Lunga Point (CVE 94) - Naval Cruise Book

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put out some dye marker from the small pack- ages attached to their Mae Wests. But none saw the signal and as time went on the airmen became discouraged and cursed their fellow fliers at the tops of their lungs. Melton began to develop cramps in his legs. The water was cold and the leg muscles, tired by the strenuous exertions of the past few minutes, began to knot. Also, Melton ' s life jacket only partially inflated and was not suf- ficiently buoyant to support his full weight. I.t. ( jg) Cron gave Melton his life jacket, and thus supported, he was able to take much of the strain off his legs. At this point it was about 1015 hours (10:15 AM). Friendly planes were frequently sighted, but none saw the marooned men. Finally came the break for which they had been wait- ing. An artillery ob.scrvation plane, flying low and slow, came close and the pilot saw the bright yellow Mae Wests and the frantically gesticulating fliers. He swooped low over their heads, circled several times and waved. Then he tossed o crboard an inflated rubber raft, w hich. unfortunately hit the water between the stranded men and the shore: too close to the beach to permit its recovery without bringing the rctrie er within range of the Jap rifles. Making another low pass, the pilot of the plane cut his engine completely, shouted something unintelligible to the men below, then gunned his engine and sped away. He ' ll send help, the airmen agreed. Sure enough, in about ten minutes a carrier-ba.sed torpedo bomber approached and began circling their position. Fifteen minutes later, two fighter planes relieved the Avenger and main- tained a close vigil. No longer were the men in the water afraid of being pursued by Japs from the beach, for the fighter planes could easily hold off any such threat with their power- ful Nving guns. At 1300 hours (1:00 PM) two seaplanes approached, made perfect landings on the calm sea and taxied up to the wet, tired men. Lt. (jg) Cron clambered aboard one, and Melton the other. Then the planes took off and a few minutes later the .survivors were taken aboard a seaplane tender. One week later, on 15 April, the two airmen were returned to their carrier and were wel- comed aboard by the Commanding Officer, C:aptain G. A. T. Washburn, U. S. Navy, of .Seattle, Washington. We ' re glad to have you two back aboard, said Captain Washburn. We ' re glad to be back, .Sir, replied Lt. (jg) Cron. And he wasn ' t kidding. luucli luolljiill oii lliglil deck. 171

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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

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anyrs no u, thr (. P. Squadron personnel relaxing under TBM.