WWII Diary of Capt. Robert N. Cotanch

This diary starts on June 16, 1945. This was when Bob and his crew flew their B-29 Superfortress "Super Sue" to Guam. It was late in the war. The airplane was named for his daughter Susan then about 2 years old. It was a B-29B, with only tail machine guns for defense. All other guns had been deleted during manufacture, to carry more bombs. It did however have the AN/APQ-7 bombing-navigational radar which was the most advanced at the time. No attempt was made to correct grammar or spelling.

June 16,1945

This was our last day in the United States---- but I hope not our last forever!

Took off at night - heading for Honolulu Hawaii - a distance of 2200 miles from California.

We got off at 11 P.M. - passed the Golden Gate Bridge, which is beautiful at night - and I know that all of us looked at it for quite awhile. The Golden Gate is to the West Coast as the Statue of Liberty is to the East.

Weather was good all the way - usual undercast below us - and Super Sue ran well.

June 17,1945

We sighted John Rodgers field shortly after 8a.m. and landed O.K. at 8:40a.m. Total flying time was 9hrs & 40 min - I don-t know how many days it takes on a boat.Spent the morning getting quarters for the crew - and then all of us hit the sack. It was so hot - we all woke up a few hours later and walked around the base. All of us went to bed early as we have briefing at 5 a.m.

June 18, 1945

Up at 5 a.m. - had breakfast and Briefed, but we had a magneto drop on #4 so we didn't get off.

Went into Honolulu in the afternoon, but mainly did nothing but walk around. In general we were all disappointed with the city - very dirty - many Japanese and too much Navy. Went to Waikiki Beach - pretty, but over publicized.

Had dinner at a Chinese joint - strictly chinese food. We couldn't eat the chinese version of chop suey - and we later ended up at a drug store. Prices are outlandish in Hawaii.

Went to bed early - will try to take off again at 5 a.m.

June 19, 1945

Finally got off - heading for Kwajalein in the Marshalls. 500 miles out we lost oil pressure on #3 engine so flew back to Hawaii on 3 engines.

Almost went into Johnston Island, but decided on Hawaii in the hopes of getting better maintenance.

After landing I managed to get a car so all the crew officers took a trip around the island. Went up a mountain and the scenery was beautiful - although roads are rough. ate dinner at the Honolulu Officers Club.

June 20, 1945

Because we knew the plane wouldn't be ready we got up late. Got a car and went over to see Hickam Field and Pearl Harbor. However most of the time was spent in Hickams' Officers club - right on the shore of Pearl Harbor. From the Patio you could see the numbers of ships in the harbor. Looks like the Navy is always in port.

Preflighted the airplane that night - had a bad mag. drop on No. 4 engine. Maintenance said they would change the plugs and it would be ready to go in the morning.

June 21, 1945

Crossed International Date Line so we gained a day.

Breifed early - went to ship and found No. 4 hadn't been touched. I really blew my stack! Got a hold of the Major in charge- threatened to report his inefficiancy to Washington- and the next hour produced more action than the Air Forces have ever displayed.

Finally got off- total distance to Kwajelien is 2250 miles- we had to skirt Wotje as its still Jap held.

Kwajelien is merely an atoll- barely more than a mile in length and almost 2000 feet wide- Rudy, naturally, brought us in O.K. The runway covers the entire length of the island. Took a swim upon landing - ate - and went to bed about 7 P. M.

June 22, 1945

Arose at 3:45 A.M. - Couldnt sleep anymore - I know that the folks at home would never believe it. Got the crew up at 5 and had breifing and breakfast.

Held up again by No. 4 engine - losing RPM again - but maintenance did a good job in timing the mag. So we got off before the deadline - 11 A.M.

Our last hop to Guam - only 1300 miles to go.

After passing through a tropical front we landed at Guam in mid-afternoon. We flew 6000 miles over water.

Drew equiptment & were shown to our quarters, which are tents - and we had to put them up! Rest of the day consisted of putting a roof over our heads & building our sacks.

June 23, 1945

Can't understand it, but arose at 0600 - everybody is up - it is so terrificaly hot that you can't stay in the sack. Bill and I started building a floor out of ammo boxes - they call this area "Hoover-ville" it looks like the period of 1930 where the hobos hang out.

This is the rainey season - and I mean Rain! Probably the worst real mud I've ever seen. All of our belongings are soaked with it.

Officers & rats live here. The rats are tremendous and they over run everything. It gives you an eerie feeling to watch them try to get through the bed netting at night.

June 24, 1945

Again - up at 0600. Whew, it's hot. but the nights are cool. It's also best to get up early as the mess closes at 0700.

Water is rare. The quota is one helmet full per person per day - and one canteen per day. Did you ever try to take a shower out of a steel helmet? Laundry , of course is out of the question - but everybody seems to enjoy the filthy life we live.

Went to the show - it's a shelter Amongst the Coconut trees - sitting on any box or log you can find. There's only one projector so there's a 5 - minute intermission about every 30 minutes. Then the rain came - sometimes you can't see the screen as the water drips into the eyes & down the nose.

June 25, 1945

We've been attending ground school the last few days (Pacific geography, air-sea rescue, etc)

Practically all go to bed come 8 or 8:30 P.M. It starts to cool off at that time. But mainly because our source of light consists solely of candles.

Guards are posted at numerous spots as even at this date there is Jap activity. There are an estimated 1500 japs still free - and as this end of the island is mostly jungle they thrive. Two japs have been killed in the area the past two weeks.

June 26, 1945

Ground school all day again. Crew chief on Super Sue is S/Sgt John Chopper - 40 years old; Asst is Sgt H. McDonald - age 41. As far as I'm concerned they're tops.

The entire crew spends many hours with the plane. - readying it for our missions. Although Super Sue has given us lots of trouble I'm sure Chopper and Mcdonald will make it percolate Correctly.

It's the consensus of opinion amongst us A/C's that Super Sue is the fastest B-29 we've got. It's 30 miles faster than Baldwin's & Chasey"s (slowest).

June 27, 1945

The 501st flew it's first mission last night. But we didn't go.

This was a sweat - job as it was our first crack at Japan. Also it was an experiment - we carry no guns except 3 in the tail. We lack 11 machine guns that other B-29s carry.

All of our airplanes returned.

June 28, 1945

Took off this A.M. to practice bomb on Rota. It doesn't amount to much although it's held by 6000 Japs. Theyre out of ammo, food, & everything else - so everybody merely hopes that they all starve to death.

However, my IFF was out so I returned to Guam. We salvoed our bombs in the drink and they made quite a splash.

One consolation was that the Airplane ran like a million bucks.

June 29, 1945

Took off again this morning to bomb Rota. This time neither the radar nor bomb sight worked, but I wasen't about to return - as we would have to fly it over.

We made run after run over Rota - Boun, Rudy, Bill and I took turns toggling the bombs on the air field.

You should see that Jap airfield - its' pulverized! This would all be good practice for Ray and Ouija - if all of our equiptment worked.

June 30, 1945

Stayed in the sack - off & on - all day. Briefed at 1700 to fly night transition around Guam.

Somehow the plane was loaded with 20 - 500 lb. bombs. all of us on the crew got together and plotted our little revenge for Pearl Harbor.

Rota was dark, except for a camp-fire - turned off our wing lights - and Boun let them have it 10000 pounds of TNT. It was our turn for a sneak attack.

The flashes and explosions were terrific. I believe Wing was suspiscious because after landing they called me in. A fighter pilot had reported search-lights on Rota - They asked me if I had seen any - and said no. But those "search-lights" were bomb flashes which of course, I didn't mention.

July 1, 1945

Took off tonight on a mission - target was an airfield on the island of Truk - 800 miles SE of Guam.

Took off at midnight - the flight was uneventful until we were almost to Truk when we smacked into a terrific thunderstorm. Picked up St. Elmo's fire (lightening clinging to the plane) & the props were lit up like X-mas trees.

Directly over Truk - just before Bombs away - Boun spotted the airfield thru a break in the storm. Our bombs missed and landed in the water - we jokingly gave ourselves, "two rowboats probably sunk".

Boun proved his worth shortly later. As we re-entered the storm Newhall called up and said two bombs were hung up in the bomb bay. Boun tried salvoing , but couldn.t get them out. The bombs were armed - spinners had flown off them - and one bomb was sitting on the other

I was afraid they would go off as the turbulence of the storm was so bad. Boun went into the bomb bay - with doors open & no parachute and kicked the top bomb out with his foot - the other one he released with a screw driver. That boy is all right!

He saved all of us - my main fear was that by a bad lurch of the plane he would fall out.

Landed at 8 AM. all our planes returned all right. We consider Truk as practice - however, they did shoot down 4 B-24s five days ago.

July 3, 1945

Spent all yesterday in the sack - after interrogation by the intelligence officers.

Went to the beach for a swim in the afternoon - saw quite a few boys from the 314th Wing that I knew - also recognized Eddie Brachen on the beach - a dissapated looking character.

July 4, 1945

Another practice mission- this time to Pajaros (Northern Most of the Marianas). After dropping our bombs we went over to look at Iwo Jima.

Came as close to death today as I ever have. Flying at 1000' we headed back for Guam - shortly after leaving Iwo it became very misty. Suddenly Bill slapped the airplane in a steep left turn. I thought he had gone loco - untill he said there was an island ahead. I was on the low side but by looking out Royers window I could see a cliff going straight up. I thought this was it. - we kept turning - not knowing how the rock was laid out. We made it - Nigrelli, in the tail said that the cliff was no more than 50 yards away. Whew!

July 5, 1945

Found out, after landing, that the island was Miniimi Iwo Jima (South Iwo) - and it extended straight up to 3400 feet. Seeing as though we were at 1000 feet it might have been embarassing.

Nobody had mentioned that obstacle was there - and it wasen't on Rudy's map. Clark and Arnold said that they almost ran into it too.

July 6, 1945

Tonight is our 1st mission to the Empire. Target is Maruzen at Shimotsu - south of Osaka.

The Takeoff was the worst. Our Runway is 1 1/2 miles long and we used every foot. Weighed 135000 pounds, but something was wrong with the loading as we just staggered over the trees and the cliff to the sea. Took off at 1730 and hit the Japanese coast shortly after midnight.

At the IP(initial Point) somebody took a pot shot at us - 8 bursts of flak. Probably our navy - if they shot down as many Jap planes as they shot down of ours maybe we could do better.

We could see a fire already started up ahead. Our bomb run was good - a few search lights tried to peek thru the undercast, but the flak was almost negligible.

One fighter got on our tail after leaving the target - made one pass at us and kept right on going.

The entire flight was fine. The crew stacked up fine and definately performed efficeintly like I knew they would!

Super Sue ran like a dream -- landed exactly 15 hours after takeoff -- were interrogated - had Breakfast - and tried to sleep.

Sleeping in the daytime is a little difficult with the temperature in the sun at 130 degrees. Try it!

July 8, 1945

These missions are okay, but it's the work before the flight that is rough.

When you get up at 0600 A.M. preceding night of the misssion - you wn't get back to bed untill 10 or 12 oclock the following day. about 30 hours awake.

In the morning there is "Target study" which also includes flak defenses - fighters & bases - kaminkazes, etc.

In the afternoon there is the main "Breifing" for everybody. This is followed by "specialized breifing" for different different crew positions.

Then takeoff is normally around 5 in the afternoon. It's a full days work - and night work still coming up.

July 9, 1945

Target for tonight -- Utsube oil refinery at Yokkauichi - near Nagoya. We always go over Iwo Jima going up - as a check-point for our navigators.

The target was supposed to be easy, but somebody missed the boat - as the japs put up a pretty good barrage.

Naturally, Super Sue was the good girl that she is and sailed right through it without a scratch. However they weren't aiming at us. they had two guys coned in the lights and they were letting them have it.

Those Japs may not hit anything, but they can sure judge altitude. I was at 12,200 feet and, by gosh that flak was bursting at excately 12,200 feet!

Of course, it may be that pilot that didn't know he was on the air - when he told his tail gunner that they were now at 12.200 feet. There's no sense asking for it.

SS was the dream girl again -- I think she likes Combat.

Again - it was 15 hours of flying - the usual interrogation - followed by the usual sack.

July 11, 1945

Today was a day off. Chased a few rats with our knives. Lt. Clark (Texas) is really after - he sits in his tent all day waiting for them - and then blasting them with a .45 pistol.

Not a very good idea as our area is quite Congested.

Rudy, Royer and I just settle by throwing our knives at them. They are a good GI Knive - blade 8 inches long. We use them for everything ; opening Coconuts, throwing them at rats , but mainly for our knife - throwing contest at a choice tree next to the tent.

July 12-13, 1945

Target for tonight: Tokyo ! We're bombing the Kawasaki oil refinery in Tokyo Bay.

Took off O.K. Incidentially the reason for that first scarey takeoff on the Maruzen mission was that there was almost 1000 pounds of extra bomb shackles that Armament had failed to take out. It almost proved tragic as the plane was so tail- heavy.

After passing Iwo Jima we ate our dinner. We make it a point to eat before hitting the Target - you never know, it may be the last meal.

Hit the Coast O.K. after climbing to our bombing altitude - 15000 feet

The cloud cover was excellent - search lights could barely get through & the Japs didn't know what they were aiming at. There was just a little flak, but not much. It was pretty certain they were only using their radar Anti-aircraft!

At one time going home I don't believe there was a person on board who was awake - at least for a period of 15 minutes. If " George" - Our Auto-pilot had gotten sleepy we would have spun into the "drink" and never have known it.

It was a pretty easy mission for Tokyo - but we were saved by the cloud cover.

Another 15 hour - 3100 mile flight.

July 14, 1945

Super Sue is finally getting her #2 engine changed.

It's been a lemon all around and I don't know why she kept running.

On takeoff , the cylinder head temperature has been hitting 310 degrees Centigrade (which is 500' Fahreheit).

I've complained about it so much that maintenance has finally decided to change it.

Guess we won't fly a mission for about a week.

July 15, 1945

Breifing a mission is quite an event - and a science. The S-2 (Intelligence officer) is the "M. C." who starts out by giving the nights target - flak & fighters to be expected etc; then he calls the operations officer who gives the altitude, airspeed, point of attack, I.P. etc. Then weather officer gives the forecast for the entire flight. S-2 then gives the history of the target; Air-Sea Rescue officer gives location of rescue vessels; Navigator gives courses & distances to targets and gives a hack (correct time to the second).

Last the Group or Wing C.O. gives a parting address with the old pep!

Crews put their valuables in a bag & give to S-2; each man is given a package which contains a compass, american flag, chinese money and a map of China & Japan.

July 16, 1945

For the Catholic faith a priest hears confessions and the protestant minister gives the protestants communion. This is immediately following breifing.

Then a mid-afternoon meal consisting of the old reliables : Peaches, beans and water.

Crews get to the planes about 1 1/2 hours before takeoff. Inspect the airplane - each man has his inspection, eg., (Gunners inspect guns; Engineers inspect engines; Bombardier, bombsight; Airplane Commander checks plane & bombs.

Normal bomb load is 40- 500 lb bombs. Actually it totals to 22000 pounds of bombs as each bomb weighs about 550 .

Personnel equip. Officer comes around and gives each man a carton which contains candy, gum & cigarettes.

July 17, 1945

It is arranged so scientificully that there is a definite time for everything. For example Y-71 starts engines at 1618; taxi at 1627; takeoff at 1635 1/2. If every plane does all this to the half minute, 120 planes are in the exact position at the exact time.

Takeoff is by signals - using radio may warn the enemy - radio silence is maintened always. For takeoff you're given the white light (warning) and exactly to the second comes the "green light". At that signal you "pour the coal'" to the engines ; sweat out 136000 pounds of airplane and finally after 1 1/2 mile run you're off.

July 18, 1945

Landing at the base is harder than flying over the target. 120 planes all get back at once- everybody is low on gas - some have only three engines -(running) some only two engines- but it's every man for himself. Often there are three planes rolling on the runway at once - about 1500 feet apart.

Trucks meet the ships -crew piles in to go to interrogation - where S-2 questions each crew and writes down all the things that have happened.

Every man is entittled to one shot of whiskey; Red cross gives coffee and doughnuts ; and during all this crews are looking around to find out who didn't come back.

July 19, 1945

On takeoff the runways are lined with all the maintenance men & "ground- pounders". On landing they're all there again - several thousand men watching them come in. Some just count the planes ; others keep track of who they are ; and each individual ground crews watches just for their own plane.

The entire mission is a very exciting spectacle and has to be seen to get the full significance of the excitment

# # #

Took off at 1746 to bomb the Amagasaki oil refinery at Osake.

2 hours after takeoff we saw one of our planes in trouble - several bailed out &

July 20,1945

when the plane was almost going into the sea it exploded. I started to circle it, but another plane was there first so I turned back on course.

Reached the Jap coast - turned out the lights - put on flak suits - and when 50 miles from Osaka we could see searchlights all over the area. Already a good fire was burning.

Just before bombs away the searchlights picked us up - couldn't use evasive action as we were on the bomb run.

Sighted a fighter coming in but he saw us too late to fire.

After bombs away I did evasive action but couldn't shake the flak and lights. It was so light inside the plane you could have read a book Seeing flak burst right ahead of you and each side of you (very close) is an amazing & terrifying sight. You just wait to get hit.

July 21, 1945

Finally after 4 1/2 minutes of being coned by lights & fired at we got out of range.

As soon as we turned Nigrelli, in the tail called "Fighter at 8 o'clock high".

I looked out the window just as he started to shoot. I banked to the right - Joe started firing at him-. The Jap went right on by us - turned around and I thought we were all thru because he headed straight at me and about 1000 yards away suddenly dove and never came back. He was afraid of our forward guns - but our big secret is that we had only three guns - and they were in the tail!

July 22, 1945

The ship that exploded was piloted by a friend of mine - Lt. Milford Berry. Sure sorry to see him go.

Target for tonight is Ube - west part of Honshu, near Yawata.

Everything went fine going up- hit the Jap coast - flew over Shikokan - over the inland straights - hit the IP and started towards the bomb run.

Suddenly #3 prop started to run away and flames were coming out of the engine. Hit the extinguisher and feathered it. It was so bright over Japan that I didn't dare go into the target. Started to lose airspeed and altitude - so I told Ouija to find some town to drop the bombs on.

Picked up the town of Shimoda on the radar - and let them have it

July 23, 1945

Boun said the(y) smacked right in the center of it. Then #2 engine began to backfire & run rough - the prop RPM began oscillating. The crew started to get everything ready to throw overboard - bombsight, heaters, etc. Joe fired all the ammo which weighed 300 pounds.

Iwo Jima was 998 miles away. A big old thunderstorm had moved between us. After trying to get ahead of it I gave up & went through it. Try going thru a storm on 2 1/2 engines - it isn't fun.

Landed at Iwo at 5 in the morning. Left Super Sue there - they promptly gave us an airplane that belonged to the 314th wing. Landed at Guam - we had not been in the sack for 38 hours - and were dead.

Robert N Cotanch