Evening star., 1943-04-18
Thrills Of Air Raid on Jops at Kisko Convince
~ S. Writer, in Bomber, Alaska War Isn't Tame
By WILLIAM GILMAN.

BY WILLIAM GILMAN.
ADVANCED ARMY BASE IN
THE ALEUTIANS (DelayeO.-T
weather was dirty, and this mission
"a commando raid from the sky
was even more so. But all 80 OF
us had volunteered, so the sooner ii
was over the better.
The others had reasons for want
ing to come back alive. had some
too, including a special one. The
bomber commands head, Col. E. H
De Ford, has lent me his flying boots
and Capt. Edward Bendere of his
staff added his own flying mitts-
and both men asked that I bring
the articles back.
It all turned out worth the risk
to see our six Mitchell medium
bombers race through Kiska S
whitening aircraft fire and the
blasts of our own bombs, at a low
level altitude ranging from Is to
IS feet, hurling destruction at such
selected targets as the islands SUBJ
marine base, its nearly finished rum
way and the buildings housing deli
cate defense apparatus.
Other results: All six pilots have
been recommended for Distin-
guished Flying or Service Crosses,
with other medals for their crews.
Three Planes Hit.
Two men were wounded, not seri-
ously. Three of the planes were
hit, but all flew back to an American
base where one Of them had to
make a crippled landing without
wheels.
Kiska raids are planned by the
higher air force officers. But this
one was cooked up by two lieu
tenants eager to give the Japs a spe-
cial brand of hell.
One is George A. Barber of Lub-
book, Tex, who intended to be a
mechanical engineer when he was
graduated from Texas Tech three
years ago. He is a smaller version
of Jack Dempsey, with the same
pugnacious face and spirit.
The other is William r. Candy
of Braintree, Mass, a former art
student.
1t. Candy has been flying as 1t
Barber's co-pilot since his arrival in
the Aleutians theater last october
but today's raid was their joint
brain child and Candy flew his own
Mitchell on 1t. Barber's wing.
~
Their plan had its beginning five
days ago when they discovered q
new approach to Kiska, quite by &C
cident. 1t caught the Japanese
completely by surprise. But the
planes machine guns jammed and
the bombs hung" didn't drop
The pair of lieutenants returned
to their base. begging for permis-
sion to repeat such a raid Be-
tween 1t. Barber's salesmanship and
1t. Candy's sketches the plan was
sold to Col. De Ford and Maj. Gen.
William o. Butler.
happened to be in Col. De Ford s
Office yesterday, complaining that
my previous trips over Kiska had
been too tame, when he called over
1t. Barber and 1t. Candy, intro
duced them and said:
You can 60 on their special mis-
sion if you care to-I guarantee it
won't be tame"
I asked for details.
He grinned:
Its secret If you want to go, wait
for a call. Each is taking a plane
from here. You can fly with Barber
Along the way, they'll stop to pick
up your more Mediums. Barber will
brief the pilots there-if you want
to drop out then, that's okay."
Start for Targets.
The call came this morning and
We were soon on our way, wearing
Mae West life jackets, parachutes
and with tin hats for the hve men
in each ship.
Along the way, test bombs were
dropped and machine guns fired
to make sure there would be nc
hitch this time. At the outpost
base where we landed, four other
Mitchells were waiting. The planes
were made ready for the proper
take-of hour that would bring us to
Kiska shortly before dark.
In tent, 1t. Barber and 1t. Candy
produced charts and explained the
scheme to the rest Of us. The six
Mediums were to do it alone. Every
thing depended on surprise, split
second timing and audacity.
BY this time. we knew that the
Japs on Kiska were probably buzzine
around like hornets in a disturbed
nest-there had been two big raid:
on the island during the day, with
one of our four-motored Liberatol
bombers going down in smoke ane
flame.
We lay around a few hours, and
then we were off, skimming low
over a slate-colored sea. The bomb
ers looked like porpoises, rising ano
falling, with landing gear retracted
| Reveals His Fears.
| There were also worried moments