Below is an eyewitness report of the crash that killed the Anderson flight crew on 25 Jul 1945 over Kyushu, Japan.

"Lt. Anderson was hit by two Jap fighters about 3 minutes after leaving the target. 20mm shells hit his right rudder control surface leaving a hole about 2 feet square; he was also hit in his No. 2 gas tank about 2 feet behind No. 2 engine. Gas was seen to spray from tank up until the time he exploded.

At the time he was hit, he called on VHF and said, “he would have to bail out as he had a fire on his flight deck and expected it to explode any minute". At this time he asked me to contact Dumbo. I tried contacting Dumbo on VHF and command but was unable to do so. At this time I asked other members of Hasty Squadron to try and make contact.

Lt. Anderson then called back and said he had the fire under control and would stay with us as long as possible. I informed the radio operator to sand in the strike report and also to let the base knew that 5V625 was in bad shape and might have to ditch at any minute. I also instructed him to send in a position report every 30 minutes giving our airspeed and heading and saying that 5V625 was still with us.

Lt. Anderson at the IP took over the Squadron lead. I instructed 6V625 and 4V625 to fly his wing and I was to lead the second element with 2V625 and 3V625. At this time we did not know that Lt. Hurley had his hydraulic, radio and electrical system shot out. As a result Lt. Hurley thought the Squadron was to form on him. This resulted in confusion as far as the Squadron formation was concerned. By this time the fighter attacks were over.

I called 5V625 and asked him if he thought he could stay with us. He said he wasn’t sure but he would try his best. He instructed us to spread the formation as he was about to jettison all his loose equipment. I called back and told him I was serving 30 minute position reports and that a Dumbo was coming to meet us.

It was 2 hours and 18 minutes after he was hit that he exploded, during this time we had radio contact with him. At 1400 I called and asked him if he thought he could make it. He said yes, so I told the radio operator to contact the base and inform them that the damaged aircraft would make it home. About 10 minutes later while we were flying in the soup he exploded. He gave us no warning. As the fire from the explosion died out, I could see seven chutes open up. We immediately sent a position report saying he had gone down and that we would stay as long as possible. Two aircraft of Hasty Squadron stayed at the scene, both dropping all their emergency equipment. Our IFF was in the emergency position. Seven men were counted in the water. We stayed at the scene until 1515, then took off on course for home."

Bruno J Mariotti