August 17, 2012
WWII Aircrew Rescue Service, Pacific Theater of Operations
By Lee Jernigan
In early 1945 World War II was beginning to wind down in the European
Theater, however still a deadly enterprise in the Pacific area of
operations. Air crew was bombing targets in the Japanese held regions
of China, Formosa, and the mainland of Japan. Often bomber crews
had to ditch in the ocean due to damage aircraft, and rescuing the
downed air-crewmen was almost impossible. Many bombers carried small
inflatable boats, for crashing into the sea made for dicey procedures
for getting into them. Amphibian aircraft, called flying boats were
often prevented from landing at crash sites in the China Sea because
the very large ocean waves that threatened to tear the wings off
of those rescue aircraft. Submarines were of help, but spotting
small life rafts from them could be impossible.
This prompted the war department to develop a very igneous method
of rescuing more of the ocean ditched aircrews. The 6th Emergency
Rescue Squadron was developed and put into operation. The reliable
B-17 bomber, with newly developed radar, was especially fitted to
carry life boats to be dropped to downed aircrews. The life boats
developed by the Higgins Boat Company were 27 feet long and weighed
3,500 pounds. The boats were attached by cables secured onto the
bomb shackles, and thus positioned on the belly of the B-17. Built
out of laminated plywood and honeycombed with compartments those
boats were almost indestructible. They were propelled by two gasoline
engines, and a sail, and carried rations for many men for several
days. They were ingeniously fitted with rocket propelled lines so
airmen could pull themselves to the boat and get on board.
When the B-17 crews received signals, or orders, regarding ditching,
or about to ditch aircraft into the ocean, a search ensued, the
aircraft, and/or crewmen were located. The rescue plane descended
to about 500 feet, and dropped the boat. Three 48 foot parachutes
lowered the boat to the ocean and as close as possible to the air-crewmen.
Instructions from the B-17 navigator were put into the boat before
release, and they gave the downed men steering vectors. Submarines
were then dispatched to intercept the boats, transfer the air-crewmen
into the sub, and take them to a convenient port.
These emergency aircraft were based at several Pacific area locations,
and continually moved to more northerly bases as territory was taken
back from the Japanese. There were several bases in the Philippine
Islands, and lastly le Shima near Okinawa. Several units were later
deployed in the Korean conflict. Many airmen were saved by way of
this very special 6th Emergency Rescue Squad. Yours truly, the writer
of this article served as an engineer and aerial gunner on one of
those aircraft, and flew 23 missions before the war ended.
Stu’s Notes: I’ve been trying to get some of Lee’s story for
quite a while. He is a busy man and a Hero of America, but don’t
tell him I said that because I hope to get more stories. As we talked
I learned how involved he was in the Oroville School system. He
started teaching in 1950 at Bird Street School. Some of my readers
will remember that school down on Bird Street. It stood on the site
of the lawn that is next to the new school. Lee put up with kids
for 38 years, that deserves some kind of medal. He was Principal
at Bird Street quite a while. He was there in 1967 when they had
the 100 year centennial, if my math is right. Bird Street school
will be 150 years old in about 5 years. Lee was at Central school
and was Principal at Stanford School for 14 years and after he retired
he became a substitute principal there. He still is very involved
in the Retired Teacher Association. Lee was there when we had our
1975 big earthquake. I guess that spelled the end of the Old School,
Oroville lost a lot after that quake that I think could have been
saved. Like our Oroville High School, I heard it was built so well
it was hard to knock down. I asked Lee if he new Mr. Finley, Principal
at Thermalito School in the 50’s and he said yes. Well, Mr. Finley
would sing the Strawberry Roan at Assemblies, well Lee sang the
whole song to me, how about that Rex. Lee said their B-17 was named
The One Meat Ball after a popular WWII Song of that name. Seems
that when you ordered spaghetti back then you only got one meat
ball.
Many events coming up in September. Saturday, September 1, 2012,
from 12:00-9:00pm will be a big fund raiser for our Veterans Memorial
Park, that is being headed by Kris-Tina Kelley. There will be Live
Music at Centennial Plaza, located at Huntoon & Arlin Rhine Memorial
Drive, Food and Beer Garden, Raffle, Vintage Military Car Show,
Classic Car Show, Motorcycle Scavenger Hunt, Free entries to all
Veterans and Service members with ID. Must be 21 to Enter. A $10
donation.
On Friday September 21st will be the POW/MIA ceremony on the step’s
of the Veterans Memorial Hall on Montgomery St. at 7PM. On Saturday,
September 22nd there will be a Motorcycle Poker Run sponsored by
the Feather Falls Casino & Lodge. For more information contact James
Townsend at www.pjtownsend @att.net or call (530)589-5748