Remembering The Past:

Former B-29 radio operator returns to base after more than 50 years

From the Andersen AFB's "Tropic Topics" newspaper
February 18, 1999

Story & photo by 2nd Lt. Bert Jean
36th ABW Public Affairs

         More than 50 years have passed since Jim Smith last walked down the Northwest Field runway at Andersen. In 1945 he was a radio operator for the 315th Bomb Wing, flying on a B-29 Liberator nicknamed "Boomerang."
         Today, Smith is the author of the "Last Mission," his account of a bombing mission at the end of World War II. It was a raid that came six days after two atomic bombs devastated Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
         Smith reminisced as he walked down the Northwest Field runway Feb. 3, where he and his fellow crewmembers once launched B-29 missions headed for targets in Japan. Alongside was Darin Maurer, the man who made this trip possible. Maurer gave the journey from the U.S, mainland as a Christmas present to. the former bomber: crewman.

jbguam1.jpg - 25496 BytesSmith (left) shows Maurer scenes
of how the base looked when he was stationed
at Andersen more than 50 years ago.

         "Jim and I have been planning this trip for ten years," he said. Maurer, who works as a commercial airline pilot, said Smith has been a father figure and inspired him to seek a career in aviation. "Jim took me to an airshow when I was young where I flew in a Cessna. Since then flying has been in my blood."
         With video camera in tow to record the day's events, the two ambled down the air strip while Smith remembered. The one-time radio operator. spoke of his wartime experiences as if they had happened just a few weeks ago. . Smith recalled a B-29 that started drifting after takeoff and collided with a tree between the runways, causing the bomber to crash. Smith said he lost friends on that flight.
         Accompanying the Army Air Forces veteran on his walking tour of the World War II airfield were members of the local news media and Team Andersen.          Looking over the brush-covered surroundings, Smith recalled the locations of long-gone buildings. With a touch of sadness, he told stories of friends he had known and lost on these very dangerous missions. "I only wish my crew could be here with me," said Smith on his trek down the runway.
         Smith's small entourage later visited the site of the wreckage of the Colleen, a B-29 that crashed during a . landing in 1945. The young flyer and his inspiration :- looked over the aircraft remains,: trying to visually piece . together the wreckage of the downed bomber. The Colleen is a part of history and by gathering together its parts the two were able preserve a little part of that history. Maurer found a radio knob and wire coils that he showed to Smith.
         "Just like the one you used to operate, Jim," Maurer said as he continued to dig.
         "People like Mr. Smith have 'the rest of the story,' that written history doesn't provide;" said base historian Deryl Danner. "These stories fill in the blanks of history.
         Smith said he was grateful for his opportunity to share with others his piece of Andersen's heritage and hopes to come back and spend more time here.
         "The trip to Andersen, Northwest Field and tho crash site of the B-29 will live with me forever," Smith said. "It's the top of the list in above-and-beyond experiences."

Return to The Last Mission for the whole story about Jim B. Smith and "The Last Mission."

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