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"A Synopsis Of P-10"
Part 2

After this brief respite, it was time for Crew 10 to get back to the air war. A/C Bell was ordered to proceed with urgency to their photo targets of Hiroshima and Kokura. It would later be revealed that Kokura was the primary target, and Hiroshima was the alternative, for the first atomic bomb drop. This flight by P-10 was made 30 June 1945. All of the targets that day were in the Yawata area. After completing several runs, Crew 10 found themselves in the area of Nagaski. A/C Bell called back to Jones to make another run on this last target, hopefully of getting better results. Suddenly, navigator Joe Callaghen broke in on the intercom exclaiming, "Bell this is no training mission - there's a Jap naval base almost under us! Let's get the hell out of here!" No more was said and P-10 turned the nose to Guam.

On 26 June, Mission # 15 - P-10 flew the longest documented mission of World War II in a solo photo flight to Sapporo, Hokkaido and other targets in that area. The distance-covered non-stop (and no refueling) was 4,650 miles and ran just short of 23 hours. Elmer Jones mentions that the crew appreciated the Sapporo air base turning on its landing lights for them but "we decided not to stop." Obviously, the Japanese could not believe that an American plane had reached that far north into the Japanese home island. It's interesting to note that "Tokyo Rose" later mentioned, "a lone B-29 was shot down over Hokkaido." The announcement was premature; however, as P-10 went on to complete 29 missions. And on mission # 30, 2 September 1945, there they were in the skies over Tokyo Bay to witness the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri.

Upon completion of the war, Crew 10 was transferred to the 73rd Bomb Wing on Saipan, where some of its members were sent home by troop ship. The balance of the crew participated in flying back a B-29 back to Mather Field, California, and the point where their overseas adventure had begun several months before. Mather was socked in, however, but being low on fuel the crew was forced to hazard a landing just over the telephone wires with about 3/10 mile visibility. Ironically, this landing turnout to be their most perilous one ever. It was good to be home. But though the echoes of warfare were stilled now, the vivid memories of comrades that survived were obscured by the reality of those that didn't. They, and the experiences they shared, would never be forgotten but would remain with them always.


Click image to enlarge

Tsuyama Recon Mission-27 July 1945
15,000 ft

Crew 10 flying over Admiral Halsey's 3rd Fleet located off the coast of Japan at night. P-10 was flying a solo recon mission to Tsuyama 27 July 1945.

"I took the radar picture from my radar scope. We were very lucky we did not get shot at, but the Navy must have known who we were. I called to turn on the IFF which was a radio signal to identify friend or foe." Joseph F. Callaghan,1st Lt, Nav.

"We counted 105 ships in 4 formations"; One group of ships started evasive action when we went over (at 15,000 ft.)" - From the diary of Tom Smith, TG



Pilot Harrison enjoys a smoke atop of P-10
44-69901

60th Squadron Crew Index
Sources: "History of the 39th Bomb Group" by Robert Laird, (crew 5) and David Smith (crew 31); J Callaghan, Nav