Return to Guam: Pacific Stars & Stripes Article

That's the focus of Jim B. Smith's privately published book, "The Last Mission." The 357-page book is an eyewitness account by Smith, who served six months as a B-29 radio-operator based at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam's Northwest Field in 1945. Smith's accounting is supported by information from declassified American military documents and Japanese books on the war.

"History stopped after Nagasaki. This completes the last chapter of World War II," Smith said here after he finished a week of touring the island with his adopted son, Darin Maurer.

Smith said most people somewhat familiar with American history and WWII believe that Japan surrendered after "Fat Man" hit Nagasaki. "Fat Man" was the second atomic bomb dropped over Japan, out of a B-29 named Bock's Car that took off from Tinian on Aug. 9, 1945. The plutonium bomb killed 25,000 people on detonation, and more than 140,000 over time from radiation poisoning.

The bombing of Hiroshima by the crew of the B-29 Enola Gay on Aug. 6 killed 100,000 people. But it was the final missions of the 315th Bomb Wing from Guam that rang down the final curtain on the war, Smith said.

The 315th Bomb Wing flew a sustained heavy bombing campaign of 779 sorties by more than 300 B-29s deployed to Guam, beginning Aug. 13. The 315th Bomb Wing, under the 20th Air Force banner, was a secret wing that specialized in taking out petroleum plants.

"We were oil refinery specialists," Smith said.

Smith said that the United States ordered a bombing moratorium after Nagasaki, to encourage Japan to surrender unconditionally.

"It didn't work out that way. Japan didn't surrender," Smith said.

So on Aug. 13, bombing strikes were restarted, with Japan's remaining oil refineries targeted.

"We went to hit the Akita refinery. It was the largest (Japan) reserve at that time. It represented 67 percent of their refining capability at that time, " Smith said.

The Boomerang, with Smith aboard, took off from Northwest Field (now an Andersen training facility) on its Aug. 14 mission, knowing that the code word apple would tell them the war was over and to abort the mission. The code word never came.

"Our emotions were running high. We had to go back to the field after we thought the war was over," he said.

As the planes were approaching Japan, a revolt against Emperor Hirohito was taking place, led by Japan war minister Gen. Korechika Anami's "Young Tigers".

"They were to hold him incommunicado," to prevent him from recording a message to the Japanese people to surrender. Then, they would broadcast false orders and extend the war, Smith said.

As the emperor was heading to a palace building to record his message, a blackout was triggered by the approaching waves of American B-29s, which went on to complete their missions over Akita.

Hirohito was taken instead to a bomb shelter, escaping the 1,000 men waiting to capture and hold him hostage, Smith said.

Later that night, Hirohito was able to return to the palace and record his surrender message, which was later aired from a Japan Broadcasting Corporation studio. If the coup against the emperor had been successful, a land battle might have ensued, Smith said.

"They still had 5,000 kamikazes and 500 fighters. They had plenty of firepower," and a 1945 Japanese army pamphlet urged a "fight till the end," Smith said.

More than 800,000 Americans were poised to invade Japan, and a third atomic bomb was being readied, he said.

Smith has found some interest in his ideas. The initial 3,500 copies of his book have sold out, and the professional actor, featured in Dragnet and Adam 12, has been discussing a movie documentary deal with associates in the industry.