Photo's of VW-1 deployed or R and R. page 3

The 1st 2 photos show the US Air Force base of operations on Iwo Jima. The Name of the VW-1 crewman shown in picture #1 has been forgotton.

The 3rd picture is of Mt Suribachi.

Photo's courtesy of Robert Fleming AE-2 VW-1 57-58 TE-2.

On one of our flights back to Guam from Atsugi TE-4 had a double shorted secondary on our #3 engine. We diverted to Iwo. Our Flight Electrician inadvertently broke off the head of a spark plug when he was trying to remove it from the affected cylinder, and with the limited engine maintenance tools we had with us couldn't get it out. So we spent 3 days on Iwo until a VW-3 aircraft brought us a replacement cylinder and the tools to change it.
There was a large Air Force security detachment based on Iwo at the time and they were really great. They took us all over the island except to areas that still had not been cleared of munitions and mines dating back to the World War II battle by the Marines. This particular picture was taken at the Marine cemetery. Steve Birdman is pictured on the Left, unfortunately the name of the other crew man has been forgotten.
Steve Birdman '58-'60 TE-4.

This picture (on left) was taken at the spot where the famous flag was raised on Mt. Suribachi. Harold Cooper is standing on the left, Steve Birdman is next to him in the flight jacket. We were taken up the mountain in an Air Force 4 x 4 Truck. The road was incredibly steep and winding and a very slow and difficult drive to the top. It is unbelievable that the Marines got to the top climbing and fighting the whole way. I had a new respect for the Corps after this adventure. The comic relief for that day was trying to hit some golf balls off the top of the mountain.
Steve Birdman '58-'60 TE-4.

Picture on the right is the same monument as described above but 2 or 3 years previous to the picture on the left.
Courtesy of Gordon Olson 54-56 TE-4.

This a memorial of the flag raising that was carved out on a sandstone rock in the jungles of Iwo Jima by some unknown person. At the time we were there, the Air Force guys were detailed to keep it white washed and in good order.
Steve Birdman '58-'60 TE-4.

1958 Aerial views taken over Taiwan farm lands as a VW-1 connie was approaching Tia-nan airfield for refueling. Photo's taken during the VW-1 support of the Nationalist Chinese defense of the Quemoy Islands. Photo's courtesy of Alan Hochstein '57 - '58.

1999 arial view of Midway Island and Wake Island,
The 2 pictures on the right are aerial views of Iwo Jima and Mt. Suribachi.

Close examination of the enlarged picture of Mt. Suribachi you can see the monument commemorating the flag raising during the battle for Iwo.
Courtesy of Gordon Olson 54-56.

VW-1 stopped at Wake Island because of engine problems while providing Duckbutt services to other aircraft.
Duckbutt services was the term used to describe the operation provided by VW-1 and VW-3 to give navigational support to single engine aircraft when they crossed long stretches of ocean and to provide location information to rescue aircraft in the event of a ditching at sea.

Captain Henry T. Elrod, USMC one of the pilots from VMF-211, was awarded the United States Medal of Honor posthumously for shooting down two Japanese Zero fighters, and many of his comrades were also highly decorated for their roles in the fighting. The Wake Island Device was created for American veterans of the battle.
Photo's courtesy of Alan Hochstein '57 - '58.

VW-1 stopped at Wake Island because of engine problems while providing Duckbutt services to other aircraft.
Photo's courtesy of Alan Hochstein '57 - '58.