PERSONAL LOG OF JOHN ROBERT COOPER, ENSIGN, USNR
AIR GROUP EIGHT - HELLCATS
covering August, September, and October of 1945
On the 18th of May 1945 Air Group Eight embarked from Alameda
aboard the USS Long Island, CVE-1. Six days later we put into
Pearl Harbor. We immediately transferred from there to NAS
Puunene on the island of Maui. In a few days we had a combat
flight training program in operation. The previous air group left
us some fairly decent F6F-5's, so we started doing our bit to
wear them out. We did a lot of gunnery and tactics and bombing
and rocket work, and then they decided we needed some carrier
work.
We went out one day and made a couple of landings aboard
the Saratoga, and a little later, we all went aboard for a short
cruise. We launched strikes and CAPs just as if we were in
combat. All went well until Snider's accident. He landed aboard
with a full belly tank which went into the prop. In the fire that
ensued, two crewmen were burned to death, two more jumped
overboard - later picked up, and Snider was very badly burned. He
pulled thru and is now on the road to recovery. They sent him
home not so long ago. The 'Sara' was very complimentary of our
work, however.
We lost two more pilots on the return trip to Puunene. A TBM
piloted by Lt.Cmdr. Cagle developed a case of dead stick,
necessitating a water landing. Fletcher climbed out of the turret
and joined Cagle in a raft, but Bob Einar and Johnny Bogdan
(L.S.O) who were riding in the tail end were no where to be
found.
Some time later we had nite qualification with two landings.
The squadron photo team - Barney Stelzer, Bill Lyons, 'Weasel'
Turner and myself spent about two weeks at Barbers Point in a
CASU photo training unit. We gained some experience in flying all
types of photo rec. missions. We rather enjoyed our 'tour' up
there. we managed to get into Honolulu now and then, and we saw
Snider several times at hospital #8.
After another month of flying we used up the supply of bombs and
ammo on the station and as the wild parties became more frequent
they decided it was time we got going. They sent us out for
another refresher aboard the USS Antietam. We landed aboard,
refueled, took off on a simulated strike, returned for a second
landing, and then back to Puunene. Tom Coalson's hook broke on
his second landing and he took a couple of barriers out by the
roots. I blew a spark plug out on the strike, but the mill still
turned up OK, so I flew it back to Puunene.
We are now packing up to pull stakes on the 6th of Aug. Lot of
big parties going on. They had a bowling game over in 180 the
other nite using beer bottles for pins and more beer bottles for
bowling balls. Less work to setting pins this way. For some
reason the station O.D. couldn't see it that way.
Jack Carson was here recently with a USO show. Had some very sexy
blondes with him - Mary McCarthy, some ballet dancer, and Chili
Williams. **Gasp**!
Last nite was party nite at the club (Saturday nite). Guess a rip
roaring time was had by all. Some of the boys had to flatten out
some marines after they closed the place up. I think the station
is glad we are moving out - while there are a few buildings
standing. Some of them need to be torn down anyway. Air Group
Eight did it's part. A while back Brother Galvin blew a building
away while checking his mags. Numerous walls have been kicked
down, and numerous fire extinguishers squirted. I don't think the
BOQ officer ever lost much money tho; he made enough from us.
Today, August 5th, we finished packing our gear so as to be ready
to shove in the morning. About noon, Schroder came steaming in
rounding up some of boys to take the plane to Ford Island this
afternoon. I volunteered along with about 20 other guy. We rushed
around and got our luggage on a bus and went over to Kahului NAS.
They wouldn't stop at Puunene for us - took too much gas. We
waited for three hours, but no C46 ever showed up for us, so we
got a bus to take us back to Puunene.
August 6 - We try again. This time we won the battle. Along
about 0900 some C46s show up and VF got aboard ahead of VFB. I
think everyone finally got here (Ford Island). don't think they
ever found out what happened to that plane that was supposed to
come after us yesterday. (Hank Drew the pictures in the front
while we were waiting.)
August 7 - Day of embarkation. All the VF group mustered at Fox 9
(Ford Island) about noon and stowed our gear aboard the CVE-81
Rudyerd Bay. At 1600 the lines were cast off and we were on our
way to Guam. We learned this morning of the atomic bomb they
dropped on Hiroshima. Sounds like hot stuff.
August 8 - Put in my time today by eating, sleeping, sunbathing,
playing volleyball, reading, and attending a movie. Russia
declared war on Japan.
August 9 - Today about the same as yesterday. Monotonous isn't
it! Radio reports that Nagasaki was given the same dose as
Hiroshima.
August 10 - More volleyball and sunbathing. Today Japan offered
to accept the Potsdam terms of surrender - if she could retain
her emperor. Washington is conferring with England and Russia on
the matter.
August 12 - We crossed Longitude 180 degrees last nite. So we
skipped Saturday, the 11th. The allied Nations decided that Japan
could retain her emperor as long as he would take orders from our
commanding general. This word is being broadcast to them. We are
anxiously awaiting the results.
August 13 - Still no reply from the 'Sons'. Still we continue on
toward Guam. Passed four merchant ships yesterday. They were
headed in the 'right' direction. I was tempted to swim over to
one of them.
August 14 - A beautiful, calm day. Resplendent sunset. About 1800
reports that the Japs have finally thrown in the jock. Seems to
be true this time. About 2000 we listened to a broadcast from the
streets of San Francisco. Seems that the populace was taking the
surrender news pretty hard. Hard drinking I mean. They probably
outdid some of our VF-8 parties. Anyway - I should get caught out
here in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. *!#@*&!*
August 15 - Ship had gunnery practice this morning. They used
weather balloons as targets. They sure can turn on of these jeeps
on a dime. About 1000, official reports of the Jap surrender
came. At 1300 the Captain announced the surrender and offered a
prayer of thanksgiving. The ships work knocked off, and a holiday
routine proclaimed. I hear there were some pretty good parties
here and there. We listened to more celebrations on the radio. V-
J day will not be proclaimed until the surrender has been
signed. MacArthur will do the dictating.
August 16 - Everything is back to normal again. Everyone is now
trying to figure how to get out of the Navy. The point system
won't help very many. I can't see any discharge in sight.
(Dammit!) I spent my time today reading a book.
August 17 - Today we should land at Guam. Had gunnery practice As
we went past Rota. The Japs there probably thought we were
shooting at them./ We had it in mind. A B26 and a turkey came out
and towed sleeves. The Japs told MacArthur they would send a
peace envoy when they got good and ready. Everyone is P.O.'ed at
the bull they've been handing out.
Sighted Guam about noon. Came into harbor at 1600 amid a heavy
rain squall. Took some little time to get the ship tied up. We
began going ashore about 1900 Had to carry all our gear down a
ladder from the hanger deck. Don't think I ever sweated more in
my life. We got our gear loaded on trucks after Schroder checked
(most of) it for a *!$#@* carbine the ship lost. We unloaded our
gear into a wind tunnel and headed for the 'O' club. It was a
wind tunnel too with a refrigerator and some benches. Boy, did
those two beers taste good! We are to fly to Saipan in the
morning. I'm gonna take a shower.
P.S. Some of the boys are whooping it up in the 'O' club. T.I has
his squeezer.
August 18 - Between the drunks and the thunderstorms last nite,
some of us got a little sleep. After early breakfast, we sat
around waiting for a lull in the rainstorm. It finally stopped
and we hauled our luggage down to the airstrip and loaded it
aboard some C47s. About the time we were loaded they canceled the
flights because of a frontal storm up the line. A little later
one load of luggage took off and got thru, so we all took off (4
C47s). We left Orote at about 1000 and landed at NAB Kagman on
Saipan at about 1100. We soon got squared away in wind tunnels.
We now enjoy all the comforts of home. The chow hall is near by -
also a nice little 'O' club. We rifled some of the empty huts for
furniture such as packing box cabinets and chairs and desks.
We decided VFB could make their own, since they will probably
occupy those empty huts.
Went down to what is known as the 'swimmin hole' this afternoon.
What an ideal spot for swimming. You just dive off the cliff into
the water. There is a raft and a life guard. I found the place
inhabited by tropical fish and coral such as no aquarium ever
had. With my little diving goggles I toured the bottom for a
couple of hours. (I came up for air once in a while). Below the
surface of the water is a brilliant new world.
We tried out the 'O' club. Some of the boys really whooped it up.
19 August - The rest of the Air Group arrived this morning. I
spent most of the morning at the swimming hole - underwater -
exploring. Thunder showers this afternoon. Stayed in and did some
drawing.
The radio announced that the Japs had sent envoys to IE. They
just saved their necks from an all out bombing. The B29s here and
on Tinian were all set to let 'em have it.
20 August - Toured around the base this morning looking for the
photo lab and also some fishing gear. Saw some Japs over in the
First Lieut's office who had just surrendered. Guess they were
getting a little hungry up in the hills, although they looked
pretty healthy. They looked a little scared too.
I went swimming as usual later in the morning, and spent the
afternoon doing some drawing.
August 21 - for a change of scenery I walked up the hill to where
the Seabees were excavating coral. They had three of four
LeTorneau 'Carryalls' and were using a bulldozer as a pusher. I
rode on the bulldozer for a while - shootin' the bull with the
driver. He checked me out and let me run it a while. Some fun!
Swam for couple hours this afternoon. Went to the movie tonite.
There was s musical stage show before the movie. The movie was
'Keys of the Kingdom'.
August 22 - Went for a drive over to the opposite side of the
island - near fleet landing - to get some khaki shorts. On the
way over we stopped and watched while the Marines appealed to the
Japs at large to surrender by means of a Jap prisoner and a P.A
system. Nothing happened.
Spent the afternoon reading and swimming. A lot of the fellows
were busy spearing fish. Went to the movie 'Girl Crazy'.
August 23 - A gang of us took off this morning in a weapons
carrier to see the island. Stopped at the Army supply depot for
more shorts. From there we toured Isley field to look at the
B29s. There must be 200 of them there. They have been dropping
supplies to our P.W.s in Japan. We continued on up to Marpi Point
- saw 'suicide cliff' where all the Japs jumped into the sea. the
stench of dead was nauseating. We climbed down below the cliff to
look at the caves. They were littered with bones and various
pieces of decayed clothing and equipment. Nothing worthwhile as
souvenirs tho. Many skulls had neat bullet holes between the
eyes. Many shoes had bony feet in them. A lot of Japs had joined
the Royal Order of Ancestors there.
We continued on along the ledge to where it met the ocean.
Apparently molten lava had oozed into the water there and had
boiled into a frothy mass and solidified thus. Thousands of years
of pounding surf have worn it down exposing razor-like edges ow
what had been air bubbles. Along the surf was a flat shelf of
pools rimmed by partitions of coral. These pools teemed with all
sorts of tropical fish and coral formations.
On the way home we stopped by the Fleet Club and had a few Pepsi-
Colas. We stopped at Isley field again to locate an A.P.O. Saw
'Dodge City' tonite at the movie.
August 24 - Didn't do much of anything today. Spent most of the
afternoon hunting for shells and cat eyes down at the swimming
hole. Not much luck. Found an eight inch shell laying on the
coral. It is still there - untouched.
August 26 - Sue and I have been married one year today. Visited
the seaplane base this evening with 'Weasel' and some of the
boys. Had a couple of beers and shot the breeze with the P-boat
boys.
August 26 - A gang of us took off this morning for a sightseeing
tour. We stopped at the 2nd Marine Engineers so Battaglia could
look up a friend. We took him with us up to Marpi. Stopped in at
one of the Jap caves. Picked up a souvenir or two. Had lunch at
Marpi officer's mess. Spent the afternoon looking for shell along
the beach and viewing invasion damage. We stopped and watched a
bunch of Jap kids having a children's day celebration, or some
such affair. They were in a playground and having all sorts of
contests and games.
August 27 - Flew a familiarization hop this morning. We cruised
around Saipan and Tinian. Went down to Rota and back and had a
tail chase. It rained most of the day. B29 hit the hillside last
nite.
August 28 - More rain. Everyone stayed inside today. I shampooed
my hair under a stream of water pouring off the roof. Rain water
is the only soft water.
August 29 - Flew down to Guam and back this morning. Sort of a
nav hop.
August 30 - Schroder, Mendoza, G'mitro and DeGolia left this
morning for home. They went over to the seaplane base at Tanapag
to hitch hike a ride home. There is often a PBY heading back to
the States. Some of the B29s have gone back carrying 50 men.
Had a bounce hop this afternoon. This field is pretty poor for
FCLP. Rain and calm air also helped.
August 31 - CAP standby duty today - about six hours of it. No
scrambles tho. Most of the squadron went out to shoot a couple of
landings on the Casablanca. Along in the afternoon they secured
because of lack of wind. Beer at the club was free with the
compliments of those who made the last ALNAV.
September 1 - Not scheduled to fly today. The Casablanca is going
back to the states so no more carrier landings on it. Suits me
fine. I didn't want to go out there anyway. Crapped out today.
Got some fishing gear ready for our fishing trip tomorrow.
September 2 - Deep sea fishing trip today. We left Kagman NAB
about 0730 and drove over to Tanapag seaplane base. There were
about 20 of us. We got a 45' picket boat from the CASU boat pool
and made our way out of the harbor. We trolled for hours and had
one strike. We cruised down
Radio reports that Nagasaki was given the same dose as Hiroshima.
Your dad's words bring back memories of my friends dads. They had the same matter of fact "tone" about the bombings. No "soul searching", second guessing or "How could we? remarks". Just a statement of facts and a hope that the Japanese would finally quit. You could hear the "whatever it takes" attitude in their voices.
Thanks so much for sharing your dad's words. It is so different to see the words of those who lived these events in our history.
Ping to Navy pilot 'Pukin Dog', this diary of snopercod's dad at post 15 might interest you. :-)
Do you guys have all the fun or what?