Lunga Point (CVE 94) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 173 text:

PRESS RELEASE 16 April 1945 By Lt. William H. Kearns, USNR fAboard a combat support aircraft carrier in the western Pacificj I5 April 1945 CDelayedj. V 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 rifies, and to subsequently make good their escape and return to their own aircraft carrier was relatedtoday by two of this ship's airmen, Lt. Robert H. Oron, 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. tfjgj Oronis 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 goo 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 la small vil- lage, Lt. C Oron 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. Oron released his safety belt and shoulder straps, climbed out of the cockpit and made a quick check on his crew 5 the turret gun- ner and Melton. The radioman, reported UAH 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. Cjgb 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 loo 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. 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. Cron pointed to a spot on the eastern side of the southern part of the island, indicating their present position. They were about 3 X4 of a mile from Yonabaru Wan, the bay the pilot had tried to reach before going down. About QM 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 loo feet to the north they could see several native huts, evidently 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- vantage of what scant cover was available, re- alizing that their bright yellow ffMae Westi' life jackets would be easy to spot from a dis- tance. After progressing eastward for about 5oo yards, the escapers turned north and about

Page 172 text:

llmllirlmw in lf.l'.O. c l1.1l'lv1'Q. fv-- 14 I Kms ffl1i1'la'.1lalllsl :mail in II1r'ff,I'fJ. IIIVNNUIIIUI-fJiglI'OUgh. FW, , -fn-.5 r W 1 1 aw -FT 5-:ug-. bo- had folk ch0pQ mm r nn ll uf hu N1 ltm mm 5 HS!'f'Ullf! Division stnml by U11 ilu I' 4 4 T 3 2 ml nl lo NKKIVK'fll'Qfl'Uy'l'l'1llUllHSiill' will: maui

Page 174 text:

this time American artillery shells began falling nearby. For days now the army had been shelling N ip gun positions which were dug into the sides of many hills and cleverly camou- flaged. As the shells began to burst closer and closer, the three airmen frequently tlopped on their stomachs to avoid the blasts. Soon the barrage receded behind them and their prog- ress ceased to be thus impeded. Continuing north, Lt. t Cron and his crewmen saw a camouflaged jap tank standing at the side of a narrow road. They ducked bc- 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 east again. Some distance ahead they could make out the beach, but between them and it were several houses 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 VVan. American 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 Ucarr--um eefesee fephn 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, who had been looking behind every few moments, gave a warning cry. Glancing backward, the other two saw a terrifying sight. Two Jap soldiers, about loo yards behind, were running toward them. Their rifles with naked bayonets gleamed in the sunlight. The three Americans 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. Cjgj Cron made for it and scrambled through to the land side, followed by the other two. For a few seconds, at least, the .Iaps could not fire on them until they, too, crossed the wall. If the Americans thought they could find better cover on the other side, however, they were knew that it would be only a matter of tm lore a ,lap bullet. or several bullets, fo marks. ll' they could only get into the Ma swim out far enough to be out of range of ,lap rifles, they might be safe, temporarily wt least. 'lt looked like their only chance, so Lg, tjgl tiron motioned his companions to go over the wall again. Once on the other side, Lt, tjgl Ciron dashed to the watt-r's edge and into the shallow water. Glancing around he saw that only the radiornan, 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 opportunity 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 above their knees, and the two survivors plunged into the gentle surf, rolled over on their backs and pushed themselves along with their feet. Miraculously, they were not hit by the japs' tire, and now with only their heads showing they made progressivly poor targets as they slowly inched their way out of range. The .laps made no effort 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 Qoo 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. Cjgj Cron decided to move landward toward shallower water where they could make better time. The japs, meanwhile, had been follow- ing their course from the beach, as the pair moved in closer, the soldiers let out a whoop and began Hring again. The fugitives were forced to swim to deeper water as the bullets began splashing close. Again they found a coral ledge where they could stand. Farther out, the waves were breaking over a coral reef wgich jutted above the surface of the sea atslow t1 e. . disappointed. Soon the japs came in sight again and again began Hring. Lt. Cjgj Cron During these breathless minutes, the flioiis had seen friendly carrier planes winging head and when one would come in close,