Howard Bender on Surviving Pearl Harbor: Check Your Shorts

From the January 23, 2013, Mission Viejo Patch (Cal.) "Surviving Pearl Harbor" by Peter Schelden.

Howard Bender, 91, is one of five remaining Pearl Harbor survivors in Orange County.  He joined the Navy right out of high school and sent to Pearl Harbor after boot camp where he was assigned to the USS Arizona before being transferred to the USS Maryland.

Mr. Bender remembers seeing the USS Oklahoma hit through a porthole.

When asked how he reacted, he replied, "It is not until after the fact when you check your shorts."

--GreGen

Philippines Veterans Still Fighting Their Battle

From the Jan. 26, 2013, Los Angeles Times "Still fighting their battles over World War II" by Richard Simon.

Philippine's World War Ii veterans, in their 80s and 90s now, are still fighting their battle for recognition.

In 2009, President Obama authorized a one-time payment for those who saw service in country there.  U.S. citizens received $15,000 and non citizens, even those living in the Philippines received $9,000.

A total of 43,083 applied, but more than half were turned down because their service could not be verified.

But, there is a Congressional bill to award  the group with the Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian honor.

--GreGen

Shorpy's Yreka Magazine Stand: 1942-- Part 2: Western, Crime and War Dominates

DARE-DEVIL ACES--  10 cents--  bombers"Leatherback Wings"  "The Hell Divers' Last Patrol"

LIBERTY--  10 cents

G-MEN DETECTIVES--  10 cents--  Nazis on cover

TEN DETECTIVE ACES--  10 cents

.44 WESTERN MAGAZINE--  10 cents--  cowboys

THRILLING DETECTIVES--  10 cents

SUPER SPORTS--  15 cents-- baseball on cover

COWBOY- LIFE ROMANCE--  20 cents

THRILLING WESTERN--  10 cents

SUPER SCIENCE STORIES--  20 cents

WEST--  15

You could sure get a lot of reading for a buck back then.

--GreGen

Shorpy's Yreka, Cal. Magazine Stand, June 26, 1942-- Part 1

From the Feb. 11, 2015, Shorpy "Yreka Comix: 1942."  You can see the photo by typing in the title.  "Yreka, California Magazine Stand." by Russell Lee, OWI (Office of War Information).

I was interested in seeing what people back then were reading, especially kids.  Were some of the comics about the war?

Here are the magazines, newspapers and comics I could make out in the photo with headlines  

LIFE MAGAZINE--  "War Stamp Bride"  10 cents

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE--  "Rommel Drives On Deep Into Egypt"

COLLIER'S

The rest are comic books.

ACTION STORIES--  20 cents

SKYFIGHTERS--  10 cents   World War II, "Wings of Victory"

Great Reads.  --GreGen

25th Liberty Ship Launched at Wilmington August 23, 1942

From the August 28, 2012, Wilmington (NC) Star-News "Looking Back."

AUGUST 23, 1942:  The Thomas Pinchney, the 25th Liberty Ship to be launched by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company (present-day N.C. State Port) at 8:30 that morning.

Thomas Pinckney was an American statesman and veteran of both the American Revolution and War of 1812.  He was born in South Carolina and governor of that state.

During the war, 243 Liberty Ships were launched at Wilmington.

For more on the Wilmington Liberty Ships, go to tinyurl.com/8z3xjqv.

Wilmington: Arsenal of Democracy.  --GreGen

Historic Ship Buffs Work to Restore World War II Landing Ship in Oregon-- Part 2

The LCI 713 (Landing Craft Infantry) was built in 1944, one of 923 LCIs constructed.  They could carry 200 troops at a time and were 380 feet long  At Mindinao, Philippines, it carried members of the 41st Infantry Division.  This was a part of the Oregon National Guard.

THE LCI 713 was built in Neponset, Massachusetts and traversed the Panama Canal to get to the Pacific Ocean to fight.

The only other surviving LCI is the LCI-1091 in Eureka, California.  (Not sure of the ship number here if they only built 923, though that number probably was the ones built during World War II.  So the LCI 1091 might not have been a World War II vessel.

--GreGen

Historic Ship Buffs Work to Restore World War II Landing Craft in Oregon-- Part 1

From the january 25, 2013, Oregonian by Dean Baker.

A couple dozen buffs have been working on the USS LCI-713 for the last 14 years.  It was an infantry landing craft used in amphibious operations.

Thirty-six days the ship was on its side and sunken in the Columbia River at the Stevenson Amphibious Forces Memorial Museum.  Working along with a maritime museum, $200,000 has been raised so far.

They also hope to include Portland's fully restored PT 658 and an old sternwheeler in a maritime museum.

Today, the LCI-713 is located a half mile downstream of the I-5 bridge.  Nearby it is 1926 Coast Guard Cutter Alert and the World War II-era seagoing tug Sakrissa YT-269.  There is also the hull of the Vietnam War-era USS Washtenaw County LST-1166.

More to Come.  --GreGen

Doolittle Raiders 71st Reunion in 2013

From the Jan. 26, 2013 Yahoo! News.  PR Web.

It will be held at Eaglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, April 17-20th, 2013.

Four of the five remaining Doolittle Raiders are expected to be on hand, the youngest now being age 90.

On Thursday, 18th there will be a luncheon with the Raiders and an autograph session at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds.  Regular admission is $35.  For $60 you will get a signature print, preferred seating and the opportunity to meet the Raiders.

On April 19th, there will be a Raiders fly-by.

April 20th:  "Parade of Heroes" in Fort Walton Beach  The Raiders will be Grand marshals of course.

--GreGen

Pilot Who Flew Last World War II Mission Honored

From the Feb. 15, 2015, KUSI News, San Diego "Pilot who flew last mission of World War II being honored."

Captain Jerry Yellin, 90, was the star of this weekend's "Gathering of the Spirit of '45" event in San Diego.  It was the first such gathering under this name, even though there is already a similar "Keeping the Spirit of '45 Alive" event commemorated every August across several U.S. towns, including a big one in McHenry, Illinois.

He piloted a U.S. bomber and also witnessed the death of the last American killed in the war, 2nd Lt. Phillip Schlamberg, his best friend and wingman.  Mr. Yellin had had a talk with his friend before they took off and said Phillip had a premonition of death beforehand.

--GreGen

Allied Ships Sunk Off Cape Hatteras in World War II-- Part 2

By far the largest number of Allied ships were sunk off Cape Hatteras and the North Carolina coast during the first eight months after the U.S. entry into World War II.  Other than persons living along the shore, many Americans didn't even know the attacks were taking place by the U-boats as the U.S. government downplayed it.

MANUELA--  Freighter sunk by the U-401 on June 24, 1942.  150 feet deep.

TAMAULIPAS--  tanker carrying 10,200 tons of oil, torpedoed April 10, 1942.  160 feet deep.

TARPON--  U.S. submarine that foundered under tow.  140 feet deep.

U-701--  Ten miles east of Diamond Shoals Tower, mostly covered with sand.

LST-471--  On shore in the Rodanthe area.  Served in the Pacific during the war and being towed to scrapping with the LST-292.  A storm blew both ashore.  Due to beach erosion, now 250 yards off the beach.

--GreGen

Allied Ships Sunk Off Cape Hatteras During World War II-- Part 1

From the Dive Hatteras site "Shipwreck Diving in Cape Hatteras."

AUSTRALIA--  Texas Oil Co..  Large tanker sunk by U-332 March 16, 1942.  In two sections at 100 feet.  Artifacts and sharks.

BRITISH SPLENDOUR--  British tanker sunk April 6, 1942.  100 feet, visibility usually good.

DIAMOND SHOALS LIGHTSHIP--  Sunk by shellfire from U-140.  180 feet deep.

EMPIRE GEM--  British tanker 143 feet deep.  Called the "Gem" by divers.

KASSANDRA  LOULOUDIS--  Carrying war materials bound for Britain.  75-80 feet deep.

LIBERATOR--  Torpedoed in 1942.  110 feet deep and near the AUSTRALIA.

--GreGen

Dresden Bombed 70 Years Ago-- Part 2

Just six of the 796 British Lancaster bombers were lost in the two attacks.

Germany was losing the war at the time, but still raining V-2 rockets on London and Britain and the German armies were still in the field and a serious threat.

Dresden had a population of 600,000 and was world renowned for its historical base.  But it was a valid military target because it was a center for the German railroads.  A big reason for the attack was that the city had previously been unscathed by bombing.

The aircraft took off at 5:20 p.m. on February 13, 1945.  There were 274 Lancasters in the first wave carrying bombs weighing up to 4,000 pounds known as "cookies."  Most of the German anti-aircraft guns at Dresden had been removed to the Russian front, so the planes met little resistance.

The first bombs began falling shortly after 10 p.m. from 8,000 feet.  The second wave consisted of 529 bombers.

--A Sad Part of War.  --GreGen

Dresden Bombed 70 Years Ago Tonight-- Part 1

From the Feb. 7, 2015, Express (U.K.) "Total Destruction: 70 years ago the Allies launched their historic raid on Dresden" by Adrian Lee.

Seventy years ago, on the night of Feb. 13, 1945, the English Bomber Command ordered two raids, 3 hours apart on the historic German city of Dresden.  Over 2,600 tons of high explosives and incendinaries were dropped.

Up to 25,000 died in the firestorm the explosives started, said to be visible from the air over 500 miles away.  Dresden was still burning the next day when hundreds of U.S. B-17 Flying Fortresses struck.

--GreGen

British Torpedo Boat Launched Again

February 3, 2015,  West Country (U.K.) "Second World War torpedo boat lowered into Bridgewater Docks" in Somerset.

The 70-foot 1941 Motor Torpedo Boat 219 was placed in the water to test its redone hull.  It started leaking a few hours later.  All wooden boats leak and the only way to find out what more was needed was to put it in the water.

The day earlier there had been a ceremony.

The 219 was in numerous battles including the "Channel Dash" when the German cruisers Scharnhorst, Gneisnau and Prinz Eugen did so to avoid bombing in Brest, France.

The boat is being restored and the final cost is expected to be around 60,000 pounds, British.

--GreGen

Chicago's Top Flying Ace, William Cullerton, Died in 2013-- Part 2

Stories of his World War II success were all over the Chicago papers back during the war as he was related to the Chicago Cullerton political dynasty.

He named his plane "Miss Steve" for his fiance, Elaine Steve.

Some Chicago war headlines for him:

"Chicago Pilot Bags Eight Nazi Planes in One Day's Flight"

"Cullerton has 18 kills"

"Germans Find Chicago Ace Too Hot to Handle"

Mr. Cullerton had 21 kills, the third highest ace in the U.S. 8th Air Force and flew in the 355th Fighter Group.  The dragon was the symbol of his squadron and he was the last living member of the Dragon Squadron.

Quite the Story.  --GreGen

Chicago's Top Flying Ace, William Cullerton, Dies in 2013-- Part 1

From the Jan. 14, 2013, Chiocago Sun-Times "William J. Cullerton, Chicago's top flying ace of World War II, dies at 89" by Maureen O'Donnell.

At one time during the war, Mr. Cullerton was downed behind enemy lines and shot by German soldiers at point-blank range.  He survived.  The Allies found him hiding under a bridge bear Feachtwangen and were not sure if he was an  American or German soldier pretending he was an American flyer.  The Americans asked him who the "Slendid Splinter" was and Cullerton correctly identified him as Ted Williams, the famed Boston Red Sox player.

After the war, he became host of the WGN radio program "Great Outdoors Show."

USS William D. Porter (DD-579): Bad Luck Destroyer

From Wikipedia.  From blog entries of Dec. 20, 2012 and Jan. 17-19, 2013.

Fletcher-Class destroyer named for Commodore William D. Porter (1808-1864).  Porter was the son of Commodore David Porter of War of 1812 fame, brother of Civil War hero Rear Admiral David D. Porter and foster brother of Admiral David G. Farragut.  His uncle was captain of the USS Franklin, ship-of-the-line.  He served in the Western Waters during the Civil War.  Quite the naval family.

Laid down 7 May 1942 and commissioned 6 July 1943.376 feet long, 39.8 foot beam, five 5-inch guns.

It had a minor mishap leaving Norfolk to join the battleship Iowa and other ships escorting President Roosevelt to Europe, when its anchor caused damage to a sister destroyer.  The next day, a depth charge from the Porter broke loose in rough seas, causing the Iowa and others to take evasive maneuvers, fearing a U-boat attack.

On November 14th, at FDR's request, the Iowa and other ships conducted and anti-aircraft and torpedo drill, but the Porter's #3 torpedo tube accidentally discharged toward the Iowa (with FDR onboard.  The destroyer attempted to warn the Iowa by radio, but with radio silence the torpedo detonated 3000 yards in the wake of the Iowa which was taking evasive maneuvers.

The Porter's captain and crew were placed under arrest and ordered to Bermuda for an inquiry.  But, Roosevelt said it was an accident and charges were dropped.

After that, it was transferred to the Pacific Ocean for the rest of the war.  IUt was sunk by a kamikaze in 1945.

Unlucky Ship.  --GreGen

Youngest Schindler's List Survivor, Leon Leyson, Died in 2013

Died Jan. 11, 2013.

Leon Leyson was nearly ten when the Germans invaded Poland in 1939.  Six months later, he and his family were sent to the ghetto in Krakow where he survived mass killings.  He was then sent to a concentration camp where he lost two brothers.

Later he was the youngest of Schindler's List of Jewish workers declared too necessary for production at his factories at age 13.  Schindler called him "Little Leyson" as he had to stand on a box to work on machinery.  His mother and surviving siblings were also put on the list.

Mr. Leyson began a public speaking career after the 1993 movie.

--GreGen

USS Idaho Sailor's Diary Found in Arizona-- Part 3: Raising the Iwo Jima Flag, Kamikaze Strike

I am of the understanding that diaries were illegal on American ships during the war for fear of their falling into enemy hands, which makes this discovery all the more important.

MARCH 3, 1945:  "Received ammunition off Iwo Jima from ammo ship. They finally changed the battle flag on Mount Suribachi for a big one--looked like they wouldn't get her up for awhile but they did."  "The famous flag-raising as witnessed from the USS Idaho.

MARCH 25, 1945:  "Arrived off Okinawa during the night--  all quiet."

APRIL 12, 1945:  "We got it today.  Terrific suicide attack by God knows how many Jap planes--  55 were shot down in our immediate area.  We got 5 in 4 minutes & received a suicide plane in our port blister.  ...when that guy hit us he really raised hell--I've got port stack, & pieces of the plane covered the entire platform.  I pulled 5 pieces of Jap pilot off my clothes--the largest about as big as my hand--the explosion sure scattered him."

JULY 31, 1945:  )Last entry) "Out for practice firing--  can you imagine that?"

Mighty Interesting Diary.  --GreGen

USS Idaho Sailor's Diary Found in Arizona-- Part 2

February 13, 1945--  "Underway for Iwo Jima!!  Where the hell does Rosie get her information?  Maybe the Jap fleet will come out this time-- I hope.  I'd like to get this business over with & go home."

FEB. 14, 1945--  "Another kid jumped over the side last night.  So far all these guys who have cracked up are in their teens.  Maybe they haven't lived long enough to know that what they are fighting for is worth all the discomforts we have to put up with."

FEB. 16, 1945--  "Commenced bombardment (of Iwo Jima).  Funny looking island with a dead volcano on one end called Suribachi."

You don't hear much about sailors committing suicide during the war.

--GreGen