On Nov. 11, 1942 I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force aviation cadet program out of the University of Florida.

I was called into service to report to Miami Beach, Florida for basic training. After four weeks of training I was sent to the University of Tennessee for C.T.D. training. During the semester I received 10 hours of flight training in the Taylor Cub.

In July 1943 I was classified as a pilot and sent to Maxwell Field, Alabama for pre-flight training which was P.T., codes, navigation, engine and aircraft identification. This was an eight week training period.

I was sent to M.I.A. in Jackson, Mississippi to primary flight school. I soloed in the PT 17 after 5 hours training. After 60 hours solo I was checked out in the PT 19 for 30 more hours.

I was transferred to Walnut Ridge AAB at Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. I had 10 hours flight solo in the BT 13. I was eliminated from pilot training due to General Hap Arnold's orders that the training command had 44,000 too many pilots.

I transferred to Lowery Field in Denver, Colorado to train in armaments. I then went on to Buckingham AAB in Ft. Myers, Florida for gunnery training and received my wings in August 1944.

September 1, 1944 I was assigned to Greenville, South Carolina AAF Base to begin crew training. My crew was Pilot Melville Beswick, Co-Pilot John Mendes, Navigator Julius Cohen, Flight Engineer Robert Olinger, Radio Operator Melvin Leventon, and Tail Gunner Donald Jones. We trained as a crew from September 1944 to November 1944.

The crew was sent to Hunter Field AAB at Savannah, Georgia for overseas duty. Then on to California to Fairfield AAF Base for processing overseas.

We left the USA Jan 24, 1945 for Hawaii, Johnson Island, Tarawa, Guadalcanal, Biak, and Nazab NG after 60 hours flight time. We moved to the Philippines January 30, 1945 to San Marcelino AAB. Assigned to the 500th BS of the 345 BG March 14, 1945.

I was trained to be flight engineer from tail gunner and flew 4 combat missions. The 500th BS was transferred to Clark Field Philippines. The 345th BG was sent to Ie Shima, Okinawa July 25, 1945.
I left the 500th BS October 1945 to join the 38 BG in Okinawa. I left Okinawa for Japan November 21, 1945. I sailed from Tokyo Bay Christmas Eve 1945 for the U.S. I was discharged from the U.S. Air Corp January 15, 1946.

Note: 2' Lt. Julius Cohen was killed in action April 6, 1945 in the China Sea on a Japanese shipping strike.

Peter Murray & Gen. Bruce Wright

On Friday and Saturday the 1st & 2nd of June — I had the great pleasure of spending approximately 8 hours (cumulative) in private and close company with/of Lt Gen Bruce Wright (3 Star) — the Commander of the US 5th AF (Japan) & Joint Forces Asia Pacific. Commanding some 50,000 Troops, and responsible for another 50,000 family members and civilians in the wider scene.

You may recall, the General came out to Townsville in August 2005 to unveil the Townsville C-47 Crash Memorial Plaque (USAAF C-47 S/n 41-7733 — 7th Aug 1943 with the loss of all 27 on board). Due to distractions at the actual Memorial Service, and my inability to join the Gen and the 5th AF contingent at dinner that night, I didn't actually get to officially meet him on that visit.

So when the opportunity to meet him arose again recently — I jumped at the chance. He was in Australia to meet with our Defence Authorities, and took time out to attend the Annual Memorial Dinner in Mackay (400klm south of Townsville) — commemorating the loss of 40 US Troops in a B-17 crash in June 1943.A disaster—commonly known as `the Bakers Creek Crash' (after the actual crash location) - that still rates as the worst aviation disaster in Australia's history, and I believe — the greatest single personnel loss, in any one day for the 5th AF.

In my humble opinion — General Wright (Orville) is the 'real deal' — a very down to earth gentleman. After his meeting with our Defence boffins in Australia's Capital (Canberra) — he and his wife, hired a car and drove the 1500klms north to Brisbane, then caught a small commuter flight to Mackay (another 800klms) to Mackay— arriving on Friday afternoon (1st June).

Along with a very small delegation from the Bakers Creek Memorial Committee, I was invited to join them at a low key 'Meet & Greet' hosted for the General and his wife (Kerry) on the Friday night. Owing to the need for the General to get back to Japan for work on Monday morning — he was unable to stay for the official Memorial Service held on the Sunday afternoon, so a special wreath laying and plaque unveiling was arranged for Saturday.

The Memorial is a substantial affair and a new addition was a Plaque donated by the 317th 46th Troop Carrier Sqd — which the General officially unveiled. He also paid tribute to the aged couple who have raised and lowered the Memorial flags every day for the past 15 years. They live beside the Memorial at Bakers Creek.

A Memorial Dinner was convened on Saturday night— with Gen Wright as the guest speaker. He made particular reference to the WW2 era 5th AF — acknowledging those who served in it, and the fact the 5th AF was originally formed in Townsville Australia. That Australian connection lives on in the form of the `star formation' in the 5th AF Insignia— being the 'Southern Cross Star Constellation' seen in the Southern Hemisphere — and which also appears, with the same significance, on our National Flag.

As a little aside — I was privileged to be presented with a 5th AF 'outstanding performer' Medallion by General Wright and managed to have my photo taken with him.

Back to my 'real deal' description—the Gen traveled out to Australia alone (with wife) - without the expected personal aides (Batman), using Commercial Airlines (no special AF Jet) — returned to Japan overnight — to be home for work on Monday — to spend 2 days tending his 50,000 troops — before going on to the US for meetings on the next Wednesday.

Hope this is of interest to you all.
 

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