Herbert W. Baltezore Turret Gunner U.S. Navy WWII
Ordered to prepare for a crash landing from 15,000 feet into the icy waters off the Aleutians, Herbert W. Baltezore, Naval Air Corps, survived the horrifying ordeal with complications which have brought his discharge recently from further military service.
Following nine months treatment at the naval hospital at Corona, Cal., he has been visiting here at the home of his father, William Baltezore.
The trip from their home in Dos Palos, Cal., has been a honeymoon for Mr. and Mrs. Baltezore, since they were married but a short time before his departure overseas a year ago.
Flying in formations off the Aleutians, related the former turret gunner, Our ship was desperately hit. The pilot gave the order to prepare for crash landing.
We had 22 seconds to get the life belts and the rubber raft. Then we hit. Immediately it was every man for himself.
Fortunately all three of us, who composed the crew of our torpedo plane, made the raft. We watched the sight of our plane sinking. It was out of sight in 27 seconds.
The men were picked up an hour and a half later by a destroyer guided to the spot by a circling plane from their squadron which had noted their escape.
Mr. Baltezore, serving overseas 11 months took part in the engagements of the Suavo Sea, Midway, and Santa Cruz for which he received 3 stars on his campaign ribbon for the Asiatic- Pacific Theaters.
Delivering supplies of medicine and special mechanical equipment to such large craft as the Wasp, the Hornet and the Lexington, all of which Baltezore had been aboard, was their major flying activity.
Although, VR4 squadron flying is not combat flying, still the planes are armed and it was often necessary to fire, he commented.
Too close for comfort, too, was the experience of being fired upon by other Yankee planes in the confusion of battle. The flyer carries in his pocket, as mementoes,
two shells from American Guns which he dislodged from the wings of their plane.
Our first sight of a Japanese war plane I still recall as the most fascinating sight of all, declared the veteran.
It was a huge scouting plane painted a brilliant yellow with orange insignia. All of us realizing here was our first introduction to the enemy seemed frozen,
not by fright but sheer fascination, to the extent of passing up an excellent opportunity for attack. But the next squadron hit him.
Created By Dan Baltezore
On October 15, 2006
Last Updated 7/30/2021 7:21PM