Foil: 17 Panel: 1 Column: 4 Line: 49

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Due to a facial injury in 1938 1 could no longer tolerate the farm dust of Nebraska, so, I traveled to California to seek work in the aircraft industry. I started working at Lockheed in Burbank in 1940. While employed at Lockheed I worked on all versions of the Hudson Bomber (sent to England), the Vega Ventura and the first corporate transport, which was the plane flown by Amelia Earhart.
During World War II General Eisenhower and General McArthur requested 500 fighters to make the European and Philippines Invasion on June 6, 1944 — "D-day.'"
At the time I was qualified to work as mechanic on the B-l 7, the B-24 and the B-29. My military status was transferred to the Army Reserve and I was instructed to report to Lockheed Aircraft Co. From January of '44 to July of '44 I worked on 30 stations of the P-38 final assembly. After that I was transferred to the 73rd Wing on Saipan where I worked on the B-29 T-Square 21 until the end of the war. The "T-Square" 21 was the eleventh airplane of the 874th Squadron, 498th Bomb Group of the 73rd Wing sent to Saipan. The new crew chief, Sgt. Harry Freeland, and I took care of the "T-Square" for some 47 missions without ever missing or having to abort a mission.
When we got word that the Japanese had accepted the proposed surrender agreement at approximately 1 AM, we still had missions scheduled. We still had to stand guard for the rest of the night. On the previous mission the pilot reported that the no. 2 engine was backfiring as the plane approached bombing altitude and the power was increased. Had that backfiring, which damaged the #2 exhaust stack, been at any other location, the plane could not have made it to the target and returned to Saipan. As a result, the carburetor, all the accessories on the engine, all fuel hoses and all oil hoses had to be replaced. The nose section and wing had to be removed and all the wires on the main spar piped between the fuselage and the no. 1 engine. We worked straight through for more than 48 hours, thus completing the 47th combat mission.
Later we flew supplies to the US prisoners of war who were being held by the
Japanese. The crew chief was on the first mission; another sergeant was on the second, and I was accepted for the third. When I asked who the pilot was, I was told it was Lt. Smolski. The rank of Lieutenant told me that he had delivered a new B-29 to Saipan.
Captain Black was in charge of a group of several planes flying at 7500 feet. The prison camp was located at 5800 feet. The mountain peaks, however, were shrouded in clouds that day. Lt. Smolski said that he could see the camp and proceeded to descend. He was never heard from again. Sergeant Martinez from Pico Rivera, California took my place and I was returned home to Southern California where 1 married, raised one son and three beautiful daughters. All my children are successful in their individual endeavors, and are now raising families of their own. I currently have 10 wonderful grandchildren.