V1945G07Crash.DOC

M-30? , 19th Bomb Group, 314th Wing, 20th AF North Field Guam in 1945.

The location of the crash was between the two main runways about 2/3 down the runway.

I heard the roar of engines while I was going from the service center to the Squadron area in my Jeep, looking to see the cause of this roar I saw the crash, similar to that shown here, as it happened.

I was told these are photos of the crash in which the Engineering Officer I replaced was killed.

These photos, of photos, were taken using a Mercury II 35mm camera purchased at the PX after the war. The cameras were hot selling items while the supply lasted. I removed these pictures from the wall of the officers club and placed them on a clipboard, and placed the clipboard on the walkway in the sun light then setting the lens opening and the distance to 1.5 feet – I snapped four photos in one shot. I had no idea what I had till later. I developed the pictures using Brownells kit from home, our supply of rain water from the roof and used our steel pot wash basin helmets to do the rinse. We were able to obtain ice from the club, use a thermometer and cool the photo chemicals to a proper range, then time the development process. We obtained film from the photo lab and refilled our own cans. Some of the photo's came out a bit dark but some of that may have been from rust or contaminated water.

Wet Ending off Saipan

The lucky ones a perfect ditch and rescue

Crash on Iwo Jima, B-29 clobbers into (4) P-51s

B-29 landing with locked breaks crashed into four P-51’s. Four crew members were badly burned. The fellow by the Jeep was hiding from bombs or ammunition that might go off.

Wondering what was up I stopped, the P-51 at right had crash landed, reasons unknown.

Any aircraft other than a B-29 was a novelty, the P-51 seemed like a toy by comparison.

The B-17 was flown in by persons investigating the P-51 crash. The B-17 attracted a lot of attention, it too seemed so very small, it would almost pass under the wing of a B-29. Yet the B-17 was all we had in the beginning.

	B17	B29
Engine size cu in displacement	R-1820	R-3350
Take Off Bomb Load	2000 lb	10000 lb
Range carrying full load	500 mi	4000 mi

George Savages landing on Iwo

George Savage far right is still making payments every April 15 for his handywork.

George Savages landing on Guam, didn’t reach the runway.

Kordus Plane rammed, all lost

Ben Kordus and crew

Spensers M-7 Crew, Flight Engr far right was from Colby KS did not survive