Into the Wild Blue - Lt Beary's WWII Adventures

We begin our story with a brief review of Kermit Edwin Beary’s ancestry.

The earliest ancestor our research has discovered was one Joseph Biery, a native of the Canton of Bern, Switzerland.  He lived from 1703-1768.  Although the family is probably of French origin, it seems that one branch may have been living in Bern as early as 1511. Joseph was a man of position and property in Bern and Germany, and later in America. But these were trying times for Protestants in Europe.

Between 1517 and 1750, during Europe’s Protestant Reformation period, hundreds of thousands of Protestants were severely persecuted, killed or even sacrificed by Catholics. To escape the intense, ongoing religious persecution, Joseph joined up with four brothers and three sisters of the Doll family, another wealthy family who were suffering the same experience. Joseph had met and married one of the girls, Elisabeth Maria, in 1731 and they had a young daughter.

The Dolls and Joseph felt they needed to escape Europe and soon.  Like thousands of others in their same position, they formulated a plan.  It wasn’t too difficult, as there was already a well-established process for getting the persecuted out.  In fact in 1737 two other adventuresome members of the Doll family had voyaged aboard the Samuel to Penn’s Manor in Pennsylvania to see if they could make it. They succeeded and wrote home to let the others know of their experience.

So in the summer of 1739, the group, led by Joseph, made their arrangements, packed up, and then set out.  They and other travelers sailed by barge first down the Rhine River to Rotterdam then switched to the ship Samuel to sail to Philadelphia, in the British colony of Pennsylvania.  Each emigrant paid about $175 in today’s dollars.  The ship made a brief stop to pick up additional supplies in Deal, England, then proceeded across the Atlantic. Eight other ships also made the same journey that year.  They all sailed to the British colony because its founder, William Penn, welcomed new immigrants seeking religious freedom.

During the three-month river/ocean voyage, one of the elder Dolls died of illness.  For Elisabeth, it must have been an exhausting voyage, now pregnant with her second child and caring for a seven-year-old girl.  The long journey ended in Philadelphia on August 27, 1739.  Upon arrival Joseph and his fellow adult immigrants took their oath of allegiance to the crown of Great Britain and the province of Pennsylvania at the local courthouse. Several days later, Elisabeth gave birth to Anna Maria.

The Joseph and Elisabeth Biery family made their home in eastern Pennsylvania for several generations.  They were leading citizens in the area and played an important role in establishing the German Reformation church there.  Beginning with Joseph’s great-grandson, Peter, the family changed the spelling of their last name to Beary.

Peter’s son, Eli S. Beary purchased a tract of land in Bethel, Missouri before the Civil War, and in 1870 moved his family there.  Bethel was founded as a Bible commune utopian colony in 1844.  Two generations later, Kermit’s father, Harry Thomas, was born in 1889 in Bethel.  During WW-I, he continued the Beary trek west, moving to western Kansas with his new bride.  And that brings us to the beginning of Kermit Beary’s story.

Kermit Edwin Beary, aka Ken or KE, was born in the extreme northwest area of Kansas in the small town of Selden on March 8, 1919 to Pearl Rae (McNeely) and Harry Thomas (Tom) Beary.  Interestingly, he was born exactly two years to the day after his parents wedding day.

Seven years later the family bought a farm in Edson, west of Selden.  This was wheat and beef cattle country, but also on the edge of the Dust Bowl.  They were a poor family in hard times.  Kermit received his basic schooling in Edson with his two younger sisters, Bernice and Hazeldean.  Observe the three young kids standing beside their two-bedroom house complete with outdoor privy in Edson in the late 1920s.  Kermit's mother, Pearl, would put sheets in the bathtub to soak and then hung them over the windows as big dust storms approached.  There were many days they didn't go to school because dirt was blowing so hard they couldn't see far enough to drive.

Kermit was interested in machinery as a child, and by seventh grade, his dad taught him to drive a tractor and a car.  A year later he began playing basketball, and his dad started letting him drive to parties and basketball by himself.  During high school Kermit even drove the school bus.  He graduated from Edson High School, lettering in track and basketball in May 1937.

He remained at home the first year following high school because he didn’t have enough money for college.  Wheat harvests of 1932-36 had been the worst in history in Northwest Kansas, and this hurt family finances.  But after a year working on a farm and with his mother’s recent inheritance, he was able to start college in the fall of 1938.  Kermit enrolled at Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science in Manhattan, and majored in agriculture and economics. (KSC became KSU in 1959.)  He also enrolled in the school’s ROTC program.

Kermit met his future wife, Trudy, in Manhattan at a school dance.  Gertrude  (Trudy) Phyllis Larson was from nearby Tescott, Kansas.  The third youngest of Ralph and Neva Larson’s ten children, Trudy was born on August 25, 1921.  She enrolled at KSC in the fall of 1939, majoring in home economics.  Below we see the ROTC cadet and couple during their KSC days.

Trudy received a 4H scholarship, so tuition was paid for.  She earned her room and board by working for a couple, taking care of the children, ironing, etc.  Meanwhile, Kermit rented a room in a house with a bunch of guys, and for money, he worked in a barn.  He also worked on the Larson farm in Tescott during the summer of 1941.

With World War II already underway in Europe, plus his strong interest in flying, Kermit decided to drop out of college early in his junior year to enlist in the Aviation Cadet Program.  Believing America would soon be entering the war, there was a strong and growing trend in US colleges for male students to enter service early and thus avoid being drafted into the infantry.  In July 1941 through his ROTC program, Kermit received notice that he had been accepted into the Army Aviation Cadet program.  On 26 September 1941 he officially enlisted at nearby Fort Riley.

Cadet Beary: Thunderbird Field, Glendale, AZ, Fall 1941

Kermit’s three-part flight training program, about seven months long, began in October 1941 with Primary Flight Training at Thunderbird Field in Glendale, Arizona.  He was assigned to Class 42-D (translated means his was the fourth graduation class of the year).  Next, his class transferred to Minter Field in Bakersfield, California for Basic Flight Training.  For the last phase, the class entered Advanced Flying School at the Air Corps’ largest fighter training base, Luke Field, located twenty miles west of Phoenix in Litchfield Park.  Coincidentally, a Captain Barry M. Goldwater was assigned to Base Administration in Public Relations. Below, see Ken as a cadet pilot and participating in one of his fun cadet activities.

The Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor occurred during his flight training at Thunderbird Field, probably increasing the class’ operational tempo plus student motivation and stress levels.

Trudy withdrew from KSC soon after the Japanese attack and continued her romance with Kermit via letters and occasional telegrams.  Unlike today, Trudy says they did not talk on the telephone, “The phone was expensive and had party lines where anyone could listen in to your conversation.”

On 24 April 1942 he graduated, receiving both his wings and a commission as a 2^nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps.  (Only distinguished graduates were offered a commission, most entered the Air Corps as Warrant Officers.)  He received a photo ID card on his graduation day.

Three days later Kermit and Trudy married in a Methodist church in Phoenix.  Trudy first got herself out to Edson, and together with Kermit’s parents and two sisters, Bernice and Hazeldean, they all drove to Phoenix.  Ken had also sent a last-minute telegram to Trudy’s folks requesting their permission to proceed with the wedding.  He received a go-ahead call from them a short time later.  The travelers from Edson attended both the graduation and the wedding, which also included flying buddy Jack Bestgen as best man and sister Bernie as bridesmaid.  The photo below shows the family group at the Rose Bowl Motor Court in Phoenix during these happy times.

2nd Lt Ken Beary with parents, sisters, and Trudy

After the wedding Kermit and Trudy set off on a short honeymoon via Los Angeles and Yosemite Park enroute to his next assignment at McCord Field, Washington.  But they lacked transportation.  However, a solution was near at hand.  Kermit’s best friends from the Graduating Class of 42-D, Lt Carl Bigger and Lt William Bingham needed to travel to the same destinations and were available to travel with them.  Even more importantly, Carl was a bachelor and had a car.

He knew people in Los Angeles, as did the newly wedded Binghams and Bearys.  So Lt Bigger volunteered to drive the group to Los Angeles.  He first dropped off the Binghams with friends, and next, Kermit and Trudy at the Phillips’ house (Trudy’s aunt, Vivian and her husband Harold) in Wilmington.  The Bearys also went on to visit other friends in the area.

Several days later Carl picked up the Binghams and Bearys, and all headed north to their next duty station in Washington State.  On the way, they visited Yosemite National Park.  The newly commissioned officers reported on 4 May 1942 to the Fourth Air Force, McChord Field in Tacoma, Washington.  There, the Bearys rented a one-bedroom closet that included a kitchen, hot plate, icebox (real ice); they had to get water from the bathroom down the hall.

Two weeks later, they both took a train to Spokane, Kermit’s next interim assignment.  From Spokane, Trudy continued on the train back to Tescott, Kansas.  She soon applied for and was accepted for a munitions’ inspector position at the Kansas Ordnance Plant (KOP) in Parsons, Kansas.  Located in the extreme southeastern part of the state, the facility produced and stored artillery/mortar shells.  It employed 7000 people, who worked in over 700 buildings/storage facilities.

She was employed first as an analytical chemist at KOP for five and a half months until there was a Reduction In Force (RIF) in December 1942.  Then she found employment working for a wage of $0.70 per hour as a parts inspector, but was laid off again in late February 1943.  It does seem a bit strange that both companies experienced a RIF, as it was at a critical period of America’s force build up to support the war.  While employed, she rented an upstairs, one-room apartment from an elderly couple in town.  Trudy then moved back to live with her family in Tescott for the last time.  She had worked at KOP during most of Ken’s wartime assignment.

Meanwhile at McChord, the three lieutenants began specialized training, transitioning to their combat fighter aircraft: the P-40 Warhawk.  They immediately began flying air patrols over the Puget Sound area.

In December 1941, following Pearl Harbor, the US Army initiated a secret base construction program in Alaska to build two air defense bases, one on Umnak Island (Ft Glenn), and the second, near the western end of the Alaskan Peninsula (Ft Randall) at Cold Bay.  This program was anticipatory of a possible Japanese incursion of the Alaskan mainland.  To conceal their purpose, both fields were organized as ostensible business enterprises concerned with fishing and canning.

The army used two cover names: Blair Fish Packing Company and Saxton & Company, whose peculiar canning equipment consisted of bull-dozers, power shovels and similar construction equipment.  The top holding company for these enterprises was the Consolidated Packing Company of Anchorage, known in military circles as the Alaskan Defense Command!  US Army personnel, disguised as civilian employees of the two companies, completed their assignments, and the airfields were declared operational by April 1942.  These two air bases could help to better protect Alaska, especially the important US Navy base at Dutch Harbor.

Meanwhile, back at McChord Field, Lt Beary and his compadres continued their air defense patrols.  Their training however was curtailed early because of alarming information gleaned by US Naval Intelligence in Pearl Harbor on 20 May 1942: The Japanese warships of the 2^nd Carrier Striking Force were preparing to steam out of their Japanese Inland Seaport and would proceed northeast 2800-miles toward the Aleutians.  Formed around the light carriers Junyo and Ryujo, the task force had orders to attack the US Navy base at Dutch Harbor.

This Japanese attack was to be a diversionary one, timed to be simultaneous with their primary planned strike against US forces on Midway Island, 1500 miles northwest of Hawaii.  Having broken the Japanese radio code, US Naval Intelligence immediately notified the US War Department (now Dept of Defense) of the two plans.

In turn, the US War Department ordered the Alaskan Defense Command (ADC), based at Ft Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska to prepare for action.  ADC’s air arm, the Eleventh Air Force (11^th AF), had responsibility for the air defense of the Alaskan Territory.  (Alaska was an American territory at this time and not a state until 1959.)  In terms of air defense assets, the 11^th AF was comprised of three fighter Squadrons: the 11^th Fighter Squadron (11^th FS), the 18^th FS, and the 54^th FS.  Most of their aircraft were based at Ft Richardson, but the 18^th FS was based primarily on Kodiak Island.

On 22 May 1942 the commander of the 11^th AF ordered the 11^th FS to deploy its P-40s to both secret bases.  The 18^th FS followed soon after, sending a detachment of its P-40s from Kodiak to Ft Randall (see deployment map below).  Immediately both bases established an aircraft alert posture and began daily air patrols of the seas south of the eastern Aleutians.  All appeared ready for the approaching Japanese task force.

In light of these activities, it is not surprising that on 20 May 1942, Lt Beary received secret transfer orders.  His orders had only a blank space for his final station destination, but it was understood to be somewhere in Alaska.  He was obviously to be part of the secret mission buildup to the Aleutian Islands.  The orders called for him to take a train from Tacoma eastward to Geiger Field in Spokane and then to catch military air transport up to an undisclosed location, which turned out to be Ft. Richardson.  He arrived in Alaska on 22 May 1942 and received another restricted special order to proceed directly to the 18^th FS detachment at a second undisclosed location, probably Ft Randall.  He arrived the next day.  So this is how Lt Beary had suddenly joined the war against Japan.

In early June 1942, six months after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese attacked the US military base at Dutch Harbor, Alaska.  The die was cast.

The Aleutians Campaign

The Aleutians, a long string of some 300 rocky islands and islets of volcanic origin with at least 57 known volcanoes, stretch across the Pacific for thousands of miles.  Thick layers of tundra or muskeg cover the few level areas, rendering it mostly incapable of supporting an aircraft runway.  Equally important, the Aleutians are subjected to some of the worst weather on the planet including wind, rain, fog, and bone-chilling temperatures!  One consequence of the severe climate: there are no trees.

Squalls, known as williwaws, often sweep down from an island's mountainous areas with great force, sometimes exceeding 100 mph.  The resulting columns of spray and mist frequently resemble huge waterfalls.  In the winter, williwaws could cause snow to be blown right up one’s pant legs.

Distances within the Aleutians are of continental dimensions. For example, the distance from the 11^th AF at Ft Richardson, to Kiska Island is 1500 miles.  US airfields would eventually dot the islands from end to end.

In the predawn darkness of 3 June 1942, and making excellent use of weather cover, Japanese carriers Ryujo and Juny launched their first fighter raid against Dutch Harbor.  According to Japanese intelligence, they believed the nearest field for land-based American aircraft was at Kodiak, more than 600 miles away.  Dutch Harbor should be a sitting duck for the strong Japanese fleet.

In the Dutch Harbor attack, the initial Japanese surprise was almost complete, but because of foul weather, the bombing was anything but accurate.  Nonetheless, some casualties and damage were inflicted.  The photo depicts damage to the large hospital complex at nearby Ft Mears.  Unfortunately, the 11^thFS/18^thFS had lost communications with Dutch Harbor at this pivotal time and never received the warning until after the attack!  Not a promising start to the defense of Alaska.

The following day, the Japanese got their first introduction to the two secret fields.  The so-called ‘canning companies’ went into action.  First US operations took place early in the morning when four Japanese Zekes and four dive-bomber Vals blundered onto the Ft Glenn field while flying through Umnak pass enroute to Dutch Harbor.  All four dive-bombers were shot down, but two 11^th FS P-40 planes and one pilot were lost too.  There is no record of Lt Beary’s participation, as he was at Ft Randall, too far away to likely get into the action.

In summary, the two Japanese attacks were a series of hit and run strikes.  Damage to U.S. installations was modest and casualties few, but the Japanese had demonstrated that they could once again bring the war to the American territories.

Then, only three days later, a second Japanese task force of Army infantry with Navy logistics landed unopposed and occupied the far western Aleutians islands of Kiska and Attu.  They had secured a foothold in the Aleutians to protect the northern flank of the Japanese Empire.  These islands became the central focus of the Aleutians Campaign.

In an immediate response, the US War Department ordered additional forces sent to augment the 11^th Air Force in Alaska two heavy bombardment squadrons (2x B-24s), two medium squadrons (32x B-25s), one fighter group (100 P-40s and P-38s), plus required support.  Initial deployments were to Ft Randall and Ft Glenn, nearly 600 miles east of Kiska.

The 11^th AF had been built around a handful of pilots experienced in Alaskan flying.  In the growing emergency of late May and early June 1942, this nucleus was reinforced with pilots, who were hastily dispatched from the States without full administrative or squadron operations personnel.  They rushed immediately into combat with little or no chance for training under field conditions.  This scenario would have Kermit’s name written all over it.

There is little information of Kermit’s exact assignment in the Aleutians.  However, we have attempted to couple those details, provided by Lt Beary’s daughter, Terry Huddle (Beary), with the history of ongoing military operations.

There are pictures of and taken by Lt Beary at Dutch Harbor.  It was a short flight from Ft Randall to Dutch Harbor.  Below we see him and members of his squadron checking out the Army’s Ft Mears Hospital and later attending a party with hospital nurses.  The pilots were friends with a doctor, Capt Anderson (right photo, first row far right, kneeling), who was not a member of the squadron.  Ken even had assigned quarters at Dutch Harbor.  We remain uncertain as to how many times he came to Dutch Harbor or why.

Kermit appears to have spent most of the summer of ‘42 flying with the 18^th FS at Ft Randall.  His squadron prepared for upcoming air combat by practicing air defense and air strike missions in the eastern Aleutians.  He may have stopped in Dutch Harbor as part of his missions.  Below we catch him reading a book on a summer’s afternoon during a respite.  Note their Quonset hut accommodations.

None of Kermit’s early missions were against the Japanese fortifications on Kiska and Attu, as Ft Randall was far too distant for the squadron’s short-ranged P-40s to strike Kiska and safely return.  Instead the 11^th AF, after deploying its large bombers to the two forward bases, used them for the long, 1000-mile missions against the Japanese-held islands.  To provide escort for the bombers, the 54^th FS transferred their long-range P-38s from Ft Richardson to both bases.  The P-38 was the only fighter with sufficient range for this mission.  A closer airbase was desperately needed.

Thus it would seem that Kermit and his fellow P-40 pilots probably spent a rather slow, uneventful, and frustrating summer of 1942 at Ft Randall and Dutch Harbor.

The establishment of Adak Army Airfield gave the 11^th Air Force a forward base from which to attack the Japanese forces on Kiska Island, 245-miles to the west.

However, the construction of the airfield was not without its challenges.  Adak had initially been inaccurately surveyed to locate a suitable site.  Upon learning this, a second survey team set out for Adak.  They determined that a large tidal marsh could support the field, because underneath the marsh was a firm foundation of sand and gravel.  A Navy engineering team known as Seabees (derived from Construction Battalion: CB) constructed a dike around the marsh and installed a system of canals to drain off the water.  They then scraped off the topsoil to reach the gravel underneath.  Additional gravel was put down and a sand runway was laid down.  By early September the Seabees had completed enough work that Headquarters declared the airfield operational.

Taking only ten days to complete, it was an amazing construction effort!  Below, view Adak just prior to Lt Beary’s arrival on station.

Almost immediately, US bombing results improved and Adak proved to be a valuable asset.  Lt Beary arrived on Adak on 12 September 1942, with detachments of the 11^th FS and the 18^th FS from Ft Randall and the 54^th (P-38s).  He was still flying his P-40 Warhawk fighter, but he would soon fly with the Aleutian Tigers (11^th FS).  The remainder of 18^th FS would relocate later from Kodiak.  Below, you can see Lt Beary and his good friend, Bill Bingham (18^th FS), standing by two of the Aleutian Tigers.  Their good friend, Lt Carl Bigger, was assigned to the 11^th FS.

The 11^th FS was better known by its nickname: the Aleutian Tigers.  The squadron’s first commander was a Major John Chennault, oldest son of his already famous father, Major General Claire Chennault, who headed the original Flying Tigers for the Nationalists Chinese in Kunming, China.  Obviously much taken by the “Flying Tiger” concept, John adopted its symbol for his 11^th FS in mid summer of 1942.  With the opening of Adak, the 11^th AF decided to more efficiently combine and command its three US fighter squadrons plus a newly arrived Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) 111^th Fighter Squadron, equipped with specially US-modified P-40s.

The new organization, the 343^rd Fighter Group (FG), essentially combined the fighter squadrons from their prior bases and transferred them to Adak.  Major Chennault was placed in charge and simultaneously promoted:  Lt Col Chennault had assumed command of the entire 343^rd FG.  The group’s first missions were flown against Kiska by mid-month.

On Friday, 25 September 1942, Lt Beary participated in the first joint US-Canada Adak air strike against Kiska.  Below you can see the actual map he used before and during the raid; note the date.

A large force of US bombers plus US (11^th FS) and the RCAF (111^th FS) fighters of the 343^rd FG, attacked the newly strengthened enemy garrison at Kiska Harbor.  The raid strafed two submarines, setting serious fires to several cargo transport ships in the harbor, and destroyed eight Rufes – the seaplane version of the Japanese Zero fighter.  Two of the eight Rufes were destroyed in aerial dogfights.  One was shot down by a Canadian and the other was shot down by Lt Beary and Lt Col Chennault, who both claimed victory for the same one.  According to Kermit, the Zero was already in flames by the time Chennault managed to fire shots successfully.  But ultimately, as the higher-ranking officer, Chennault received credit.  The mission succeeded in spite of heavy Japanese harbor air defenses (see map above).  For his actions Lt Beary would later receive the US Air Medal.  It had been only five months since graduation and his wedding.

On January 8, 1943, an article appeared in the Kansas Ordnance Plant (KOP) magazine, where Trudy worked, entitled “Decoration to Inspector’s Flier Husband.”

During Ken’s time on Adak, he lived in a Quonset hut with fellow officers.  Here, we see someone about to enter the cozy chateau.  Note the lush landscaping in the area and how well it’s been maintained.

Still the frequent weather groundings at Adak pointed up the need for yet another airfield even closer to Kiska, where momentary breaks in the weather might be better exploited.  Here, in a photo sequence from 31 December 1942 at the US airbase, we see just how fast weather can change on the island.

The island of Amchitka, some 170 miles west of Adak and only 75 miles east of Kiska, was the only logical choice.  The US Operations Plan issued in late November 1942, proposed that the early capture of Kiska and Attu would be the primary strategic objective.  Fear of enemy occupation of Amchitka, fanned by reports of Aleutian-bound Japanese convoys believed destined for the island, drove this US action.  Securing Amchitka became all-important.

On 18 December 1942 the US Joint Chiefs in Washington approved constructing the new airfield on Amchitka if reconnaissance indicated suitable airfield possibilities.  That same day a Navy PBY airplane landed a small party of Army engineers on Amchitka and found the island uninhabited by Japanese.  Following a two-day survey, the engineers reported

that a Perforated Steel Planking (PSP) runway strip could be thrown down in two or three weeks and the main airfield could be built three or four months later.

Several days later the Joint Chiefs ordered the invasion go ahead.  On 12 January 1943 American forces landed on Amchitka unopposed.  (Actually, most Aleutian invasions by either side were unopposed.)  Construction was not easy.  Bulldozers and graders had to hack away hills and fill gullies to level a landing field.  When the Base Headquarters and its support personnel arrived on 4 February 1943, about 500 feet of runway, plus huts and other buildings, had been completed. The squadron historian recorded that it was a beautiful, clear, sunny day. Very unusual!

It was time to move the US air forces to Amchitka, and the 18^th FS was selected to be the lead unit.  Below, squadron pilots of the 18^th FS lined up beside the commander’s aircraft for a photo prior to their move to Amchitka.  Note the dry PSP runway; wet PSP could be extremely slippery when wet.

Interestingly, we have recently discovered that this exact plane exists today, tail number “33,” (the full aircraft serial number is 42-9733) and is still flyable (see inset photo).  While still assigned to the 18^th FS, the plane had a taxiing accident on Amchitka on 3 March 1945.  After the war it was moved to Adak as salvage and remained there until a Bob Sturges received permission to retrieve it in 1969 and returned it to the states to rebuild it. Numerous collectors have since owned the plane.

During airfield construction, Japanese Rufe bombers (modified Zeros with pontoon under-carriage), based on Kiska, attacked the island almost daily.  It was obviously impossible to anticipate when to send US fighters to intercept these raids.  So to better protect the base build up, the Eleventh Headquarters directed a series of daylight air patrol relays over Amchitka using long-range P-38s.  Each day the last combat patrol would conclude just before sunset so the planes could return safely to Adak before full darkness.

The Japanese soon came up with a counter tactic.  By timing their own air strikes over Amchitka to occur at sunset, they could ensure that US air patrols had already departed the island.  The Japanese would thus be able to effectively bomb the base construction without US planes interfering.  Rufes could also fly back to their more westerly Kiska base before dark because, at this high latitude and the two island locations, sunsets on Adak occur some 20 minutes prior to those on Kiska.  Pretty clever indeed!  In fact the Japanese had successfully used this ploy eight times before.

So, on Wednesday afternoon, 17 February 1942, eight P-40s of the 18^th FS landed on Amchitka for the first time.  As William Worden of the Associated Press wrote on site at the time:

 “To have an airplane land on a field they built, on a island where no airplane ever landed in one piece before, on the day after a Jap bombing—well, the combination spells a few minutes off from work and some yelling that would do credit to the Minnesota stadium.”

“The other planes were not far behind the first one, and in an hour, we had the most beautiful little group of pea-shooters anywhere in the world.  I know they look exactly like the other thousands of fighters put out by that particular factory, but these are still the most beautiful.”

Once the P-40s refueled and were tied down for the evening, bad weather was on the way.  Photos capture the mood pretty well.  But after a very stormy, snowy night, Thursday awoke to a bright sunny day.  True to form, the Japanese attempted their ninth raid, but this time the 18^th FS sprung its own counter.

At about 6:00 pm, but prior to sunset, all eight P-40s launched from their primitive runway at Fox Field (so named because the runway was long enough for only Fighters; see above).  The eight aircraft climbed above the cloud deck at 4000 feet and were divided into two flights of four planes each.  Newly promoted 1^st Lt Beary was assigned to Flight One, flying on the wing of the Squadron Commander.  (What a nice compliment to be selected as the commander’s wingman.)  Flight One climbed to 10,000 feet while Flight Two climbed to 12,000 feet.  Several thousand engineers, soldiers and war correspondents began climbing the surrounding hills to gain a vantage point and to anxiously wait to see what might happen.  (See photo above.  Not very plush seating, was it?)  But they didn’t wait long.

Alerted by US Anti-Aircraft (AA) ground fire smoke puffs, the 18^th FS aircrews suddenly could view the incoming Japanese raid.  P-40s had been flying out over the ocean in a standard air patrol racetrack pattern and were on their southeast leg when they saw the inbound raid.  It was about 7:00 p.m., with sunset looming at 7:27 p.m.

Flight One swooped down to intercept two approaching Japanese Rufes.  Major Clayton J Larson, the squadron commander, known as Swede, and his wingman, 1^st Lt Beary, led the charge.  The lead Rufe quickly jettisoned its bombs, but to little effect.  Both Beary and Larson fired on the attacker, resulting in a stream of smoking gasoline trailing from the wounded plane.  It continued to lose altitude rapidly.  Lt Beary’s final firing pass caused the plane to burst into flames, and it finally plummeted into the sea, only two miles off shore, as shown in the map below (designated as #1).  Larson and Beary’s firing pass is illustrated below as the two small yellow triangles approaching the white one.

Mr. Worden wrote: “For us—thousands of us, watching from every hill in the garrison area—the fight was simply repeated bursts of aerial gunfire, followed by one bright comet of flame falling from a cloud.  The wind was beginning to rise again, but you could hear the yelling above the sound of it.  These ground troops had been waiting a long time to see one Jap die.”

The second Japanese attacker had broken off his bombing pass and turned tail for Kiska.  Flight One also saw him break and began closing on the target.  The Rufe flew out to sea too, but generally paralleled Amchitka’s southwestern coast and headed northwest toward Kiska.  Within several minutes, Flight One caught up.  Larson, Beary, and Lt Stone made in-and-out passes as they rotated their attacks against the fleeing target.  During each, the Rufe executed diving, hard turns of 360-degrees to try and evade.  The pilot even fired two ineffective gun bursts against Major Larson.  After putting up a good fight, the second Rufe took hits and plunged into the sea, some five miles west of Amchitka’s northwest tip.  Lt Stone received credit for the shoot down.  It was all over in fifteen minutes.  The 18^th FS landed at Fox around 7:30 p.m.

The ‘after-action’ report below lists Lt Beary as a member of Flight One of the eight aircraft mission.  Larson, Beary, and Stone all received credit for downing the Rufes.  This day must have been one of Kermit’s most intense memories in his lifetime.

Here is a Kansas City Times article by William Worden.  The inset photo shows Lt Beary being decorated much later for his actions.  These two aerial victories would be the only two recorded by the 18^th FS during the entire war!

Within several weeks, the full complement of the 18^th FS and other fighter/bomber squadrons had relocated to Amchitka, including the 54^th FS.  Within several weeks of the air battle over Amchitka, Lt Beary received a Diploma from the School of WOAPs (Worn Out Aleutian Pilots). This tongue-and-cheek award must have been much appreciated.

All were soon flying reconnaissance patrols, gathering local weather data, and bombing Kiska.  Bomb loads varied by fighter type: P-38 Lightnings would carry two 500-pound bombs, and P-40 Warhawks, a single 500-pounder.  These photos show the P-38/40 bomb load outs and a successful air strike against Kiska.  About 80 percent of the planes were usually operational.

Weather permitting and with Amchitka’s Fox Field only 75 miles from Kiska Bay, five to eight fighter raids a day could be dispatched.  In the 18^th FS, half of the squadron might be assigned the 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. shift while the other half would take the afternoon shift.  Ken flew four to five missions in the morning and then had the afternoon off.  This was certainly the busiest, most exhausting, and dangerous period for him.

During that spring and summer, Amchitka fighters and bombers flew some 1750 sorties against Attu and Kiska.  Attu fell first.  Many of the raids against Kiska caused significant damage, but somehow the Japanese were always quick to repair the damage.

During the US’ successful bombing campaign of March through July 1943, the Eleventh averaged over 250 combat aircraft available on a daily basis; the Japanese had only 15.  No wonder the US stopped worrying about Japanese air raids on Amchitka as the campaign progressed.  In fact, the Japanese soon stopped scrambling Rufes to intercept US aircraft because they were so out-gunned.

When it was over, the US had lost 35 aircraft to enemy anti-aircraft gunfire, but 150 to operational accidents, attributable largely to the poor weather!  That represented the most alarming ratio of weather losses to total losses in all WW-II: 81%.  Sadly, Lt Beary’s good friend and member of the 11^th FS, Lt Carl Bigger, died during a landing accident on Adak on 22 April 1943.  US replacement aircraft were continually flown in.  Of course, all 15 Japanese aircraft were destroyed.

Battle of Kiska: “Operation Cottage”

When the US invaded Kiska on August 15, 1943, the weather was strangely clear and the seas quiet.  Amazingly, the 35,000 Canadian and US soldiers that landed were unopposed!

Then, after several days of scouring the island, they discovered that the Japanese Navy had evacuated the Kiska garrison of 7000 men several weeks earlier, under cover of fog.  Somehow the US had not observed what had happened and had bombed abandoned positions for almost three weeks without suspecting the Japanese were no longer there.  To be fair, some aircrews reported seeing trucks parked along the roadways and they never seemed to move.  Commanders failed to conclude the obvious.   Amazing!

Regretfully, the Japanese may have been absent, but Allied casualties during the invasion numbered 313.  All resulted from friendly fire, booby traps, disease, or frostbite.  As with Attu, Kiska presented an extremely hostile environment in more ways than one.  On 24 August 1943 the US invasion commander declared Kiska secure.  The Battle of the Aleutians had ended.

The 18^th FS remained on Amchitka long after the Aleutian Campaign.  In fact it was the last fighter or bomber squadron to leave the islands, departing on 28 March 1944.  That period must have been very eventless and boring.

However, Lt Beary had long since departed Amchitka, having completed his assignment by mid-April of 1943.  He received Special Orders Number 46, dated 14 April 1943, to transfer to Mitchel Field, Long Island.  Joining him would be Maj Larson, Lt Stone, and Lt Crisp, all of the famous air battle on 18 February 1942!  Lt Bingham also joined the travelers.

Kermit had served in the Aleutian theatre from 22 May 1942 to 9 May 1943, not quite a year.  He flew 60 combat hours and had a total of 120 hours in the P-40 in the Aleutian Islands.   His medals include:

• Air Medal
• Distinguished Flying Cross
• American Camp Medal
• WWII Victory Medal
• American Defense Service Medal
• Asian-Pacific Campaign Medal, and
• The Meritorious Unit Plaque

The following chart summarizes Lt Beary’s succession of assignments with the 18^th FS in the Aleutians.  Note how closely his sister P-40 squadron, the 11^th FS, is intertwined.  In late May 1942, both squadrons were detached from their primary bases to the two new, secret locations.  This fact helps to explain why it is a bit difficult to track Kermit’s assignments during the summer of 1942.

Also, listed below are Lt Beary’s 18^th FS commanders while he was stationed in the Aleutians. Interestingly he had nine leaders during his time in theater, but several had multiple opportunities, and only Captains Gayle and Larson held the position more than two months at a time.  Otherwise, the average tenure was very short, weeks to a month!

18th FS Commanders

1 Lt John C. Bowen, 24 Apr - 28 May 1942

Capt Charles A. Gayle, 28 May - 03 Aug 1942

Capt Clayton J. Larson, 03 Aug - 12 Sep 1942

Maj Charles A. Gayle, 12 Sep - 18 Sep 1942

Capt Louis T. Houck, 18 Sep - 02 Oct 1942

Capt Joseph S. Littlepage, 02 Oct - 29 Oct 1942

1 Lt Albert S. Aiken, 29 Oct - 10 Nov 1942

Capt Clayton J. Larson, 10 Nov 1942 - 05 Apr 1943

Trudy had returned to live with her parents in Tescott after being laid off from he KOP inspector’s job in Parsons.  When Kermit arrived in Seattle, he immediately wired her a telegram.

He did pick up Trudy in Edson, and they drove East to his new assignment at Mitchel Field on Long Island, New York.

By fall they moved on, first for a short assignment at Westover Field, Massachusetts and then in the winter of 1943-44, to Hillgrove Field, near Providence, Rhode Island.  While in New England they had an opportunity to join up with Trudy’s older brother, Lt Dean Larson, who was in transitional bomber flight training in New England prior to his departure for the Philippines later that fall.

Trudy’s photo shows Lt Beary and Lt Dean Larson, his wife Lola, and their son, David.  This 1944 serene summer scene is on Old Orchard Beach, Maine, such a dramatic contrast from his months in the Aleutians.  Prior to the war, the two families from central Kansas could never have anticipated this scene.  WW-II did that!

The photo offers no clue as to how suddenly things could turn upside down.  Tragically, Dean would be killed in air combat over the Philippines within eight months.  Similarly, Trudy and Dean’s older Air Corps brother, Lt Don Larson, was presently a POW in Mindanao.  Sadly, in early September 1944, he would also be killed in the Philippines.  A US Navy submarine torpedoed his Japanese prisoner ship enroute to Japan, thinking it to be a Japanese troop carrier.

Kermit Beary had experienced a fascinating span of two years (1941 - 43): From enlisting at Ft Riley, to flight training, to marriage, and to his last aerial combat in the Aleutians, all within 19-months.  Who could have ever guessed?  This period had certainly changed and influenced what Kermit would do in the future.  World War II changed lives forever.

Kermit continued his military service beyond WWII, later serving as a fighter pilot during the Korea War.  He retired from the USAF in 1967, following a 25-year career.  Many of his later assignments involved fighter aircraft weapon system testing and development.

As an Air Force wife, Trudy’s accomplishments did not garner her medals and a feature in the local paper, but she served just the same.  Like Kermit, she moved continually around the US and even overseas to Japan.  But while he was responsible for transporting his personal gear and uniforms, she moved entire households and raised three silly characters, all while presenting herself as a proper lady.

Once the girls were grown and on their own, and while working at his second career as an engineer for Hughes Aircraft in Canoga Park, California, Kermit returned to the Pacific Ocean.  But this time, instead of flying over it in a fighter plane, he sailed upon it in a boat.  He and Trudy became sea mates and enjoyed years of adventures up and down the west coasts of America, Canada, and Mexico.  And later, in their camper, they roamed the country, visiting friends and relatives, and amusing each other all the while.

Kermit Beary passed away on August 30, 2008 in Warner Robins, Georgia; he was 89.