The "War's Over"

Some Went Wild, Some Fell Into Silence

It was evening, not long after the second A Bomb was dropped, when we received news “the war’s over” ! Some guys went wild! Normally sane people grabbed guns, ran out of the barracks and fired into the air. Full clips of sub machine gun ammo was sprayed like from a fire hose. Some of the more sane yelled, “watch where you aim that stuff” ! Very Pistols were shot with burning flares falling among tents and barracks. The loud speakers came on:

"STOP FIRING!, repeat, STOP FIRING!

Do Not fire into the jungle, I repeat,

DO NOT FIRE INTO THE JUNGLE!

Your ammo is landing on an Ack Ack battery!

Their CO insists that if this does not stop,

THEY WILL FIRE BACK

with ACK ACK guns!"

The guns stopped and the drinking began. Strangely the wild behavior left me with no desire to join in the melee. Three of us sat on the entrance step and watched the crazy spectacle. The months of long hours with little sleep seemed to catch up with me. I felt weary and as I thought of people who I'd known that would not be coming home I felt sorrow, first for them and then for their families. For their families it was not a time for boisterous rejoicing. I felt very fortunate. I'd survived the war and was in good health, I’d never been shot at or exposed to enemy bombs. It wasn't until I returned home that I realized I'd been affected in ways I didn't realize.

Steps to prefab quarters was “front porch” place to contemplate, first the A-Bomb, then War’s End.

At that moment all felt we could relax now that the war was over. Not so, we hadn't counted on maintaining an air blanket over Japan for the next week. While some still partied I was tired and went to sleep, the 19^th Bomb Group had been the last to bomb Japan, our 28^th sqd planes would begin landing about 7:00 am when we learned they received word of the surrender about an hour after releasing the last bombs.

Overview Flights

For 10 days or so after the war ended we maintained B-29's over Japan on an around the clock basis. This was for the psychological effect of reminding those who might want to continue the war that we were still there. These were discontinued as soon as the Navy arrived. Captain Keough shot a roll of film with a K-20 camera on these flights. Included is a view of the Navy ships arriving single file into Tokyo harbor. The view is from too high to make out the battle ship Missouri which carried General MacArthur to the site of signing the surrender.

Mt Fuji, 80 miles from Tokyo. .

Hundreds of airplanes within sight bobbing in the sun on seas of scattered clouds .

The bright spot on the side of nacelle is supercharger exhaust. Two supercharges per engine push 41875 cubic feet of air/minute through these ports, those horses breath hard and steady

These R-3350 cu. in. engines ran at 1800 rpm with superchargers maintaining sea level pressure to the engines while at altitude. The engine produced up to 2400 horse power for take off and is in maximum cruise mode, each engine consuming fuel at a rate of 120 gal per hour. 6700 gal are available in wing tanks, providing a flight time of 14 hours. The air scoop feeds the two superchargers & cools the 60 gal of oil per engine. A fwd and aft collector rings gathering engine exhaust to drive a left & right side supercharger. The Hamilton Std prop dome has a piston moved with engine oil to rotate the pitch of the large propeller blades, like shifting gears on a car. Cowl flaps open/close to regulate cooling air flow over the engine. These engines lasted and average of 98 hrs in combat. The same engines would power the US civilian air fleets for many years, delivering half the horsepower required for military operations.

B-29's of 28th Sq, 19th Bomb Grp, 314th Wing North Field Guam fly by Mt Fujiama

Floyd Maupin said he was flying M-11 as the lead aircraft in this photo.

Formations flew at 500 feet vertical spacing and 1000 feet horizontal spread between planes with 2000 feet between squadrons. The lead group was 2 minutes ahead of the following group. There could be 12 Squadrons of 15 aircraft each from the North Field Guam wing. There were five wings from Marriana bases: 1 Saipan, 2 Tinnian and 2 Guam. Without bomb loads these birds could linger over Japan before completing their 3000 mile round trip.

US Naval force arriving for occupation of Japan, Included is US Battle Ship Missouri

Large US Ships already in Tokyo Harbor

POW Supplies Drops

M-10 on 1^st PW Supply drop two days after surrender, photo by Major Keough, my boss

P W SUPPLIES painted in yellow under the wing

Supply drops to PW's had been planned before the surrender, thus was implemented immediately. P W Supplies were painted on under side of planes, bomb-bays racks installed & parachute packages loaded. Keough obtained a K-20 military camera and took these photo's. He gave the roll of negatives to me just before he left. This PW Supply Drop mission was by 28th Squadron only.

Keough then a Major and Group Engineering Officer made two flights, first during the Overflight phase when the Navy first arrived, then on the first PW Supply drop. Keough had been at our 28^th Sqd area and helped oversee painting under the wings. M-10 Crew Chief Erwin Voss was the first to paint the letters in yellow on black PW SUPPLIES. Voss had trouble keeping the spray gun nozzle cleared because we were using non-gloss yellow paint. Expendable platforms had been place in the bombbays and M-10 was pulled out on the taxi strip to provide access for trucks with supplies to go on the wood platforms before hoisting them up and connecting them with bomb shackles for quick release. While the supplies were being loaded, Erwin was up on a maintenance stand working the spray gun. Someone pre planned this because supplies were ready to be loaded and hauled the day after Overflights ended.

The bunk area at right became the Radar-Navigators station

Supplies, in parachute drop packets, were placed on expendable wood floors, lifted and shacled to bomb mounts. When the floor was salvoed the supply packet dropped until parachute cover straps, attached to the bomb supports, pulled the parachute covers off, releasing the parachute which floated the supplies to the ground.

The Japanese had been instructed to paint POW in large letters on top of prisoner of war camps housing and provide the locations of each camp. By the time the first PW Supplies arrived overhead the buildings had been marked and there was no problem finding them and dropping the supplies. I have no idea how many supply drops took place per camp or how many camps there were, but do know each of the five wings were flying large numbers of B-29s with supplies each day. We sent some ten planes full of supplies every other day for about two weeks

Finally – I’m permitted to fly over Japan

While I was helping get another supply mission off Keough pulled up in his Jeep and asked if I’d like to go along, he knew I would. Engineering officers were not permitted to go on missions which is why he jumped at the first chance and now informing me I could go. Keough brought a parashoot for me and had arranged for me to go on near by M-9 being flown by Lt Phil Crow. Without hesitation I climed the ladder into the aft pressurize compartment, the left and right scanners were there but no CFC (Central Fire Control) or Radar-Navigator present. Scanners aim sighting mechanisms used to fire remotely located guns. The CFC operator selected which scanner controlled which gun turret. Allocating them to the Bombardier, left or right Scanners or himself as he deemed best. Each the three aft scanner locations were equipped with a plexiglass bubble which permitted excellent views from those location. The left and right scanners were there but the CFC position was empty so I was able to look out the CFC's bubble. That was great except you couldn’t see down unless the pilot was tilting the plane for a turn.

Scanner Scanner bubble CFC CFC bubble

A tube tunnel over the top of the bomb bays connected the forward and aft pressurized compartments. The forward compartment housed the Bombardier, AC (Airplane Commander), Pilot (Copilot), Flight Engineer, Navigator and Radioman. The eleventh man the Tail Gunner, was in a small pressurized compartment in the tail, this position was unmanned for our supply drop. There were two bomb bay areas between the forward and aft pressurized compartments. The bomb bays were separated by the wing section which passed through the fuselage.

After take off, we climbed to altitude to achieve optimum cruising conditions. A round trip lasted 14.5 to 17 hours, it was necessary to be finicky about throttle setting, mixture ratios, propeller setting (RPM) and manifold pressures to obtain maximum efficiency. (Floyd Maupins crew in M-11 averaged 15.63 hrs for 35 missions.) I was too tired and in the wrong end of the plane to concern myself with those things. Using my parachute as a pillow I went to sleep on the floor. Oh, but I was tired.

The drone of the engines and gentle vibration of the airframe made for sound sleep until we got to Japan. In fact it was the cut back in power that caused me to awaken as we came down in altitude. The POW camp was on the north side of the Empire. The flight crew were already occupying the best positions to look down at the ground, but my view from the top rear CFC bubble wasn't too bad because the plane was being turned periodically while looking for land marks, with a little tilt one could almost see straight down. I put on earphones and tuned in on the intercom.

We were not lost but didn't know where we were either, it took time to find the town with PW displayed on a roof top. We circled and after some discussion up front the AC decided to drop the supplies on near by the train tracks.

We circled once more, came in for the run and let the supplies drop. About the time they were released someone spotted a train coming around a bend and a crowd of people around the train station. The people had been watching the plane, saw the supplies drop and began to run from the tracks area. The train had been applying full steam until he saw the parachutes. The steam exhausted from the sides of the engine as he reversed the drive wheels trying to slow to a stop.

The supplies sprinkled themselves along the tracks in front of the station, the train barely came to a halt before hitting them. The people had stopped running, were looking up and seemed hesitant about returning. I had been able to see the on coming train and watch supplies fall on the track while the train was in reverse trying to stop in time.

Engrossed in the scene below, I became aware of chatter on the intercom about not being able to get the bomb bay doors closed. This immediately got my attention. I felt that if there was something wrong with the aircraft then it was my problem. I told the AC I'd have a look and didn't wait for an answer..

The scanners had opened the pressurized compartment door into the bomb bay, saw the problem and reported to the AC. The scanners made way for me to look, sure enough the straps with cavas on their ends extended into the slip stream and blown to the back of the Bombay making it impossible to close the doors, they had to be lifted out of the way to get the doors closed.

I went in and out of this door many times a day on the ground . The bulkhead containing the door was rounded like the end of a pressure tank to hold cabin pressure at altitude. Along the sides of the bomb bay was a catwalk or shelf about 8 inches wide. The skeleton of the fuselage, covered by the outside skin, rounded away and upward making room enough for a man to stand on this ledge.

There was a knack to throwing ones right leg out the domed bulkhead door and find the catwalk back underneath with the right foot, then rotate counter clockwise swinging the left leg from the pressurized compartment out over the bomb bay to the catwalk along the left side. Then change hand hold from the bulkhead opening to the ribs on the side of the fuselage, place the left foot on the side ledge and pull your body up on the side catwalk. It was a simple thing to do once you knew how.

How Dumb can you Get !

I poked my head out the door, the only thing that seemed different was the mild blast of turbulent air, I could see the problem. The parachute straps with canvas bag halves on the ends extended down and were blown back into the corners between the fuselage and the bomb bay doors. As the doors were like scissors trying to bite into the straps. If the straps were lifted up a bit they would clear and the doors would close.

I told the scanners to tell the AC I'd go out and lift them up and for him to signal the Bombardier to close the doors when it was clear. As I started out he stopped me and said I should put on my parachute. It was a backpack type and I knew it would be in the way so I said no it would just be in the way and swung out onto the catwalk before he could say more.

Holding onto a rib in the fuselage with one hand I reached out with the other arm I gathered the straps together and lifted them. They lacked about 4 inches of clearing so I squatted down, lowered my hand hold on the rib and reached out to grab up the straps again. I reached lower and was abruptly caught in the slipstream! I was taken quite by surprise and abruptly felt very stupid. I don't have any idea how fast we were going at the time. A B-29 could cruise at 350 mph and stall at 90 mph. With the doors open we were probably 150 to 200 mph.

I tried to lift myself up and couldn't. My hand grip was too close to my feet. I had a lousy mechanical advantage. For the first time I looked down. I didn't look twice. I remembered when a kid hanging by my hands from a high limb, how they became so tired they lost their strength, I'd finally dropped to the ground and wrenched my ankle. I realized I was hanging on with left arm and that it was not as strong as my right. I was aware I would soon tire, that if I didn't pull myself up on the next good try, I'd do more than wrench an ankle. These thoughts rushed through my mind. When I entered the bomb bay I had no thoughts of being afraid, now reality set in, I became scared -- not panic -- just pure fear. I concentrated all my physical and mental powers into one tremendous pull. In one motion I came upright on the catwalk both hands griping ribs like a vise and my face against the fuselage skin and my body rigid. Realizing I had made it, a sense of relief swept over me and the body tension began to melt away. I gave thanks to the power looking after me and audibly admonished myself with "how stupid can you get" and meant every word of it.

I had charged out there doing the first thing that entered my mind without thinking ahead. I turned around and looked at the straps. Why had I tried to save the straps? Growing up in the depression years embedded my subconscious to not be wastefull. I took out my pocket knife and cut off the straps, at least my knife was sharp, one by one the straps fell away. As I cut I thought what a paradox of human thinking, war's a process of destruction, with the war over even the aircraft becomes worthless; and here I almost killed myself saving fabric parachute straps!

I crawled over the center wing section, something I'd never done before, to cut the staps in the forward bomb bay. There was the Bombardier, with parachute on releasing the straps by tripping the bomb latches. Again I scoled myself, "dummy you don't even know how to manually release the latches." The Bombardier got those on the right side, I cut those loose on the left and we went back into the forward pressurized compartment where I immediately crawled back through the tunnel to where I started.

One of the scanners said, "the AC wants to talk with you on the intercom."

I called in on the intercom and got my Ass Chewed for going into the bomb bay without his permission, without a parachute, darn near getting killed him, that he was accountable for letting such a thing happen, that it was a good thing I was ground crew and not air crew, that even so I should have known better. I started to reply – but my heart wasn't in it. I just answered "Yes Sir" put down the intercom and climbed back in the top turret and stuck my head in the bubble. I repeatedly admonished myself. Later over some canned food the two scanners who'd been describing my plight to the crew over the intercom said "You know for a while there we didn't think you were going to make it." I answered, "that makes three of us, that was downright stupid on my part!"

Some time later I drove down to the flight line one evening. I climbed out into the same bomb bay and lowered myself down as I had been in the air. I was in good physical condition but I couldn't lift myself back up, even without the adverse effect of the air blast. I'm convinced it was adrenaline released by fear had saved me. I was also convinced that if I had been in the infantry, or a fighter pilot, as my cousin who was killed, I would not have survived the war. My impulsive response to solve a problem would have been my downfall. I could be very thoughtful and cautions yet very stupid.

Viewing the Devastation

We flew low back across Japan. The flight crews had spent hours studying aerial photos of Japan and wanted to see some of the former target areas and cities from low level. They really brought it down to the roof tops. Over Tokyo I heard the Bombardier call to the CO that he was below two radio towers ahead. As I too looked we swerved and banked to miss one and then reversed the swerve and banked to miss the other; we were low.

Japanese Air Base, all planes grounded

Expressions on Kids Faces:

Large areas were wiped out from fire bombs. The few stone or concrete type structures were often in good shape. A clock on one tower was operative and easy to read. The sight I'll never forget were children. They were grade school kids running single file into an underground bomb shelter. As we passed overhead some hesitated and looked up at us before running on.

Their's was a look of terror learned from first hand frightful experiences. To them our plane was not a beautiful marvel of man's craftsmanship but a monster bringing death and destruction. (Their expressions come back to mind even now years later when I envision what my old room mate Bob Nelson had seen in the faces of those who beheaded him somewhere in the setting below; I didn't know then that Bob had been beheaded only a short time before. I also didn't know at the time that my cousin, Vince Landau, a carrier pilot, had been shot down the last day of the war.

Landing on Iwo Jima

On the return trip the weather was turbulent and we were slapped about in the back of the plane till we climbed above it. Above the storm was the beautiful sight of billowy storm clouds. Our trip to the northern part of Japan plus the sightseeing was causing us to run low on fuel. It was decided to land at Iwo Jima.

Iwo Jima seemed so tiny. A flat region with a short runway and a hump, the mountain of Surabachi where the classic photo was taken of Marines raising the flag. We had to hold a pattern and pull around once while they cleared a prior aircraft from the runway. While the plane was gassed some of us strolled about. There were many rounds of live 30 caliber ammo still strewn about among expended shell cases. I picked up some as souvenirs.

I didn't know it at the time but Gorden Bozler, a Marine two classes behind me in high school, had lost most of one leg there.

If Grandparents could See This

During the return cruise I couldn't shake the thought of wishing my grandfathers, whom I'd never seen, could be along. Their knowledge of technological change ended for one shortly before and the other shortly after WWI. In my preschool days I knew the end of their live horsepower era and appreciate the considerable changes and achievements of their generation. My Dad, born in a Sod House on the family homestead told of how it took granddad all day to drive 8 miles to town hauling farm produce with team and wagon and returning with supplies. Here I was cruising high above the Pacific over distances it took weeks to cover by ship – it seemed my grandparents had earned the right to experience this trip. My life had been a constant effort to learn the changing technologies of our time. I wondered what was ahead?

The trip had been my first chance to relax in months. When I returned to my barracks it was as if from a vacation.

Buzzing Nimitz -- All Day

B-29’s Reminding Nimitz Smity, top step, and others are not enthusiastic

Nimitz, the head of the Navy in the Pacific, invited the top brass of the Marianas to his headquarters for a party to celebrate the end of the war. He reportedly announced with great pride that the Navy had won the war in the Pacific. This obviously didn't set well with the other services and the Air Force decided to remind him that other, non-naval forces, had something to do with wining the War. The party had been an all night affair. Air Force Generals decided to not let the Navy sleep off their hangover. The Navy couldn't muffle the rafter shaking roar of B-29's buzzing their roof tops and they couldn't order them away, they were an independent military force reporting via Hap Arnold to Secretary of Defense Marshall. The Air Force intended to remind him all day long.

This endeavor involved almost 1,000 B-29's filling the skies like aroused geese. They came from all 5 wings, 4 groups per wing, 3 squadrons per group and 15 planes per squadron. ((15x3)x4)x5 = 900 airplanes. At rounded off numbers this would be 54,000,000 gallons of gas and 600,000 gallons of oil feeding 4,000 engines producing 8,800,000 horsepower to propel 50,000,000 pounds of aircraft (discounting 20,000,000 pounds of empty bomb bay capacity) manned by 12,000 flight crew and 18,000 ground crew plus secondary support vehicles and personnel. Never in history has there been such a display, all for the attention of one man in the Navy. They did him honor. It certainly out-did a Navy 21 Gun Salute. The Navy had hauled the 5.5 million dollars worth of gasoline used for this splash.

The flight and ground crews were not enthusiastic about this exercize. They felt used in an ego contest between a few personalities. Crews were tired of flying and fixing, their heart wasn’t in the display, they understood but felt it was a bit childish. Someone suggested writing a letter to Drew Pearson. He was a nationally known member of the press who crusaded causes against waste and misuse of authority. Viewed from hindsight it brings a smile, after all Admirals and Generals were like the rest of us, kids at heart, commanding powerful toys, used for serious business – they too had a need to let off steam, they were tooting their horn.

Gold Teeth The north perimeter of the island had a 600 foot cliff that dropped steeply to a narrow beach. The Japanese had retreated to caves in this region in their last stand. The Marines who took the island found it impractical to clear them out. They set off charges in entrances to some of the larger caves and after repeated efforts using loud speakers to get straglers to surrender, simply defined the area as off limits. One of the mechanics was missing for about a week, then showed up. He'd been down over the cliff looking through the caves, this was dangerous particularly if armed because a number of persons had been shot. He had a Bull Durham tobacco sack stuffed with gold teeth he'd knocked out of skulls be found in the caves. He was a bit of a loner before this act and even more so afterward. This seemed a bit ghoulish to most of the fellows.

28^th Sqd M - Numbers Yellow on Black

Yellow M numbers Someone decided to paint bottoms of 19^th BG planes black see if it helped escape searchlight detection, V Chandler was asked to report results to LeMay. When Vern said he thought it helped, LeMay said Paint em. When 28^th Sqd fellows painted PW Supplies Yellow they decided to also paint Large M and number on side of engine cowel, These looked “sharp” by comparioson.

Mechanic to KP by choice Pfc Patsy P. Peluso 33721107 assigned as an airplane mechanic was missing? I was told he had volunteered as a permanent KP. I recalled working with Patsy when I first arrived. He was a happy guy, the only Pfc in the outfit, saying he’d not made Cpl because he was not cut out to be a mechanic. I looked him up in the mess hall, there he was hard at work. When he saw me he broke out in a big smile, saying Lt now that the wars over I hope you don’t mind. He said he was happy fixing chow for his buddies. I said, OK Patsy we might as well make it official, that way they can put you in for Cpl. It was a happy outcome for all.

Homes for the Homeless Guam experienced a wet and dry season. During the intermediate phase it would rain almost every day for perhaps an hour as a shower passed by. If a plane was not present the ground crew had no shelter from the rain and there was no place to keep tools and assorted servicing equipment while the planes were gone. Seeing the fellows huddled out in the rain seemed like a hell of a way to treat good men. I wanted to do something about it. When at the Service Center I’d seen a collectioln of large wooden boxes, used shipping crates for the large engines. I had a good look at them and determined that with very little modification they would make excellent sheds. I checked with the supply officer and he said I could have them.

With a line chiefs help we found a steel cable, rigged the cable from the skids under the box and the tow hitch on the jeep. Within a few hours I delivered a box to each hard stand, the fellows were delighted.

I gave instructions they be placed in a certain way, to adhere to the military penchant for uniformity. Looking at their smiling faces I said, "you can arrange them any way you pleased so long as they look clean and uncluttered to anyone driving along the taxi strip on an inspection. Our 28^th Sqd was the only one that had anything like this. They soon had a lean to porch on the far side as extra room and protection and rigged shelves on the inside for canned food and tools. Some put up signs on their side giving their home a name.

While moving the boxes I was stung by a wasp on my left hand, instinctively I slapped it and crushed the stinger and its content into my hand. It was quite painful. The hand almost doubled in size and took almost a week before the soreness was gone and the hand was back to normal.

1/Lt Richard Nevill

2/Lt to 1/Lt I was talking with other EO’s near group engineering when Richard Nevill from Dallas TX pulled up in his jeep and got out. Nevill and I hit it off from the start as if guys from KS and TX were family. He said to the others, "You were right, new promotions have been posted” Then turned to me and said, "Sorry Landau, but you didn't make it, I guess they figured you hadn't earned it yet, too bad but you'll just have to remain a 2nd Lt." The others smiled, they knew I’d been made Squadron EO which called for the rank of Captain. Nevill was always a puzzle to read, he had a dry sense of humor and 1/2 of his face was paralyzed. I couldn't tell if he was pulling my leg or not. I glanced at the others who shrugged with trace of a grin. I looked at Nevill and said I guess that’s the way the mop flops. Then Nevill held out his hand and said, "here damn it, put it on, if anyone in this outfit's earned it you have." He opened his hand and offered me one of his silver lst Lt bars. The others, as if in on this, stepped forward to shake my hand and helped remove the gold bar and pinned on the silver. I’d not given any thought to change in rank, aware I didn’t have enough time in grade. Nevill explained overseas time counts double, you now have enough time in grade. This jesture by Nevill was very meaningful to me. Looking back it’s a reminder of how much I owed to so many for help and assistance, I was blessed with many friends.

Change in Mind Set

War's end put the mobilization process in reverse mode, the armed forces were primarily civilinan soldiers, with surrender the job felt done thoughts were of going home. Yet all realized it was like turning about a large ship even the most eager to return felt the forward momentum, the need to finish the job first. The end of combat in Europe started the process of moving personnel from Europe to the Pacific, new personnel were arriving in anticipation of a need to invade. Each persons was eager to see girl friends, spouses and families and restart their own career. Congress passed the GI bill encouraging those returning to continue school. The war expanded the horizons for most GI's. Changes, especially in technology had been rapid, everyone felt it was necessary to learn more. All were impatient to apply their energies to the life ahead.

Isolationist US in 1941, found itself highly involve in large regions of the world in 1945. Europe, Russia, Japan and China had been devastated. Prior to WWI conquering armies most often incorporated occupied territories as their own. Such was the intent of Germany and Japan, and seemed the intent of Russia. England would like to restructured it's empire, but times had changed; Canada, Australia, India, wanted more independence – the old British empire became an alliance of trading partners sharing the English language.

The US, never intending conquest, found themselves responsible for huge masses of people who needed to be fed and their infrastructure rebuilt so disease and famine did not give birth to another war. We in the Pacific were subject to the pressures of returning personnel and moth-balling the equipments of war. The post war process had not been pre-planned. As persons moved out, bases were closed and consolidated. Marshall initiated the plan to be known by his name in Europe. MacArthur thrived on restructuring Japan, imposing a democratic constitution. The remnants of civilian soldiers in the pacific were almost forgotten, some of us had to speak up in order to get home in time to start school again.

Return was based on the point system, everyone accepted that as fair. GI's had become used to a transient life, making new friends with each change of assignment. All would like to have kept old friends but dynamics of change made such impossible. Only a small percentage managed to keep in contact over the many years. I managed to keep in contact with one, via Christmas Cards. In 1992 contact was made by chance via the 19th Bomb Group Association at a 20th AF gathering in Seattle for the 50th Anniversary of the 1st Flight of the B-29.