A Glimpse of History: Attack on Pearl Harbor Eyewitness Account (continued)

After the second attack (about 9:30 AM) we were ordered to search for the Japanese Attack Fleet. We were one of the first planes to take off from Ford Island. Our flight plan was to go north 250 miles [due north of Oahu], turn east for 10 miles and then south to return to base. [We returned] to Ford Island about 1:30 PM.

Post war reports indicated that the Japanese Attack Fleet had come south towards Oahu, launching their first plane attack about 220 miles north of Oahu at about 6 AM and the second attack when they were about 160 miles due north of Oahu. Then their fleet turned northwest to recover their planes. So we flew north throughout the same area the Japanese had traveled south about four hours earlier. Our search plane may have been the closest search plane to the Japanese fleet that day while they were recovering their aircraft aboard the carriers.

We saw one plane when we got about five miles north of Oahu. It followed us for a short distance, but did not attack us. Twenty-nine Japanese planes and crews were lost that day. One of them was able to land on one of the remote islands, and a few others crashed into the sea around Oahu.

Many of the historical photos about the attack of Pearl Harbor were taken by our squadron photographers.

CDR Ruth recently celebrated his 92nd birthday and now resides in North Carolina.

© David Hogan, 2005

Tommy arrived at Pearl Harbor in 1943. I took him out to our home. He met my wife, but my first son, Tucker, had not yet been born. Tommy departed for the South Pacific shortly after the visit.

I received a letter from my Mother in July asking me if I had any news from Tommy. She said that she had had a dream about him on 30 June, 1943, and in the dream she saw him bleeding about the head and his plane was in a dive. I wrote and told her that I had not received any news.

A few months later, one of Tommy's shipmates returned to Pearl Harbor and told me that Tommy had been shot down off Munda Point, which is on New Britain Island I believe, on 30 June 1943!