This
letter is from Smokey Hill Army Air Field, Salina, Kansas
Friday
March 9, 1945
No
we haven't painted the name on our plane as yet, but we are going
to call it "The Marauder". We are going to draw a picture
of Hiawatha on it - and it will really look sharp when we get
it all done.
The
crew is now on Guam...
April
14, 1945 (Please note that Joe Courtney is from Worcester,
Ma)
We
had to bail out of our plane the other day over open water and
of course we lost our plane. I had to do a little swimming, about
six or seven hours, but was finally picked up by a Navy Ship.
Incidentally, the communications officer on board the ship was
a Worcester fellow by the name of Murphy. He is from Grand Street...
Tuesday
May 2, 1945
Flew
three missions to the jap mainland. One to the island of Honshu,
and two to the island of Kyushu. The first two missions weren't
that bad, but the last one we flew was really rough. They threw
everything they had at us, but we were really lucky and managed
to get home safely. We were jumped by about seventy-five fighters
and we fought a running battle with them for about a half hour.
I managed to shoot down two jap fighters and the rest of the crew
got two, and we had another one that we probably destroyed. I
was plenty scared I don't mind telling you, but was too busy to
worry about it at the time.
Sunday
May 6, 1945 (Note: the bailout was April 10, 1945)
On
the mission where we had to bailout we lost our navigator. His
wife, Dottie, has just been informed, so I can now write about
it. The reason I didn't tell you sooner was because I was waiting
for the war department to inform her. It's pretty tough, as she
just became a mother of a baby girl. I wrote to her yesterday
and the rest of the crew is writing her. No doubt she is taking
it really hard.
Sunday
May 13, 1945
The
other day we went up to Kobe on a bomb raid, and like all others
we've been on, it was pretty rough. Not very many fighters this
time, but threw a lot of flak up at us. We got a few holes in
our plane, but we were lucky.
Wednesday
May 30, 1945
Since
I last wrote you, we have been on two missions, and we we now
have a total of eight missions to our credit. The last two were
both night raids, and they both were in Tokyo. According to the
news we did a good job, and I don't doubt it. I know when we flew
over the city it seemed to be all on fire. It was one of the most
beautiful and at the same time, terrifying sights I have ever
seen in my life. The flak and searchlights that they threw up
at us was like something you dream. I really did a lot of sweating
on those missions, as did everyone else. But it sure makes you
feel good to know that you've done a good job. We were very lucky
and god was mighty good to us as we came back from both missions
without a scratch. I wouldn't have thought it possible, but we
did it.
Tim Gray, our pilot got the D.F.C.
for his part in the bailout that we had and he deserves it, because
he was the one that we really owe our lives to. He did a wonderful
job. They gave him a big write-up on it and they also gave me
one, and gave me the air medal
for my doings. I didn't think I did anything spectacular, but
they gave it to me anyway. I think anyone of the crew should have
gotten it instead of me. One of these days I will tell you all
about it.
Saturday
June 2, 1945
The
name of our ship now is "Uncle Tim's Cabin" named after
our pilot Ralph Tim Gray. Right now our ship is up for repairs.
On our last mission, one of our props ran away and we had to land
in a hurry. Luckily we weren't very far out so we made it back
o.k. Ever since we had to bailout the fellows in the crew, myself
included, have been quite nervous. So the doctor decided to send
us back to a rest camp in Hawaii.
Saturday
June 30, 1945
We
went on a mission up to the town of Nobeoka, on Kyushu the other
night. And for a change, the mission was a snap. There was only
a very little flak and no fighters at all. It was a night raid
and when we left Japan the town was really burning beautiful.
It's beginning to look like we'll have to burn every town in Japan
before the war is over. Well, we can dish it out just as long
as they can take it! I'd just as soon blow the whole damn empire
right out of the ocean.
The
following letter is from Muroc Army Air Field California: Lead
Crew School. They never did return to Guam as Japan surrendered
August 15th
Friday
August 24, 1945
We
have to go back to Guam. In fact, we leave the states in about
another ten days. I don't mind so much myself. But well you know,
they say you go - so you go. It looks like we'll have to postpone
our dates for awhile. I don't know what they are going to have
us do over there. They haven't told us. But it can be only one
of three things. Either we'll ferry troops back to the states,
fly patrol missions, or be in the air force of occupation. Personally
if I had my choice, I'd pick the latter. I'd like to see Japan
from the ground. I'd like to see some of the damage we did. Sounds
rather blood thirsty doesn't it? Well as far as those people are
concerned, I guess I am.
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