The 330th Bomb Group

Iwo Jima

Iwo was a welcome site coming back from a 12 hour plus mission to the Empire. For every B-29 crew who flew on a mission to Japan after March 1945, the fact that Iwo Jima had become a new U.S. base was a cause for thanksgiving. The many B-29's that utilized her airfield had the US 5th Marine Amphibious Corps to thank.

As you can see from this photo, Iwo was a popular spot in the middle of the Pacific for many fortunate B-29 crews. Located about midway between Guam and Japan, Iwo broke the long stretch both going and coming. "If you had engine trouble, you held out for Iwo. If you were shot up over Japan, you held out for Iwo. If the weather was rough (and it often was), you held out for Iwo." Even if you would never use Iwo, it was a psychological benefit. It was always there to fall back on.

A quick stop at "Rocky's Wayside Service Station" and another B-29 is ready to head back to her home base. The B-29 maintenance chief was Major Charles A. (Rocky) Stone. Rocky was an ex-navigator who got his job on Iwo by telling a colonel stateside that "Sir, I think your maintenance section stinks." A produce trucker from California, Rocky, with a hunk of tobacco always clinched in his jaw, looked the part of a shop foreman.

On 7 April the VIIth Fighter Command began what presumably was to be its No. 1 assignment. One hundred and eight P-51s took off to escort B-29s on a daylight mission to Tokyo, and proved their usefulness at once by shooting down over 21 enemy fighters at a loss of only two P-51s. From that date until the surrender, only ten escort missions were flown. This relatively small number was due to the sudden increase in night incendiary attacks for which no escort was required. (This partiular P-51 was with the 20th AF/506th Fighter Group/462nd Fighter Squadron)

Guam - Kwajalein

		Iwo Jima Iwo was a welcome site coming back from a 12 hour plus mission to the Empire. For every B-29 crew who flew on a mission to Japan after March 1945, the fact that Iwo Jima had become a new U.S. base was a cause for thanksgiving. The many B-29's that utilized her airfield had the US 5th Marine Amphibious Corps to thank. As you can see from this photo, Iwo was a popular spot in the middle of the Pacific for many fortunate B-29 crews. Located about midway between Guam and Japan, Iwo broke the long stretch both going and coming. "If you had engine trouble, you held out for Iwo. If you were shot up over Japan, you held out for Iwo. If the weather was rough (and it often was), you held out for Iwo." Even if you would never use Iwo, it was a psychological benefit. It was always there to fall back on. A quick stop at "Rocky's Wayside Service Station" and another B-29 is ready to head back to her home base. The B-29 maintenance chief was Major Charles A. (Rocky) Stone. Rocky was an ex-navigator who got his job on Iwo by telling a colonel stateside that "Sir, I think your maintenance section stinks." A produce trucker from California, Rocky, with a hunk of tobacco always clinched in his jaw, looked the part of a shop foreman. On 7 April the VIIth Fighter Command began what presumably was to be its No. 1 assignment. One hundred and eight P-51s took off to escort B-29s on a daylight mission to Tokyo, and proved their usefulness at once by shooting down over 21 enemy fighters at a loss of only two P-51s. From that date until the surrender, only ten escort missions were flown. This relatively small number was due to the sudden increase in night incendiary attacks for which no escort was required. (This partiular P-51 was with the 20th AF/506th Fighter Group/462nd Fighter Squadron) Guam - Kwajalein