Uae ty i Ca ashe RESTRICTED‘The dive bomber noted over for the target run—dropped its bomb. The explosion was devastating. Pulling out fof the tun, the plane shuddered— then bure into flames. The entive belly twas ablaze, and fire trailed for 30 feet sft the Richard F, Wilson, ARM3c, watched as the Kingfisher he vas in took after the crippled plane, Seconds before the dive crashed, two shadows clear land patachuted into broke out the raft and paddled toward his airerewman who, wounded and his seengeh spent by the burns he had received, tossed helplessly on the huge swell. The Kingfisher swooped in for a landing. Spasms of enemy fire burst from the beach-—the OS2U rocked and rolled as the Japs barely missed their target Richard Wilton matched his life against their aim. Jumping out on the Wing, he tossed line around the foundering man and dragged him out of the sea, Safely in the plane, Wilton applied first aid while the dive bomber pilot climbed aboard. Two lives were saved—a gamble paid off, Aircrewmen have whet it takesNAVAL AVIATION NEWS SEPTEMBER 1, 195—NO. 28 MARINE AND NAVY AIRMEN SMASHED JAP NANSEI SHOTO POWER Attsm: Ryukyus are within we nate miles of the southern edge of Japan's vital indus- trial zone. Tanega Shima,ocatedat the northern end of the Nansei Shoto, is only +0 miles from Kyushu. In preparation for attacks which would beat Japan into destruction unless she surrendered, the U.S. needed a base in the Ryukyus on which to build airfields, supply depots and staging areas. It was for this that the cam- paign on Okinawa was launched and prosecuted with determination in the face of enemy resistance which demonstrated that the Japs realized the full strategic importance of their island In addition to a strong, Okinawa, Japan had constr well-equipped garrison on ted on the outlying is- Restricted PHOTOGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE lands of the Ryukyus, airfields, aa positions, suicide boat bases and other installations that constituted threats to the invading forces. These installations had to be sought out and destroyed, and photographs played a useful part in the operation, Marine and Navy pilots undertook the job Photos of the results show how effectively they Knocked out the Japs strength and opened the way for US. bulldozers to prepare bases for the finish fight with Japan.ne Lt EMigeko Jina Kerame Reto ¥. [array Drea h is ‘ oo Kita Dall dina JAPANESE BUILT AIRFIELDS ON ALL SIDES OF OKINAWA, USED SUICIDE BOATS AND SUBMARINES TO ATTACK U. S. FLEET Olmnte conyt ‘one on Toki islands The Japs supplem their air attacks in the Ryukyus with sui- ines. Furthermore, many islands of the N Laepacmaemrnid importanee ‘The conquest of Okin: ed to 4 rable extent on tion of surrounding accomplished by air attacks. many KamiKazes mtr O Shima, fi[AMAMI © SHIMA TOOK PASTING IN AIR ATTACKS [WORRIED JAPANESE SHIPS CLUNG TO THE SHELTER OF THE RYUKYU CO Enemy INSTALLATIONS, CONCEALE the Al[FOR SAFETY: PHOTO SHOWS ROCKET ATTACK BY CARRIER PLANE ON LUGCERS HUGGING SHORE OF KAKEROMA ISLAND IN THE MAMI GUNTO ON MANY ISLANDS OF NANSEI SHOTO, WERE SOUGHT OUT AND ATTACKED general di , 2 helter of protecting coves, And on Okinawa itself carrier loose stores, as well as the base's prineipal "planes and photos were used to track down Jap strongpoints RestrictedFIERCEST ATTACKS WERE AIMED AT THE JAPS’ STAGING FIELDS; MANY SUPPORT SORTIES FLOWNAIR ATTACKS ON RYUKYU ISLANDS MADE POSSIBLE U. S. SEIZURE OF OKINAWA, VITAL PACIFIC BASE 1 theirSemis best -The Voice of Experience ‘An wv pilot (415 hours), while on a routine training flight, noticed smoke coming into the cockpit from under the instrament panel, He immediately started his return to base and requested emergency clearance to land. When the pilot changed propeller pitch at sto feet on the downwind I the engine cut out complete fing he could not make the field and thinking he didn’t have time to retract his wheels, the pilot made a wheels- down landing in the best area available The plane carbwhecled upon impact Luckily, the pilot received only’ “a injury. "The pline was recommended for strike, ‘The accident board recommended that pilots be wamed to maintain suf- ficient altitude to insure being able to make the runway at all Himes wi circling a field for an emergency land- ¥ also pointed out that it there is insufficient time to raise wheels be fore landing. in loose soil, wheels at least should be unlacked. Granpaw Pettibone says: Better read those twa recommen dations agai curred because the airplane was mistakenly scheduled to fly after it had been “ground- fa" following the last flight. Might T aig- [pest you check to insure this couldn't hap ppen in your outfit. A preventive check is Slvayr so much better than disiplinary ‘ction after the funeral. Liberator Emergency Landing A twoowheel emergency landing re- cently macle in a rney was so successful that the details are being disseminated for information, We emergency arose during a pilot qualification fight. While making a power-on linding approach, the plane hit a strong down draft. Full power svas applied’ immediately, bat the ai struck 2 hedgerow and sheared off 10 the left landing The plane re mained airborne fea ofthe accident, the io neta tise ceed rar cadwcr cea SF to ight During the nest two how, Ge SG pocncaey. nena pes He oieceeorier ee Se oe vel landing: ie ak one resid vents agli Chana, ditarce 2 lle, to jettison all pyrotechnics and ammu fon Sr Slgh pees lta wees tied all engines to reduce fuel load. p= oly tm gallos rama iti eee gat ass d. The pilots’ eseape Lieto aare the bomb bays. oe ee boohoasware bee ad tlt ot os eesti Rs een Fis fea sabe pee wae ra and sealed off, to reduce the fire hazard. Note: althoagh not medtionsd in ts report, two other safety. measures for reduction of Sire hazard during forced landing are listed in the rnéy-2 Pilot's Tes odes 1, Te a win ee foeat dine Woe, aed 2. Use auslary Eyeestie Drcaarsg une fe lover landing gear and flaps and to charge Te esheets Poet before contac Nee paontiancy anaiar lad Ipeon catnplatnt ths Grey tok ditching Ditton aca) toed Hontves ished down, hatch and wa nid stowed in nocmil Tanding. approach vas. made. When within ging range of the fld, the number two and three engines were cut and the propellers feathered. Num- ber one and four engines were cut aud propellers feathered just before touch- Ingo ad the ca bats ho aif. The amber two propeller woe cut fist beeaine. it was ‘considered. most dlnigerous tothe crew. ‘This was duc fo fact that 1 was nearest to. the ge. onthe nowwheel side; partie sicly Sergecona Ta hr casa hes port propders, due to. thelr direction Br roladlen, aera tuidbact to's into the fieelage when damaged. "The airplane settled smoothly on the starboard iain landing: gear. ‘The left ‘ving was field up. with the ailerons as the nove whee! setled tothe runway and the plane was held straight by use OF rudder and good right brake. The plane had rolled sum fect and was con- Telerably cowed down before the left wing tip touched, ‘The pilot reported Ne was sil able at this tne to maintain His heading “with the sight brake, Finally, the aiteraft turned slowly left to reat 3 feet off the rnweay odlaa lcgrees fret ls oa gtal beadlg "The damage to the aircraft: caused by the landing was relatively light. The bottom of the fuselage was crushed from station 60 to 74 the port wing tip was sprung and the mimber one pro- peller tips were bent. ‘There were no Ipjuces fo personnel. PComment—Admitedly lie damage will feel to = Libeator in a excomtel te eel lenilng! chant ina! felt Tani ia oes ee eoceeeneted terse ph Firs beers sa seca tes fates Er planes chich are apt to ereeve more Sarpy eed tan over toes eal, Tek pus achetgue hong fas the type landing than for a belly landing, Ale, a much longer runway is need and ‘lates den oven ert bu erable on the ti wal aide, che aie to whieh the plana Srl ewerve.Aldhough tht airplane came to Ta ly fect oft te canny oars eke oo eoceenfel have net mopped 0 Suny tues ther disance from the Taos. Glad to be Abeard, crewmen from @ ditched patrol plane scramble to reach the deck of a rescue submarine. Bare- footed crewmen of the pigboat help haut Navy airmen out of their rubber life raft up the side of the submarine. In thisrescue, sand others like it, Navy submarines pick ‘up downed airmen within sight of Jap coast. Restricted