Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
4:40 | B-29 radio operator Bill Smoot recalls his longest mission, which was reportedly the longest bombing mission by any crew in the war. They started at Tinian and refueled at Iwo Jima on the way to northern Japan. (This interview made possible with the support of THE MATRED CARLTON OLLIFF FOUNDATION.)
Keywords : Bill Smoot Boeing B-29 Superfortress radio operator Aomori Japan Honshu Iwo Jima incendiary bombs pressurized Japanese
The letters home from relatives detailed the miserable conditions with rain and malaria in the Pacific, so when he came of age, Bill Smoot enlisted in the Air Force, where he would not have to deal with that. He wanted to be a pilot, but he had to move into the radio operator's chair. (This interview made possible with the support of THE MATRED CARLTON OLLIFF FOUNDATION.)
Bill Smoot was the youngest crew member on the B-29. When they arrived in the Pacific, a celebrity pilot ferried them on the last leg of their trip. The B-29 was a high altitude bomber and operated where the Japanese Zeroes could not reach them. (This interview made possible with the support of THE MATRED CARLTON OLLIFF FOUNDATION.)
Bill Smoot was on Tinian when a section of the base was cordoned off and a new weapon arrived. The men were told that the if anything went wrong, it would be the end of the entire island. (This interview made possible with the support of THE MATRED CARLTON OLLIFF FOUNDATION.)
The riskiest landing for Bill Smoot came after the war was over and airmen were ferrying home their B-29's. The one he was in had no navigation system, but they were paired with a plane that did. All they had to do was stay together over the Pacific. (This interview made possible with the support of THE MATRED CARLTON OLLIFF FOUNDATION.)
Who thought there would be another war? In 1950, Bill Smoot was recalled but he did not have go to Korea. Instead he served at Fort Knox training teletype operators. After that, he was fortunate to secure a job with a future. (This interview made possible with the support of THE MATRED CARLTON OLLIFF FOUNDATION.)
