W45AUTH\SG30P-GS.DOC

Flight Crew #53, George Savage AC, 30th Sqd, 19th BG, 314th Wing, North Field Guam (photo 08-23-45)

This crews 30 missions are subsequently described

B-29 #44-69703 Crew #4022 DZ-25 01-31-1945 Mather Field CA to Guam

Crew #53 02-25-45:08-31-45

Loc	Duty	Rank 08-31-45	Rank 01-31-45	Last name	First name	ASN	MOS
S1	A/C	Capt	1st Lt	Savage	George J.	0802945	1091
S2	P	1st Lt	2nd Lt	Dossey	Ernest E.	0831113	1091
S4	NV	1st Lt	2nd Lt	Born	William D.	02064466	1038
S3	BN	2nd Lt	F/O	Wooldridge	Malcolm G.	T-131035	1035
S5	V	1st Lt	2nd Lt	Morgan	Robert N.	0785293	0142
S6	FE	M/Sgt	Cpl	Kalian	Gerald P.	19136583	737
K5	R	Pfc	Cpl	Acheson	Edward G	31362976	2756
	CFC		Cpl	Gladden	Stanton M.	17135677	580
K5	CFC *	S/Sgt	Cpl	Brooks	William S.	42023153	611
K2	G	S/Sgt	Cpl	Buckley	John L.	31455097	611
K1	G	Pvt	Cpl	Turner	Donald W.	17134036	611
	TG			Brooks	William S.	42023153	611
K3	TG **	Sgt	Cpl	Wirgianis	Pete		611

* replaced Gladden as CFC, ** replaced Brooks as TG

The subsequent mission heading data is from the Resume of 20th AF missions log sheets prepared by 20th AF Hdq Guam. Personal logs sometimes differ by a day, due to take off date vs release date for example. Sometimes targets are different, the 20th AF record sometimes did not list all the authorized alternate targets to be used in the event weather or other problems. It is very difficult to extract 19th BG information let alone Sqd information from the records. DL 03-19-94.

Flight Crew plus Ground Crew, photo taken 04-09-1945

Savage Flight Crew #53 in 30th Sqd M-22, Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima in background

{---------------Mission to #1 Tokyo--------------|

M#038; 02-25-45; Wing 73-313-314; Day; ?_bombs; 25,000 ft Altitude; Tokyo Urban area "Meetinghouse #1"

20th AF Airborne=229; Abort=25; Lost=3 (2 to enroute collision, 1 to survey); Bomb load=3944 lb.; Fuel Reserve=883 gal; EA Sighted=?; EA Attacks=0

28th Airborne=(3): JCarroll#1, HGammel#1, EHammod#1

30th Airborne=(?): GSavage#1,

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#1 by G Savage: “02-25-45; Tokyo; CAS 195; Release 14:20; Flight Time 17:30; 8 x 500# Incnd + 1 x 500# GP. This was a ‘Command’ formation attack. We flew enroute at 3-3,500 feet in loose formation. The command to climb was given a few hundred miles from Japan. The formation ran into clouds at about 6,000 ft and nobody could see anybody else. I broke out, alone, at about 20,000 feet and headed for the target. Soon, I saw other aircraft and we all joined a ‘make-up’ formation. There were about 14 of us from all Bomb Groups. I was told that ours was the largest single formation to hit Tokyo that day. Of the 250 aircraft that launched, 78 aborted or otherwise did not hit the target. We bombed through the clouds by radar and encountered only meager, inaccurate flak.”

1st Lt George Savage, AC 2nd Lt Ernie Dossey, Pilot

2nd Lt Bill Born, Navigator F/O Mac Wooldridge, Bombardier

{---------------Mission to #2 Shizuoka--------------|

RSPM#3; 03-06-45; Wing 314; Night; General Purpose; 5,000 ft altitude; Kobe (Radar Scope Photo Mission)

20th AF Airborne=1

28th Airborne=(1): John Hancock#1

30th Airborne=(1): George Savage#2

G Savage#2 by G Savage: ”03-06-45; Shizuoka; 25,000 ft; CAS=195; release 0145; flt time 14:10; 7x500#GP, 2x56# Photo. “Night solo mission. Moderate, accurate flack but no hits on aircraft. Japanese fighters seen but did not attack. Visual bomb release.”

Cpl Jerry Kalian, Flt Engineer Cpl Ed Acheson, Radio

2nd Lt Bob Morgan, Radar Cpl Bill Brooks, Central Fire Control

Cpl Don Turner, Left Gunner Cpl John Buckley, Right Gunner

{---------------Mission to #3 Tokyo--------------|

F012=M040;03-09-45;Wing 73-313-314; Night; Incind; 5-9KAltitude; Tokyo Urban area "Meetinghouse #2"

Airborne=325; Abort=12; Lost=14(1 to AA{Auer}; 5 ditched; 7 unk; 1 to survey{Savage}); Bomb load=9673; Fuel Resv=1044; Damaged=?

EA Sighted=?; EA Attacks=40

28th Airborne=(7): VChandler#2, ESeitz#2, CWells#2, JHancock#2, JSimmons#2, RAuer#2, ?__

30th Airborne=(?): GSavage #3,.....

93rd Airborne=(?): .....

R Auer#2 Lt Robert Auer lost at target, the first 28th Sqd loss [perhaps in M11]

G Savage#3 by G Savage: “03-09-45;Tokyo; 5,800 ft; CAS=230; release time 0205; flt time 14:05; 24x500# Incnd. Low level night solo. 334 B-29’s launched, 282 bombed target at altitiudes between 5-6,000 feet. Heavy accurate flack, 100+ Searchlights, fighter attacks. 14 B-29s were lost over target. It was ‘the single most destructiove raid of WW II .’ Over 16 sq miles of Tokyo were destroyed (5 sq miles destroyed at Heroshima and 1 1/2 at Nagasaki. Also, there were more casualties during this Mar 9 raid that at either atomic attack.) We encountered heavy ground fire over the target and fighter attacks after leaving target. #1 & #4 engine were shot out as well as other damage to aircraft. Right gunner, Bill Buckley was wounded but not severely. We crash landed on Iwo Jima (one wheel shot off and no brakes) because fuel transfer system was shot out and we needed the gass in #1 and #4 tanks to make it to Guam.”

{---------------The Story of how it was--------------|

We took off from North Field, Guam on 9 March 1945 for participation in the first night low level attack against Tokyo. We were one of about 300 B-29s proceeding individually. We carried (24) 500 pound incendiary bombs.

We arrived over Tokyo about 2 A.M. on 10 March 1945. There was fire everywhere with hundreds of searchlights going every-which-way. We were among the last of the attacking aircraft and by this time the people on the ground had gotten really angry with us Yankee Dogs.

Our target was anywhere in the city. Mac Wooldridge, our Bomb Aimer, asked what he should aim at and since our altitude was only 5,800 feet he said he would have no trouble hitting anything. I said to find some place not on fire. He looked around and gave a heading to a dark area. We were just flying around like we were on a Sunday School picnic and oblivious to the fatal hazards all around us. What a joy to be 21 and immortal!

I was zigging and zagging like the book said and hoping we wouldn't run into another B-29. I did see a few of them caught in searchlights with tracers pointing their way but wasn't aware that it could happen to us. Mac called out and said he had a target. Just ahead was a lovely island of darkness not yet ablaze and at the front of it was a magnificent building that looked like the Jefferson Memorial. We were so low that it was not difficult to pick out the details.

Mac said to follow the PDI for about 30 seconds and it would be Bombs Away. "30 Seconds Over Tokyo", sounded keen, just like the movie! But a rude awakening to the realities of war was in store for us!

As soon as we took up a straight heading, one-by-one searchlights caught us until, just before bombs away, we were in the beam of 10 or 15 of them. Seemed like we were the top of an Indian teepee with all the poles converging on us. Just as bombs away occurred, so did reality. Suddenly a series of "Whoomp, whoomp" was heard all over the airplane. Sounded like many big doors being slammed shut in an acoustic auditorium What it was, was Jap shells exploding in our airplane. And then everything happened at once.

Ed Acheson, our Radio Operator, was out of his seat checking the bomb bay to see that all bombs released. While he was off his seat it was riddled by shrapnel. When he went back to his seat, a shell exploded right where his head had been!

Jerry Kalian, our Flight Engineer, called out that #4 engine had lost all its oil pressure and was losing power. I told Ernie Dossey, our Co-Pilot, to feather it. He did and, ever alert, I put in a little aileron to hold up the right wing.

Buck Buckley, our Right Gunner, called in and said he thought he had been shot. He didn't hurt any but his arm was bleeding! What a diagnosis, but correct!

An Air Corps photographer had hitched a ride at Guam and was taking pictures out of the rear hatch above the APU. When things got chancey he came back inside for the company of Bob Morgan, our Radar Operator. Fortunately that was just before a shell blew up the APU where he had been standing and also, as I later became aware, did horrible things to my elevator cables.

In the midst of all this, Don Turner, the Left Gunner, calls out that #1 is on fire. Sure enough, Jerry Kalian confirms that oil pressure is gone so I tell Ernie to feather #1 and he does. I, however, somewhat less alert, forget to release the aileron pressure I had applied when we lost #4.

About this time I am becoming aware of the fact that we are getting into a rather perilous predicament. So I look around to see where we are. As I look out my side window all I see is black which seemed peculiar considering Tokyo was on fire. I then look up through the overhead windows and discover Tokyo. It was no longer peculiar, it was most distressing.

As we appear to be inverted at 5,000 feet, it is obvious we are going to crash. Two thoughts pass through my mind in rapid succession. First, "So this is how an aircraft gets shot down." The second thought was more positive. "Since we ain't dead yet, surely something can be done."

The second thought was the best and being a frustrated fighter pilot I just rolled the aircraft to an upright position. All these gyrations did, however, serve a useful purpose. We escaped the deadly cone of searchlights.

Being completely lost, I asked Bill Born, our Navigator, for a heading. He gives me an easterly heading to get away from Tokyo prior to turning South for Guam. I turned to this heading using the Fluxgate compass and also become aware of very sloppy elevator control. After a couple minutes Bill calls up and says to check the heading. I do and report we are heading east. Bill says to check the Whiskey compass. What a shock! We are actually heading northwest! As we were still at 5,000 feet and there were 10,000 foot mountains northwest of Tokyo, this qualified as a sad turn of events.

I dutifully turned to an easterly heading using the Whiskey compass. Seems that not only the Fluxgate, but also the Radar and autopilot had become battle casualties.

With a brief respite now at hand I observed that we were no longer a 4 engine bomber but had become a 2 engine transport. As such, we were over-loaded and needed to reduce our weight. I ordered the crew to jettison all loose and heavy objects from the plane. I learned later that in addition to flak jackets and such, one of the loose and heavy objects which they so dutifully jettisoned was my pride and joy, my hat, weighing all of 8 ounces, with a beautiful "50 Mission" crush on it. How fortunate I was to have a crew so dedicated and obedient in carrying out my orders.

As we proceeded east the glow of Tokyo could be seen to our right. As we left that behind us we turned south and for home. As we once more came abreast of burning Tokyo we were happy that we didn't have to go back in.

But the joy was short lived. Bill Brooks, our Tail Gunner, had come forward to relieve Buck at the right blister. He called up to report that 3 or 4 fighters were paralleling our course! Another terrible turn of events! It seems that 20th Air Force had decided that if our guns were loaded we might shoot down other B-29s in the dark so we had no ammo on board except for what we carried in our 45 automatics and that is not too effective against fighters. It also seemed probable that my decision to jettison all flak jackets might have been a bit premature.

I told Bill to get back in the tail and let me know when the fighters made a pass at us. Seems the fighters were very leery of the fire power of our Superfortress but then they were not on the mailing list of 20th Air Force. As such, they decided to make quartering attacks from the rear and one-by-one. As they rolled into their attack, Bill would call it out and I would turn into them spoiling their aim and the tracers would whiz harmlessly by.

This kept up for a few minutes, seemed like hours, until we ducked into some clouds and lost the fighters. But the Gods of War weren't through with us yet.

On taking better stock of our situation we found that our fuel transfer system had been hit and we couldn't get the fuel out of #1 and #4 fuel tanks. This meant that we couldn't get back to Guam but had to try for Iwo Jima where the Marines had gotten a foothold on the island. That was the good news. The bad news was that when the fuel transfer system had been shot up, puddles of AVGAS were left all over the bomb bay. The smell of AVGAS throughout the airplane was quite disconcerting but what really took the hide off the hog was the St. Elmo's fire which was shooting sparks all over the airplane, inside and out! I could say that the airplane exploded and all aboard were lost but that would spoil a great story. Instead, we endured this situation for what seemed like forever until we finally broke out of the clouds and continued on to Iwo Jima uneventfully.

Fighting was still going on at the North end of Iwo when we got there but the ex-Jap strip of about 4,000 feet on the south end was OK. We made our approach and as our gear came down some bad news came with it. Strange articles fell from the left gear well. The upshot of it all was that we had no brake pressure and one of the wheels on the left gear was no longer round.

With great skill I maneuvered to touch down on the very end of the approach. About 3 feet off the ground as I was pulling back on the wheel the control cable snapped and the wheel fell into my lap. I yelled to Ernie, our Co-Pilot, to pull back on his wheel. He did so and he made an honest-to-God grease job.

But with no brakes, and a bad wheel on the left gear; and, wouldn't you know it, a cross-wind from the left, as soon as rudder control was lost we started to veer off the runway to the left.

Coming the other way on the left side of the runway was a Jeep with a lone occupant. I waved frantically trying to get him to turn out of the way. He gave me a broad smile and waved back in a friendly manner. As the Jeep disappeared under the wing I expected to feel a bump as what was left of the landing gear squashed the Jeep and it’s friendly occupant. But no bump and it turned out, the occupant ducked and the only damage was that the Jeep wind shield vanished as the wing flap scraped it off.

A picture of the plane appeared as a two-page spread in the April 9 issue of Life magazine.

All smiles after a good (?) landing at Iwo Jima, March 10, 1945, Iwo battle still in progress

We came to an abrupt halt against the hill on the left of the runway. Everyone got out OK,. except for Mac Wooldridge. He got a bloody nose when the nose gear came up through the floor and gave him a kiss. There was no fire, only one terribly abused B-29.

Later that day I was sitting in what appeared to be a big shell hole. A grungy Marine was there too. He was dirty, grimy, and had eyes like two pee holes in the snow. I felt that in spite of the recent past I wouldn't trade places with him for all the goodies in the world. I started to tell him so but before I could say it he blurts out, "I wouldn't trade places with you for anything in the world " I guess that's what makes the world go 'round.

We finally got back to Guam where I expected to be greeted with a tumultuous hero's welcome. Instead I was hustled to Group Headquarters where I was forced to sign a Report of Survey in the amount of $450,000 for one each B-29. I am still paying for that sucker. My next payment is due April 15.

{---------------Mission #4 to Kobe--------------|

M#043; 03-16-45; Wings 73-313-314; Night; Incendiary bombs; 4-9,000 ft altitude; Kobe Urban area "Middleman #2"

20th AF Airborne=330; Abort=16; Lost=3 (3 to unk); Bomb load=14931 lb.; Fuel Reserve=889 gal.;

EA Sighted=?; EA Attacks=96

28th Airborne=(8): VChandler#5, ESeitz#4, CWells#5, JHancock#3, JSimmons#5, VParker#3, ?__,?__

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#4

93rd Airborne=(?):

RFitzgerald#_ Maj R. Fitzgerald 73rd Wing crew lost, Lt RNelson taken prisoner-- later beheaded

G Savage#4 by G Savage: “03-15-45; Kobe; 8,500 feet; CAS=240; release 0150; flt time 15:00; 24x500#Incnd. Night solo, meager flack, 50+ searchlights, saw fighters”

{---------------Mission #5 to Nagoya--------------|

M#050; 03-31-45; Wings 73-314; Day; General Purpose bombs; 14-18,000 ft altitude; Kyushu, Tachiari Mach Works & Omura AF "Fearless #2"

20th AF Airborne=149; Abort=18; Lost=1(1 ditched enroute); Bomb load=7867 lb.; Fuel Reserve=852 gal;

EA Sighted=?; EA Attacks=175; dest=11, prob=5, dam=3

28th Airborne=(3) FMaupin#4, __

30th Airborne=(?): G Sauvage#5

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#5 03-31-45; Nagoya; 7,000 feet; CAS=200; release 0210; flt time 15:30; 20x500#GP,1Photo, 4Fare

“Night solo, meager flack, 5 searchlights”

{---------------Mission #6 to Shizouka--------------|

M#055; 04-03-45; Wing 314; Night; General Purpose bombs; 7-9,000 ft altitude; Shizuoka; Shizuoka Aircraft Factory "Upcast #1"

20th AF Airborne=49; Abort=1; Lost=0; Bomb load=9300 lb; Fuel Reserve=1126 gal;

EA Sighted=?; EA Attacks=0

28th Airborne=(10) VChandler#7, ESeitz#8, JSimmons#8, VParker#7, Jcarroll#7_______

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#6

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#6 04-03-45; Shizuoka; 7,200 feet; CAS=200; release 0330; flt time 14:50; 72x30# Flares

“Night solo, meager flak and heavy AW but none accurate

{---------------Mission #7 to Kawasaki--------------|

M#068; 04-15-45; Wings 313-314; Night; Incendiary bombs; 6-10,000 ft altitude; Kawasaki Urban area "Brisket #1"

20th AF Airborne=219; Abort=8; Lost=12 (4 probably to EA or AA; 8 unk cause); Bomb load=9659 lb.; Fuel reserve=1060 gal; EA Sighted=?; EA Attacks=53 (dest=?, prob=?, dam=?)

28th Airborne=(13) JO'Neill#__, VChandler#10, ESeitz#12, CWells#11, TReadheimer#_, JSimmons#10, EHammond#__, JCarroll#10, FMaupin#8, VParker#9, GO'Leary#__, JRobinson#_, Mfloyd#__

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#7

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#7 04-15-45; Kawasaki; 7,400 feet; CAS=280; release 0056; flt time 14:55; 24x500# Incnd

“Night solo, heavy accurate flak, 150# searchlights, fighter and BAKA bomb attacks but only minor damage to aircraft. Feathered #4 after bombs away.”

{---------------Mission #8 to Nittagahara--------------|

M#074; 04-17-45; Wing 314; Day; General Purpose bombs; 18,000 ft altitude; Nittagahara AF "Bushing #1"

20th AF Airborne=10; Abort=3; Lost=0; Bomb load=5954 lb.; Fuel Reserve=1516 gal.; EA Attacks=0

28th Airborne=(??)

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#8

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#8 04-17-45; Nittagahara; 18,000 feet; CAS=195; release 0610; flt time 13:00; 14x500# Frag Clusters

“Day, 11 plane formation, flew #2 in B flight, Few, ineffective fighter attacks.”

{---------------Mission #9 to Nittagahara--------------|

M#090; 04-21-45; Wing 314; Day; General Purpose bombs; 15-16,000 ft altitude; Kyushu; Nittagahara AF "Bushing #3"

20th AF Airborne=23; Abort=1; Lost=0; Bomb load=8845 lb; Fuel Reserve=949 gal;

EA Sighted=?; EA Attacks=2 (dest=0, prob=0, dam=0)

28th Airborne=(?) VChandler#11, ESeitz#13, JHancock#8, HGammel#_, RSpencer#_, GO'Leary#_, TReadheimer#_, FMaupin#9, VParker#11, BKordus#_, JRobinson#_, Mfloyd#_

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#9

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#9 04-21-45; Nittagahara; 15,000 feet; CAS=195; release 0925; flt time 15:15; 24x500# Frag Clusters

“Day, 11 plane formation, flew #2 in B flt. Few, ineffective fighter attacks.”

{---------------Mission #10 P-51 Escort--------------|

M#104; 04-26-45; Wing 314; Day; General Purpose bombs; 20-27,000 ft altitude; Kanoya AF "Checkbook #6"

20th AF Airborne=22; Abort=1; Lost=0; Bomb load=9146 lb; Fuel Res.=975 gal; EA Sighted=?; EA Attacks=0

28th Airborne=(7?) V Parker#12

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#10

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#10 04-26-45;Fighter Escourt, Iwo Jima to Kyushu Island.

“Escorted 154 P-51 fighteres from Iwo to Kyushu. They would home on our aircraft and keep us in sight. When we got to Kyushu, they left us to attack airfields and we circled for an hour 10 miles off shore until they all came back. Then we escorted them back to Iwo. A GRAVY TRAIN!”

{---------------Mission #11 to Kanoya--------------|

M#124; 04-29-45; Wing 314; Day; General Purpose bombs; 17-18,000 ft altitude; Kanoya AF "Checkbook #9"

20th AF Airborne=20; Abort=2; Lost=0; Bomb load=10700 lb.; Fuel Reserve=700 gal.; Iwo=0;

EA Sighted=?; EA Attacks=15 (dest=0,prob=0, dam=0)

28th Airborne=(4) CWells#14, ____________________

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#11

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#11 04-29-45; Kanoya; 18,000 feet; CAS=190; release 0936; flt time 15:05; 20x500 #GP

“Day, 9 plane formation, flew lead in B flt, uneffective light flak and fighter attacks.”

{---------------Mission #12 to Kokubu--------------|

G Savage#12; 05-03-45; Kokubu; 18,000 ft; CAS=195; release 1634; flt time 16:35; 24x500#GP

Day, 11 plane formation, flew #2 in C flight, Light flack and effective fighter attacks. Tail gunner wounded and landed at Iwo Jima 2100 for first aid. Took off from Iwo 0118, landed Guan 0510. Gunner OK.”

{---------------Mission #13 Air/Sea Search for Spencers Crew--------------|

G Savage#13; 05-05-45; Air/Sea Search Mission; flt time 17:05

Search mission for downed aircraft crews off island of Kyushu. Feathered #1 engine entering search but completed searching sector before returning to Guam. Nothing sighted, ANOTHER GRAVY TRAIN.”

{---------------Mission #14 to Otake--------------|

M#165; 05-10-45; Wing 314; Day; General Purpose bombs; 15-20,000 ft altitude; Otake Oil Refinery & Kure Urban area

20th AF Airborne=132; Abort=0; Lost=0; Bomb load=10862 lb.; Fuel Reserve=683 gal.: Iwo=12;

EA Sighted=?; EA Attacks=54 (dest=3, prob=2, dam=8)

28th Airborne=(11) VChandler#14, FMaupin#14, VParker#14, BKordus#_,_________________

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#14

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#14; 05-10-45; Otake, 19,000 ft; CAS=195; release 1053; flt time 16:20; 24x500# GP; Heavy flack and fighter attacks. “Day, 9 plane formation, flew #3 in B flt. Bomb bay doors stuck open after bomb release. Ran out of gas on final appreach to North Field, Guam, landed short and broke the airplane. I woud have made it but on my first approach another aircraft (tail # “O-29”) cut in front of me and I was too close to him to land. So I went around and my engines started to quit on down wind leg. I probably could have made it but I turened onto the final about 50 ft behind another B-29 and when I hit short of the runway and bounced I got into his prop wash which turned me sideways and I didn’t have enought control to straighten out the airplane. They do smash up when landing sideways.

May 10, 1945 crash of M-31, ran out of gas on final, they do break up when landing sideways.

George, April 15th must hang heavy, making payments on two of those suckers!!

Returning from Practice Mission

{---------------Mission #15 to Nagoya--------------|

M#176; 05-16-45; Wings 58-73-313-314; Night; Incendiary bombs; 7-18,000 ft altitude; South Nagoya Urban area Microscope #5"

20th AF Airborne=516; Abort=45; Lost=3(3 unk); (14 dam by AA); Bomb load=14966 lb.; Fuel Reserve=802 gal.; Iwo=16, EA Sighted=28; EA Attacks=11 (dest=0, prob=0, dam=0)

28th Airborne=(12) VChandler#16, FMaupin#16, CWells#17, VParker#16, JCarroll#17, ________

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#15

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#15 05-16-45; Nagoya; 7,500 ft; CAS=250; release 0454; flt time 14:20; 24x500# Incnd

“Night, Solo, light flak, saw fighters, 5-10 searchlights.”

{---------------Mission #16 to Shizuoka--------------|

M#178; 05-19-45; Wings 58-73-313-314; Day; General Purpose bombs; 13-27,000 ft altitude; Tachikawa Air Arsenal & Aircraft Factory at Jamamatsu City

20th AF Airborne=309; Abort=19; Lost=4 (Unk; no EA Attacks & no dam from AA); Bomb load=12029;Fuel Reserve=817; Iwo=20; EA Sighted=8; EA Attacks=0

28th Airborne=(7)

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#16

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#16 05-19-45; Shizuka; 26,000 ft; CAS=1900; release 1220; flt time 14:10; 22x500# GP

“Day, solo, no opposition.”

{---------------Mission #17 to Tokyo--------------|

M#183; 05-25-45; Wings 58-73-313-314; Night; Incendiary bombs; 8-22,000 ft altitude; Tokyo Urban area (Kawasaki)

20th AF Airborne=498; Abort=2; Lost=26(3 to AA; 1 to EA; 2 abandon on return near Iwo; 20 unk); Bomb load=13517 lb.; Fuel Reserve=794 gal.; Iwo =0; Damaged (89 by AA, 10 by EA)

EA Sighted=?; EA Attacks=99 (dest=19, prob=0, dam=4)

28th Airborne=(14) VChandler#17, FMaupin#17, CWells#18, JAmbrose#1

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#17

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#17 05-25-45; Tokyo; 11,600 ft; CAS=270; release 0104; flt time 14:40; 40x500# Incnd

“Night, solo, heavy flak, 200+ searchlights, no aircraft damage.”

{---------------Mission #18 to Nobeoka--------------|

M#237; 06-28-45; Wing 314; Night; Incendiary bombs; 7-12,000 ft altitude; Nobeoka Urban area

20th AF Airborne=122; Abort=5; Lost=0; Bomb load=14984 lb.; Fuel Reserve=787 gal.; Iwo=6;

EA Sighted=6; EA Attacks=1; (0-0-0)

28th Airborne=(11) VChandler#22, CWells#22, FMaupin#28, TReadhimer, JStevens#11, PCrow, RLong, HGammel, JRobinson, EHammond#_, __

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#18

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#18 06-28-45; Nobeoka; 10,400 ft; CAS=210; release 0412; flt time 15:00; 40x500# Incnd

“Night, solo, meager flak.”

{---------------Mission #19 to Shimonoseki--------------|

M#243; 07-01-45; Wing 314; Night: Incendiary bombs; 8-19,000 ft altitude; Shimonoseki Urban area

20th AF Airborne=141; Abort=8; Lost=1 (1 to mech, 2 eng failed enroute); Bomb load=13809 lb.; Fuel Reserve=656 gal.; Iwo=22; EA Sighted=0; EA Attacks=0

28th Airborne=(11) VChandler#23, FMaupin#29,TReadhimer, JStevens#12, JAmbrose#_, PCrow, HGammel, JRobinson, VParker#23, ___, ___

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#19

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#19 07-01-45; Shimonoseki; 10,000 ft; CAS=215; release 0442; flt time 16:15; 184x100# Incnd

“Night, solo, meager flak, 10-15 searchlights, landed Iwo for gas 0840, took off for Guam 1025.”

{---------------Mission #20 to Kofu--------------|

M#254; 07-07-45; Wing 314; Night; Indendiary bombs; 11-17,000 ft altitude; Kofu Urban area

20th AF Airborne=138; Abort=6; Lost=0; Bomb load=15757 lb.; Fuel Reserve=783 gal.; Iwo=3;

EA Sighted=22; EA Attacks=0

28th Airborne=(11) FMaupin#31, JStevens#14, ___________________

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#20

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#20 07-06-45; Kofu; 12,400 ft; CAS=180; release 0134; flt time 15:20; 184x100# Incnd

“Night, solo. No opposition. Feathered #2 an hour from target, went over on 3 engines with no problems.

{---------------Mission #21 to Gifu--------------|

M#260; 07-10-45; Wing 314; Night; Incendiary bombs; 15-18,000 ft altitude; Gifu Urban

20th AF Airborne=135; Abort=4; Lost=1 (1 caught fire & exploded leaving target); Bomb load=14676 lb.; Fuel Reserve=685 gal.; Iwo=3; EA Sighted=10; EA Attacks=3

28th Airborne=(11) CWells#25, FMaupin#32, JStevens#15, ________________

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#21

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#21 07-09-45; Gifu; 12,200 ft; CAS=220; release 0151; flt time 14:30; 184x100# Incnd

“Night, solo, meager flac, 5 searchlights.”

{---------------Mission #22 to Hiratsuka--------------|

G Savage#22 07-16-45; Hiratsuka; 10,400 ft; CAS=210; release 0137; flt time 14:20; 40x500# GP

“Night, solo, light flak.”

{---------------Mission #23 to Tsu--------------|

M#289; 07-24-45; Wing 314; Day; General Purpose; 12-18,000 ft altitude; Nagoya; Mitsubishi Aircraft Factory, Fuji Textile, Toyowa Hvy Industry or Tsu

20th AF Airborne=81; Abort=6; Lost=0; Bomb load=9032 lb.; Fuel Reserve=676 gal.; Iwo=45;

EA Sighted=4; EA Attacks=0

28th Airborne=(13) JStevens#18, VParker#27, CWells#26, __

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#23

93rd Airboren=(?):

G Savage#23 07-24-45; Tsu; 21,500 ft; CAS=200; release 1155; flt time 14:05; 2x4,000# GP

“9 plane formation, flew #2 in C flight. Meager flak.”

{---------------Mission #24 to Omuta--------------|

M#295; 07-27-45; Wing 314; Night; Incendiary bombs; 13-16,000 ft altitude; Omuta Urban area

20th AF Airborne=130; Abort=4; Lost=1 (1 EA); Bomb load=15165 lb.; Fuel Reserve=526 gal.; Iwo=16,

EA Sighted=25; EA Attacks=9 (0-0-0)

28th Airborne=(11) JStevens#19, VChandler#26, VParker#28, JHewitt#_, _____________________

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#24

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#24 07-26-45; Omuta; 15,200 ft; CAS=210; release 0138; flt time 15:20; 19x500# + 92x100# Incnd.

“Night, solo, light flak, saw fighters.”

{---------------Mission #25 to Mito--------------|

M#309; 08-01-45; Wing 314; Night; Incendiary bombs; 12-15,000 ft altitude; Mito Urban area

20th AF Airborne=167; Abort=6; Lost=0; Bomb load=15071 lb.; Fuel Reserve=724 gal.; Iwo=6;

EA Sighted=22; EA Attacks=1 (0-0-0)

28th Airborne=(15) VChandler#27, CWells#28, TReadhimer, JDillard, JAmbrose#_, PCrow, RLong, HGammel, JRobinson, JRandolph, VParker#29, JStevens#21, MacElroy#_(93), ___, ___,__

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#25

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#25 08-02-45; Mito; 13,400 ft; CAS=210; release 0235; flt time 15:00; 19x500# +92x100 Incnd

“Night, solo, meager flak, saw fighters.”

{---------------Mission #26 to Osaka--------------|

M#314; 08-06-45; Wings 73 & 314; Night, _____ bombs; 12-15,000 ft altitude; Nishinomiya urban area

20th AF Airborne=261, Aborts=7, Lost=1, bomb load=16565 lb; Fuel Reserve=555 gal; Iwo=24

B-29's damaged=2 by flak; EAS=27; EAA=8

28th Airborne=(?) CWells#29, _________

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#26

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#26 08-06-45; Osaka; 13,600 ft; CAS=210; release 0240; flt time 15:30; 19x500# +92x100 Incnd

“Night, solo, meager flak, saw fighters.”

{---------------Mission #27 to Tokyo--------------|

M#323; 08-10-45; Wing 314; Day; General Purpose; 22-26,000 ft altitude; Okiguku, Najajima Aircraft Factory

20th AF Airborne=78; Abort=5; Lost=0; Bomb load=9646 lb.; Fuel Reserve=845 gal; Iwo=8;

B-29's Damaged=29 by AA; EA Sighted=9; EA Attacks=0

(50) P47 & P51 escort from landfall to lands end.

28th Airborne=(14) VParker#31, CWells#30; TReadhimer, Verp, MacElroy, Barta, PCrow, Detwiler, HGammel#_, McCull, JAmbrose#_, Randolph, Dillard, __

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#27

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#27 08-10-45; Tokyo; 21,500 ft; CAS=200; release 1056; flt time 14:45; 4x2000# + 4xx500 GP

“Day, 11 plane formation, let C flt, intense, accurate flack, minor aircraft damage.”

{---------------Mission #28 to Isesaki--------------|

M#330; 08-15-45; Wing 73-314; Night; Incendiary bombs; 15-18,000 ft altitude; Isesaki Urban area

20th AF Airborne=93; Abort=7; Lost=0; Bomb load=14924 lb.; Fuel Reserve=648 gal.; Iwo=6;

Damaged=?; EA Sighted=4; EA Attacks=0

28th Airborne=(15) VChandler#28, CWells#31, ___________

30th Airborne=(?): G Savage#28

93rd Airborne=(?):

G Savage#28 08-15-45; Isesaki; 15,000 ft; CAS=210; release 0230; flt time 15:55; 20x500# + 92x100 Incnd

“Night, solo, meager flak,. Five minutes before landing at Guam the tower called and said, ‘Cleared for your first peacetime landing.’”

{---------------Mission #29; POW Supplies--------------|

G Savage#29 08-30-45; POW Supplies; flt time 13:35

“Dropped pallets of food, clothing and medical supplies to a POW camp in Japan. Found POW canp with no problem and the POW’s were out waiting for us and with lots of waving and jumping. We didn’t hit any POW’s whith the pallets (we were only a couple hundred feet up). It was a chance to give Japan a real good buzz job which we did. Almost ran into a Budha statue about 100 ft high in the process.”

{---------------Mission #30; VJ Day + POW Suuply drop--------------|

G Savage#30 09-02-45; VJ Day Tokyo + POW Supplies; flt time 15:35

“We were one of a 400 ship B-29 formation which flew over the battleship Missouri when the Japs signed the surrender. After the fly-over we went our separate ways to do another POW drop.

Note: The last two missions were flown when the war was over but I guess we were given credit for “combat” missions because some Japs might have taken a shot at us when we were flying low over the country side looking for the POW camps.

Following WW II, some crews from Guam were sent to Saipan to ferry war-weary B-29’s back to the U.S. It was called ‘Project Sunset’. Crews -- and crew members -- were selected by the ‘point’ method. Points were given for time in service, time overseas, number of combat missions, decorations, etc. Those with the highest total were assigned to ‘Project Sunset’. As a result, my crew, less Tail Gunner (Wirgines) and Flight Engineer (Kalian) who didn’t have enough points, were transferred to the 73rd Bomb Wing, Saipan. (Vern Chandler’s crew was also one of those selected and assigned to the 73rd). We were given a cursory check-out by the 73rd and a B-29. We then island-hopped to Mather Field, CA, from whence crew members were sent to separation bases all over the U.S. My B-29 was a real lemon. Every time we got down to approach speed on final it would crab to the right. All I know is that I made every landing with crossed controls trying to keep the airplane lined up with the runway! Also, during each leg of the trip, and there were 3 or 4 legs, as I remember, I witnessed or heard over the radio one of the planes in our bomber stram ditching in the ocean.

{---------------The return and transition to Peacetime--------------|

Epilogue: 50 years Later

YOU THINK YOU GOT TROUBLES?

by GEORGE SAVAGE

As some of you may know, I have a rather large garden and to keep it green in these hot, dry Texas summers, I have a windmill. I was getting it ready for the coming summer and was working alone on top of the 40' tower. When I finished, I discovered that, over the course of several trips up the tower, I had brought up about 300# of tools, spare parts and hardware that now had to be returned to the ground.

Rather than carry the now unneeded items down by hand, I decided to lower the items down in a small barrel by using a pulley which, fortunately, was attached to a gin pole at the top of the tower. Securing the rope at ground level, I went to the top of the tower and loaded all items into the barrel. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the 300# of stuff.

Due to my wife's expertise at cooking, I weigh in the neighborhood of 160#, somewhat less than the 300# of stuff. Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rapid rate of speed up the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 20' level I met the barrel coming down. This explains the rather large gash on my head and broken collar bone. Slowing only slightly, I continued my ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were three knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold on to the rope in spite of my pain. At about the same time however, the barrel of stuff hit the ground with such speed that the bottom fell out of the barrel. It was now devoid of stuff.

You will recall my weight, being much more than an empty barrel, as you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 20' level, I met the barrel coming up. I went thrnugh the bottomless barrel accounting for lacerations of my legs and lower body and loss of a considerable amount of skin. The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I landed on the pile of tools and stuff. Only three vertebrae were cracked. I regret to report, however, that as I lay there on top of the pile of stuff, momentarily dazed, in great pain, unable to stand up or move and, watching the empty barrel 40' above me, I again lost my presence of mind.

I let go of the rope.

If everything is going your way you're probably going in the wrong direction