Lunga Point (CVE 94) - Naval Cruise Book

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PRESS RELEASE 1 6 April 1945 By Lt. William H. Kcarns, USNR (Aboard a combat support aircraft carrier in the western Pacific.) 15 April 1945 (Delayed). How it feels to be shot down by anti-air- craft fire behind the Japanese lines on the en- emy-held bastion of Okinawa .scarcely more than 300 miles from the Jap mainland, to then be chased by Jap soldiers who shot at them with rifles, and to subsec(iiently make good their escape and return to their own aircraft carrier was related today by two of this ship ' s airmen, Lt. (jg) Robert H. Ch-on, USNR, of Worcester, Mass., pilot of an Avenger torpedo bomber, and Rual W. Melton, aviation radio- man, second class, of Detroit, Michigan. As one of the formation of carrier-based fighter and bomber planes attacking gun po- sitions and other enemy targets on Okinawa, Lt. (jg) Cron ' s plane was hit by Jap anti-air- craft fire as he was pulling out of his first dive. He had just launched a salvo of rockets on a group of enemy guns when he saw his engine begin to smoke profusely, apparently due to a severed oil line. His vision obscured by oil which covered the windshield, he leaned out of the cockpit to get a view of the terrain below. He had only 900 feet altitude at the time his engine was hit and he was now losing altitude at an alarming rate. Knowing that he could not remain airborne more than a few minutes, he headed the plane toward a small bay which jutted inland from the coast, intending to make a water landing. But the sea was too far away and it became obvious that he couldn ' t stretch his glide that far. Turning north, the pilot determined to land as near to the American lines as his waning power would allow. But the friendly lines were still about three miles away and there was now no alternative but to put the plane down in Jap territory. Skilfully avoiding crashing into a small vil- lage, Lt. (jg) Cron made a perfect landing in a level field. The plane skidded along for a short distance, then slewed into a mound of earth and stopped abruptly. Lt. (jg) Cron relea.sed his safety belt and shoulder straps, climbed out of the cockpit and made a quick check on his crew; the turret gun- ner and Melton. The radioman, reported All safe. The plane was now enveloped with smoke and the engine was on fire. The flames licked their way aft along the fuselage. Speed was now of the essence, for in the Aven- ger ' s belly were ten live bombs. At any .second the mounting heat would detonate them. Lt. (jg) Cron and his crewmen unstrapped the leg straps of their parachute harness and the three airmen ran like rabbits for the safety of a drain- age ditch 150 yards away. They had .scarcely dived into this shelter when the bombs went off. The torpedo bomber literally disappeared in the cataclysmic blast, which tore a crater in the ground 100 feet in diameter and rained debris on the countryside for hundreds of yards in all directions. The detonation occurred one minute after the plane came to a stop on the ground. A close call. But they were to have other close calls that day. Lt. (jg) Cron and his comrades now took stock of the situation. They knew that an un- reckoned number of almond-eyed Nips had watched the descent of their crippled plane; many more had doubtless .seen and heard the explosion. They prayed that the Japs would believe that the pilot and crew had been des- troyed in the blast; otherwise, armed patrols would even now be scouring the vicinity for them. And they knew that the cornered, desperate Japs on Okinawa were taking no prisoners. Melton fished a battered map from his flying suit. Lt. (jg) Cron pointed to a spot on the eastern side of the southern part of the island, indicating their present position. They were about 3 4 of a mile from Yonabaru Wan, the bay the pilot had tried to reach before going down. About 2 ' miles to the north were the nearest American lines. Obviously, their best chance lay in making the beach and then push- ing north to friendly territory. Between them and this friendly haven, however, lay a sizable unit of the Jap army. About 100 feet to the north they could see several native huts, exidently the beginning of a small village. So the trio headed east toward the coast, skirting the village. Walking through fields and vegetable gardens, they took ad- antage of what scant cover was available, re- alizing that their bright yellow Mae West life jackets would be easy to spot from a dis- tance. After progressing eastward fcjr about 500 yards, the escapers turned north and about

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1 C I ' O. (luailf . i vv Clii.f rats first mial in the O.I ' .O mi-ss out ,l pii; lrr,uch Pork chops again, darn it! Followed by the mid-watch. There ' s always time for Gin Rummy in this stateroom. Second Uivision stand by on the fantail to receive destroyer alongside with mail. ' '

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this time Ann-riran .irtillcry shells Ix-nan fallinn nearby. Fur clays now tiie army had Ix-eii shelling Nip min positions whit li were du into the sides of many hills and cleverly camou- flaged. As the shells bei an to hurst closer and closer, the three airmen freciuently llopixd on their stomachs to avoid the blasts. Soon the barrage receded behind them and their prog- ress ceased to Ix- thus impi-ded. Continuing north, Lt. ( jg) Cron and his crewmen saw a camoullaged Jap tank standing at the side of a narrow road. They ducked be- hind some brush and watched it for a few moments. No crew was in evidence, but not wishing to take a chance the trio turned cast again. Some distance ahead they could make out the beach, but between them and it were several hou.scs with thatched roofs. Finding a cleared area between two small villages, the three half walked, half ran through this field and came to a stone and concrete sea wall which skirted the beach. They .scrambled over the wall, then headed north-east following the curve of Yonabaru Wan. . mcrican ar- tillery shells began falling closer now, the gun- ner ' s point of aim being the small villages the airmen had just avoided. They could hear the whine of the big shells passing close above them, then the earth shaking carr — um — ph as the shells burst. Hearing the whine, the airmen would flatten themselves against the sea wall, then scramble ahead until the next close one came over. Soon the firing ceased and the trio continued north-east at a fast walk. .Suddenly the turret gunner, ho had been looking behind every few moments, gave a warning cry. Glancing backward, the other tw ' O saw a terrifying sight. Two Jap soldiers, about lOO yards behind, were running toward them. Their rifles with naked bayonets gleamf d in the sunlight. The three . mericans broke into a run, their .38 caliber revolvers be- ing no match for the Jap rifles. As they started to run the Japs gave a yell and com- menced firing at the fleeing aviators. Bullets whined close but luckily none found its mark. Sighting a break in the sea wall ahead. Lt. (jg) Cron made for it and scrambled through to the land side, followed by the other two. For a few seconds, at least, the Japs could not fire on them until they, too. crossed the wall. If the .Americans thought they could find better cover on the other side, howexer. they were disappointed. Soon the Japs came in sight again and again began filing. Lt. (jg) Cron knew that it would Im- only a matter of time )c- fore a Jap bullet, (jr several bullets, found their marks. If they could only get into the s -a and swim out far en(jugh to Ik- out of range of the Jap rifles, they might Ik- safe, temporarily at least. It Ifjoked like their only chance, .so Lt. (jg) Cron motioned his companions to go over the wall again. Once on the other side, Lt. (jg) C!ron dashed to the water ' s edge and into the shallow water. (Jlancing around he saw that only the radioman, Melton, was with him. The turret gunner apparently winged by a Nip bullet, had failed to get over the wall. Either that, or he had elected to turn landward in the hope of finding cover and escaping his relent- less pursuers. But there was no (jpportunity for the other two to go back to look for the gun- ner. The Japs were standing on the sea wall and firing. Bullets pinked the water on all sides of the two exhausted fliers, sending up little bursts of spray. The water was just abo e their knees, and the two sur ivors plunged into the gentle .surf, rolled over on their backs and pushed themselves along with their feet. Miraculously, they were not hit by the Jap.s ' fire, and now with only their heads showing they made progressivly poor targets as they slowly inched their way out of range. The Japs made no efTort to pursue them into the water but stood on the sea wall watching, like vultures waiting for their prey to fall before swooping in for the kill. Now 200 yards offshore and just out of range of the Jap ' s rifles, the pair found a coral ledge which allowed them to stand and rest, the water up to their arm pits. Regaining their breath and some semblance of strength, they made their way slowly along the ledge in a northerly direction. But it is tiring business trying to walk in water of that depth and Lt. (jg) Clron decided to move landward toward shallow er water where they could make better time. The Japs, meanwhile, had been follow- ing their course from the beach; as the pair mo ed in closer, the soldiers let out a whoop and began firing again. The fugitives were forced to swim to deejjer water as the bullets began splashing close. Again they found a coral ledge where they could stand. Farther out, the waxes were breaking over a coral reef which jutted above the surface of the sea at low tide. During these breathless minutes, the fliers had seen friendly carrier planes winging over- head and when one would come in close, they