 2nd Lt.

(All the above officers were re-assigned or transferred prior to leaving for the States. If anyone needs services numbers let me know)

Lowder, James K. 0-2063067, was killed in an aircraft accident while on DS at Kanoya, Kyushu.

Changes in Enlisted Personnel for October
341st Fighter Squadron

Felling, Charles L. F/Sgt.
Cook, Tommy G. Pfc.
Larch, Ernest Cpl.
Schaffhauser, William J. S/Sgt.
Wolfe, Carter H. S/Sgt.
Blowers, Clayton P. Cpl.
Swanson, Robert A. Cpl.
Katinas, Peter J. T/Sgt.
Schroeder, George A. S/Sgt.
McGhee, Delmas L. Pfc.
Sutton, Jay L. Sgt.
Cowell, Robert W. Cpl.
Hogan, Monte Pfc.
Moore, William A. Pfc.
Johnson, Lester G. Pfc.
Beadling, Charles V. Sgt.
Cantu, Trinidad V. Cpl.
Pollock, Clarence F. Jr. Cpl.
Kirkwood, Lee O. Cpl.
Reichel, Omar F. Sgt.

After attempting to get all the names together I think it may be easier (for my fingers) to leave it up to anyone who may have questions about a certain individual to give me a shout. Not trying to 'cop out' but it appears there are more than a few hundred names!, services numbers and rank included. I've just ordered a 2 CD set of the "histories and occupational summaries of the 348th Fighter Group" from the Air Force Historical Research Agency (MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!) so in a few weeks should have even more pages.