34th Fighter Squadron P-47 Communications Section Members, WW2 Ie Shima.

1-15-2012   The following letters are from Ross who is looking for information about his dad who served on Ie Shima in WW2.

Ross:
I served with the 34th Squadron on Ie Shima in 1945. I was in the Communications section and was in charge of the radio repair crew maintaining the radios on the P47s on the tarmac mostly at night time. Before I write any more details or at length, I’d like to establish contact with you or anyone else connected with the Squadron. So please let me know that you received this. I tried some ten years ago and never got response going through Yellow Airplane. I’m getting close to cashing in my chips so I thought I’d better try again. Thanks for helping me as I may be able to help you.

Hi, Don,
Great to hear from you. I'm not sure that I can be much help in your search for someone connected to the 34th Squadron on Ie Shima, as my father who served on the island from April to December, 1945, was not part of the Squadron.
He was in the US Army Signal Corps, serving in a Signal Equipment Installation Detachment of the 3365th Signal Service Battalion, living first in a foxhole, then a canvas supply tent, both in central, southern Ie Shima, taking cover at night in a raid shelter that had been a family tomb somewhat inland of his tent position and east of the southeast corner of the airfield.
But since you served with the 34th Squadron in the Communications section, and had charge of the radio repair crew maintaining the radios on the P47s Thunderbolts -- mostly at night time on the tarmac -- I wondered if you might remember a communications tower south of the airfield.
I've attached a 1945 Navy photo of what looks like a comms tower near the south coast of Ie Shima, and wonder if it looks familiar. Do you remember a daylight strafing attack on this tower, or any other, probably in May of 1945, but possibly in June?
Jeff Dyrek. the Yellow Airplane Web master has encouraged my efforts to try and prove my Dad's award of the Bronze Star Medal for an action atop that tower, and I think he might be able to put you in touch with men who served alongside you in the 34th Squadron. I'll copy Jeff on this note.
I hope that helps. You may be interested to know I visited Ie Shima with my Mom in 2002, and I walked most of the length of "B" Strip, which is still surfaced with crushed coral, though badly pitted and rutted. The old "A" Strip was resurfaced and used as a civilian airport for the island, which the locals now call Iejima, but I don't think it has regularly scheduled flights.
I'm glad to make your acquaintance, Don, and hope you are well. Looking forward to your reply.
Ross

Ross: Thanks for responding. I can’t say I remember the tower but I received the book that was put out by some members of the squadron. Larry Jennings’ wife copied the pages and sent them to my daughter who was in touch with Mrs. Jennings. I will look through that and see if there’s any evidence of .it there.
I hope so. It sounds like it might have been at the south end in the vicinity of where Ernie Pyle was killed but probably above the beach level.
Don