CT30N

Darrell February 28, 1994

Some time ago a Mr. Bill Bartsch contacted me, requesting information about the 19th Bomb Gp. during early Philippine days. He has completed a book, DOOMED FROM THE START, which is about the Pursuit Squadrons at Clark, Nichols and Iba during WW II, He is now planning on a similar book about the 19th.

I am enclosing a copy of my response to him, thinking that it may be of interest to you. I will also enclose a copy of the orders that were written for us (the last to fly out of the P.I.) -- it certainly rates as the best flight I was ever on!

Incidentally, I returned to the P.I. in 1946 and flew for Far Eastern Air Transport, Inc. and later for Philippine Air Lines. The first couple of years was flying DC-3s (C-47s) inter-island. About the most fun a person could have and still be paid for it. The night I left from Del Monte on Al Mueller's plane, I gave my pistol, etc. to a Sergeant Thomas. One day when I landed my Philippine Air Lines flight at Cagayan, there was Sergeant Thomas! A civilian now, he had spent the war "on top a mountain with a spy glass and a radio" sending information to our forces. I believe he was promoted to Captain retroactively, went home with a bundle of back pay and then returned to the P.I. to marry a Filipino girl and lived there happily ever after. If you have any word on his whereabouts, I would love to contact him. I returned home to California in 1954 and soon went to work for the late Pan Am as a Training Captain in San Francisco. I retired on Dec. 31, 1979. Sincerely; Thomas A. Caswell (Lt. Colonel retired); 13769 Ginger Loop; Penn Valley, CA 95946 Tel: (916) 432-0436

I believe I came over on the Tasker H. Bliss. Another, similar ship, SS Holbrook sailed with us and upon leaving Honolulu, a cruiser (the Chicago?) joined us and remained in sight for the rest of the journey.

A major portion of the 19th Bomb Group ground echelon was on the Bliss and on the Holbrook with us. It was crowded so that we slept in the "hospital" portion of the ship. There were quite a few 41-G classmates on board but the only two that I can remember were Lee Hall and Dwight Holmes. They were assigned to the 19th with me. They both were with me for most of the tale that follows - except that they were captured on Mindanao after I left. They both died on one of the POW ships trying to get out of Manila Bay.

After a couple days in Manila we were put in a staff car leading a convoy of a lot of trucks heading for Clark Field. Less than half way there, the trucks all ran out of gas! An introduction to Military Planning. When we eventually arrived at Clark Field I was assigned housing at Fort Stotsenberg - very nice. The old style tropical house with screened porches on three sides, house boys and cook. It was occupied by two P-40 pilots and as I recall two of us 41-G types joined them. But it did not last long. after a few weeks all of us in the 19th were moved to the Sawalli barracks, where each had a small room. I don't recall what the eating arrangements were.

Upon arriving at Clark Field I was assigned to the 30th Bomb Squadron along with Hall and Holmes.

The wives and families of all personnel in the P.I. (except for the MacArthur family) were sent home in February 1941. However the Base was quite formal. Most evenings we dressed in dress whites, always wore neckties, etc. There was one rather unusual thing though: soon her the dependents left the Base Commander, Colonel Maitland urged all persons to grow a beard - any style, the weirder the better. So, we were greeted with lots of various face-hair styles. Maitland (spelling?) himself had a full beard.

A Major Gibbs was our Squadron Commander. I was not assigned to a particular crew. I went on perhaps two training flights as an extra crew on one occasion was allowed to occupy he co-pilot seat through two or three landings made by Major Gibbs. Was quite thrilled to be allowed to extend the flaps and gear!

One of the major social events among the Military in the P.I. was the Army- Navy football game. It was received on radio at the Amy Navy Club in Manila. When this was scheduled for late November 1941, it was announced that none of us could attend due to the threat of attack by the Japanese.

On or about November 26, 1941, all officers of the 19th were assembled in an outdoor area and Col. Eubanks read us a wire from (I am quite sure) President Roosevelt. In any event it instructed to not do anything that could be interpreted as an "overt act" by the Japanese. We were then told that any flight hereafter would be fully armed and considered a military mission. I recall that when the usual “Any questions?" was offered a Lt. Oliver said "What about neckties?" Eubanks replied that we could take them off. We were then told to go to supply and draw tin hats, .45 pistol, canteen and gas masks. We were told to carry all of them at all times.

Our group had an operations tent or perhaps it was in one of those small buildings just below the hangars, a short distance from the hangars. Nearby was a small tent for the Officer of the Guard to sleep in. I was assigned to my first tour as Officer of the Guard the night of December 7, 1941. The Duty was taken very seriously at that time. I was driven around once every four hours to each aircraft approached the guard there with an exchange of a password etc.. About four in the morning, I was awakened by some officer from operations (Kurtz ? -- I am not sure) and told that "There has been an attack on Hawaii by hostile aircraft." and was told to go around and tell the guards that we should expect an attack later in the day.

As has been told before, there was loading of bombs, off-loading of bombs, plans for a photo mission over Formosa then it seems to me, nothing -- just sort of milling around nervously. Radar equipment was being installed a few miles from Clark and we expected about a 20 minute warning at which time a fire truck would drive around blowing its siren as a warning for us to dive for the slit trenches. There was no warning and the fire truck did not get very far when the bombs did start to fall! A large formation (52 is my recollection) of twin engine bombers at about 15,000 feet altitude followed by Os and others strafing the field. There was a large ditch being constructed from the vicinity of our operations shack out towards the edge of the field. I dove into that huddled in the bottom until the bombs had dropped, then ran along the bottom out to the edge of the Field were we stayed `til it was over.

Colonel Maitland had visited England some time before December and had come to Clark with some valuable procedures learned in England: The airplanes were not "lined up". They were widely disburses in earth banked revetments. There were many slit trenches dug so that one could be found conveniently. We were also told that most injuries from bombings were above he knee. That it was important to get in a holes and if that was not possible, lie flat on the ground. We were thoroughly bombed and strafed that day and on following days but I think we did not lose much more than 100 men.

From November 26 on, there were some P-40s (about 6 ?), with pilots in the cockpits, parked near the end of the runway -- 24 hours a day. During that first bombing, some got off and I think a couple were destroyed during attempted take of. I am not too sure about that info -- I did not actually see what happened on the runway.

A few days before, about 12 of the B-17s had moved to Del Monte on Mindanao. I don't think the Japanese were aware of Del Monte. At Clark we were bombed and/or strafed most every day. One day they hit our Sawalli barracks and burned them to the ground. Mechanics were busy salvaging parts from damaged airplanes and Major Gibbs assigned an officer to each group of mechanics so that they saw some moral support and did not feel they were out there alone. A very good example of leadership, I felt though I can't say as I enjoyed it! We always had a slit trench nearby and frequently had to use them. On one low level attack I could see the bombs released and falling. One hit a little before my slit trench and another about 50 feet beyond.

About the day before Christmas, 1941, we started to evacuate. Got as far as the village of Angeles and did the “waiting" part of "hurry up and wait". Lots of military equipment hurrying by and we halfway expected to see Jap equipment showing up any minute. As night fell we boarded trucks and joined the exodus to Bataan Peninsula. Holmes and Hall were with me as the remainder of the 19th (the flyable B-17s and their crews had left for Java and points south), Major Gibbs had been lost while flying a B-18 from Clark to Del Monte one night. Their plane was never found. We camped in the brush on Bataan and were told that we were on half rations - two meals a day. In the meantime, while still back at Clark we had been issued Infield rifles. after cleaning off the cosmoline (a most arduous task), a sergeant and myself supervised the five practice shots allotted to each person. Many had never held a gun before. We had the rifles and five rounds each with us on Bataan. The “plan" was explained to us. Discouraging days. Then around New Years Day 1942, Major (later General) Rosy O'Donnell came to us and told us to keep it quiet but that we would quietly move to the little harbor of Meriveles late that afternoon and board an inter-island ship.

Lucky! I was in one of the two Squadrons (the 30th) that boarded the good ship Moyon. We had no idea where it was going but anything to get us off of Bataan was super great!

It was about six that evening that we boarded - just as it was getting dark. We sailed that night and anchored in a small, isolated cove somewhere in the Central Philippines next morning .We were now under the command of two infantry officers. One Lt. Col and one full Colonel. I am sure that neither one was exactly in love with the Air Corp but the full Col. was a very mean strict disciplinarian - full of, "You’re soldiers now" They had not experienced being bombed. All of us had been bombed repeatedly and were very fearful of it to say the least. We, probably by O'Donnell, suggested that we disembark and go ashore to standby in the safety of an adjacent coconut grove. The Colonel's response was to criticize our lack of bravado and he refused to let us off.

About two that afternoon we were visited by a Jap flying boat very much like our Catalina except for the two red suns on the wings .It took a look at us, backed off and made a bombing run on our ship. The first one hit along side, raising us up out of the water and caving in the side of the hull a bit. Then a couple more bomb runs that missed. Fortunately, we had been told to remain under cover so that we would not be recognized as a troop carrying ship. A few jumped overboard and apparently the Japs thought it was just the crew abandoning ship. Some of those in the water when bombs went off were very badly injured Holmes, among them. He was big and strong and had been a competitive swimmer and made it to shore. One person died.

THE COLONEL IMMEDIATELY GAVE THE ORDER TO ABANDON SHIP! We spent the rest of the day on shore and boarded that evening. We sailed that night and anchored again in a small cove. This time there was no hesitation about spending the day amongst the coconut trees.

Sailed that night. As daylight arrived, so did we, at Cagayan del Oro on the north coast of Mindanao. Before we approaches the Colonel called us together in the ship's lounge for a "briefing". We were told that we do not know who we will meet on shore - friend or foe. If necessary, we will fight our way on shore. Considering our five rounds for each rifle and the .45 pistol carried by most officers, Rosy O'Donnell expressed some concern over this mode of action, whereupon he was roundly told off by the Colonel and reminded that "We are all soldiers now". Discouraging.

As we approached the dock with considerable anxiety, we finally spied one, lone American standing on the dock. Relief! It was probably the manager of the Del Monte pineapple plantation. Relief!

We went ashore and nearby set up a "shore defense". Two machine guns were added to our stores, each with 400 rounds. Whoever was selected to operate them were instructed how they could remove and hide the backplate when the ammunition was expended. We were issued bayonets to attach to our rifles and given brief instruction on their use. "Twist it a little to make it easier to pull out." This all seemed a far cry from what we had in mind when we signed up for Air Corps Flying Cadets.

In a few days we moved a short distance inland to higher ground. Occasionally some of the more senior officers would be called to Del Monte and be on their way to Java or wherever when a plane was available. We junior ones were assigned here and there for various ground duties. I found Paul Miller, a 41-G’er there. He had found a motorcycle and was a courier. Eventually he got out to Australia and I believe is alive today .

One morning about 3:00, I was awakened and hurried off to a bridge across the river adjacent to the town of Cagayan. With me was a 30th Sq. Navigator, 2nd Lt. Butler Lauterbach and a corporal Cline and Pfc. Koenig. Lauterbach had graduated from Navigator school too young to be commissioned so he flew as a navigator on one of the 30th Sq. B-17s flown over as a cadet. As soon as the war started he was commissioned.

From mid-January until April 30, 1942, the four of us lived in a vacated bamboo house near one end of this 600 foot long steel and concrete bridge that went across the river to the town of Cagayan. The bridge had been mined with considerable amounts of dynamite and the detonators were connected to a “plunger" kept in our shanty that would set it off with an electrical discharge.

We (the four of us) were now under the command of a ground forces Major (Webb, I think) from Salt Lake City. He was good to get along with even though he held little respect for the Air Corp. Major Webb soon brought us more dynamite for the bridge. We put much of it, still in the wooden boxes, between the top of the concrete support piers and the steel structure below the roadbed. Then, we used bamboo about 18 inches long by 4 inches in diameter to make grenades. We did this by packing in dynamite with a detonating cap, using a ten minute powder train fuse. We placed these by the various dynamites located under the bridge road bed. The idea was that when we knew the Japs were coming, light the fuses, then try the electrical detonator. If the electrical detonator worked as planned it would be a much more efficient blast. If it failed the 10 minute fuses would set it of, though not all at once.

Our 4 month stay there is really another story in itself. Hopes, and hopes dashed. Occasional airplanes would come in from Australia and take out Air Corps personnel. It was my understanding that three B-17s left Australia headed for Del Monte to pick up MacArthur. One turned back with engine trouble, one ditched off the coast of Mindanao and when the one landed at Del Monte, MacArthur declined to fly in it. Fortunately, that let another load of Air Corps types to get out to Australia. Then three more B-17s came up and got him and his staff and family.

It was at Cagayan where Lt. Buckley and his PT boats brought MacArthur from Corregidor.

Air Corps Captain Al Mueller and crew flew a converted B-24 (LB -30) from Australia to Del Monte - over Japanese territory for some 1500 miles in daylight to take some more of us out. I have enclosed a copy of our orders which were written after our arrival in Melbourne. Three days later, Mueller went back to Del Monte and upon arriving there was shot at -- the Japs had captured the landing strip. He followed his plan for such a turn of evens: Flew south until the first engine quit (from lack of fuel), ditched and they all got out OK. Stayed on a small island near the equator (Celebes ?) until a U.S. submarine picked them up. I saw Mueller in Australia about a month after my escape.

I spent one year in Australia in the 22nd Bomb. Group and returned to the U.S. in May of 1943.

I can't really help you out on locating the Sawilli barracks. They were more or less between Stotsenberg and the hangars --a little ways above and to the right of the hangars I guess. I do not know that any hangar was assigned to the 19th.

HEADQUARTERS, ALLIED AIR FORCES

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA

OFFICE OF COMMANDING GENERAL, U.S. ARMY AIR SERVICES,

Coventry Street and St.Kilda Road,

Melbourne, Victoria.

Special Order No 5 EXTRACT 6 May 1942

24. The verbal orders of the Commanding General on April 29, 1942 ordering the following named officers, to proceed by military or commercial aircraft from the Philippine Islands, to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, reporting on arrival --to the Commanding General for temporary duty pending reassignment, are hereby confirmed and made a matter of record. In lieu of subsistence a flat per diem at the rate of six dollars ($6.00) is authorized while traveling and on this temporary duty, in accordance with existing laws and regulations. The nature of the duties being exceptional a delay in excess of 72 hours at any one place is authorized. The Quarter master will furnish the necessary transportation. The travel directed is necessary in the military service. FD X 1 P 5-06 A 0410-2. FD 4123 P 1-01 A 0200-2.

Lt Col	ELSMORE, RAY T.	0150792	2nd Lt	COLMAN WILLIAM G.	0411964
Maj	FRY, RALPH L.	0117388	2nd Lt	FOSTER, EARL C.	0406732
Maj	GEE, LELAND O.	0278225	2nd Lt	GREER, J. H.	0407082
Maj	HUFFSMITH, VICTOR C.	019539	2nd Lt	HANEY, RICHARD P.	0406540
Maj	MOHAY, WILLIAM H.	0286311	2nd Lt	KALE, JAMES S.	0412695
Maj	SEARCY, DAN B.	021689	2nd Lt	KEATER, RANDALL D.	0412276
Maj	SHAMBLIN, WILLIAM C.	0258495	2nd Lt	LAUTERBACK, BUTLER	0431679
Capt	LAMBERT, CURTIS L.	0890034	2nd Lt	MARKLEY, EDGAR V.	0418047
lst Lt	COCANOUGHER, HAROL F.	0396380	2nd Lt	McCLUNE, GERALD W.	0427152
lst Lt	LICHTER, C. J.	0338606	2nd Lt	MOORE, MILTON E.	0418053
lst Lt	MESSMORE, HIRAM A.	0406422	2nd Lt	NOELKE, MARNE	0418160
1st Lt	MITCHELL, DONALD U.	0411844	2nd Lt	PICKIER, READE R.	0432349
2nd Lt	BLITCH, HARRY A.	0417936	2nd Lt	RIGHARDS, ROBERT E.	0418169
2nd Lt	BOWMAN, CHARLES L.	0406517	2nd Lt	ROWE, WILLIAM M.	0406336
2nd Lt	CASWELL, THOMAS A.	0427208	2nd Lt	THOMPSON, LYLE E.	0432350