Jap Rufe Runs Afoul of Crew 28 - 5 May 1945

Not all missions flown by the crews of the 39th were for the purpose of bombing targets on the Japanese home island. Not infrequently certain B-29s would be assigned to "Superdumbo" missions to aid in searching for and rescuing men who had gone down in the ocean, either on the way to or coming back from strike.

It was on 5 May, while flying as a Superdumbo, that the 61st Squadron's Crew 28, commanded by Major Charley Miller, accomplished a most spectacular feat engaging a nip fighter plane in a dogfight and shooting down the enemy.

Miller and his crew had been conducting a routine search about forty miles south of the home island of Shikoku when they saw an American submarine surfaced just below them. Shortly after sighting the sub, they saw two Jap Rufes, a single engine fighter floatplane, coming in on a heading ninety degrees from their course and making for the submarine for the purpose of attacking her.

Seeing immediately the danger to the surfaced craft, Miller and his crew decided to join the battle and protect the naval vessel. The coal was poured on to the B-29 "City of Virginia Beach" and she closed with the fighters. At extreme range the bomber's gunners opened fire and one of the Rufes turned tail and headed for home. However, the other enemy pilot seemed to be made of sterner stuff and made a dive for the submarine, apparently with the intention of dropping depth charges.