On August 19, 1945, the Japanese delegation flew to Ie Shima on the first leg of their journey to negotiate the Japanese surrender and occupation of Japan. On Ie Shima they boarded an American Douglas C-54 four-engine transport plane that would take them the rest of the way to Manila where negotiations would take place. When Kenneth B. Clark published an article in the P-38 National Association bulletin, Vol. 6, No. 1, January 1993 titled "Lightning Strikes," his article was based on a detailed report by "Pete" Petrovich, the CO of the 9th Squadron on Okinawa. In his report, Petrovich detailed covering the Bettys from Kyulshu, circling overhead as they landed, talking to the tower, using the Squadron Call sign "Beware", etc. Therefore, in Clark's article in the P-38 newsletter, the 9th was credited with performing the escort southbound to Ie Shima.
Clark's article generated an instant response from an 8th Fighter Group pilot, Bob Ward, to the effect that it was HIS outfit that covered the Bettys flight from Kyushu to Ie Shima, he was on the flight, and he provided a copy of his form 5 to prove it. Clark says, "When the dust settled, it was agreed that both organizations had been involved in the operation (flying cover for the Japanese delegation) at one time or another and Petrovich, Howes, Posten, Oglesby and Troy Smith were among those present. Smith and Howes think it was the return flight to Japan on 21 August."
Clark says, "I do know that the 9th Squadron escorted the one Betty on the return journey and Ed Howes led the mission. So for history's sake, the safest statement to make is that both 8th and 49th Group aircraft provided the escort."
Bibliography:
Clark, Kenneth B. Re: "49FG escort." E-mail to Bill Reynolds. December 13, 1999.
Clark, Kenneth B. Re: "Escort fighters." E-mail to Janice Cook. December 15, 1999.
Clark, Kenneth B. Re: "Review." E-mail to Janice Cook. December 19, 1999.
Last updated: January 3, 2000
