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AUGUST 1945 A daily summary of squadron activities for the month is provided below. Additional details for significant events may be found at the linked text. August 1, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane conducted a snooper flight over Ocean and Nauru Islands. One plane flew a snooper flight over Kusaie. One plane performed a sector search. August 2, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane conducted a snooper flight over Kusaie. One plane flew a sector search. August 3, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. Three planes conducted a search for a lost plane. August 4, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. Six planes conducted a search for a lost plane. August 5, 1945: Two planes flew a patrol of assigned shipping lanes. Four planes conducted a search for a lost plane. August 6, 1945: Two planes flew a patrol of assigned shipping lanes. One plane conducted an administrative flight to Engebi. Four planes conducted a search for a lost plane. August 7, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. August 8, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane conducted a snooper flight over Kusaie. August 9, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane flew a strike against Wotje Atoll (Aircraft Action Report 64). August 10, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane flew a snooper mission over Ocean and Nauru Islands (Aircraft Action Report 63). One plane conducted a strike against Mille Atoll (Aircraft Action Report 65). One plane flew a strike against Wotje Atoll (Aircraft Action Report 66). One plane performed a sector search. August 11, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane conducted a snooper flight over Kusaie. One plane flew a strike against Jaluit Atoll (Aircraft Action Report 67). August 12, 1945: Two planes flew patrols of assigned shipping lanes. August 13, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane flew a strike against Jaluit Atoll (Aircraft Action Report 69). August 14, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane flew a strike against Jaluit Atoll (Aircraft Action Report 70). One plane performed a sector search. CinCPOA Advanced Headquarters Secret Dispatch #142315 ordered maintenance of security and cessation of all offensive operations. August 15, 1945: V-J Day. Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane conducted a snooper flight over Kusaie. All available hands attend V-J Day program at Richardson Theatre. August 16, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane conducted a snooper flight over Kusaie. One plane conducted a snooper flight over Ocean and Nauru Islands. One plane flew a sector search. August 17, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. August 18, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane flew a sector search. One plane conducted a search for a tug boat. August 19, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane conducted a snooper flight over Kusaie. August 20, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane conducted a snooper flight over Kusaie. One plane flew a sector search. August 21, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane conducted a sector search. One plane flew a snooper mission over Ocean and Nauru Islands. August 22, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. August 23, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane conducted a snooper flight over Kusaie. One plane flew a sector search. August 24, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane conducted a sector search. August 25, 1945: Three planes conduct a search for a lost plane. August 26, 1945: Four planes conduct a search for a lost plane. One plane performs a reconnaissance flight over Jaluit and Mille Atolls. August 27, 1945: Four planes conduct a search for a lost plane. One plane patrols assigned shipping lanes. One plane performs a reconnaissance flight over Jaluit and Mille Atolls. August 28, 1945: Three planes conduct a search for a lost plane. One plane patrols assigned shipping lanes. One plane performs a reconnaissance flight over Jaluit and Mille Atolls. One plane provided air cover for the Japanese surrender of Mille Atoll. August 29, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane conducted a snooper flight over Kusaie. August 30, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane conducted a sector search. August 31, 1945: Two planes patrolled assigned shipping lanes. One plane flew a sector search. One plane conducted a snooper flight over Kusaie.
WORK ON THE LINE: Taken on the flight line, five Marines work to connect a tow-bar from a PBJ-1H to a tractor. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps, Arthur H. Navarre Collection (Courtesy of Diane Hindy)
WIND-POWERED WASHING MACHINES: Frequently referred to as "Marshall Island Maytags," these wind-powered washing machines were located on Namur Island. Using the power of the constant wind on the islands, many wind powered-washing machines were constructed with available materials. Members of VMB-613 constructed and used many of these innovative contraptions on Kwajalein. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps
TAKEOFF: An unidentified VMB-613 PBJ runs up its engines prior to beginning its takeoff run on Kwajalein. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Roy Thorson)
FLIGHT LINE AND RAMP AREA: Taken from the air traffic control tower, a number of VMB-613 facilities and the flight line can be seen. VMB-613's Radio-Radar shop was located in the Quonset hut on the right of the photograph with the adjoining structures being used for storage. Directly behind the Radio-Radar shop was facilities for the squadron's ordnance and engineering equipment. Three of the squadron's PBJ-1Hs are to the left of these facilities, while in the background a Navy PBY can be seen. To the left, the squadron's flight line can be seen with six parked PBJs, Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Bill Remick)
75MM CANNON: VMB-613 members show the "business end" of their PBJ. Technical Sergeant William A. Kehr holds a 75mm shell while First Lieutenant William R. Hancock points out the muzzle of the cannon. The remaining squadron member has not been identified. Note the unique design painted on the nose wheel cover. Photograph: Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen (Courtesy of William A. Kehr)
FLAMING FURY: This crew poses for a photograph in front of a squadron PBJ named "Flaming Fury." The men are: Front Row (L-R) Staff Sergeant Eugene R. Miller, Unidentified, and Staff Sergeant Robert R. Grant. Back Row (L-R) First Lieutenant Allen T. Davis, Jr., First Lieutenant William R. Hancock, and Technical Sergeant William A. Black, Jr. Photograph: Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen (Courtesy of William A. Kehr)
ON PATROL: MB-10, Bureau Number 35276, on patrol in the Central Pacific. By the time this photograph was taken, VMB-613 armorers had removed the "package guns" in order to save weight, thereby increasing the aircraft's patrol range. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of William A. Kehr)
RICHARDSON THEATRE: The Richardson Theatre was located adjacent to VMB-613's area, in the vicinity to the Island Chapel. This was the location of a number of USO shows and the V-J Day Ceremony. Photograph: Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen (Courtesy of Debbie Kane)
Program: Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen (Courtesy of Charles Knapp)
MILLE SURRENDERS:
Captain Masanori Shiga of
the Imperial Japanese Navy signs the Instrument of Surrender for the
Japanese forces on Mille Atoll on August 22, 1945 aboard the USS Levy
(DE-162). Those to the right of Shiga are
Lieutenant E.R. Harris, Lieutenant Colonel G.V.
Burnett, and Captain H. B. Grow.
5-INCH ANTI-BOAT GUN:
Emplaced on Mille Island,
this Japanese 5-inch coastal defense gun lies silent following the surrender
of the
garrison. Despite lacking sufficient food to sustain life, the
garrison still had plenty of ammunition remaining to resist any landing
attempts. |
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Copyright © 2008 Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen Association. All Rights Reserved. |
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V-J DAY PROGRAM: The 
