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FEBRUARY 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. February 1, 1945: Offices and living quarters were organized for squadron detachment on Eniwetok. February 2, 1945: One plane conducted a snooper flight over Ponape Island (Aircraft Action Report 7). Five planes flew a convoy escort mission. February 3, 1945: Three planes performed a hunter-killer flight. Two planes conducted a snooper flight over Ponape Island (Aircraft Action Report 8). February 4, 1945: Nine planes conducted a hunter-killer flight. One plane flew a snooper mission over Ponape Island (Aircraft Action Report 9). February 5, 1945: Eight planes performed a hunter-killer flight. One plane flew a snooper mission over Ponape Island (Aircraft Action Report 10). February 6, 1945: Three planes flew a hunter-killer mission. Six planes conducted a strike against Airfield Number Two on Ponape Island. One plane (BuNo 35275) was lost to enemy action on the strike over Ponape Island, killing the pilot and crew. Those killed were: First Lieutenant William J. Love, 023765; First Lieutenant Thomas W. Stone, 027570; Staff Sergeant John R. Schwaller, 292152; Sergeant Leland E. Baumbach, 819550; Sergeant John A. Becker, 870393, and; Sergeant David Snider, 805866. The navigator of a second plane on the strike, Private William M. Farley, 563260, was also killed over the target by a large fragment of shrapnel (Aircraft Action Report 6). February 7, 1945: One plane flew an escort for VMF-113 on a strike of Ponape Island which was aborted. February 8, 1945: One plane flew an escort for VMF-113 on a strike of Ponape Island. One plane conducted a search flight around Ujelang Island. Private William M. Farley, the navigator killed in the strike over Ponape on February 6, 1945, was buried with full military honors at 2:00PM at the Temporary American Army Cemetery, Japtan Island, Eniwetok Atoll; Grave Number 68, Plot 2, Row 4. February 9, 1945: One plane conducted a snooper flight over Ponape Island. February 10, 1945: One plane conducted a snooper flight over Ponape Island. February 11, 1945: One plane conducted a snooper flight over Ponape Island. Five planes flew seven-hour sector searches. February 12, 1945: One plane conducted a snooper flight over Ponape Island. Five planes flew seven-hour sector searches. February 13, 1945: One plane conducted a snooper flight over Ponape Island (Aircraft Action Report 11). Five planes flew seven-hour sector searches. February 14, 1945: One plane conducted a snooper flight over Ponape Island. Five planes flew seven-hour sector searches. February 15, 1945: One plane conducted a snooper flight over Ponape Island. Five planes flew seven-hour sector searches. February 16, 1945: One plane conducted a snooper flight over Ponape Island (Aircraft Action Report 15). Five planes flew seven-hour sector searches. February 17, 1945: One plane conducted a snooper flight over Ponape Island. Five planes flew seven-hour sector searches. February 18, 1945: One plane conducted a snooper flight over Ponape Island. Five planes flew seven-hour sector searches. February 19, 1945: One plane flew as an escort for a flight of F4Us from Engebi to Roi. Seven planes return to Kwajalein from Eniwetok pursuant to Shore Based Air Force Speed-Letter #00194. February 20, 1945: One plane flew as an escort for a flight of F4Us from Eniwetok to Roi. One plane conducted a snooper flight over Ponape Island. Three planes flew a hunter-killer mission. February 21, 1945: One plane flew a hunter-killer mission. On plane conducted a snooper flight over Ponape Island. February 22, 1945: One plane escorted VMB-113 and VMF-422 on a photo reconnaissance flight. On plane conducted a snooper flight over Ponape Island (Aircraft Action Report 16). February 23, 1945: One plane escorted VMB-113 and VMF-422 on a photo reconnaissance flight. On plane conducted a snooper flight over Ponape Island. February 24, 1945: One plane flew a snooper mission over Ponape Island. One plane conducted a search of Mejit Island, negative. February 25, 1945: One plane flew a snooper mission over Ponape Island. February 26, 1945: One plane flew a snooper mission over Ponape Island. February 27, 1945: One plane flew a snooper mission over Ponape Island. Five planes conducted a search for survivors of a missing aircraft that was transporting Lieutenant General Millard F. Harmon (Commanding General, Army Air Forces Pacific Ocean Area), negative. February 28, 1945: Six planes continued a search for survivors of General Harmon's missing plane, negative. One plane flew a snooper mission over Ponape Island (Aircraft Action Report 17). Three planes conducted a night snooper mission over Wotje and Maloelap Atolls (Aircraft Action Report 12).
PILOTS ON ENIWETOK: Seven VMB-613 pilots pause for a group photograph on Eniwetok in early February of 1945. The pilots are Front Row (L-R): First Lieutenant Wayne A. Youngren, First Lieutenant Robert E. Love, and First Lieutenant Francis S. Manning; Back Row (L-R) First Lieutenant Robert W. Jackson, First Lieutenant John "R" Riblet, First Lieutenant Richard D. Newton, and First Lieutenant Tom H. Houston. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps, David Snider Collection (Courtesy of the Manning Brothers)
8-BALL: First Lieutenant Francis S. Manning stands in front of "8-Ball" on Eniwetok in February of 1945. Note the absence of the package-guns and how the nose wheel cover has been painted like a pool ball. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps, David Snider Collection (Courtesy of the Manning Brothers)
ENIWETOK AIRSTRIP: While conducting snooper flights and strikes against Ponape, VMB-613 operated from the 7,000-foot bomber airstrip that was constructed on Eniwetok Island. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps
FLAMING FURY: A VMB-613 aircraft armorer cleans the 75m cannon of "Flaming Fury", one of the squadron's PBJ-1Hs. In order to ensure accuracy and safety, the 75mm cannon and .50 caliber machine guns on each aircraft required constant cleaning and maintenance. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps, Clell Q. Thorpe Collection (Courtesy of the University of Houston Libraries)
MISS-CARRIAGE: Following their reconnaissance mission over Ponape on February 5, 1945, First Lieutenant Milton Schatan and his crew pose for a quick photograph for squadron photographer Sergeant David Snider in front of their aircraft, "Miss-Carriage." This is believed to be the last photograph taken by Sergeant Snider, as he was killed over Ponape the following day. The crew members are - Front Row (L-R) Technical Sergeant Tracie R. Bell Jr., Technical Sergeant Joseph E. Campbell Jr., and Staff Sergeant Donald C. Clay. Back Row (L-R) First Lieutenant Milton Schatan, and First Lieutenant Major O. Crews. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Donald C. Clay)
PBM-5 MARINER: Flying from Parry Island, a PBM of VPB-19 acting as a Dumbo accompanied VMB-613 to Ponape during the February 6, 1945 strike. The Martin PMB had a maximum speed of 130 knots and a range of 2,240 miles. Photograph: U.S. Navy Historical Archives
LOVE BUG: Taken on the flight line on Eniwetok, MB-6 awaits its next mission. Each of VMB-613's aircraft had two assigned aircrews. MB-6's two aircrews were that of First Lieutenant Robert E. Love and his brother, First Lieutenant William J. Love—hence the name, "Love Bug." First Lieutenant William J. Love and his crew were killed when this aircraft was shot down on a raid over Ponape on February 6, 1945. Note the faint outline of the large over-painted numbers below the pilot's canopy. These large numbers were used only while training in the United States. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Lloyd L. McDaniel)
MIKE BAKER 6: Another photograph of the "Love Bug" taken on Eniwetok around the same time as the previous photograph, but from a slightly different angle. The "Love Bug" was lost in action within a few days of this photograph being taken. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Robert Klinke)
CREW LOST OVER PONAPE: Front Row (L-R) First Lieutenant Thomas W. Stone (KIA), Sergeant John A. Becker (KIA), Corporal Frank Haddix, and Private First Class Clifford R. Hall. Rear Row (L-R) First Lieutenant William J. Love (KIA), Staff Sergeant John R. Schwaller (KIA), Sergeant Leland E. Baumbach (KIA), Sergeant John E. Siergiewicz, and Staff Sergeant Paul H. Tenkman. Haddix, Hall, Siergiewicz, and Tenkman were not aboard the aircraft and survived. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps, David Snider Collection (Courtesy of the Manning Brothers)
LOST PHOTOGRAPHER: Sergeant David Snider (Right) was killed with First Lieutenant William J. Love's crew on February 6, 1945. Snider was sitting in the tail of the aircraft to film the strike results when his aircraft was shot down. The other Marine is fellow photographer, Sergeant Harold F. Riehle. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps, David Snider Collection (Courtesy of the Manning Brothers)
NAVIGATOR KILLED OVER PONAPE: Private William M. Farley visits with his father and kid-brother on leave in Wyandanch, New York just prior to his assignment to VMB-613. Private Farley served as a navigator on First Lieutenant Ernest L. Hunt's crew and was killed-in-action over Ponape on February 6, 1945. Photograph: Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen (Courtesy of Frank J. Kos)
GOOD SHOT: First Lieutenant Milton Schatan, center, flew the entire length of the Japanese airfield on Ponape during the February 6, 1945 raid. During his run, a shot from his 75mm cannon entered the front door of a Japanese building at the end of the runway and exploded inside, demolishing the entire structure and killing its occupants. He is seen here with an unidentified pilot and First Lieutenant James T. Cotton. Lieutenant Cotton would have his own exciting run on the night of June 4, 1945 when a well-placed bomb from his aircraft touched off a Japanese fuel dump on Mille. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps, David Snider Collection (Courtesy of the Manning Brothers)
MB-4: This photograph was taken on Eniwetok and shows Mike Baker-4, Bung-Ho! Those pictured along with the aircraft are: Front Row (L-R) Master Technical Sergeant Dale C. Faith, and First Lieutenant Edward A. Rogers. Back Row (L-R) Master Technical Sergeant Henry L. Williams, Second Lieutenant Oran W. Noble, Staff Sergeant Robert E.P. Cherry, and Technical Sergeant Billy J.G. Starks. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of the Nathan LaRicca) |
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Copyright © 2008 Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen Association. All Rights Reserved. |
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