(no subject)
This is an interesting read. My grandfather was in the Air Force during WWII, and this is one of the letters my grandmother gave me today. He was one of the squadrons who went in to Hiroshima and the surrounding areas to look for survivors and whatnot. Anyhoo, I believe the Hiroshima bombings happened in August? This was a month later in September. I s'pose he's the king of run-on sentences. It runs in the family :-D
R.O.N TO KOMMA! By: Donald Stricklin
I am writing this from a place that few Americans have ever heard of, let alone seen.
On September 4, 1945, two crews from each of our four squadrons were ordered to take on four passengers in each plane and fly to this city, the capitol of Korea, Keiayo.
We were the first allies to land in this district. We knew nothing of the airfield we were to land at. Our passengers included General Harris and a number of Col's and Majors. We were to unload then fly back, but we got here and weather closed in and we have been here ever since. The Japanese knew we were coming and were ready to surrender to us, so i will describe the whole story in detail.
We took off from Ie Shima at 0500 to go first to Okinawa and pick up our passengers. When we landed there, one of our ships blew a tire and cracked up so we had to get another.
Each plane had four passengers. Col. Dean of the 308th Bomb Wing was one of ours.
We left Okinawa at 1100 (held up because of the weather) and I was lead navigator of eight planes. My pilot was Capt. Tatelman, co-pilot Lt. McKinn. I was lucky and broke out of the weather at destination. We were not sure of where Pal Field was. It was not on the map but was supposed to be twelve miles west of the city. It was called, "Kite Airdrome". We found a field that looked good and buzzed it. There were hundreds of Jap soldiers, pilots, etc., in front of the hangers, all lined up in formation so we figured we had the right place and landed. The strips were short for a B25 and all of us nearly went off the end of the runway and had to slam on the breaks in order to stop. Damn Japs can't build good airfields!
There were Jap Soldiers all along the taxiways with red and white flags guiding us over to our parking area. There were about 150 Jap planes also parked there. Who said the Japs had no air force?! We landed first and, with our radio, acted as a control tower to bring in the other planes. Then we opened the lower hatch and I was the number three man to step out.
It was a funny feeling to step out among hundreds of armed Jap soldiers and just a handful of us with nothing but our pistols strapped to us. Later, we all admitted to shaking like a leaf. The Jap Major in charge of the field marched up to General Harris, saluted him, and surrendered the airfield to America and promised full co-operation. The little devils were very polite.
They put a guard on our planes and out came about fifteen cars all shined up for the occasion. The real surprise is that most of the cars were Fords, Chevy's, one Lincoln Zephyr, and one Chrysler Airflow all dating 1940 and earlier.
We loaded into them and started towards the town. The Japs had soldiers spaced every hundred feet on both sides of the road and streets to guard us. We found out that if anything happened to us, the Jap Commander was responsible so he was taking no chances. That ride into town was something we will all remember. The Japs either looked at us with fierce hatred in their eyes, or indifference. Some turned their backs on us, some saluted. The Koreans were different. Those with Chinese faces smiled and waved, those with Jap faces (Japan conquered these people 35 years ago) showed hatred.
The surprise of the trip was just as we entered the cities West Date (this was a walled city). We heard a lot of shouting and cheering and there stood 20 Australian and English soldiers who had just escaped from a P.O.W camp. They were given the freedom of the city and did they cheer when they saw us! They had been taken prisoners over three years ago when Singapore fell. Among them were two American P-47 pilots who went down two weeks before the war ended.
Our trip ended at the chosen hotel where all the wheels were put up and the Air Crews were brought to this hotel, the Hanto Hotel. We were up on the sixth floor. We cannot leave the hotel until our troops arrive which will be this evening so up until now we have been prisoners of the Japs. They have guards all around the hotel, that is for our protection because the Jap commander fears what would happen to him if any of us were killed.
But, what a prisoners life! My room is 627, a big bed with an inner spring mattress, room service, shower, hot water, and the meals! Whooee! Seven course meals with all the brandy and beer we can hold. They bow at us. Each of us has an interpreter at our elbow who is always ready to get us whatever we ask for. They are Jap civilians, government workers. Mine is from Tokyo and has not seen Tokyo since our B-29's started to work it over. (Thank goodness that he hasn't.) We all sleep with our doors locked and our pistols loaded, handy, and cocked, but it's unnecessary.
Yesterday we asked them to take us on a tour of the city (800,000 people) and they did. We visited shrines, colleges, and state buildings. Everywhere we went, large crowds gathered and gaped at us. The old Koreans smiled and their kids waved, and guess what? A bunch of them carried American Flags of pre-war stock. In us, the Koreans see another chance for independence-but they still feared Russia.
One old man came up to me and said, "We Koreans welcome you. America is a strong and good nation. Through you, we shall again be independent." I asked him where he learned English, and he said, "Missionary school."
Among the passengers we brought up was an American whose father was a missionary. He, the passenger, was born and raised in this city. That was strange that he should end the war in the city that he was born in.
Last night for supper we had brandy, cocktail, soup, beer, tea, carrots, squash, chicken, steak, and some other kind of meat, apples, grapes, and their bread (which is a roll and tastes good, but is like no bread i have ever tasted before.) Then, once we were done eating, they brought us a bottle of brandy. It was good and all the beer we wanted was available. The beer is good also, better than our 3.2.
This afternoon our ships are docking at Jinsen, a city on the coast about fifteen miles west of here, and our troops will march in. We were not supposed to be here this long but fog has been lying among the hills and over the area so thick that we can't take off.
The city is nestled among the hills and mountains and is very beautiful.
Now a word about these people; one can see many types. There are the old Manchurians with goatees, Japanese women with those colored pajama looking clothes and hair up in a peak. Mongolian people with flat noses and round faces. The women are ugly and dirty, which disgusted single boys in the crowd. There are a few Russian families in town but we have not seen them. They are of high morals but when they want to piss, they haul it out and do it even down on the main street. That was comical to us but they think nothing of it.
The women bind their breasts flat and it makes them look comical. Everybody carries an umbrella.
The cars on the street have no concern for pedestrians, but just barge along through the crowds at 40 M.P.H. and hits them but don't stop. They drive in the middle of the street, when they meet they might go to the right or left. It seems to make no difference. They blow their horns at the streetcars as if they will pull over. The cars run on carbide, which makes the city stink like garlic (carbide odor).
If we are still here tomorrow, we will get to see the city as our troop will be here. We eat only food that is picked and drink water that is boiled to safeguard our health.
September 9, 1945
The American troops did not march in last night as the Koreans expected, but the Koreans gathered in front of our hotel yesterday afternoon. They were 2000 strong and cheered until we went to the balcony. They expected our troops to protect them from the Japs, hence last night from the hotel room we could hear rifle shots all over town. They were exchanged between the Japs and Koreans.
On the way to the airport this morning, thousands of Koreans lined the streets waiting for our troops. We met them halfway to the field and razzed them by yelling, "You're a week late! The Air Force has already established a beach head!"
We took off, buzzed the city, and returned to Ie Shima.
R.O.N TO KOMMA! By: Donald Stricklin
I am writing this from a place that few Americans have ever heard of, let alone seen.
On September 4, 1945, two crews from each of our four squadrons were ordered to take on four passengers in each plane and fly to this city, the capitol of Korea, Keiayo.
We were the first allies to land in this district. We knew nothing of the airfield we were to land at. Our passengers included General Harris and a number of Col's and Majors. We were to unload then fly back, but we got here and weather closed in and we have been here ever since. The Japanese knew we were coming and were ready to surrender to us, so i will describe the whole story in detail.
We took off from Ie Shima at 0500 to go first to Okinawa and pick up our passengers. When we landed there, one of our ships blew a tire and cracked up so we had to get another.
Each plane had four passengers. Col. Dean of the 308th Bomb Wing was one of ours.
We left Okinawa at 1100 (held up because of the weather) and I was lead navigator of eight planes. My pilot was Capt. Tatelman, co-pilot Lt. McKinn. I was lucky and broke out of the weather at destination. We were not sure of where Pal Field was. It was not on the map but was supposed to be twelve miles west of the city. It was called, "Kite Airdrome". We found a field that looked good and buzzed it. There were hundreds of Jap soldiers, pilots, etc., in front of the hangers, all lined up in formation so we figured we had the right place and landed. The strips were short for a B25 and all of us nearly went off the end of the runway and had to slam on the breaks in order to stop. Damn Japs can't build good airfields!
There were Jap Soldiers all along the taxiways with red and white flags guiding us over to our parking area. There were about 150 Jap planes also parked there. Who said the Japs had no air force?! We landed first and, with our radio, acted as a control tower to bring in the other planes. Then we opened the lower hatch and I was the number three man to step out.
It was a funny feeling to step out among hundreds of armed Jap soldiers and just a handful of us with nothing but our pistols strapped to us. Later, we all admitted to shaking like a leaf. The Jap Major in charge of the field marched up to General Harris, saluted him, and surrendered the airfield to America and promised full co-operation. The little devils were very polite.
They put a guard on our planes and out came about fifteen cars all shined up for the occasion. The real surprise is that most of the cars were Fords, Chevy's, one Lincoln Zephyr, and one Chrysler Airflow all dating 1940 and earlier.
We loaded into them and started towards the town. The Japs had soldiers spaced every hundred feet on both sides of the road and streets to guard us. We found out that if anything happened to us, the Jap Commander was responsible so he was taking no chances. That ride into town was something we will all remember. The Japs either looked at us with fierce hatred in their eyes, or indifference. Some turned their backs on us, some saluted. The Koreans were different. Those with Chinese faces smiled and waved, those with Jap faces (Japan conquered these people 35 years ago) showed hatred.
The surprise of the trip was just as we entered the cities West Date (this was a walled city). We heard a lot of shouting and cheering and there stood 20 Australian and English soldiers who had just escaped from a P.O.W camp. They were given the freedom of the city and did they cheer when they saw us! They had been taken prisoners over three years ago when Singapore fell. Among them were two American P-47 pilots who went down two weeks before the war ended.
Our trip ended at the chosen hotel where all the wheels were put up and the Air Crews were brought to this hotel, the Hanto Hotel. We were up on the sixth floor. We cannot leave the hotel until our troops arrive which will be this evening so up until now we have been prisoners of the Japs. They have guards all around the hotel, that is for our protection because the Jap commander fears what would happen to him if any of us were killed.
But, what a prisoners life! My room is 627, a big bed with an inner spring mattress, room service, shower, hot water, and the meals! Whooee! Seven course meals with all the brandy and beer we can hold. They bow at us. Each of us has an interpreter at our elbow who is always ready to get us whatever we ask for. They are Jap civilians, government workers. Mine is from Tokyo and has not seen Tokyo since our B-29's started to work it over. (Thank goodness that he hasn't.) We all sleep with our doors locked and our pistols loaded, handy, and cocked, but it's unnecessary.
Yesterday we asked them to take us on a tour of the city (800,000 people) and they did. We visited shrines, colleges, and state buildings. Everywhere we went, large crowds gathered and gaped at us. The old Koreans smiled and their kids waved, and guess what? A bunch of them carried American Flags of pre-war stock. In us, the Koreans see another chance for independence-but they still feared Russia.
One old man came up to me and said, "We Koreans welcome you. America is a strong and good nation. Through you, we shall again be independent." I asked him where he learned English, and he said, "Missionary school."
Among the passengers we brought up was an American whose father was a missionary. He, the passenger, was born and raised in this city. That was strange that he should end the war in the city that he was born in.
Last night for supper we had brandy, cocktail, soup, beer, tea, carrots, squash, chicken, steak, and some other kind of meat, apples, grapes, and their bread (which is a roll and tastes good, but is like no bread i have ever tasted before.) Then, once we were done eating, they brought us a bottle of brandy. It was good and all the beer we wanted was available. The beer is good also, better than our 3.2.
This afternoon our ships are docking at Jinsen, a city on the coast about fifteen miles west of here, and our troops will march in. We were not supposed to be here this long but fog has been lying among the hills and over the area so thick that we can't take off.
The city is nestled among the hills and mountains and is very beautiful.
Now a word about these people; one can see many types. There are the old Manchurians with goatees, Japanese women with those colored pajama looking clothes and hair up in a peak. Mongolian people with flat noses and round faces. The women are ugly and dirty, which disgusted single boys in the crowd. There are a few Russian families in town but we have not seen them. They are of high morals but when they want to piss, they haul it out and do it even down on the main street. That was comical to us but they think nothing of it.
The women bind their breasts flat and it makes them look comical. Everybody carries an umbrella.
The cars on the street have no concern for pedestrians, but just barge along through the crowds at 40 M.P.H. and hits them but don't stop. They drive in the middle of the street, when they meet they might go to the right or left. It seems to make no difference. They blow their horns at the streetcars as if they will pull over. The cars run on carbide, which makes the city stink like garlic (carbide odor).
If we are still here tomorrow, we will get to see the city as our troop will be here. We eat only food that is picked and drink water that is boiled to safeguard our health.
September 9, 1945
The American troops did not march in last night as the Koreans expected, but the Koreans gathered in front of our hotel yesterday afternoon. They were 2000 strong and cheered until we went to the balcony. They expected our troops to protect them from the Japs, hence last night from the hotel room we could hear rifle shots all over town. They were exchanged between the Japs and Koreans.
On the way to the airport this morning, thousands of Koreans lined the streets waiting for our troops. We met them halfway to the field and razzed them by yelling, "You're a week late! The Air Force has already established a beach head!"
We took off, buzzed the city, and returned to Ie Shima.