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 Wcsts. 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, Meltonas life jacket only partially inflated and was not suf- ficiently buoyant to support his full weight. Lt. 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 C1o:1 5 AMD. Friendly planes were frequently sighted, but none saw the marooned men. Finally came the break for which they had been wait- ing. An artillery observation 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 overboard an inflated rubber raft, which, unfortunately hit the water between the stranded men and the shore, too close to the beach to permit its recovery without bringing the retriever within range of the Jap riHes. Making another low pass, the pilot of the plane cut his engine completely, shouted something -.Q --ff ..v-. 1. T. .1 unintelligible to the men below, then gunned his engine and sped away. 'fHe'll send helpf' the airmen agreed. Sure enough, in about ten minutes a carrier-based 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 laps from the beach, for the fighter planes could easily hold off any such threat with their power- ful wing guns. At 1300 hours C1 :oo PMD two seaplanes approached, made perfect landings on the calm sea and taxied up to the wet, tired men. Lt. 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 1 5 April, the two airmen were returned to their carrier and were wel- comed aboard by the Commanding Ofiicer, Captain G. A. T. Washburn, U. S. Navy, of Seattle, Washington. C'We're glad to have you two back aboard, said Captain Washburn. f'We,re glad to be back, Sirf, replied Lt. C Cron. And he wasnjt kidding. Touch football on flight deck.

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