DRYSDALE-JACK

LOST  AT  SEA

About 620 miles south of Tokyo is the island of Chichi Jima, a small island only five miles by three miles in size but during World War II the island was critical to the Japanese communications services who used it as a strategic radio relay link.  Neutralizing the island became important when U.S. forces commenced long distance flights to attack the Japanese mainland and the flights often flew over Chichi Jima.  Thus, bombing attacks were launched from American aircraft carriers which flew into the teeth of Chichi Jima’s lethal antiaircraft guns, to somehow dodge the shells aimed at them, and to release their bombs onto the reinforced concrete communications facilities on top of the island’s twin peaks.

On July 4, 1944 the Curtiss SB2C-1C BuNo 18548 Helldiver bomber of Bombing Squadron One, departed the carrier USS Yorktown with a group of bombers to attack Chichi Jima.  The plane was piloted by Ensign Jack Drysdale.  After the sixty-six mile flight to the island, the plane was struck by intense antiaircraft fire and crashed.  ENS Drysdale died in the crash and his body was never recovered.  Thus, his name is engraved in the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.  In addition, a cenotaph located at the Lakeview Cemetery, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, lists his name on a memorial plaque.

Historical records report that ENS Jack Drysdale entered the Navy from Wyoming and was survived by his parents who resided in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)