Page Thirteen

We learned, when we got back to operations, that we were to lead a maximum effort mission, including the two groups out of Okinawa, the next day. We would find out about the target at the mission briefing. Later that day, it was apparent that predicted severe weather would make the mission unwise. We never found out for sure what the planned target was.

It was decided, since we were back on the base, we would fly a paper mission that night. A paper mission consisted of dropping canisters loaded with propaganda leaflets at various spots over Korea. The canisters would open after release and the leaflets went far and wide. This was the only time we flew such a mission.

Our 45th mission was supposed to complete our tour of duty. When we got back to the base we made the ceremonial "last flight" low pass over the field before coming in for a full stop landing. When we got to debriefing we learned that our replacement crew had crashed on takeoff in Okinawa with no survivors. We ended up flying two more missions. When we completed the last one our low pass over the field was really low. Some said if we had the gear down the tires would probably have made contact with the runway. At last we were done and would soon be heading back to the States.

Korean War (Stateside)

Before leaving Japan, our orders came through assigning us to the 22nd Bomb Wing at March Field in Riverside, California.

Madeleine came out from Chicago and was at the Travis AFB in California when we landed. We got our car out of storage, left instructions for sending our furniture to Riverside, and headed back to Chicago. We picked up Joyce and Bill, spent a few days in Indiana, and started the long drive back to California. Upon reaching Riverside, we rented part of a triplex and had the furniture delivered.  

At the Air Base, the crew was informed that we would be an Instructor Crew, training new B29 crews. A couple months later we were also assigned as the Wing Standardization crew. In this capacity, we gave periodical check flights to other crews.

There was one puzzling incident that took place in a training flight, where I was to fly as an instructor for a new-navigator. As we were checking engines at the end of the runway, a call from the tower informed the pilot that a jeep was bringing out another instructor and should return me to Operations. No reason was given; so many thoughts went through my mind on the way back.  

At Operations, I was informed that I was going, as first navigator, on a special flight with another crew. We were told to go home, get enough items for two weeks, and report back to Operations. Madeleine asks where I was going, but I couldn't tell her since I had no idea myself.  

It turned out that, two crews, both with two navigators, would each be taking three high-ranking Air Force officers (VIPs) to Hawaii and Kwajalein. Our crew, and our VIPs, would stay in Hawaii. The other crew would leave the next day for Kwajalein. We were on standby to take the other VIPs if the crew had plane problems. Naturally, we mentally helped them off the runway, since we had no desire to go to Kwajalein.  

Anyway, we spent eight days in Hawaii. For whatever reason, the Air Force did not want us to have much contact with base personnel, so we were put up at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. This only added to the question of why two B29 's were used instead of the VIPs taking a commercial flight.  

Much later (early 90's) information indicated that in the early 50's the CIA suspected China might join Russia in the cold war. Were these flights part of a planning mission for the Pacific area? We will never know.

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