[Unit History]: 2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron - The Snafu Snatchers – USAAF On December 15th, 1943 the 2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron was activated. It started training at the USAAF Emergency Rescue School at Keesler Field, Mississippi on April 1st, 1944. By August of 1944 the squadron was overseas and operating with the 5th Air Force. As authorized by the Table of Organization the Squadron was separated into five flights. HQ Flight, A Flight, B Flight, C Flight, and D Flight. The HQ, A and C Flights were to operate from Biak Island; B Flight was to operate from Oro Bay, New Guinea; and D Flight from Milne Bay, New Guinea. On August 2nd, 1944 “C Flight was ordered to operate Nadzab, New Guinea. On the ground, building the squadron area and improving the conditions for work on the line became a full time job. During the day when the ships were flying, all of the men worked with a will towards having the best area at the station. In the evening when the ships had returned from their missions, maintenance work was completed. Due to the lack of OA-10A Catalina aircraft in this area, parts that were worn or defective had to be requisitioned from the Navy or replaced by sending the ship to the depot in Australia. Ships that were sent to the depot were out of squadron operation from two to six weeks and placed an added burden on the ships left flying. 2nd ERS aircraft operating from these stations were supporting 5th Air Force strikes over the Halmahera Islands, the Celebes and the Philippines. As an example of the tempo of operations during this time, two flights of the 2nd ERS flew 106 missions totaling 837 hours with an average length of 8 hours per mission. No combat losses were experienced during this period. On August 23rd, 1944 the Squadron was relieved from assignment to the Fifth Air Force and assigned to the V Bomber Command. The total missions flown had increased to 162 totaling 1,540 flying hours. The squadron was transferred from the Fifth Bomber Command to the 13th Air Force on the 23 September 23rd, 1944. The 13th Air Force organized the 5230th Composite Emergency Rescue Group (Prov) and this squadron was attached to it for tactical operational control. Operations were steadily moving northward. Maintenance work during this period reached a new high. Engine changes were completed on all ships in addition to general repair work. Especially busy during November were the Sheet metal workers. Encounters with Japanese aircraft and shore batteries became more frequent. Several of the planes returned to their base with scars from enemy flak and guns. A total of 88 missions totaling 794 hours were flown during the period. In order to more effectively cover operations, two flights were placed on Temporary duty in the Philippines. D Flight was sent to Zamboanga on March 27th, 1945 and A Flight went to Palawan on March. 29th. A total of 70 missions, totaling 971.25 hours were flown during the month. Several rescues were accomplished. By August 1945 the big news of the month was that Japan had agreed to adopt the peace terms and the war was over! No more “sweating out” air raids in the foxholes, no more missions where enemy fire was probable and expected! The original false rumor of Japan’s capitulation caused quite a bit of hilarity and excitement. The announcement was made during the middle of the picture show in the Squadron Area and the show itself was completely forgotten. Everybody was whooping and hollering and guns were going off like firecrackers. Fortunately no one was injured and when it was found that all of it was unconfirmed rumor things quieted down to normal. In order to preclude any possibility of any one receiving an injury when the surrender was officially confirmed all men were ordered to turn in all their fire arms to Squadron Supply and they were kept there until the day after President Truman’s announcement of the acceptance of the peace terms by Japan. The official announcement came as some what of an anti-climax and most of the men were concerned in discussing the procedure the Army would use for returning men to the States and how much longer each individual would have to remain overseas. For more info see: pbyrescue.org/front.htm On September 17th, 1945 the 2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron was moved to Clark Field, Luzon. The move meant the long awaited jump from “jungle living” to “civilized living”. The 15 months in the jungles from May 29th, 1944 to September 17th, 1945 made the original members of the Squadron wonder if they would know how to react to life among civilians. Of course it was known that no “New York City” would be found on Luzon but it would take them one step nearer to their homes.
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 19:51:08 +0000