"Without Fuel Pilots are Pedestrians" WW2 Fuel Farm on Okinawa A-26s Airailimages National Archives
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- Опубликовано: 5 окт 2024
- This film preserves the effort to get vital aviation gasoline ashore at Machinato airfield on Okinawa, circa July and August 1945.
Years ago while I was on an Air Force base where the pilots had more than the usual share of swagger, I saw a large sign in the POL (Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants) section that was memorably and appropriately snarky. It said: "Without Fuel, Pilots are Pedestrians". To carry the fight ever closer to Japan, huge effort was necessary to keep the aviation gasoline flowing, from ships offshore to the airplanes parked by the runway. A sea line from the ship piped the gasoline ashore, according to notes filed with the film in the National Archives.
Take a look at the men who built a pipeline to move gasoline where needed on this former Japanese airfield. They represent the can-do spirit that contributed so much to winning the war. The aircraft served are Douglas A-26s of the 319th Bomb Group.
The Navy tanker supplying the gasoline carries the number 64 on the hull, indicating it is the tanker AO-64, USS Tolovana. Over 550 feet long and with a displacement of 25,440 tons, AO-64 had a listed capacity of 146,000 barrels of petroleum. Commissioned in February 1945, five months later USS Tolovana was offloading aviation gas at Okinawa. Tolovana lived through World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam, finally going to the scrapper in 1975.
The line of trucks filling up with aviation gas in this film gives a clue to the volume necessary to keep the war effort moving ahead in the summer of 1945. From admittedly incomplete statistics compiled by the Army Air Forces, it is easy to conclude that more than 10 billion gallons of aviation gasoline were consumed by all aspects of the Air Force, at home and abroad, during World War II.
This historical film is presented by Frederick A. Johnsen, award-winning Air Force historian and author of more than 25 historical aviation books. His NASA volume, "Sweeping Forward", a history of the forward swept wing X-29, earned the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) History Manuscript Award.
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I was feeling overwhelmed today with some WWII vehicles I am trying to get ready for Memorial Day Ceremonies. I needed this video, thanks. I worked USAF Logistics for 24 years. My slogan was, "Without Logistics, planes are paperweights."
Glad you enjoyed it. And good luck with your vintage vehicle preparations!
My dad served on a ship that delivered aviation fuel to all of those islands in the Second World War. He is, was, and always will be my hero. God bless you always, Mr Johnsen, and thank you for everything you do. God bless the USA 🇺🇸
You are always welcome, Martin. It is a pleasure to find these unedited short films that depict so many of the forgotten details of the war.
I really enjoy these historical films that you unearth. Many thanks.
I especially liked this one as I spent 3+ years on Okinawa in the 1970s.
You are very welcome! It is satisfying to find a seemingly isolated piece of film, and then research its background to tell a bit of the story.
Great footage! I love your work!!! I’ve fitted and welded miles of pipe in my lifetime. That trooper working as a welder’s helper without his shirt felt it that night and next day for sure!!!
The words of experience about welding... and thanks for watching and commenting.
merci pour tous ces documentaires inconnus par moi,vraiment extra, a bientôt.
Vous êtes les bienvenus. Il est satisfaisant de retrouver ces films dans les archives et de rechercher leur histoire.
LOL. Must be nice to have piping small and light enough you can just turn it over to weld