The Wetokian: News for the Enewetok Weather Men

The Wetokian
Web Issue

Mailbox

Summer
1999

From: RANDJBRAD@aol.com
To:hrw@dcr.net
Subject: PROMISED STUFF
Date: Saturday, August 28, 1999

I remember Charlie Compher and Erskine Hutchinson. They were still there when I arrived. I also remember the dog, Sampson and how he hated the MPs. He would lean out of the weapons carrier that we used at the R section and bark like crazy at them. I worked the night shift the entire time I was there. Pibal after the movie (often pencil whipped) and the rawin run in the middle of the night.

I also seem to recall Robert Figgy, who was records checker at Hickam until we ran out of warm bodies and he came down TDY, Ray (raballs) Jensen Richard Hathaway from the observer section, and a Tsgt named Metzner, often referred to as the wandering Jew because of his penchant for taking long walks around the island.

I have a picture of Samson with the rawinsonde section taken after we were given and award for best rawinsonde section for the period. Got that award a couple of times as we also got highest altitude for our runs many times. I'll admit, sometimes we managed to fudge them a bit, but what else is there to do in the middle of the night in a boring job and a boring place. We always hoped for minimal runs, but sometimes they went higher than expected and we had to work them anyway, so why not try for the outer limits. At one time we were involved in a balloon test program with HUGE balloons that were so large we had to inflate them in the hanger across the runway. I would go over, fill the balloon, release from that side of the runway and then drive back across the runway to work lower chart and winds aloft.

We were issued a pair of W.W.II walkie-talkies and I would always report in, "Release!

Is the coffee ready?" That was a play on Humphrey Bogart calling from his car to check on the coffee in the movie, "Sabrina" which we saw at least five times.

One of the duties for the night crew was to fill the water container with ice and water as there was no running water at the R section. One night we went to fill the container and noted that there was a fresh made pizza, which the cooks had made for themselves. Sitting on the window ledge at the mess hall, Since they never made pizza for the troops, Bob Gordon and I did our own bit of midnight requisitioning and "Took the pizza and ran!" We enjoyed the pizza at the section, and the pan went over the reef, never to be seen again! We had many a laugh about that. We often snitched a pastry or two but that was the only pizza we ever saw there.

We are monitoring our hurricane today to see if it is going to come further west than expected. Hope not. I saw enough of that in the Pacific when I was on Okinawa.

Brad

Editors Note:
I found Eugene and he was very glad to be found. I'm sending out a sample hard copy to him and others I found last week. These are all Castle weather people I'm talking about. That CASTLE list is getting longer. I have a few more clues concerning the Rongerik relief crew but nothing that works on the white pages search. HW.

From: EMarkey@aol.com
To: hrw@dcr.net
Subject: Eniwetok
Date: Sunday, July 25, 1999

Harold:

It was good to hear from you. You have stirred memories long idled, but not entirely forgotten. First things first: I Emailed Sally Uehara a short note. Of all the hundreds of people from Eniwetok and the 57th WRS that I knew back then, Jerry is one of only a handful that I do remember. I can still see us standing together on a tee box at Kalakaua golf course in Oahu.

We were navigators on the Weather Recon Squadron's B-29's. I arrived in Honolulu about September 1953, a brand new 2nd Lieutenant fresh out of flying school at Ellington AFB outside of Houston, Tx. Came with 2 of my buddies, Robert (Bob) Kortvelesy and Richard (Dick) Denfeld. The latter was an Annapolis grad who attended Navigation training with us at Ellington.

I brought my future wife over in late December and we were married in the base chapel at Hickam. By late Jan or Feb of 1954, we all left our wives to go to Eniwetok for the H-Bomb tests. 105 days! I'll never forget it. Witnessed 7 go off. Two that I will never forget, the one dropped by the B-36, which caved in the underside of its fuselage, and the final one, on my 105th day, where I had gotten so plastered the night before at Duffy's that I couldn't make roll call and got blown out of bed by the impact. (It was dropped/setoff at the tip of the Atoll.) Also remember the one that I saw with my bare eyes...I was turning the plane with the Navigator's "George" above my table, when the A/C said something about putting on our protective goggles...I was too late and saw the whole thing bare eyed. Most beautiful colors ever seen in my life! Could be that John Diepenbrock ("Deep") was the A/C, but I think it was Dave Likens. I flew quite a bit with both those guys. Also think I remember Fazlollah. Believe he was a Major at the time. These guys for the most part were people recalled from civilian life after WWII to serve during Korea and then stayed in. Colonel Templeton Walker was our Squadron Commander at the 57th WRS.

God, I loved that B-29! What a safe plane. Our 57th had over 50,000 accident free hours near the end of my time over there.

Diepenbrock and I had the best tans of our group at Eniwetok. We used to lay outside on the sand and read all day long, when we weren't flying. And we did a lot of that. Flew 108 hours in one 7 day stretch. Kortvelesy, Denfeld and I got a plaque near the end of our tour for getting in over 120 or 150 missions...I forget which. John's wife name was Lucy or Lois? Never drank a drop at Duffy's until the night before I was going "home" to Hickam. Used to play a whole lot of "booray" cards in the area between the two ends of the sleeping quarters in those quonset huts!

I left the Air Force in 1956, but stayed in the Reserves. Every now and then on my two weeks active duty, I would run in to someone in Spain, France, the Azores or Newfoundland from the old group. But hardly any other contact in all these years. Denfeld called once about 20 years ago to tell me that one of our navigator buddies, Jimmy Jones, had died at too young an age.

Also remember one of our guys buying a gold Rolex at the PX for $300. Same watch now is about $15,000! Also remember all the good food, flight crews always got steaks and ice cream when we wanted.

I don't know why, but I cannot remember the name of a single weather man that used to fly in the nose with us.

I've checked out your Web pages. Very interesting. I got out the magnifying glass on the B-29 picture, but to no avail.

Well, I guess I've rambled on long enough here Harold. I would be interested to learn if you have any more contacts with B-29 crew people, especially the ones I've mentioned above. I suppose a lot are dead. I'm coming up on 68 next November...it's to be expected, though nobody likes it.

I'm still working...lost my career job during the oil crunch of the 80's... so I have to. But I am still healthy and working probably keeps me that way anyway!!!

If I can help you in your research in any way, just let me know and I will do what I can.

Gene

From: bernie wynn bfwynn@sprynet.com
To: Sally Uehara and Harold Wainscott hrw@dcr.net
Subject: My memories
Date: Saturday, July 24, 1999

Hi Sally and Harold;

Eniwetok

Imagine trying to remember a few months of my life that happened in 1954. I didn't turn 21 until June after we returned from our four-month detail on Operation Castle. I had not given that part of my life a lot of thought until I received a letter from Sally Uehara asking for information on her husband. I have to say I didn't recall him, but as it turns out we were on the same WB-29 flight crew. Through Sally I got in touch with Harold Wainscott and memories of Eniwetok and Operation Castle.

I enlisted in the Air Force in May 1952, completed basic training at Lakeland AFB, Texas and Radio Operator school at Keesler AFB, Mississippi and was assigned to the 57th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron at Hickam AFB, Hawaii. There I was 20 years old stationed in Hawaii, an Airborne Radio Operator on WB-29’s. Now it seems like the dark ages, we communicated via High Frequency radios using Morse code.

In January 1954 we were notified that nine flight crews would be detailed to Eniwetok for the atomic tests. We arrived on Eniwetok the beginning of February. Here I was a few months shy of 21, a kid from Brooklyn, who has spent the last several months on Oahu getting his first look at Eniwetok.

One of the first things you notice is the size, Eniwetok is not a very large atoll. Our flight crew was assigned to the Quonset huts rather than the tents. They were strategically located just a short walk to Duffy's Tavern, which with the outdoor movie was the major source of entertainment on Eniwetok. Duffy's endeared itself to us all with two for one nights, half price drink nights so you couldn't afford not to pass an evening or two with your peers. The outdoor movie again was a very economical event, since it was free. I spent many a night sitting watching a movie in the rain and drying my body at Duffy’s after the show.

Our squadron was commanded my Lt. Col. Cometh, (I am not sure of the spelling). I was assigned to Capt. Robert Diepenbrock’s crew. Rumor had it when Col. Cometh met with General Estes (Commander of Operation Castle) he semi volunteered to have us fly three weather missions a day, plus additional flights prior to, during and after all shots. Our typical mission was approximately 12-13 hours, so over the four months we were there we accumulated a lot of flying time.

Sometimes during the flights we deviated slightly to investigate a small atoll that was on our flight path. This deviation consisted of descending from our altitude (our normal operating altitudes was 1500 feet, 10,000 feet and 18,500 feet) to make low-level passes over the island. I am not sure if we ever descended from 18,500 feet.

One of my vivid memories is going to Kwajelain, to fly search missions for a Japanese fishing boat. Having been on Eniwetok for approximately 2½ months arriving at Kwaj we checked in the Navy transient quarters in a large open bay with one light switch. Also we made a PX run and there we saw our first live woman since arriving on Eniwetok. She was a Navy dependent complete with the anchor tattooed on her bicep.

Besides flying and Duffy’s Tavern we passed a lot of time on the beach, the lagoon side, reading, complaining and timed the rain squalls as they came on shore as we raced to our Quonset hut. We did throw a baseball back and forth, from the ocean side to the lagoon side; we got pretty good and didn’t hit too many people. We had several crewmembers who were Japanese and they spent most of their free time in the water, spear fishing. They used the roof of our Quonset hut to dry squid and on occasion when retrieving them they left someone on the roof, usually Tommy Fujimoto (another WB-29 Radio Operator). Tommy was the smallest and they felt he wouldn’t collapse the roof.

Another fond memory was the chow hall, it may have been the best one I ever ate in and I spent 22½ years on active duty. It must be noted that I never volunteered to return to Eniwetok so I could experience the good chow again.

Bernie Wynn

Subject: A Good Week
Date: April 17, 1999

Finding that Wetok map was a real high point for me. I've spent hours just looking at it, and remembering. Went down today and dropped off a copy in the mail to you. When I got back there was my copy of the Wetokian in the mail box. Then finding the picture of the Nickajack Trail and Japtan topped everything.

I've scanned the picture and printed full sheet size and then did a separate scan of just the Nickajack. It came out only as a black silhouette on the light surf and water, but it just adds to the mystique. Now I have a picture to accompany my story.

I can't remember seeing Japtan by the air but I remember the pier in the lower left of the picture. After working up a sweat in the jungle about four of us ran down the pier and did flips, flops, etc. (It was about 8' out of the water.) A few people were fishing from the shore and suggested we get out of the water. They pulled up a four foot shark they had caught, and then to attract the bigger guys they had slit it open and put it back in the water. We promptly left and went cross island to the Nickajack.

Harold, I will be forever grateful for the photo. Dick Dunlap

Dick Dunlap

Subject: The Wetokian Came Today
Date: Monday, April 19, 1999
Harold & Betty Jo:
What an incredibly great issue!! It is simply chock full of information that touches all of us; and there's lots of reminders to tickle our memories too. Every veteran with a drop of "Wetok" blood in his veins--and the spouses as well--can only be pleased to have these connections to our past. Thank you! Thank you!

And I am especially thrilled to have the photos of the tents, showers and mess hall. They really brought back lots of memories--all-you-could-eat bacon, eggs, toast and hash browns at midnight chow (with thanks to Captain Kuhn for his liberal policy on chits), the daily traipsing from tent to shower dressed in a towel and clogs, the smell of "pure Army" driven from tent canvas by the equatorial sun, and the ever-present lapping of waves as they curled and expired at shoreline. And more...

The photo of Bobby and Wyrian touched me deeply. Last photo I saw of him was the softball team likeness--and I'd never seen one of Wyrian. Bobby kept that winning smile, didn't he? And I see everything I ever imagined as gentlemanly, warm, friendly and considerate in his expression. It's the same Bobby I remember from Eniwetok. I'm so sorry we never got together again.

The Schultz story is visible evidence that we do have an important connection with each other, while the Johnson story shows it can be fragile. Both validate all the reasons why we should do the maintenance on our friendships.

Thanks, again, to both of you for all that you have contributed--and what you have recognized as the glue binding us. A special thanks to you, Betty Jo, for sharing that marvelous insight from Barrett's "A Whole New World." It's classic!

Polly joins me in sending love and best wishes.
Don Whitman

Subject: Rome, Amalfi & Sicily
Date: Friday, April 23,1999

Harold

Leaving in an hour for Dulles and off to London and Rome for 3 days. Then on to Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri & Sicily. Taormina 4 days, Palermo for a day, before cruise to Rome for a day, then back home. Dee's mother was born in Palermo and her dad was born outside Messina.

Talked to Allen...

Enjoy The Wetokian. Only wish more had E-Mail addresses.

Dee sends her love also,
Curt (Anderson)

Subject: George lives on...
Date: Tuesday, May 18,1999
Hi Betty Jo and Harold,

Just want you to know how much I am enjoying the Wetokian web site. I have sent the web address to aunts, cousins, nephews, old friends and best of all new friends. It is a neat way for new friends to meet George. It has been fun and I thank you for all your hard work. I also thank Don for the nice memorial he wrote.

I've been busy...moving my Mom and all that yard work that comes with Spring. The move wasn't bad and I love yard work.
Love, Molly (Wilson)

Subject: I am here, finally
Date: Saturday, May 29, 1999

I have my Web TV up and running and I love it. Planned to get to you sooner, but my father died on the 22nd. He was 90 years old and was in the hospital only one day. He was alert until the end, so I feel fortunate.
Bob's Mother and Father came over yesterday and we went out to lunch and she and I went shopping. His Father is 91 and his Mother is 89. You see why it was such a shock for me to lose him.

My sister borrowed the Wetokian to show a coworker who had lived "down wind" as a civilian and lost a child with leukemia. She had never seen the information. My Daughter and all my family enjoy the paper. Keep up the good work.

I have a Granddaughter, who is 14 months old now, her name is Bobbie and she is so much fun. I will talk to you again soon. Tell everyone "hello." I do go on and on.

Sincerely -- Wyrian Arnold [Widow of Bobby Arnold)

Snail Mail
May 19, 1999

Dear Harold,
Here's a few dollars to help out with Wetokian expenses. Thank you so much for sending the Wetokian to me. I look forward to getting the next one!

Please don't think I've dropped off the face of the earth - I just haven't been spending much time on the computer. With warmer weather finally here, I'm busy keeping up with house work, yard work and a dog who needs lots of exercise. I'm getting ready for a trip to VA for a niece's wedding and I volunteer at the base hospital a couple of times a week.

If I had any news for you I'd let you know. but I haven't had any more replies to those letters... and my "contact'' at the 9th Bomb Wing reunion came up with nothing.

I hope you will continue to apprise me of your research on the Rongerik incident. It is commendable that you are working to bring all this to public attention.

Thanks again, and best wishes to both of you.
Sally Uehara

Sally is the widow of Jerry Uehara who was a member of an AF weather reconnaissance squad that was sent to monitor fallout during Operation Castle in March of 1954. Jerry died two years ago of stomach cancer.

We received an E-mail June 24th from Sally asking if we received her contribution toward Wetokian expenses. I apologize to Sally and the rest of you who have contributed if we have not acknowledged your generosity. I'll make that a top priority in the future.

26 May 1999

Dear Harold & Betty Jo,
Your efforts in keeping us informed through calls, letters and "The Wetokian" have been instrumental in bringing us even closer together. This was never so evident as in the last couple of months when my surgery brought an influx of cards, phone calls and prayers from so many friends from our group. Thank you so much.

It was nice to see George smiling at us from the front page of the recent edition. All of the articles and letters are great reading. It was special to see the photo of Bobby and Wyrian Arnold. I'll never forget how he could hit the old softball.

Love you,
Allen & Sue

June23, 1999

Hello Mr. Wainscott,
I bet you thought I had completely forgotten and now I hope I am not too late for your summer newsletter! I have been kept quite busy and then almost crazy to find papers and pics requested from here and there. Our youngest daughter Cindy had some better ones but I have not yet heard from her and best get something off to you today!

While looking for the papers, came across this stationary (NAAV) and I suppose I need to inform them also of Jer's death. Our family received such a stack of nice cards, don't know how or when to get most answered. Now school is out so I am not working but staying home, cleaning up and being with Cody.

It is still so weird how Tim came upon the Eniwetok information on his computer on the day of Jer's 68th birthday. So many times Jer would talk of all you buddies and wondering whatever became of you all. We have an old computer but according to youngest son Tim, it is so obsolete and he wants to update us one of these days.

In the meantime, thanks for calling and for sending the Wetokian, at least we enjoyed it tho it arrived March 18!

This will have to be it for now. Chuck Butkus asked for some photos also so while I have the mailing list in front of me, will get him off a note.

Thanks again.
LaVae Schultz

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