Chichijima incident

1

U.S. Navy Department (September 4, 1944)

CINCPAC Communiqué No. 113

Chichijima and Hahajima in the Bonin Islands and Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands were bombed and strafed by aircraft of a carrier task force on August 3 and 31 and on September 1 (West Longitude Dates). On August 30 and September 1, Chichijima and Iwo Jima were bombarded by cruisers and destroyers of the Pacific Fleet. Our aircraft dropped 196 tons of bombs in these operations and fired 490 rockets. The following damage was inflicted on the enemy:

SHIPS SUNK: Three small cargo ships and a landing barge at Iwo Jima. One small cargo ship southwest of Hahajima, damaged by bombing and later sunk by a destroyer. One small tanker and six barges at Chichijima. One small cargo ship northwest of Chichijima.

SHIPS PROBABLY SUNK: One small cargo ship and one sub chaser northwest of Iwo Jima. One sub chaser southwest of Chichijima. One sub chaser at Hahajima.

SHIPS DAMAGED: Two sub chasers at Iwo Jima. One sub chaser and a sampan near Chichijima.

AIRCRAFT DESTROYED OR DAMAGED: 10 enemy aircraft shot down near Iwo Jima. One twin‑engine bomber shot down over our task force. 33 enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground, 29 probably destroyed, and 10 damaged at Iwo Jima. Two seaplanes destroyed at Chichijima.

DAMAGE TO GROUND INSTALLATIONS: Extensive damage was done to hangars, shops, warehouses, fuel dumps, and anti-aircraft positions by bombing and shelling during these attacks. Several anti-aircraft positions were destroyed at Iwo Jima, a large warehouse was destroyed at Hahajima, and at Chichijima the seaplane base was demolished.

OWN DAMAGE: In these operations we lost five aircraft in combat. Our personnel casualties were one pilot and three flight personnel. There was no damage to our ships.

2

Action Report, VT-51 (September 2, 1944)

orig_305238_14781
orig_305238_14782
orig_305238_14783

Naval History and Heritage Command

On 2 September 1944, Bush piloted one of four aircraft from VT-51 that attacked the Japanese installations on Chi Chi Jima. For this mission his crew included Radioman Second Class John Delaney, and Lieutenant Junior Grade William White, USNR, who substituted for Bush’s regular gunner. During their attack, four TBM Avengers from VT-51 encountered intense antiaircraft fire. While starting the attack, Bush’s aircraft was hit and his engine caught on fire. He completed his attack and released the bombs over his target scoring several damaging hits. With his engine on fire, Bush flew several miles from the island, where he and one other crew member on the TBM Avenger bailed out of the aircraft. However, the other man’s chute did not open and he fell to his death. It was never determined which man bailed out with Bush. Both Delaney and White were killed in action. While Bush anxiously waited four hours in his inflated raft, several fighters circled protectively overhead until he was rescued by the lifeguard submarine, USS FINBACK. During the month he remained on FINBACK, Bush participated in the rescue of other pilots.