SOME THINGS ARE BEST FORGOTTEN

First Draft
Dr. James H Turnock
October 14, 1961

            During the aerial bombardment of Japan, fuel was always a problem for the B-29 crews of the 20^th Air Force.  Each round trip from their Mariannas Islands bases, Guam, Saipan and Tinian, was about three thousand miles and, on each bombing mission, the crew would be airborne for fifteen or sixteen hours.  In order to carry a full load of bombs the gasoline load had to be cut to a minimum and each gallon had to be carefully utilized.  Iwo Jima, half way between the Mariannas and Japan, was the only available place to land for refueling.  However, Iwo was to be used only in real emergencies and woe be to the crews who landed for gas when they didn’t really need it.

            Captain Robinson, the Airplane Commander of B-29 number K-36, and his crew were returning from a night fire raid on Osake in May of 1945.  A bit low on fuel, they took a careful check as they approached Iwo.

            “Pilot to Engineer.  Johnny, we’re approaching Iwo.  How much gas do we have left?  Over.”

            “Engineer to Pilot.  Captain, with the present rate of consumption and figuring on a slow rate of descent, it looks like we have enough to fly for another four hours and fifteen minutes.  Over.”

            “Pilot to Navigator.  How long is it going to take us to get home, Jim?  Over.”

            “Navigator to Pilot.  Robby, unless we get an unexpected wind shift, we’ll reach Guam at 1815Z, that is, in four hours and five minutes.  Over.”

            “Pilot to Navigator.  Boy!  Ten minutes doesn’t give us much leeway.  But I sure don’t want to land on Iwo unless we have to.  Over.”

            “Navigator to Pilot.  We’ll be just opposite Saipan and Tinian at about 1750Z.  We could take another check when we reach there and go into either place if it looks bad.  That gives us an additional safety factor.  Over.”

            “Pilot to Navigator.  That sounds good.  We don’t want to land for gas on our first mission.  Pilot to Crew.  We’re going on in to Guam.  Out.”

 

* * *

 

“Pilot to Crew.  We’re just approaching the Saipan-Tinian area.  Nothing alarming, but we’ve been bucking head winds and don’t have enough gas to reach Guam so we’ll land at Saipan for fuel.  I know you guys are tired and hungry so we’ll all go to the mess hall while they’re filling the tanks.  Out.”

“Saipan Tower, this is K-36.  Request permission to land for refueling.  No emergency.  Have fuel truck and crew transportation meet plane.  Will depart immediately after gas and chow.  Over.”

“K-36, this is Saipan Tower.  Roger, will do.  After landing, taxi to Area H south of end of runway.  Clear to land on straight-in approach.  Wind two-eight-zero degrees at fifteen knots.  Out.”

* * *

 

            “Saipan Tower, this is K-36.  Where in the hell are those trucks.  We’ve been parked here for a half hour and haven’t seen a thing.  Over.”

            “K-36, this is Saipan Tower.  Am in radio contact with trucks.  They can’t find you.  Where are you parked?  Over.”

            “Saipan Tower, this is K-36.  We’re on a hard stand about two hundred yards to the right of the end of the runway.  Exactly where you told us to go.  Over.”

            “Roger, K-36.  Turn on your landing lights so I can locate you.  Then I’ll direct the trucks.  Over.”

            “O.K., Tower.  Landing lights on.  Hurry those damn trucks.  We’re tired, hungry and mad.  Over.”

            “K-36, this is Saipan Tower.  I can’t see you.  Suggest you have Radio Operator hold his key down and we’ll take a radio fix on you.  Over.”

            “Tower, this is a bunch of foolishness.  If we can fly up to Japan, get shot at, drop our bombs and get back here you damned ground pounders should at least be able to find a B-29 sitting on the ground.  I am Captain Robinson of the 330^th Group.  This will all be in my flight report when I get back to Guam.  Over.”

            “K-36, this is Saipan Tower.  I am General Maxwell, Commander of the 312^th Wing, visiting in the tower.  Report what you damn please, but hold the key down as the tower requested, so they can find you and then take care of the other, less important problems.  Over.”

            “Saipan Tower, sir, this is K-36.  Roger sir.  Holding key down, sir.  Over, sir.”

 

            * * *

            “K-36, this is Saipan Tower.  Sirs are unnecessary.  General has returned to Headquarters.  We are plotting the fix. …….. Captain, your report should be very interesting.  Hell, man, you’ve gone and landed on Tinian.  Out.”