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Retired bombers recollect Tokyo mission

  • Published
  • By Danielle Gregory
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  Retired members of the 9th Bomb Group recently toured Tinker and answered questions about their part in B-29 bombing run over Tokyo during World War II that is said to have been more famous and devastating than the raid on Hiroshima which eventually led to the end of the war.

The group showed a Japanese media-made documentary before answering questions from the audience. The group consisted of Herb Hobler, navigator and president emeritus of the 9th Bomb Group Association; Don Dacier, left gunner; Charles Chauncey, airplane commander; John Goldman, central fire control; John Nestel, pilot; Warren Jarvis, airplane commander; Lenoard Carpi, airplane commander and Dick Baile, flight engineer.

Before the video, Mr. Hobler gave an outline of the events that took place before the raid of Tokyo. "Within days of the Pearl Harbor attack, the government ordered 800 B-29s be built, though it wasn't until April 1942 that a B-29 went up in the air. Many B-29s crashed and many men were killed as B-29 crews were trained for two years before they were used in combat," said Mr. Hobler.

He then talked about how Gen. Curtis LeMay turned things around when he took over the 21st Bomber Command in Jan. 1945. General Lemay ordered the raid on Tokyo.

"On the evening of March 9, we attended an incredible briefing. We were told several things that night. We would be bombing at 6,000 feet over Tokyo, certain suicide. We would be flying alone, and we wouldn't be carrying ammunition or gunners to save weight for more gas and bombs," said Mr. Hobler.

Approximately 300 planes took off for the mission, 14 were lost. The next day, the crews were shown pictures of the 15 square mile radius of Tokyo that was totally destroyed. The planes had dropped M-69 incendiary bombs in clusters that would burst into flame with slow burning napalm. Almost 200,000 people were killed and 10,000 buildings destroyed.

Following the video the floor was opened for the audience of Tinker members young and old. The veterans answered all questions and included their thoughts of the Japanese made film.

Mr. Dacier wanted everyone to know that at the time the orders were given the policy of the Americans wasn't that it would be against the Japanese civilians it was against the war effort. He said they felt they had to influence the emperor to consider ending the war for the Japanese people's sake.

"The video showed that war is hell; however, it doesn't show anything about Pearl Harbor. Every time I went on a run I would think about those sailors sitting at the bottom of Pearl Harbor," said Mr. Carpi. "I knew what I was doing was right."