USS Swanson DD443 “Lifeguard” Duty

Ditching and Rescue: First B-29 Mission to Tokyo

 

 

 

SURVIVORS FROM B-29 DITCHED AT SEA AND RESCUED BY SWANSON ON

25 NOVEMBER 1944 AFTER PARTICIPATING IN FIRST B-29 RAID ON

TOKYO. SHOWN HERE IN TENT ON SAIPAN.

 

B-29 Crew in picture:

Cpl. Billy Weaver (on cot) Right blister gunner.

Seated left to right:

Staff Sgt. Raymond Kohler   Central fire control gunner.

Sgt. Charles Sears                 Radio Operator

Capt. Guice Tudor                 Airplane Commander

Tech. Sgt. Walter Deahl         Tail gunner

Staff Sgt. Alfred Titone          Radar operator

Standing – left to right:

Lt. Lawrence Novick             Bombardier.

Lt. Robert Moeller                 Navigator

Lt. Russell Scott                    Pilot

Sgt. Simon Guevara               Left blister gunner.

Lt. Charles Daniels                Flight Engineer

 

 

RECOLLECTION

Robert E. Moeller   1989

 

 

After training at Smokey Hill Air Force Base in Salina, Kansas our crew flying B-29 VO48 arrived on Saipan in the North Pacific Mariana Islands, via Hawaii and Kwajalein, on November 154, 1944. The eleven men on the crew were: Airplane Commander – Capt. Guice Tudor, Pilot – Lt. Russell Scott, Bombardier – Lt. Lawrence Novick, Engineer – Lt. Charles Daniels, Radio – Sgt. Charles Sears, Radar – Sgt. Alfred Titone, CFC Gunner – S/Sgt. Raymond Kohler, Tail Gunner – T/Sgt. Walter Deahl, Left Gunner – Simon Guevera, Right Gunner – Cpl. Billy Weaver, and Navigator – Lt. Robert Moeller.

 

Upon our arrival we learned that several shakedown missions had been flown to Truck and Iwo Jima and everyone was anxiously waiting for the first mission to Japan. We did not wait long. Two days later on November 17th, we were briefed to take off early the next morning on a mission to Nakajima Airplane Plant northwest of Tokyo. Capt. William Chynoweth was assigned to go with our crew as an observer. However, for the next week frustrations set in as we had daily cancellations due to bad weather either at the target or Saipan. Finally on November 24th the word “GO”.  Shortly after dawn General “Rosie” O’Donnell took off leading 111 B-29’s from the 73rd Bomb Wing to Japan.

 

At the pre-flight briefing our plane was assigned to fly with another squadron in our group. In order to conserve fuel after taking off in the heavily loaded planes we flew a loose nine-plane formation at low altitude for over four hours. Then, after climbing to about 20,000 feet our engines overheated and we fell behind with two other B-29’s experiencing the same problem. The other six planes continued on the scheduled flight plan. After the engines cooled we climbed to a 31,000-foot bombing altitude on the right wing of the leader of our three-plane formation. Ahead we soon spotted the coast of Japan, and our initial point Mr.Fujiyama sticking up through the heavy clouds. We donned our flak suits and prepared for action.

 

After passing over Mr. Fujiyama on our bombing heading we found enemy opposition was lighter than expected with most of the flak and fighters below our altitude. As we approached the target we opened our bomb bay doors, but for some unknown reason the lead B-29 failed to drop its bombs as we passed over the target. Then with the bomb bay doors open, we followed the lead B-29 of our three-plane formation around the Tokyo area for almost an hour. Finally, because of high fuel consumption our plane dropped its bombs over Tokyo and headed back to Saipan.

 

The first few hours of our return flight were uneventful with ho hint of any problem. By nightfall we were a little more than an hour from Saipan when one engine coughed and quit – out of gas. A short time later when we were northwest of Pagan Island, which was still occupied by Japanese troops, a second engine ran out of fuel. Capt. Tudor decided to ditch while we still had control and power from two engines.

 

The crew was ordered to take their ditching positions with five men in the front of the plane and seven in the gunners’ compartment behind the bomb bay. I stuffed maps in my flight jacket and climbed through the tunnel over the bomb bays and seated myself with my back to the bulkhead next to Deahl who was standing. Everyone in the compartment remained calm as we approached the water. I recall the plane skipping smoothly three times over the swells and thinking this was going to be easy when all hell broke loose. The plane broke in half right where we were sitting and everyone except Deahl , who climbed out of a hatch onto the top of the fuselage, was swept under the plane into the water. As I went down I felt jagged metal, bodies, and shoes, and remember paddling frantically to reach the surface.

 

When I regained my senses and got my Mae West life preserver inflated I saw several of the crew on top of the front half of the plane, which was floating horizontally. They were releasing life rafts and emergency containers. I recall thinking it looked like a scene from a Hollywood movie. I tried to swim to the plane but because of all clothing and gear I wore I kept getting carried further away by six to eight foot swells. Finally, while keeping a desperate grip on the life preserver, I stripped off my flight jacket, .45 pistol and holster, GI shoes, webbed belt with knife and canteen, my flight suit, and shirt and pants. By this time, whenever the full moon shone through the about fifty percent cloud cover, I could see the front end of the plane-floating nose down about two to three hundred yards away.

 

I decided my only chance to be rescued was to swim to the plane and hope the survivors were close by in life rafts. For the next couple of hours I swam using 100 strokes and resting for a count of fifty until I got near the plane and saw two life rafts. They heard my yells and paddled towards me. After being alone in the water for three and a half hours I was mighty happy to jump in the raft and learn everyone was aboard with no major injuries.

 

The night in the raft seemed endless. We were cold and all of us suffered from bouts of seasickness. When dawn arrived our cuts and bruises were treated with sulfa and we had some water from the emergency supplies in the life raft. We also learned the Pacific sun was very hot and uncomfortable. That may account for why Capt. Tudor jumped into the water and immediately jumped back into the raft without explanation.

 

During the morning we cranked our emergency radio transmitter and flashed mirrors at a couple of planes off in the distance in an unsuccessful attempt to attract their attention. We were not overly concerned about being found because Sears had radioed our position before we ditched. It was not until after we were rescued that we learned that our ditching location had not been received.

 

About mid-morning a Marine B-25 that was returning from bombing Iwo Jima spotted our B-29 that was still floating nose down nearby. Their plane circled us a few times to let us know they had our position. Later we learned the co-pilot had been dozing, woke up and saw our plane in the water. Otherwise we might never have been found as our B-29 sank soon after. In a short time a couple of Navy seaplanes flew over but were unable to land in the heavy swells. Later Air Force P-47’s circled us until afternoon. Then we were thrilled to see a ship approaching us over the horizon, which we soon learned was the destroyer USS Swanson.

 

I well remember the Swanson bobbing in the heavy swells as it stopped next to our rafts. As we boarded by rope nets over the side, one moment the rail would be down close to water level and the next twenty feet above us. What a welcome relief as eager Navy hands helped pull us aboard.

 

We all thanked the captain, officers and crew of the Swanson for coming to our rescue. It seemed they could not do enough for our bedraggled B-29 crew. The ship’s medic attended to our cuts and bruises, and the officers and crew provided us with bunks for much needed rest, clothing, an excellent meal, and generally catered to our every whim. I was greatly impressed by a tour of the Swanson, which showed the outstanding fighting capabilities of this magnificent ship that seems to fly as it cut through the water at high speed.

 

After several hours of royal treatment the Swanson arrived in Saipan Harbor. We repeated our thanks as we said our goodbyes and boarded a launch, which took us ashore after a day and a half of events we will never forget.

 

Upon landing we were happy to learn that only one other B-29 had been lost after being rammed by a fighter over Tokyo. With the exception of Capt. Tudor and Cpl. Weaver, who were replaced by Capt. Westbrook and Pvt. Pinello, our B-29 crew remained together. We became a lead crew and flew twenty-six missions to Japan.

 

We shall remain forever grateful to the officers and crew of the USS Swanson for rescuing us.

 

Printed in “Destroyer at War!”  and was contributed by  Lt.  Robert E Moeller

Honorary Crew Member of the USS Swanson DD443 Association.

 


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