Lodato and McCutcheon were flying sector patrols. Lodato flew near
Haha Jima. The island had come under Army Air Corps attack earlier
in the day and as the plane was leaving Haha Jima airspace the
tail gunner (Diederich) saw a dye marker in the water. They took
a look from closer up and saw a life raft with one occupant.
Lodato flew near a “Dumbo” PBM position to report the
life raft and came under friendly fire from the PBM, fortunately
out of range. Lodato reported the liferaft to the PBM over the
VHF radio and led it to the raft. The PBM (an amphibious plane)
picked up the occupant of the raft, who happened to be the sole
survivor from a B-24 Liberator that had been downed in the earlier
raid. The downed airman mistook the Privateer for a Japanese
“Betty” at first and waited until the last moment to
put out the dye.
Lodato escorted the PBM to Saipan because it had possible damage
from taking off after picking up the survivor. Later the PBM
pilot stopped by the 118 base on Tinian to thank him and they found
out that their homes stateside were a couple of miles apart in
Brooklyn, New York. ComFairWing-1 sent a message expressing
appreciation for the rescue and apologies for the friendly fire.
Japanese Radio & Radar Pickets
American B-29’s started attacking Japan from the Mariana Islands
in late 1944. In response, Japan posted “picket” boats and
island installations in between for advance warning of inbound attacks.
Since Task Force 58 was preparing to enter these waters, the pickets
had to be neutralized beforehand to protect the carriers and preserve
the element of surprise. Since use of carrier planes to eliminate
the pickets would have revealed the locations of the carriers, the
task of eliminating the pickets went to submarines, patrol bombers,
and B-29’s.
Between the 10th and the 13th seven US subs
(Sterlet, Piper, Sennet, Trepang, Pomfret, Haddock, and Lagarta) did
a sweep from SE to NW through the area where the pickets were stationed.
VPB-118 flew anti-picket patrols on 2/11 by Weller (13.9 hrs.), Pettes
(11.9 hrs.) & Dodson (14.4 hrs.), on 2/12 by Lloyd (12.7 hrs.), Keiser (12.3 hrs.),
& Thompson (14.6 hrs.), and on 2/13 by DeGolia (14.8 hrs.) &
McCutcheon (11.4 hrs.).
February 10, 1945
Lodato and McCutcheon were flying sector patrols. Lodato flew near Haha Jima. The island had come under Army Air Corps attack earlier in the day and as the plane was leaving Haha Jima airspace the tail gunner (Diederich) saw a dye marker in the water. They took a look from closer up and saw a life raft with one occupant.
Lodato flew near a “Dumbo” PBM position to report the life raft and came under friendly fire from the PBM, fortunately out of range. Lodato reported the liferaft to the PBM over the VHF radio and led it to the raft. The PBM (an amphibious plane) picked up the occupant of the raft, who happened to be the sole survivor from a B-24 Liberator that had been downed in the earlier raid. The downed airman mistook the Privateer for a Japanese “Betty” at first and waited until the last moment to put out the dye.
Lodato escorted the PBM to Saipan because it had possible damage from taking off after picking up the survivor. Later the PBM pilot stopped by the 118 base on Tinian to thank him and they found out that their homes stateside were a couple of miles apart in Brooklyn, New York. ComFairWing-1 sent a message expressing appreciation for the rescue and apologies for the friendly fire.
Japanese Radio & Radar Pickets
American B-29’s started attacking Japan from the Mariana Islands in late 1944. In response, Japan posted “picket” boats and island installations in between for advance warning of inbound attacks. Since Task Force 58 was preparing to enter these waters, the pickets had to be neutralized beforehand to protect the carriers and preserve the element of surprise. Since use of carrier planes to eliminate the pickets would have revealed the locations of the carriers, the task of eliminating the pickets went to submarines, patrol bombers, and B-29’s.
Between the 10th and the 13th seven US subs (Sterlet, Piper, Sennet, Trepang, Pomfret, Haddock, and Lagarta) did a sweep from SE to NW through the area where the pickets were stationed. VPB-118 flew anti-picket patrols on 2/11 by Weller (13.9 hrs.), Pettes (11.9 hrs.) & Dodson (14.4 hrs.), on 2/12 by Lloyd (12.7 hrs.), Keiser (12.3 hrs.), & Thompson (14.6 hrs.), and on 2/13 by DeGolia (14.8 hrs.) & McCutcheon (11.4 hrs.).