With the Possum and the Eagle: The Memoir of a Navigator's War over Germany and Japan

23. Tinian and Muroc

23: Tinian and Muroc Imade several trips to Tinian from Guam to work with the naval mining experts and the 313th Wing operations personnel to plan mining missions. Mter IwoJima was secured,Joe Preston and I met with wing personnel to discuss the possibility of installing navigation aids at Iwo for our crews on their flights toJapan. Although we had bombed Iwo prior to the invasion in February, it was my first trip to the island. The devastation was much worse than I had seen on Saipan, Tinian, or Guam. Joe and I concluded it would be some time before the Loran navigation equipment could be installed and be available for our navigators on their flights toJapan. We took off before noon for our return flight to Tinian. The engines were running smoothly, andJoe told me he believed that the recent modifications to them were a substantial improvement. Apparently it wasn't enough of one, as we experienced an engine failure during our final approach to Tinian that would cause me problems with my back for the rest of my life. It was a clear, sunny day, perfect flying weather. We were still over the water as Joe leveled off on the last leg of the final approach to the runway. I looked up and noticed that we were slightly below the cliff at the edge of the island. As Joe nudged the throttles forward to give the engines some extra power there was a sharp backfire and the number-three engine started to falter and then stopped. I looked up. The top ofthe cliffat the beginning of the runway was still above us.Joe slammed the throttles forward, giving full power to the other three engines and pulled back on the controls. Our nose shot up and we avoided a direct impact, but the center of the fuselage hit the edge of the cliff. There was a tremendous crash. I was thrown back from my navigation table against the gun turret and knocked unconscious . When I came to I saw Joe kneeling over me. We were on the ground outside the aircraft. He asked me how I felt. I wasn't sure. I tried to get up, but the pain in my back was excruciating. He helped me to my feet. No one else from the crew appeared to be seriously 262 Tinian hurt. Joe told me that the force of the impact had cracked the fuselage . He had a meeting with LeMay scheduled on Guam at 5:30 P.M. We would have to borrow a plane to fly there. I knew that he wasn't looking forward to telling LeMay that his personal B-29 had been totaled. (lnker assigned us other aircraft. I on behind the on here?" I 13,29 parked away was some unusual and revetments. He told me that a special group, the 509th, would be arriving soon. "It's a top secret project," he added. "We're not supposed to talk about it. The group is assigned to the 313th, but it won't be flying any missions with them. They have special facilities and support squadrons. They operate independently, with their own engineering and squadron. LeMay us anything aboul Colonel Del Wilson ;)05th Group in assigned as liaison lhe project." that this was to headquarters for the bomb was the best-kept our operations. We flew back to Guam and prepared to report to LeMay about conditions on Iwo. As we approached his office,Joe asked me if my back was still bothering me. He could see that I had difficulty standing up straight. ''I'm worried about you Ralph," he said. "It'll be bad enough cracked up he'll really be and will be out a while." to worry. I mention the problem my We told conditions on said that it would be a while before we could get Loran in place for the navigators. When we finished, he turned to me and said, "Nutter, you don't look too good. Are you sick?" Before I could reply, Preston spoke up. "Sir, perhaps Nutter was a little We lost an engine into Tinian on the pancaked as we looks as if we have Maintenance on frmvned. I could see Preston's abilities checking the damage but I knew 264 WITH THE POSSUM AND THE EAGLE been through many tough combat missions together. He was silent for a...