It was almost comical at the moment even tho’ we
were in a serious situation to see our little engineer
M/Sgt Hardin get up from the engineering panel to walk
to the other side of the plane to see what could do about
#2 engine. With his C-1 vest on, his mae west, 45 automatic
with belt, canteen & flak suit and helmet he could
hardly move, but he did get #2 working again.
No planes in our formation were shot, but many of us
had to land at Iwo Jima.
Our #4 engine leaked gas all the way to Iwo. We spent
the nite there after getting off in the B-29 we were to
have flown back to Tinian since ours had to have a new
gas tank & wouldn’t be ready for a couple of
weeks.
Saw Bob Morton for awhile the next morning who as in
the hospital in pretty serious condition. We then flew
another B-29 to Tinian. Mac & Yarns stayed at Iwo
to guard our plane. While at Tinian I called Bob Ivan
who told me where I could find Tony De Falco, Stevenson
and Siverly. Had almost a half hour visit with them before
they took us back to Guam in a B-24.
Total Flying Time on that mission was 16 hrs 36 min.
