Forty years after WWII, this writer came upon 2 1/2 years of AIR FORCE, the Official Service Journal of the U.S. Army Air Forces. Upon reading their content I could only gasp at the tremendous value the many articles would have held for me and my fellow service buddies, had we only known of its existence. But perhaps, even then, we wouldn't have been able to find a copy, for they undoubtedly had been squirreled away by mail clerks, commanding officers and various personnel who were privy to review these precious gems of information. Although this may have been an unintentional oversight on their part, it meant that some lives could have been saved had the contents been more widely spread amongst the fighting men and women in our armed forces.
The AIR FORCE JOURNAL was printed each month by authority of Army Air Force Regulations No. 5-6, September 6-42, and with the approval of the Bureau of the Budget, Executive Office of the President.
A quick glance at the contents of each of the six publications in this book reveals an outstanding and diverse array of lifesaving ideas and suggestions from the pens of Air Force personnel who were in actual daily combat with our numerous enemies. They speak and write from experience. Over 80 separate stories within the 272 pages give pointers on aircraft maintenance, gunnery, navigation, trade secrets of global flying, evading enemy fighters, health hints, word from the top commanders, newest aircraft characteristics (both ours and our enemy's) whatever the Theater of Action during World War II. Since so very few of these fine publications such as the AIR FORCE JOURNAL were brought home by returning GIs and practically none are available for purchase, it was decided to publish what is available in a series of 6-month publications, starting with January through June 1943, as Series One. AIR FORCE has a soft cover of heavy duty material, 8 1/2 inches x 11 inches.
It is hoped that those interested in this dramatic period in our nation's history will welcome the reproduction of these precious gems of wisdom and enlightenment.
Captain Bernard W. Peterson, USMCR (Ret) was born in Long Beach, CA, and joined the Navy February 1941, at age 17. After attending boot camp and Aviation Machinist Mate School in San Diego, he joined Torpedo Squadron Three (VT-3) aboard the USS Saratoga. Following an abortive attempt to save Wake Island in December 1941, shortly after the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, the Saratoga was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in January 1942. In late May, Torpedo Squadron Three boarded the USS Yorktown and suffered heavy losses at Midway in June, losing all twelve of their TBDs, 10 pilots and 11 rear-seat crewmen, with the balance of the non-flying personnel swimming from the sinking carrier.
With the TBF Grumman Avengers and new pilots, they boarded the USS Enterprise and took the Marines into Guadalcanal 7 August 1942, but after sustaining major damage from Japanese dive bombers 24 August during the Battle of Stewart Island, the ship returned to Pearl Harbor. Peterson sustained severe injuries during this battle.
January 1943 found VT-3 off the USS Saratoga briefly at Noumea, New Caledonia, where Peterson received his orders to flight school. Returning on the Lurline to San Francisco, he enrolled as an aviation cadet USNR (V5), receiving his Wings of Gold December 1943 at Corpus Christi, TX, and a 2nd Lieutenants commission in the USMCR. During the first half of 1944 he flew SBD-5 dive bombers in Miami, FL, and the second half F4U Corsairs at Congaree, South Carolina and at Cherry Point, NC, where he met and married Corporal Marion Gleason, USMCWR, from New Hampshire.
Peterson returned to the Pacific in December 1944, joining the Marine Fighter Squadron VMF-223 Bull Dogs in Bougainville. They soon departed for the Philippines, flying combat missions until June 1945, when they flew their Corsairs to Okinawa.
Following cessation of hostilities, he went on inactive duty. After attending Curtiss Wright Aeronautical Institute in Burbank, CA, he worked for AiResearch Manufacturing Co. until he volunteered for the Korean campaign in 1951. Following his retraining as a fighter pilot at Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro, CA, in VMF-232, he was sent to Korea where he flew F4U Corsairs with the VMF-212 Devil Cats, starting March 1952, logging 60 missions (the last 20 as flight leader), followed by a 5-month tour as a forward air controller on the front lines during the Battle of Bunker Hill, with the 3rd Bn, First Rgmt, First Marine Division.
Wounded in the trenches, Peterson soon returned to duty and served until November 1952, when his 17 months of active duty time ended. This completed his active and reserve duty with the Marines.
Capt. Peterson's service awards include: The Silver Star, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, 9 Air Medals, the Bronze Star with Combat "V", Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V", the Purple Heart, American Defense, American Campaign, Asiatic Pacific, WWII Victory, National Defense, Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, the United Nations Service Medal, Presidential Unit Commendation Ribbon with one Bronze Star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
Peterson returned to this former civilian job with AiResearch/Garrett/Allied Signal Companies, retiring in Phoenix, AZ, in 1983 as a senior Project Engineer in the Gas Turbine Engine Division, following 37 years with the same company.
Peterson is still married to former Corporal Marion Gleason, who has given him two fine sons and two lovely daughters. They reside in Scottsdale, Arizona, Sonoran Desert, where they enjoy their nine grandchildren, swimming, golfing, RVing and attending military reunions.
