First Hand Account
Ensign Robert Larson, PBY Co-pilot and Navigator, from Monticello, Iowa – on the Aleutian War.
“When the Japanese came ashore at Attu and Kiska on 6 June, the original intent was never to hold the islands. The operation was to be a side show to divert the US Navy and draw them into a final destructive battle at Midway. Admiral Yamamoto had hoped that with the bulk of their fleet destroyed, the Americans would accept some sort of peace settlement that would let Japan consolidate her gains.
“After the landings on Attu and Kiska the only aircraft capable of reaching the islands from the US bases were the Navy PBY’s and the B-17s and B-24s of the Army Air Corps. Commander Leslie E. Gehres was a 4-stripe regular Navy captain in command of Patrol Wing 4.
“The Army attempted to bomb the Japanese forces but with little success with the small amount of aircraft at their disposal. Capt. Gehres notified CINCPAC of the landings and informed them that he had a seaplane tender at Nazan Bay, Atka Island, halfway to Kiska with 20+ PBY’s. The USS Gillis was the tender.
“The captain had his hands full servicing many more aircraft with bombs and fuel than his ship was designed or supplied to support. The crews took over part of an Aleut fishing village and were fed by a school teacher from her small kitchen with the help of some of the willing Aleut natives. Off the bay, one of the PBY’s bombed a Japanese submarine near Tanga Island that had been on life guard duty for the enemy pilots.
“The PBY’s opened the campaign on 11 June, following up a bombing run by B-24s of the 11th Air Force. The PBY’s came down through the overcast dive bomber fashion and the Japanese soon got the range with their 20-mm antiaircraft cannon and 13.2-mm heavy machine-guns.
“The air combat went on for 3 days and at the end, the exhausted crews suffered multiple dead and wounded. The entire supply of pencils and rags of the Aleut village were used for patching holes in the aircraft as the planes continued a non-stop shuttle back and forth to Kiska. The PBY was a dependable but slow lumbering aircraft (175 mph), not suited to sudden stressful evasive maneuvers. Often they came back to the Gillis so riddled by AA fire that they almost sank.
“The Japanese, now wise to the American tactics, brought out more heavy antiaircraft guns, pointed their AA batteries at holes in the low overcast and waited for the PBY’s to emerge. Finally, with ammunition and fuel almost exhausted and men pushed to the brink of their endurance, the Gillis withdrew from Nazan Bay, urged on by the arrival of Japanese float recon planes from Kiska.
“Japanese Commander Mukai later stated that the PBY’s interfered considerably with their efforts to develop Kiska into a support base. Their attacks forced them to withdraw their ships from Kiska Harbor. The Japanese had brought in their Mavis 4-engine recon planes, but the attacks had kept their supplies out their reach. Bill, [William Thies, pilot], flew one other support mission at this time. He returned to Kanga to pick up a weather team of 5 men, who after burning the station, climbed aboard. When the Mavis’s got operational, they flew over the Aleut village at Atka, and even though it was burned out, they dropped their bombs anyway. Bill and his crew would soon return to Nazan Bay [within a few weeks] with both the Gillis and Casco and find the fighting worse. They would fly every day for 33 days.”
Robert Larson would later make Commander while in the reserves and he spent 33 years as Chief of Technical Staff of Boeing. Cmdr. Larson passed away 21 December 2007.
Click on images to enlarge.
Judy Hardy had 2 relatives in Alaska during the war – try her site for the home front view…HERE!
##################################################################################
The future of the Navy is now…
##################################################################################
Cold Humor – still….
##################################################################################
Farewell Salutes –
Dean Allgood – Rigby, ID; USMC, WWII, PTO, Purple Heart
Brian Black – Henderson, NZ; RNZ Air Force # 429953, WWII
Raymond Delsart – Sturgeon Bay, WI; US Army, WWII
Alexander Dyce – Toronto, CAN; RC Air Force, WWII, 413th Squadron
Horace Finch – Griffin, GA; US Army, WWII, PTO
Kurt Landsburger – born: Prague, NJ & FL; US Army, WWII, ETO, translator
John Moingo – Marion, IL; US Navy, Korea, Vietnam, Captain (Ret. 30 years)
Ralph Nittolo – Jupiter, FL; US Navy (19 mos), US Air Force (Ret. 20 years), Korea & Vietnam, tech Sgt.
Joseph Pezzulo – Queensbury, NY; US Air Force, Korea
Anthony Tedeschi Sr. – Endicott, NY; US Army, WWII, ETO
John Wilders, JR. – Merrimack, NH; US Navy, Vietnam, radio operator
##################################################################################
Posted on February 19, 2015, in Current News, First-hand Accounts, Uncategorized, WWII and tagged Alaska, Aleutians, aviation, family history, History, Humor, Japan, Military, nostalgia, veterans, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 83 Comments.
gp, OMG, you don’t need people to leave comments! My compliments as always! Here you go again!!! Most of us never knew about Attu and Kiska Islands no less this chapter of fighting the Japanese in the Pacific Theater back in Hawaii! And many thanks for your “Like” on my latest post on what ails America! Phil
LikeLike
I hope you didn’t misunderstand, there was no fighting in the Hawaiian islands. I sorry if there was any misleading. But wow the compliments you sent! I wish I really had something to do with all this when it happened – I just research and try to put it all in order – you create on your own. I am sorry I don’t have more time to comment more on your site and others.
LikeLike
thanks for the visit. interesting site you have here.
LikeLike
It’s not so much this site as the people who congregate here in the comments. A great bunch who interact, share stories they know, include links that are associated with the posts and they have become my friends. Stop back by and you’ll understand.
LikeLike
Its great following the story thread in your posts gp.
Every piece of info is precise and paints an overall picture.
LikeLike
Whoa! Now, that is quite the compliment, Ian. I don’t know how to answer that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In those days, pencils, rags and paper patches could make a difference that today’s technology precludes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True, Maureen. I left that part in to show the ingenuity of the men. “Necessity is the mother of invention” sort of thing.
LikeLike
Amazing story. And it’s good to know that Captain Kirk is still with us! 🙂 Oh, and your Florida joke is absolute truth — as we well know! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Where would we be without a James Kirk commanding a ship for us, eh? [spoiler alert – there’s another FL. joke for tomorrow’s post!]
LikeLike
I’ll be looking! Considering temps were nearly 80 degrees today, we’re going to have a lot of people jealous of us! 😉
LikeLike
What happens when all that snow starts to melt? Do they give out tidal reports for the floods? [guess I shouldn’t laugh at their expense – we could end up with a hurricane in a few months.]
LikeLike
Ooo, don’t remind me! We’ve certainly been lucky the past couple years! 🙂
LikeLike
Sorry – 😳
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m just sitting here wondering which job in the military was the most dangerous and it’s hard to tell – it was all dangerous! Now with snow covering much of the country I think about the added risk of freezing to death. Dang! 😮 Awesome accounts of what war is really like. Thank you for this blog. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are very welcome, Jackie. Perhaps by reexamining the past, we can help protect our future generations?
LikeLiked by 2 people
These PBy crews earned their keep silently. They rarely got the spotlight. They deserve a lot more credit. Old Man Jack told me he would love to go on night patrols on them when he was on one of those islands. He said, “It was so _uckin’ hot on those islands… The only cool place around was up there,” referring to being on patrol at altitude.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great to hear another “Old Man Jack’ story – I feel like I knew the man. Thank you, Koji.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank YOU, gpcox!
LikeLike
Don’t know how to reply to that….
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing. It would be cool if Captain James Kirk was on the Enterprise. (I’m a Star Trek Fan)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought it was a hoot that Kirk was the captain on a futuristic looking ship. I can’t imagine anyone NOT being a Star Trek fan, Toni – are there such people? Just think of all Roddenberry came up with, that today we consider commonplace!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seems the right time of year to be examining the campaign in the Aleutians, doesn’t it? Another fascinating page in a history I have neglected to read. Thank you.
LikeLike
This is the perfect time to talk about Alaska, wish I take credit for the timing! Don’t worry about missing one, you ended up coming back and reading it anyway. You are very loyal, Frederick, thank you!
LikeLike
I, too, was amazed by the pencils and rags.
LikeLike
Necessity is the mother of invention!
LikeLike
I am also amazed at the speed at which they built the airfield. 10 days. Some inventive thinking and hard work there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re the first person to mention that article, Ann. Thank you for taking the time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wünsche ein schönes wee-kend lieber Gruß Gislind
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some ship that USS Zumwalt! That is one I’d love to see.
LikeLike
Sort of like a stealth bomber built for the water, isn’t it?! Quite unique..
LikeLike
Yes gpcox ,the Aleutian campaign was a necessary action by America to thwart Japanese plans for Midway . This did not succeed as the brilliant allied tactics ,completely smashed the Japanese in a way they never recovered.
Thanks
Ron
LikeLike
Thanks for the info, Ron. Good to see you.
LikeLike
very interesting.
LikeLike
Thank You.
LikeLike
The name of captain (James Kirk) sounds like the captain of USS Enterprise from Star Trek.
LikeLike
Ah-ha, some people Do read the posts, thanks! Yes, except for his middle initial, the names are the same.
LikeLike
Great pictures–and another great one from Pierre.
LikeLike
Pierre is always one step ahead of me, Jacqui. Glad you enjoyed them.
LikeLike
An interesting account. I was mentored by Dr. Charles Bradley and Dr. John Motangne who both learned their climbing techniques and gained their deep interest in Geology while serving with the 10th Mountain Division that occupied Adak and participated to some degree in this action, I believe.
LikeLike
Oh boy – they were something and we will definitely get to the 10th Mountain Div. They just weren’t in Alaska in June 1942. If you have ANY stories from Dr. Bradley or Dr. Motangne – I would greatly appreciate you sharing them with us when we get to that stage!! You’re a lucky man, Richard.
LikeLike
Again, a really interesting blog post about an unknown theatre of the war from the English point of view.
LikeLike
I can believe that, John! FDR kept it a pretty good secret from the Americans too! As I told Dr Linda, FDR didn’t want the US knowing we lost American soil AND were calling for help from the Canadians, so the news about Midway made huge headlines. Thanks for coming by.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing this about the Aleutian battle. Most Americans have no idea that the Japanese had attacked the Aleutians in WWII. Even I, a history buff, only learned of it from a friend who was stationed there with her Navy husband.
LikeLike
Well then you know, they were attacked simultaneously with Midway. The ‘powers-that-be’ in Washington felt that Midway would boost the morale of US citizens and loosing American soil in Alaska to the enemy should remain hush-hush. I don’t think FDR was about to advertise that he called for Canadian help either. I appreciate you coming by, it is quite the ego boost for me to discover that I was able to teach you something! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
life-long learning
LikeLike
Yes indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Quite the article and fighting. Using the pencils and rags was interesting. Smiled too at Captain James Kirk :). Great post, Everett!
LikeLike
Thank you once again, Kathy. The hardest job I have is locating these stories – makes me feel a little guilty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had to smile about the joke on Floridians. It’s really chilly now at 48F and strong winds, not a soul on the beach 🙂
LikeLike
The computer says we’re at 40F right now, but then again it is 5:30 in the morning! I got a kick out of it – sent it to everyone I know up north!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another great post. That USS Zumwalt is a sleek looking boat (ship? cruiser?). It’d be fun to tour that one! Funny cartoons – if anyone is still able to laugh at this winter!!
Have you seen The Imitation Game? Excellent movie and yet another piece of WWII I’d not known.
LikeLike
Ya gotta laugh to keep from crying I suppose? (hope?). No, I have not seen the Imitation Game yet.
LikeLike
I liked reading the perspective of an Iowan.
LikeLike
I try to have stories from different perspectives, but I think this is the first from an Iowan. Thank you for coming by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow…the photo that Pierre last posted gave me shivers…made me think I was such a wuss for laughing at the Florida joke. 🙂 Great funnies, today.
LikeLike
Thanks Mrs P. Yes, that is a great picture – I have had it stored in my WP gallery for the next post, a tribute from the ‘Hedgehog Review’.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Incredible & heroic!
LikeLike
They sure it rough going in that weather, Cindy. Thanks for being here today.
LikeLike
Captain Kirk seems appropriate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah-ha, the first one to spot that piece of coincidence! I was wondering how long it would take until someone saw the futuristic ship commanded by [none other than] Captain Kirk! Thanks, someone DOES read this site!
LikeLiked by 3 people
I smiled when I saw the Captain James Kirk photo. Shades of the NCC 1701-A! Now if his middle initial is “T”, that would be all too much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought so too, Lavinia – so I looked him up. Too much to ask for though – it’s an ‘A’.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Perhaps the A is for Antony and his mother called him Tony? Just being facetious gp;
LikeLike
I tried to find out, so we could complete the joke and/or irony, but I have no idea what the A. stands for. Good one, isn’t it!?
LikeLike
While I enjoy reading the historical stories…I love the humor section so much 🙂
LikeLike
I do my best to have something for everyone and still stay on course. I realize not everybody wants to read war statistics every day and I’m glad I have something for you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And seventy years on they’re building ships like the Zumwalt. I suppose it has a negative radar image like a stealth bomber.
LikeLike
Yes, just look at it! Isn’t that something!?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great untold story of such brave men.
LikeLike
Thanks, Pierre.
LikeLike
As a footnote… I have an unbuilt Monogram PBY model kit…
LikeLike
Why haven’t you built it?
LikeLike
Procrastination
LikeLike
Logical – something I can relate to.
LikeLike
http://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=12298
LikeLike
I have that one in my gallery for the next post being as I did not have enough for the gentleman it is in tribute of. Thanks for thinking of me.
LikeLike
Quite impressive picture
LikeLiked by 1 person
More here… http://ww2db.com/photo.php?source=all&color=all&list=search&foreigntype=B&foreigntype_id=20
LikeLike
The WW2 Database is always terrific for photos! I plan on getting back here for the 1943 posts.
LikeLike
LikeLiked by 3 people
Somehow the pencils and rags bring it all home
LikeLiked by 2 people
Magicians, all of them. Thanks for coming, Derrick!
LikeLiked by 1 person