8th CCS Japan

    The "Bomb" was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6 and another on Nagasaki on the 9th. The Japanese surrendered August 15, 1945.
     The 8th moved to Okinawa 15 August, 1945. While stationed in Okinawa we experienced a Typhoon (Hurricane in the Atlantic). The last thing that blew away was the weather station at a wind speed reading of 150 mph. Much damage was done in our living area, tents blown down and personal items blown away, but little damage to aircraft as protective measures were taken.

     On August 28, 1945, two C-46's, one crewed by Colonel Bell, P, Major Moody, CP, Lt. Snyder, N; the other by Major Allison, (P), Captain Scholl, (CP), Lt. Henneke, (N) transported the "Reconnaissance Party and Advance Operations Party" into Atsugi Air Base in the Tokyo area. It was a long day. Lt. Henneke's Combat Mission Time record logged 11 hours, 55 min. for the mission. Captain Loomis flew in with communication equipment and military police to establish flight control for future flights.

     The formal surrender signing took place on the battleship Missouri in Tokyo harbor on September 2, 1945. After the surrender, the Group provided transport into Japan for the occupation forces.

    On September 16, 1945 the 8th moved to Tachikawa and into barracks at Yokota Air Base, Fussa, Japan in the Tokyo area. When the Squadron moved into the barracks, the barracks had only cold running water. Japan, having a temperate climate, experiences freezing nights and cold days in fall and winter. Showers were numbing to say the least. But not for long. The inventiveness and resourcefulness of some of the Squadron personnel found the means to fabricate, install and plumb a hot water system. Within days hot water was flowing. The barracks also had Japanese communal baths, which after renovation, were also utilized, but, without Geshia assistance. Ah the luxury. Sleeping under blankets became a new experience after a year of only skivvies.

    Our third crew loss occurred in Japan. Ray Renuart and crew crashed east of Tokyo, the cause attributed to weather conditions.

     With the end in sight, our main activity was shuttling personnel and material between Manila, Okinawa and Japan. Detours were made to view Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Planes were being ferried to Manila for storage as needs declined. Flying time was being reduced and it was a scramble to acquire four hours to qualify for flight pay. When a plane required a maintenance check, a full complement of specialties crewed the flight as evidenced by a 2 December flight report. Unscheduled time was used for visiting Tokyo and surrounding areas.

     1st Lt. Bobbie Schwartz was made Operations Officer November, 1945.

     Personnel were beginning to be rotated back to the States for separation or reassignment depending on their Adjusted Service Rating Scores. Early returnees from SO 318, were home for Christmas. Those assigned to SO 343, departed Yokohama 24 December, 1945, on the troop transport SS Marine Lynx, arriving San Pedro, California 4 January, 1946. Those on SO 348, were assigned to the SS Marine Martin and arrived in Fort Lewis, Washington 7 January, 1946.

     Squadron members not departing on the Lynx or Martin remained at Yokota while awaiting their orders to return. Some shared their Christmas together.

     The Group was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with seven Bronze Stars for the New Guinea, Western Pacific, Southern Philippines, Luzon, Bismark Archipelago, Ryukyus, and Air Offensive, Japan campaigns. Also American Campaign, World War II Victory and Philippine Liberation Medals.

     The Group was deactivated January, 1946.

A Final Note: Captain Loomis, who remained in service, participated in preparing for atomic bomb tests in the Marshall Islands in the fall of 1952. His work took him from atoll to atoll. On one, his crew found a shoe and the remains of a plane. On a tight schedule, no one gave further thought to the findings. In 1967, Loomis, after reading a book on Amelia Earhart, recalled his 1952 incident. Intrigued, he began his own quest of solving the Earhart mystery. His efforts culminated in a book, "Amelia Earhart the Final Story".

Lt. Emil J. Modla, 8^th Combat Cargo Squadron, 2nd Combat Cargo Group. From his manuscript 'History of the 8th Combat Cargo Squadron History, 2nd Combat Cargo Group.'

This short History of the 8th Combat Cargo Squadron, no way tells the entire Squadron history. It's sole purpose is to give one an idea of what the Squadron endured during it's time during the Second World War. For a more detailed report on the the Squadrons History, one needs to access the records of the 2nd Combat Cargo Group and it's individual Squadrons at the U.S. Air Force Historical Research Center at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL. These records are available in microfilm.

I am looking for former members of the 3rd Combat Cargo Group, 1st, Combat Cargo Group, 2nd Combat Cargo Group and the 4th Combat Cargo Group. In fact I would like to hear from anyone who flew over the Hump during WW II, or flew any Combat Cargo Missions at any time (Berlin Air-Lift, Korea, etc)

Please e-mail comment, suggestions, corrections,etc to: bill@comcar.org

Notice to all Viewers:

All stories and images within "Imphal, The Hump and Beyond, U.S.A.A.F Combat Cargo Units of the Second World War", are Copyright Š1999, to the Veteran who submitted the text and/or photographs and to Bill Bielauskas, Webmaster at "Imphal, the Hump and Beyond, U.S.A.A.F. Combat Cargo Units of the Second World War". All rights reserved. No part of this page, or those connected via links, either text, or images may be used for any purpose other than personal use. Storage, reproduction, modification on a retrieval system or transmission, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without prior written permission of the Copyright Š holder(s) is prohibited.

This includes storage on another Internet Website other than "Imphal, the Hump and Beyond, U.S.A.A.F. Combat Cargo Groups of the Second World War"

Bill Bielauskas 10 Cayuga Trail, Wayne, NJ. 07470-4406