USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Wenham > Wenham in World War II : war service of Wenham men and women and civilian services of Wenham people > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
The 407th Signal Co. was a company from which men were drawn to carry out the various types of signal work at Hickam Field and Woodbury's work consisted of "doing cryptographic work in the Message Center at Hickam Field. This included decoding messages coming into the office and encoding those going out."
Woodbury was assigned to 30 Bombardment Group, 71 Air Serv- ice Group and on June 25, 1944, D + 10, landed on Saipan where he again worked in the Message Center. He says: "My work in the Message Center on Saipan consisted of handling messages going to and from the Island. When an encoded message came in, it would be decoded and sent to the proper designation on the Island. These messages would be logged in the Message Center before being sent out so that an accurate check could be had on them. Some- times these messages could be sent via the teletype machine as tele- types were maintained all over the Island in all the outfits. All mes- sages had a certain priority which told us their importance. 'Urgent' was the highest and the others in order of importance were 'Opera- tional Priority,' 'Priority,' 'Routine,' and 'Deferred.' An 'Urgent' would be handled quickly, with secrecy and extra care, whereas a 'Routine' would be handled in the way that its name implies."
Woodbury remained on Saipan for eight months and says that his most "surprising". experience was being shelled by the Japs who were five miles away on Tinian. "As an air raid had just started, we did not know for quite a while what it was. The shrapnel went directly over our area hitting many of the tents although luckily no one was hurt. We crawled on our knees to the air raid shelter in order to keep beneath the low flying shrapnel."
In March 1945 Robert Woodbury returned with the 71st Air Service Group to Oahu. He made Corporal in September 1945 and remained in Oahu until his return to the States in November 1945.
Robert Woodbury was honorably discharged at Ft. Devens, Mass. on December 12, 1945 with the rank of Corporal.
Meritorious Unit Citation awarded to 71st Air Service Group in August 1945 for ability of outfit to perform duties well.
Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with star for Saipan.
World War II Victory Medal
200
Wenham in World War II
HERMAN YOUNG enlisted and entered on active duty as an Apprentice Seaman in the U. S. Naval Reserve on November 1, 1942, at the age of 45. He went through recruit training at New- port, R. I. and upon completion was ordered to the USS Baltimore (CA 68) a new heavy cruiser. He boarded her at Boston where she was built and headed from there for Pearl Harbor.
The Baltimore was from then on alternately in the Third Fleet with Task Force 38, and the Fifth with Task Force 58, depending on whether Admirals Halsey and McCain or Spruance and Mitscher were in command of the operation. She took part in one or more engagements of nine of the twelve major Pacific naval operations from then till the end of the war-a total of twenty-six actions. In twenty-five of these, Young, by then Seaman 1/c, served as No. 1 Powder Handler in No. 5 Mount of the ship's 5"/38 dual-purpose (anti-aircraft and surface) secondary battery.
The Baltimore took part in the Gilbert and Marshalls operations, the Truk, Ulithi and early Marianas raids, and was lent to the Sev- enth Fleet for the Hollandia operations. On June 19 and 20, 1944, she took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and was credited with eight of the nearly four hundred Japanese planes shot down by the Fifth Fleet's ships and planes the first day. On the second day, when planes from TF 58 successfully attacked the Japanese Fleet at extreme range and returned late at night to the carriers that Mitscher had ordered lighted in this emergency, the Baltimore had little shooting to do, but rescued the crews of several planes. In later operations, she raided the Bonins, Formosa, Luzon, the Nausei Shato and Honshu, to prevent reinforcements being sent to Japanese- held islands, on which the Marines and Army were landing; and she furnished fire support for the Saipan, Luzon and Iwo Jima landings, often firing steadily as fast as the guns could be reloaded.
Herman Young returned to the States in March and was honor- ably discharged in April, 1945 at Camp Shoemaker, Calif.
Commendation Ribbon, awarded by Adj. Gen. Harrison. American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with stars for Gilbert Islands, Marshall Islands, Asiatic-Pacific Raids, 1944, Western New Guinea, Leyte, Luzon and Iwo Jima Operations.
World War II Victory Medal
Virginia (Bodge) Kearney Cpl .. AUS. WAC
Gertrude P. Glavin S 1/c. TISNR (WR)
Vera (Christofferson) Case 2d Lieut., AUS, ANC
Florence L. Stobbart Capt., AUS, ANC
Edith (Morson) Morris Ens., USNR (WR)
Arleen (Chamberland) Escales Ensign, USNR (NNC)
Marianne Davis Upl. AUS, WAC
Martha. ( Webster) Sparrow SP (R) 2/c, USNR (WR)
VENHAM WOMEN IN THE ARMED FORCES
201
Personal Records of Those in the Armed Forces
The names of the following people are also on the War Time Honor Roll. We regret that details of their war service cannot be given as either they have not answered, or their residence in Wen- ham was so temporary that they cannot be located.
Banter, Kathryn L.
Perkins, Laurence D.
Bick, John A., Jr.
Perkins, Myron. H., Jr.
Boynton, Philip E., Jr.
Perkins, Porter J., Jr.
Briggs, Clyde D.
Perkins, Winthrop
Brooks, Lloyd C. Campbell, Arthur M.
Preston, Albert L.
Clayton, Burgess
Preston, Robert E.
Cogswell, David G.
Prince, George
Elliott, Charles E.
Robinson, David W.
Gauthier, Leo E.
Scharfenberg, C. J.
Green, Roy
Starkweather, Edwin M.
Harlow, Emerson S.
Steen, Everett N.
Jeffery, Harold E.
Trowt, Franklin D.
Johnstone, Hugh B.
Webb, Allen F.
Kraczynski, Joseph A.
Webb, Bradford E.
McGee, Hubert
Webb, Donald W.
Mead, Edmund J., Jr.
Welding, Lyman A.
Mead, Donald P.
Wilson, Walter
Murphy, Cecil E.
Woodman, John
Murray, Cornelius
Vickers, Frederick A.
Peyton, Paul P.
202
Wenham in World War II
THESE PAGES ARE FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL ACCOUNTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
203
Personal Records of Those in the Armed Forces
204
Wenham in World War II
205
Personal Records of Those in the Armed Forces
206
Wenham in World War II
207
Personal Records of Those in the Armed Forces
208
Wenham in World War II
209
Personal Records of Those in the Armed Forces
UNSIGNED ACCOUNTS OF WENHAM MEN IN ACTION
BOMBER MISSION
The one experience that I most vividly recall is the one for which our group received the Presidential Citation. Though many others went through as much and more, I guess it stands out because it was our first real close call and because it served to tie the bond that made us one of the closest knit crews I ever knew. It also disclosed that we at least, were ten men not conscious of rank or creed, ten men, who were really following the maxim of "one for all and all for one."
It was January 11, 1944 and our ninth mission. Halberstadt in Central Germany was our target. It was cloudy and generally bad weather over England, but that was usual. All went well-little fighter opposition to the target and the skies over the continent were clear and sunny. We were not aware that a recall had gone out and that our group was practically wending its serene way alone. The fighters assigned to us, P-47's, stayed with us, and so we ploughed along to the target, at 27,000 feet. Once there we dropped our bombs, and turned home with a sigh, glad to be rid of them and the target receding behind. A few enemy fighters attacked, but not our group, and we watched our fighters shoot several down. In time our fighters left us as they were short of gas, but we weren't overly con- cerned. Ahead lay the border of France and also ahead the clouds
began, as abruptly as if cut by a knife. There were two layers; one at 18,000 feet, another at 10,000 feet. We reduced altitude to fly between them at 17,000 feet. Then it happened. Just as we flew under the top cloud layer, all hell popped loose. Me-109's had been patiently lying in wait above the clouds for us, and they pounced. Yellow noses screaming at us and lead flying everywhere. They were the famed "Abbeville Kids," Goering's pet squadron; all old seasoned fighters, experienced from the Civil War in Spain and the African Campaign. They knew no fear, they recognized no odds. Again and again they swooped in on us doing slow rolls between our planes, which were in very close formation, so close we could actually see the pilots. Our guns were going full blast and reports indicated several of our planes were hit. I, in the nose, could see one of my own squadron's below me, crippled, losing altitude, its guns still blazing. Now she was smoking and starting to fall off into a slow spiral. There were three enemy fighters on her, making deadly sure
210
Wenham in World War II
of their kill. Finally I saw the figures tumbling out, as the men took to their chutes. We counted and word went through the ship for all who could, to keep count. The spiral became steeper, and flames were evident. Suddenly she went from sight in the clouds. We were getting hit too. Holes from 20 mms. timed to explode like a grenade a second after penetrating, were here, there and every- where. We were taking our toll of the Germans and as suddenly as it began, it ended. Time? Who knows; not more than 20 minutes. We filled in the spaces in the ranks and limped on. Every plane showed signs of being hit. Several hours later we sighted the Eng- lish shore. We split up then, for there were wounded in every ship and a single ship can make better time than a formation. We had need of a hasty landing, for our co-pilot lay in the nose with us, with a nasty wound in his right shoulder, the engineer was helping at the throttles; our pilot's face was pitted with tiny particles of 20 mm. Luckily the rest of us were unharmed but there were holes as mute evidence of how close some shots had been. We had neither brakes, radio, gas to speak of, nor any vacuum instruments. I had to call off the air speed from the nose for our landing. We made two passes before making a landing, stopped by rolling into the grass.
The plane, a B-17-F, required 2 months to fix, and we flew it on the last three missions of the 8th Air Force, to Berlin. That plane, called "Dearly Beloved," always got back. On her last mission she brought her crew back to friendly territory in France, though they still don't how she made it. She was beyond salvage that time.
HEADQUARTERS 306TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H) OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING OFFICER*
The 1st Bombardment Division has been awarded a Presidential Citation for "extraordinary heroism, determination and esprit de corps in action against the enemy on 11 January 1944." This award is the highest that can be given to a Unit. It is equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross, which is the second highest award that can be given to an individual.
The targets of the 1st Division on 11 January were the Focke- Wulf assembly plant at Oschersleben and the factory supplying parts for Junker fighters at Halberstadt, both in central Germany, about 300 miles inside enemy territory. The 306th Group, flying its 100th
*This citation was given to the 1st Bombardment Division as a result of the action described in the preceding account.
211
Personal Accounts of Those in the Armed Forces
mission with Colonel Robinson leading, led the attack on Halber- stadt. The other Divisions were scheduled to hit aircraft plants in the same area.
Two hundred seventy-five Fortresses, including 33 from the 30th Group, comprised the 1st Division. Shortly before the Division reached its target areas, a recall was sent out from headquarters be- cause increasingly bad weather threatened to close the home bases. At that time some of the bombers of the other Divisions and some of the fighters which had been assigned to our force returned to their bases. The 1st Division Air Commander, however, because of the extreme importance of the assigned targets, decided to carry on the attacks. Both targets were hit visually with excellent results.
For two hours, from the target to the North Sea some 300 miles away, the Division, with its reduced fighter escort, fought its way through flak and unceasing fighter attack by FW 190's, Ju 88's, Me 109's, 110's, 210's and 410's. Of these, the Division is officially credited with having destroyed 210. This is the largest number ever destroyed by one Division on a single mission. Forty-three more were probably destroyed and 84 damaged. These attacks knocked down 42 bombers of 1st Division, but there were five enemy fighters destroyed for every bomber which failed to return. The 306th Group was subjected to particularly savage attacks, during which we lost five aircraft in less than 10 minutes, including both of Colonel Rob- inson's wing men. This Group destroyed 17 fighters, probably de- stroyed four more and damaged 14.
Practically all the 306th aircraft were shot up-thirteen severely. Three were so seriously damaged that they were scrapped. One man was killed, 13 wounded. Many were recommended for and re- ceived special decorations for heroism against heavy odds and for their efforts in successfully returning damaged aircraft and wounded men to England.
This mission was one of a series of heavy and effective blows which finally broke the back of the German Air Force. Not only were a great many aircraft destroyed in the air, but manufacture and assembly of new fighters were critically curtailed. The spectacu- lar and destructive advances by ground forces on all fronts would have been impossible without the work done by the 8th Air Force heavy bombers. In these operations, the 1st Division, the oldest Division in the ETO, has been outstanding from the beginning. The 306th Group, one of the original Groups and the oldest in continu- ous combat, has played a major part in these successes, and every
212
Wenham in World War II
member of this organization, on the ground or in the air, can feel justly proud of his contribution toward the successful prosecution of the war in Europe.
A Distinguished Unit Badge identifying this citation will be issued to all individuals who are assigned or attached as members of the 1st Bombardment Division, to become part of the uniform.
ARTILLERY
General Patton once said that there were only two arms of the service during this past war whose performance was universally praised and about whom very little, if any, serious criticism was ever voiced. One was the Medical Corps and the other the Artillery. He also said that the greatest single advantage we possessed over the German army in the ground fighting was our superior employment of field artillery. This was due principally to these three features :
1. The 24-ton truck
2. The Cub plane
3. Our fire-direction set-up
1. Our vastly superior prime movers, such as the GMC truck, enabled our artillery to move much further and much faster than the enemy. Thus we were able instantly to exploit an advantage gained against the inevitable counterattack.
2. The Cub plane, which constantly patrolled above the front lines in all but the foulest weather, gave us an enormous observation advantage over the enemy. It meant that in clear weather we were firing with our eyes open, whereas the Germans, unless they had terrestrial observation, were shooting blind.
3. Perhaps the greatest technical advantage we had was our superior method of fire-direction which enabled us to place the fire of all the guns within range upon a single target simultaneously. The crushing effect of this mass fire was overwhelming and fortun- ately the American Army had developed its technique in the hand- ling of this fire to a greater degree than had the Germans.
MANUS HARBOR
"I regret the delay in this report, but my war records are scattered and as for my memory, it is useless. The whole thing seems so like a nightmare, that I have forgotten all I possibly could and have been quite successful at it.
213
Personal Accounts of Those in the Armed Forces
"Our ship through it all was fortunate never to have been hit. We were in the thick of all landings and ships on all sides of us received direct hits but ours were all misses. Shells made their way through the rigging making us all hit the deck and bombs dropped so close that the shock knocked us over but we were never actually hit. On the morning of the 10th of November 1944 we were anchored less than 400 yards from the Mt. Hood ammunition ship. By some quirk it moved two miles away and had hardly dropped anchor when it blew up. It disintegrated completely. The Mindanao, anchored near the Mt. Hood, was leveled to the water's edge with all personnel aboard dead or casualties. Men on our decks (two miles away) were knocked over by the shock. A torpedo attack sent a torpedo eight feet forward of our bow and its second 40 feet off the stern. Too close for comfort."
FROM A WENHAM MAN'S LETTER TO HIS WIFE
"We invaded Iwo Jima on 19 February. We knew all about the proposed operation for over two months beforehand. We received very thorough and accurate briefing. Our Intelligence work was wonderful. We were well supplied with charts, photographs and plans of the island. (We didn't know quite how tough it was going to be. )
"Seven weeks before the operations, we took aboard our cargo, which remained with us from then on. In our particular case, this consisted of 2 Marine officers, 41 enlisted Marines, 11 Seabees and 1 pet canine, with a full load of such vehicles as bulldozers, trucks, caterpillars, trailers and cranes, as well as some other cargo. So, with 115 men and all this gear aboard, you can well imagine that for 7 weeks we were a trifle crowded. (One crane weighed 46 tons.) The gyrenes and sailors got along beautifully together. It's hard to believe, but we really were 'one big happy family.'
"During those weeks we rehearsed the operation several times, at several different places, with all the other ships which took part in the amphibious phase of the operation. We knew, of course, that Iwo was to be softened up for us, by air, and by the Fleet. The night before we reached our target, we could see the glow in the sky at a distance of many, many miles, and knew that the big guns were do- ' ing their work.
"We arrived at our station, 4 miles off the beach, soon after sun- rise. (H-hour was set for 0900.) What a sight it was! You have
214
Wenham in World War II
doubtless seen pictures of this perfect armada of ships. When you actually see it, with the battleships, cruisers, destroyers, rocket craft, etc., belching forth fire and smoke from all their guns, it is a sight you can never forget. The noise, is, of course, simply thunderous, and never-ceasing. The air is full of the smell of gun-powder, even at many miles from the target. The sky is crowded with aircraft, also throwing everything they have against the island. We were able to watch the whole show through binoculars, awaiting our turn to hit the beach.
"The first wave of attack boats started in at 0900, right on sched- ule. We couldn't see anything of what was going on in at the beach, due to the smoke, and the distance (4 miles), But we were getting constant radio reports. It didn't sound too bad. Then the LSMs which were carrying tanks went in, and we'd get reports of which ones were hit, casualties, etc. Due to the nature of our load, we felt we wouldn't be called in until the beach itself was fairly well secured, as it was a load which would take several hours to unload even under the most ideal conditions.
"At 1130 we started in. As far as we could tell, the beach looked fairly quiet. How wrong we were! As soon as we hit the beach, they opened up with everything. We found we were caught in a crossfire of machine-gun bullets. They sounded just like hail on both sides of the ship. I was up forward in the tank deck, rigging the landing mat to be towed off by the first vehicle ashore, a bull- dozer, as unconcerned as you please. When the ramp was lowered I was standing there, working with my back to the beach. All of a sudden I noticed all our marines and sailors diving under the vehi- cles on deck. At the same moment I realized that machine-gun bullets were whizzing over my head, and little pieces of shrapnel were dropping down on deck. Then I turned and looked forward at the beach, 10 yards in front of me, through our open doors. The Marines were absolutely pinned down at the water's edge. In 3 hours they hadn't been able to advance one yard. They were caught in this machine-gun cross-fire, and, as soon as one raised himself up, he got shot. Also, mortar shells were dropping all around the ship. No direct hits, thank God. Of course there were many dead and wounded lying in the sand around the bow doors, and many more killed during these moments. The live marines lying on the beach kept waving us off, as we were just drawing fire towards them, and it was obvious that it would be impossible for us to unload. We'd have lost every man involved in the operation, and every vehi-
215
Personal Accounts of Those in the Armed Forces
cle would have been destroyed as soon as it was put ashore. Also, each vehicle would have had to run over live, wounded and dead Marines. We probably would have lost the ship. We were on the beach about 10 minutes before we got the order to retract. While there we took aboard as many wounded as we could, to transfer them later to hospital ships. As soon as we retracted from the beach the shell-fire stopped. It was obvious that the damn Japs had some very efficient artillery spotters somewhere, because no matter how quiet the beach would become at any spot, the minute an LSM came in, the mortar and artillery fire would start right in again.
"We weren't sent in again until the next morning. This time we went right in under the shadow of Mt. Suribachi. Most uncomfort- able! It was pretty much the same story all over again. It would have been a dashed impossibility to unload, we were drawing mortar and artillery fire to that section of the beach and were told to 'get the hell out.'
"On all of these early trips to the beach, we were going in directly under the guns of our big ships, which were standing in very close to shore, apparently begging the enemy to open up on them, so as to spot the positions of the enemy's remaining big guns. On each trip, in the early days of the invasion we took off wounded. Irvie (the doctor) did a perfectly amazing job. We had plenty of blood plasma, penicillin and sulfa drugs. And, after the second day, some whole blood, flown in by seaplane. That last definitely saved one of these patients.
"We finally unloaded in the late afternoon and evening of that second day. From that point on, we worked continuously, day and night, unloading big ships and putting the cargo ashore right up to the present time. After our first unloading, we were never more than 2 miles from the beach, and at least 50% of the time we were on the beach. After the first 2 or 3 days, we were never more than a mile off. For the first few days, when we were on the beach, I would say that we were in, or just behind, the front lines. (On those first 2 landings we were definitely in the front line). It was no fun on the beach nights. We had to unload in the dark, and one was always in danger of being picked off by a sniper. And of course mortar and shell fire was coming over all the time.
"One of the greatest thrills of my life was seeing the colors go up on the top of Mt. Suribachi on the 4th day. You can't have any idea what that meant to us. It wasn't entirely a matter of sentiment. It meant that we could lie on the beach without having a shower of
216
Wenham in World War II
high explosives rain down on us from up here. We really hated and feared that place. Solid rock, steep with the most intricate system of gun emplacements in the world. How those gyrenes ever scaled up that place, and silenced those guns, is something I shall never be able to understand. At the moment when the flag went up I just happened to be looking, as we were on our way in to the beach with a load, and when I pointed it out to the boys, you should have heard the cheer !
"We kept the island lit up all night every night with illuminating flares. Of course, war at night is beautiful, if you're not too close to it. The tracer shells and bullets, coursing bright red through the sky are gorgeous, except when they're coming towards you. Then you just hold your breath and wait for them to hit.
"Our seaplanes started landing on the 2nd or 3rd day, bringing in whole blood, and mail for the marines, and evacuating the worst casualties.
"We were pretty pleased when the LSTs started to beach, on about the 4th day. Then we knew the beach was considered safe; and that they'd be giving us some help. The small boats were a great dis- appointment in this invasion. The surf conditions were too bad for them, the beach too steep and they were useless. A great many of them were wrecked. As it turned out the LSM was the work-horse of this operation.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.