Kwajalein
Walker
- Guam
- Iwo Jima
- Kwajalein
Located
a little more than half-way between Hawaii and Guam, Kwajalein was
the second stop for the 330th
and basically all aircraft heading from the states to the Marianas.
As
you can see, it was a runway surrounded by water. A stationary Aircraft
Carrier.
Once again we must thank the
Army and Marines for this life-saving tiny speck in the Pacific.
Kwajalein Island
was the primary Japanese naval base in the Marshalls. Two factors
combined to make the Feb. 1 1944 landing on Kwajalein among the most
perfectly executed of the Pacific Theater. First, the 7th Infantry
Division trained superbly before it left Hawaii. Second, task force
commander Turner was determined that Navy preliminary bombardment,
primarily surface, would deliver a thorough pounding to the islands
defenders. Turner and his heavy cruisers, battleships and destroyers
delivered throughout the engagement, as did Army artillerymen. Four
days of struggle were required to subdue the Japanese, but the veterans
of Attu and Kiska succeeded. Just after 7 p.m. on the fourth day,
Corlett, the Army commander, radioed Turner that the island was secure.
In the seizure of Kwajalein Island and its surrounding islets, Army
casualties included 173 killed and 793 wounded in overcoming an estimated
4,823 Japanese garrison troops. Of these, most were killed in combat
or committed suicide; approximately 174 were taken prisoner.
Great tale that pretty
much sums the island up. (From Thomas Duff, Plane
#8310: 313BW/505BG/483BS)
December 25, 1944:
"I remember
Kwajalein as a narrow strip of sand with a stump of a palm tree about
8 to 10 feet tall and no other foliage in sight. The island did not
appear to be long enough to handle B-29's, and not very wide. So my
first glimpse of Kwajalein was the end of a runway which started at
water's edge. I learned upon leaving the island the next day the other
end of the runway disappeared at the water's edge, also. It was so
flat I was sure high tide would overrun the land. However, we were
not weighted for combat. Therefore, we were tons lighter, and a shorter
runway would do the trick. The purpose of the runway was as a way-station
for B-29's on the way to the Marianas, which at that time was the
front line of the battle with Japan. We found a garrison of Marines
on Kwajalein, their tents and defenses. That completed the picture.
As we approached the atoll I was busy with my landing duties in the
rear section of the plane and did not see Kwajalein from the air.
My duties consisted of securing any items that may have loosened during
the flight from Hawaii - such as, supplies we took for general use,
extra small parts for the plane, guns, K-rations, and our personal
luggage. Also, I had to start the putt-putt,
a small engine that boosted the electrical power when we raised or
lowered the flaps or wheels on take-off and landing. Lastly, on a
trip like this (not a mission) we had the "luxury" of a bucket in
which to relieve ourselves. It was located in the rear of the plane;
my responsibility was to dispose of it before landing. I had never
performed this seemingly simple, though not desirable, task before.
I opened the camera hatch and waited until I saw the runway, which,
I knew, put the plane at 90 mph, landing speed. That would make the
slipstream minimum of any time we were in the air. When I saw the
runway I emptied the bucket into the slipstream. Even at minimum speed,
the slipstream showed its insulting power over mere man by throwing
the bucket liquids back at me as though they splashed right back up
after hitting the concrete, even though we were 20 or more feet off
the ground. The gross contents splashed back over me from head to
toe. Ugh! Newt couldn't park the plane fast enough for me. As soon
as he did I threw open the door, put down the ladder and headed straight
into the ocean, which couldn't have been more than 10-15 yards away,
thank goodness! I walked in, fully dressed, not giving any thought
to watch or cigarettes, GI boots or coveralls. I was the first member
of our crew to take a full Western Pacific bath. Robert Minto (P),
while checking out the interior of the plane exited the rear door
via the ladder I put out. Partway down he decided to jump the rest
of the way. He caught a ring on his right hand on the door jamb, tearing
the skin off part of his finger. He went to a Marine who was greeting
the crew, and was taken to the dispensary for attention. He didn't
"surface" again that night. When he caught up with us the next morning
we learned he had spent the evening "recovering" with some hospitable
Marines and their supply of liquor. We had hoped to get a good square
holiday meal, but, alas, we were too late for Christmas dinner. It
was all gone. We ate the (dry) K-rations we had with us. Dan Cheesman
(FE) tried to get the mess sergeant to cook anything that was "cookable"
for us, or at least C-rations. C-rations would have included a beef
or chick type stew or a thick vegetable soup. The Mess SGT produced
one egg. Danny accepted it and told us it was the worst egg he had
ever eaten. There wasn't any place to go, so we chatted with the Marines,
who were the only people on the island. (The Japanese had inhabited
the island until February, 1944, when the Navy shelled the hell out
of the island, leaving little other than the one palm tree stump I
mentioned. The Marines came on the island when the Marines and Army
took the Marshall Islands. The small contingent of Marines who hosted
us was left to hold the island). The sun went down very quickly, as
it does in the Pacific. One minute it was light, the next it was completely
dark! We were left standing in the dark, tugging out our flashlights.
One thing was obvious: It was bedtime. There were no sleeping accommodations
for "visitors," the Marines themselves slept in tents only. So we
had to sleep in the plane or on the ground. A couple of guys slept
on cots that were offered by the Marines. The rest of us slept in
the plane. Five of us plopped down on the floor of the radar room
and mid-plane gunnery section, two crew members slept in the 33-foot
tunnel running above the bomb-bays, used to crawl through from the
middle to the front of the plane. They made a quick and excellent
choice, since it was well padded. Other planes did not have carpeting;
this was one of many ways in which the B-29 was superior, almost "deluxe"
by comparison. Those of us on the floor did have carpeting under us
and used our B-4 bags for pillows. A couple of guys used their parachutes.
(B-4 bags as issue were a big deal, since anyone who acquired them
no longer had to tote the cumbersome A and B bags, associated with
every other branch of the Service. Only the flyers got B-4 bags and
only when they became an official crew). The morning of the 26th Kwajalein
was a beautiful bare paradise with blue skies, scattered clouds, and
the sun a ball of fire at daybreak, 5:00 AM. In the morning toiletry
was completed with water from a Lister bag. The amount rationed only
filled half a helmet. We had to do everything from teeth to toes,
with water for shaving left until last. We loaded the top two turrets,
the six 50-calibre machine guns, with the ammo supplied to us by the
Marines. We couldn't take on too much weight and still take off on
the runway that ended in the ocean. We topped off the gas tanks, waved
good bye, and left, all before breakfast. Our k-rations were on board
for us to eat as time allowed. I watched through the camera hatch
as we sped down the runway and ran out of land while still streaking
only feet above the ocean. The gradual assent started a beautiful
day with our next destination Saipan"
Photo taken
in late 1944. As you can see. The island is overflowing with men and
equipment.
Here is a close-up view of
the airfield. You can see all the B-24's and C-47s. This was taken
just prior to the majority of the B-29's starting to coming over.
More Photos to Come!
