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Untitled

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Major rewrite Bwmoll3 (talk) 02:21, 2 June 2014 (UTC)[reply]

World War II Personal account

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Victories: (1)

GENDREAU DONALD U. Pilot. 549NFS. Squadron. T00002683 24 JUNE 1945 Central Pacific (Iwo Jima) Aircraft P-61B-6 (42-39543) CHIAPPINELLI ELIA A. Flight Officer. 549NFS. Squadron. T00180244 24 JUNE 1945 Central Pacific (Iwo Jima) P-61B-6 (42-39543)

Record of Victory:

4. Iwo Jima had four enemy air raids during the month of June and the timing of these raids seemed almost uncanny. Invariably the Japanese would raid during bad weather or when our air patrol was not in operation. On one occasion the Japanese arrived just at the time that the air patrol was to be relieved. The first of these raids was on the morning of June 1. Flash red was sounded at 025 K and the team work of our defense then went nicely into action. The 568th SAW Battalion with its radar units; the 302d F.C. Sqdn. with its VHF Communication and control of aircraft; the 138th AAA Battalion with its anti-aircraft guns; and the 549th Night Fighter Sqdn. with its planes in the air to intercept the enemy, all cooperated in an efficient manner. The following is an account of what happened before the flash red sounded, in other words "behind the scenes." Agate #13 SCR 270 radar unit, picked up the first bogey plot at 0215 K, 37 minutes before the siren blew. They reported enemy aircraft and position with reference to the ADCC. The area controller was then on the spot. His job was to determine if the aircraft was friendly or enemy. Many times during the B-29 raids, the heavy aircraft had failed to show the proper identification due to faulty equipment and he was thus always on the alert. The bogey was picked up at 010°, 157 miles from Iwo Jima, course 160° then Raid #1 came to within 75 miles from Hot Rocks, Raid #2 separated from it and both raids continued toward Iwo Jima in closely parallel courses. At 0244 Raid #3 appeared at 40 miles . At 0302 K Raid #4 appeared at 090° 6 miles from Hot Rocks. As the enemy aircraft were closing in on Iwo Jima, the Senior Controller alerted the Island Personnel and also the 549th Nighter Fighter Sqdn. which placed two more fighters in the air for the interception. Anti-aircraft artillery were also ready and the GCI controller were following the enemy raider on their SCR 527 and 370 radar unit scopes. These controllers were directing the fighter interception and made contact but each contact was lost when the Japanese planes used evasive action and proved too fast for our night fighter. were over Hot Rocks at 0304 K. Anti-aircraft personnel engaged two bogeys that flew over the island but no hits were scored. Five bombs set fire to an asphalt dump. One officer and four enlisted men were killed and 11 enlisted men were injured in that area.

5. Another raid took place at 2125 K on June 7. All personnel were alerted and interceptions were made but the bogey passed Hot Rocks 35 miles west. No enemy planes appeared over the island.

6. On June 22 Japanese aircraft raided Iwo Jima again. Flash red alert was sounded at 0320 K. The first bogey was reported by Agate #13 at 0050 K bearing 300° 135 miles from Hot Rocks. One P-61 was airborne at 0145 K and two more were sent out at 0213 K. The Controller at Agate #7 directed the fighter P-61 to an interception at 075°, 60 miles out at 0212 K at 24,000 feet. The bogey continued on course 260°, climbing to 26,000 feet and taking violent evasive action until 25 miles east of Hot Rocks. After two complete orbits in that position he took a 360° vector, going into a dive away from the island. Enemy planes dropped bombs at sea and the nearest bogey came within 18 miles of Iwo Jima.

7. The big thrill of the month went to, Lt. Stadjuhar, Intercept Controller, and the occasion was the fourth enemy raid on 24 June. Flash red alert was sounded at 0110 K and two enemy planes closed in on Iwo Jima. The planes were intercepted 40 miles from Hot Rocks by our P-61 night fighters, but contacts were lost. The bogeys dropped bombs on Iwo Jima at 0121 K and 0127 respectively. They came over Iwo Jima at a high altitude and dived to get away faster. Anti-aircraft guns engaged the bogeys but reported no hits. Agate #7 under Lt. Stadjuhar directed the P-61 to a contact on the enemy plane leaving Hot Rocks. Contact was made and the bogey was shot down at 0140 K, 79 miles from base. This was indeed a good feeling for Lt. Stadjuhar and was the reward for the army months of GCI training.

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