W45AUTH\HR30N-ET.DOC

Maj Eliot C. Tobin’s Crew, Airplane M24 City of Santa Monica

Photo	Duty	Rank Aug45	Rank Feb 45	Name	ASN	MOS	Remarks
S-1	AC	Maj	Capt	Tobin, Eliot C.	0-428524	1093
S-4	P	1st Lt	2nd Lt	Kelly, John W.	0-832153	1091
S-5	N	1st Lt	2nd Lt	Hemmig, Ralph B.	0-2060284	1038
S-2	B	1st Lt	1st Lt	Etchison, Vern L.	0-695591	1035
S-3	FE	1st Lt	2nd Lt	Saunders, Richard G.	0-869023	1028
S-6	RO	1st Lt	2nd Lt	Bellinfante, C.G.	0-2065703	1042
K-5	R		Cpl	Packer, Earl T.	35217125	2756
K-2	CFC		Sgt	Mitchell, John L.	13107302	580
	CFC		Cpl	Hix, Robert J.	36467111	580	Transfered to Burns
K-3	LG		Cpl	Holder, Charles L.	34893406	611
K-4	RG		Cpl	Holcombe, Edward W.	33609262	611
K-1	TG		Cpl	Hines, John T.	17132171	611

Crew 51 flew aircraft M-24 from Great Bend to Kearney, Nebraska and then to Guam. Designated as a lead/pathfinder crew -- flying daylight missions as lead and night missions as pathfinder. Since many of the Group’s lead crews were lost, and since Etchinson was recognized for his superiour bombing ability (never screwed up), Crew 51 was called on to lead many Group and Wing missions. Because the crew did not fly several of the easier night missions so the crew could lead the day missions, the tour of crew 51 was reduced from the normal 35 missions to 31 missions. Crew completed #31 the day the war ended. Orders to return to Muroc, California the next day to perform as lead crew instructors were canceled, requiring the crew to wait a few weeks for return transportation.

Crew 51 Combat Missions 1945

Mission	Date	Place	D/N	Remarks
1	03-06-45	Shizuaka	N
2	03-09-45	Tokyo	N	Pathfinder Landed at Tinian with #1 Engine out and wing damage.
3	03-17-45	Kobe	N	Pathfinder
4	03-19-45	Nagoya	N	Pathfinder
5	03-23-45	Nagoya	N	one of crews to drop flares for bombing crews -- 3 patterns
6	03-27-45	Weather ship	D
7	03-31-45	Omura	D	Led Wing -- Radar out at IP; So lead to Deputy. Saw Phosphorous bombs.
8	04-07-45	Nagoya	D	Led Group
9	04-12-45	Koriyama Chemical Plant	D	Longest mission 18:45
10	04-16-45	Tokyo (Kawasaki)	N	Pathfinder
11	04-21-45	Nitagahara Airfield	D	Deputy to Mailey. Etch sick Sqd Bomb Perrin with us.
12	04-26-45	Kanaya Airfield	D	A Squadron on each field daily
13	05-03-45	Kokubu Airfield	D	Led Group 1/2 DFC
14	05-10-45	Otaka Oil Refinery	D	Led Wing 1/2 DFC
15	05-14-45	Nagoya	D	Deputy Led to Blakeley
16	05-24-45	Tokyo (Shinagawa)	N	Pathfinder
17	05-29-45	Yokohama	D	Led Group
18	06-01-45	Osaka	D
19	06-05-45	Kobe	D	Led Group. Hit by flak; lost two engines; destroyed three Jap fighters. Landed at Iwo Jima fighter field after four Go-Arounds. One tire flat and numeraous holes in plane.
20	06-10-45	Tokyo (Kemagua Naval Air Station)	D	Led Group. Flew M-25 Reither’s crew bailed out near Iwo Jima later.
21	06-20-45	Shizuaka	N	Pathfinder
22	06-26-45	Tsu	N	Pathfinder. Flew new 3rd Marine Division B-29
23	07-02-45	Shimonseki	N	Marine Colonel Passenger
24	07-04-45	Tokushima	N	Pathfinder. but bomb doors aborted take off; closed manually. End of bomb train; experienced fire thermals.
25	07-13-45	Uwajima	N	Pathfinder
26	07-20-45	Okazaki	N	Pathfinder
27	07-24-45	Tsu	D	Deputy lead
28	07-27-45	Uwajima	N	Pathfinder. (crew informed tour was 31 missions; normal 35) Crew held off easy night mission so as to lead Group and Wing Day Missions.
29	08-02-45	Mito	N	Pathfinder. Correspondent Manning Passenger.
30	08-07-45	Tokayawa Naval Arsenal	D	Led Wing. DFC. Saw Atom Bomb of Heroshima.
31	08-14-45	Isezaki	N	Pathfinder. Code word not received; thus bombs dropped after surrender. War Over.
				Crew orders to report to Muroc CA as lead crew instructors canceled.
32	08-31-45	POW supplies	D	Flew with Blakeley’s crew to Philipines and Hainan China to reconnoiter POW Camps(Klugman ill). Klugman flew with Tobin to Japan for surrender.

Dedicaiton Ceremony: A B-29 was named after the 3rd Marine Division in honor of the Division’s important role in capturing Iwo Jima. Crew 51 was selected to receive the new aircraft because of the crew’s numerous emergency landings in Iwo and extensive damage to the “City of Santa Monica” on the June 5 Kobe raid. Maj Airplane commander E. Tobin is on the stand with Brig/Gen Powers 314th Wing commander, and Maj/Gen Erskine 3rd Marine Commander.

Lt Bellifante, Lt V. Etchinson, Lt R. Hemmig, Lt J. Kelly, Lt R. Saunders, Hines , Michell, Holder , Holcombe, Packer

Guests of Maj/Gen Graves B. Erskine at 3rd Marine Division Officer’s Club -- after chicken dinner at Erskine’s home. Standing: Col Higgnbloom, Div Adj; Lt V. Etchinson, B; Lt R. Hemmig, N; Lt J Kelly, P; Lt R. Saunders, FE Col Shorty Wheeles, Dep Wing CO.

Seated: Col _unknown_; Brig/Gen T. Power, 314th Wing Commander; Maj/Gen Erskine 3rd Marine commander; Maj E. Tobin, airplane commander; Crew members were made honorary members of the Club.

Shorty Wheless was with 19^th BG at Clark Field his B-17 escaped to Mindanao where he crash landed, two in his crew were killed, he was sent to the States to help make a movie about B-17’s in the pacific.

B-29 Aircraft Named “3rd Marine Division”

Taken after dedication and flight with 3rd Marine Division Commander and Officeres over Marianas Islands.

The Marines clear Iwo Jima

In 36 days 75,000 United States Marines in an epic struggle with 22,000 Japanese troops cleared the last man defending the fly-spec island landing point called Iwo Jima. It cost the lives of 6,821 Marines; only 1083 of the Japanese were taken prisoner and survived. The emergency landing field on Iwo Jima was being built as the battle continued, making it possible for 2,251 aircraft to land there with 24,751 crew members -- a mid route haven for in-flight emergencies which might otherwise have claimed the lives of half or more of these distressed crews and extraordinary machines. Obviously this incredibly convenient air base owed its existence to the blood and sweat of countless Americans. It took a great deal of pressure off the 20th AF and its crews and no doubt helped shorten the war immeasurably.

Information about specific missions, provided by R. Hemmig, is filed separately under file heading 19th BG Targets= B19\Trgt\filename. This includes the following applicable to Crew 51.

R Hemmig’s summary of these missions is entered below following these headings.

Crew’s Report

Date, Filename, Target, Crew 51 mission number

E Tobin #2 by R Hemmig: 03-09-45, G19\Targt\Tokyo, #2

First low altitude fire raid -- night. We were pathfinders crew -- first ones over -- dropping bombs from 4,500 ft. Cornered by searchlights -- scared hell out of us. Estimated 30 searchlights by intelligence turned out to be from 200 to 300. Hit by flak and forced to land on Tinian. Damage included #1 engine shot out, 3 foot hole left wing (replaced) and 30 other scattered holes.

05-03-45, G19\Targt\Kokuba, Kokuba Airfield, #13

Daylight framentation bombing of Kokuba Airfield where Japanes suicide pilots trained. led Group and Etchinson’s bombing was Superior (picture of point of impact on map). Received credit for this mission on one DFC (included is OTAKE mission). Lots of bad weather and gas was low. Had to make a long shallow approach to runway to keep gasoline pumping to engines. Fighters were plentiful and aggressive; however, none tried to suicide dive into us -- as they did occasionally.

05-10-45,G19\Targt\Otake, Otake Oil Refinery,#14

Daylight bombing of Otake Oil Refineries. Led 314th Wing -- bombing was superior. Target was totally destroyed, smoke rising to our altitude (21,000 ft) before we ould get out of area. Turned sharply south after bombs away to avoid flak from much defended Kure Naval Base across the bay. However, to our surprise and their astonishment, we flew smack over the remains of the Jap Navy. They threw everything but the kitchen sink at us. They would have knocked some of us down had they not been taking evasive action (too) -- guess they figured we were bombing them.

05-24-45,G19\Targt\Shinagawa, Tokyo (Shinagawa), #16

Pathfinder plane, were first over target.. Hell of a lot of searchlights and flak. Could see fires from 200 miles away on the return home. Dropped bombs from 7,000 ft, 2,000 ft below other planes. Several B-29’s lost; had a few scattered in our plane.

If previous raids are any criterion, the heat generated by today’s record load of fire-bombs will wreck havoc not only in flimsy housing districts but also amoung the modern concrete buildings.

05-29-45,G19\Targt\Yokohama, Yokohama, #17

Lead crew daylight incendiary raid bombing from 10,000 ft. Results were Excellent. City and factories mostly destroyed. Flak was heavy and thick. Base was one of the largest in the Tokyo area. Pre-war Yokohama was Tokyo’s main port, handling one-fourth of all Jap foreign trade. Its three railway yards are vital repair center for Japan’s urgently needed locomotive and rolling stocks.

06-05-45,G19\Targt\Kobe, Kobe , #19

Led Group on daylight incendiary raid on Kobe. During bomb run encountered heavy flack, resulting immediate loss of two engines. By maintaining led, the formation had to stay with us and enabled us to fight off the numerous Japanese fighters -- destroying three and damaging two others. See DFC orders for confirmation.

The necessary landing at Iwo Jima was made difficult by the low (200 ft) clouds. On the initial approach we broke our of the clouds to left of the runway; go-around was accomplished by skimming over the island. On next two passes didn’t have time to lower the landing gear. On the fourth try we were lined up with the runway but couldn’t land because of a B-29 crash on the runway. Flew out to sea to get under the cloud layer; then on the fifth attempt skimmed over the main area and landed on Minami south fighter field just below Mount Suribachi. Damage to M-24 was two engines out, one tire flat and numerous holes.

Days later returned to Iwo to pick up M-24; however, due to damages the plane was not considered combat worthy. Flew M-25 couple missions before dedication of “3rd Marine Division” (M-30), which we flew on the remainder of tour.

Further details are noted on DFC orders and Santa Monica newspaper.

08-07-45,G19\Targt\Toyokawa, Toyokawa Naval Arsenal, #30

Leading 314th Wing -- assembled at Iwo Jima. Best navigation mission I had. Hit landfall at exact place and only 1/4 minute off controlled time of arrival for receiving P-51 escorts -- only time we had escorts -- wish we had them more often. Lt Col Chadwell (new Deputy Group CO) was passenger with us. Etch dropped his bombs perfectly -- lowest C.E. known. Etch rated as best bombardier in 20th Airforce. The mission was rated as Top Superior -- in other words perfect. Put in for DFC #3.

Approaching landfall, ahead and to the left, we noticed a big cloud (supposing) however, it was dark at the base and got lighter in color above our altitude. At top, approximately 40,000 ft., it assumed a corkscrew shape -- very odd indeed. located position of cloud on map. As we neared Iwo Jima on return, we heard over the radio of the atom bombing of Hiroshima. Checking the location of Hiroshima, we discovered that the peculiar cloud was the result of the bomb -- 1/4 hour after it was dropped.

08-14-45, G19\Targt\Isezaki, Isezaki, #31

Code word “UTAH” never received by radio operator -- so bombs were dropped 2 hours after President Truman announced war was over. The story from “Brief” Airforce magazine clearly tells of the last mission and the anxiety of waiting for the end of the war. We were skeptical when the Tower said, “This will be your first peacetime landing.” However, our ground crew erased our doubts. We were on orders to report to Muroc, CA as lead crew instructors as we had completed our tour (35 missions for regular crews). The orders were canceled by the end of the war and we had to wait a couple weeks to return home -- but we didn’t mind.

Epilogue:

Lt/Col Ralph B. Hemmig Ret; provided the information in this file. Ralph was offered a regular commission in 1946 so decided to make a career in the military. He was assigned to Japan occupation forces in the summer of 1946. His eldest son was born there. In 1950 he was ordered to the far east to participate in the Korean War, flying 52 B-29 missions to North Korea. Totals for two wars was 84 missions and 1010 combat hours.

Aerospace Studies Professor is Presented Air Force Medal

Air Force Lt. Colonel Ralph B, Hemmig, professor of Aerospace Studies at the University here, has been awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal, one of the Air Force's highest non-combat ,awards.

Colonel Hemmig, who will retire from active duty on July 31, has been head of the Air Force ROTC unit at UNC since June,1966.

The award, presented to Colonel Hemmig by Brigadier General Donald F. Blake, Commandant of Air Force ROTC, commended him for his "outstanding professional skill, initiative, ingenuity, and his ability to stimulate interest in the program."

These qualities, the award read, “resulted in exceptional success in the, accomplishments of the Air Force mission at the University of North Carolina."

Colonel Hemmig's retirement brings a close 27 years in the Air Force, including participation in World War II, the Korean War and the Berlin Airlift. He has flown a total of 85 combat missions and logged more than 6000 hours in the air, 1010 of them combat hours.

During World War II, Colonel Hemmig pioneered the famous low-level bombing attacks on the Japanese mainland. During that campaign in the B-29 aircraft, he received three flying crosses and numerous air medals, battle stars and campaign ribbons. He was cited as one of the top crewmen in the 20th Air Force.

Although the Air Force places the emphasis on quality rather than quantity in its ROTC program, UNC has still ranked high nationally in its production of Air Force officers.

Last year, UNC's detachment had the highest national percentage of cadets to be offered a regular Air Force Commission. It has also boasted a high number of Morehead Scholars and Phi Beta Kappa members among its graduates.

During Colonel Hemmig's three years at UNC, Air Force ROTC's honorary organization, the Arnold Air Society, and its sister affiliate, the Angel Flight, have won wide recognition as community service organizations.

A native of Delphi, Indiana, Colonel Hemmig first attended Purdue University where his education was interrupted by World War 11. He later graduated from Sacramento State College with an A.B. degree in Personnel Administration. He holds a master's degree in School Administration from Denver University. He has attended numerous Air Force professional schools.

He is married to the former Juanita Ragland of Winston-Salem and they have two sons, Stephen and James, both UNC students.

A "nativized Tar Heelian," as he calls himself, and a supporter of Carolina’s athletic teams, he plans to make his home in Chapel Hill. He is a member of the Chapel Hill Kiwanis Club.

MEDALS

(1) Distinguished Flying Cross w/2 oak leaf clusters = 3

(2) Air Medal w/ 1 silver cluster & a oak leaf clusters= 9

(3) Asiatic-Pacific Theater WW II w/-3 battle stars

(4) American Theater

(5) WW II Victory

(6) Occupation, both Japan & Germany w/C54 aircraft for aerial duty on Berlin Airlift

(7) Humane Action - Berlin Airlift

(8) National Defense w/ star - Korea

(9) National Defense Service wl3 battle stars - Korea

(10) UN Service - Korea

(11) Air Force Commendation

(12) Good Conduct - Enlisted & Cadet

(13) Presidential Unit Citation w/2 oak leaf clusters; WW II - 19th Bomb Group

(14) Air Force Outstanding Unit

(15) Air Force Longevity w/silver cluster = 6 , 6 x 4yrs = 24 of total 27 yrs in service

(16) Republic of Korea Presidential

WINGS

(1) Master Observor - Navigator, Bombardier & Radar - 15 years flying & 2000 hours

(2) Senior Observor - Navigator, Bombardier & Radar - 10 years flying & 1500 hours

(3) Observor - Navigator, Bombardier & Radar

(4) Navigator

(5) Aircrew Gunner

(6) Aircrew Member