Lt. Col. (RET) Bob Brocklehurst

Lt. Col (RET) Robert (Bob) Brocklehurst, is one of the last remaining WWll Aleutian Island pilots at nearly 98 years young.  I met Bob a few years ago when his barber (my client) connected us.  He has not been able to get rid of me since!  What a blessing Bob has been to me and to my daughter.   Most of my life I grew up with people blessed in years and I learned the most valuable lessons from them.  My daughter gets to experience that in Bob.  He is an inspiration and we are so proud to call him our friend.

Robert “Bob” Brocklehurst began his 28 years of military service months before the United States entered World War II. Interested in becoming a pilot, he became a cadet in the Army Air Corps in February 1941 and completed his training in the fall of that year. In the weeks following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Brocklehurst and 23 other pilots and their P-40s were deployed north to Alaska.

Brocklehurst, was attached to the 11th Fighter Squadron and lead by Col. John “Jack” Chennault , son of infamous Claire Chennault, in their P-40’s when they landed in Fairbanks, March of 1942.  He was soon transferred to the 18th Fighter Squadron, which also flew P-36s. The squadron eventually moved west to Kodiak in defense of US Naval Base.

In addition to worrying about a Japanese attack, the pilots also had to contend with Williwaws; blizzards with hurricane force winds,  zero visibility, sketchy navigational aids and poor communication. 

Brocklehurst flew out to Umnak to reinforce the island in June of 1942, just before the Japanese struck Dutch Harbor, Alaska from the air  on two consecutive days.  Within a week the Japanese then landed and occupied the American island of Attu, killing one and taking over 40 civilian prisoners, and Kiska, where they captured the 12 man crew of a small US weather reporting station. 

After the attack Brocklehurst was ordered back to Anchorage to form a new unit, the 344th Fighter Squadron, flying P-40’s and was appointed squadron commander after successfully leading a formation of 12 Warhawks through horrendous weather to land safely on Adak. He took his new squadron all  600 miles west along the Aleutian chain where he earned the distinction of being the first fighter pilot to land on the island of Attu just days after it was liberated in June of 1943.

This May, Bob returned to Anchorage with several of his fellow veterans of the Aleutian Campaign to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Attu and the end of the war in Alaska.  And this July, Bob will join us in a 2018 EAA Oshkosh Warbird in Review segment featuring the fliers of WWll's Aleutian Campaign.

Bob’s Air Force career had him flying eighteen different aircraft including: P-36, P-38, P-39, P-40, P-47, P-51, F-86 and a T-33 with stints in Alaska- twice, Okinawa, Camp Springs Army Airfield (Andrews) twice, Steward Air Force Base and lastly the Pentagon 

In 2016 Bob got the chance to fly one of his old Warbirds again, thanks to the Collings Foundation and Brian Norris.  The flight ended up making national news but more importantly ignited a ripple of memories he is still riding.   As the newscaster says, this may be the best thing you watch all day.   Thank you Bob for your service then and for your friendship now. 

For Bob's full flight- visit Once A Pilot, Always A Pilot.

Thanksgiving 1942

Normally,  when Canadian Thanksgiving rolls around,  I am on some softball park sweating every once of fluid I have out of my body while I watch my daughter play softball.  But not this year....  This year, for the first time in close to a decade, I had the chance to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving, albeit still sweating, but this time over my stove while preparing a traditional feast for a group of people I am most thankful for.   My Floridian neighbors who watch my house while I am traveling around the country in the pursuit of history and for a mom and her family who seamlessly step up to fill my shoes for Aly when needed.  What would I do without these people?  

Whether they wanted it or not,  having them in the house became a history lesson.  The photos, planes and war memorabilia that decorate my dining room inspired them to ask questions which gives me a chance to tell them the story of a group of brave unknown servicemen who stepped up for our freedom in a barren and lonely place that so few know about.   Believe me, the pleasure was all mine... if they hadn't left, I'd still be talking... smile. 

Let's take a look at what the 111(F) Squadron, RCAF and the rest of the folks at Fort Glenn on Umank were doing October 8th, 1942.   Not celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving that is for sure...  Take a look.

Keep in mind, at this time, half the Canadian squadron had been at Fort Glen for three months and attached to the Army Air Corps while the other half remained on duty at Elmendof.  Therefore you will see two separate entries, one from the group at Elmendorf and the other from Umank.  At this time, Canadian airmen made up roughly one third of the air strength in the Aleutians.   

8-10-1942

ELMENDORF

LAC Ward, H.D. Fabric Worker, became an acting Corporal (unpaid). Sergant Wise, L. was discharged from Post Hospital. A large portion of our squadron that is at Elmendorf received Typhoid shots. The first word of the pending movement of our pending squadron to Kodiak. A Signal was sent to Umnak for all personal of No. 111 (F) Squadron to return to Elmendorf as soon as possible. Flying time total was 5:10hrs. 

UMNAK

Pilot Officer O.J. Eskil and Flight Sergent Stusiak and Skelly on patrol today.  Weather poor. Signal received from Elmendorf notifying us to return to Elmendorf as soon as possible. Everyone busy arranging for quick move. Signal sent to Fireplace for flying officers Gohl and Lynch, and pilot officer Gooding to return immediately. The pilots of the Army Air Corps 11th Pursuit Squadron came over and paid us a visit of "Congratulations" on the **Kiska Mission. The books for our Umnak Detachment Library, so kindly donated by the American Red Cross, were turned over to the 11th Pursuit Squadron, U.S. Army Air Corps. Flying Officers Gohl and Lynch and Pilot Officer Gooding arrived from *Fireplace at 17:15 hours. Flying time total 7:00hrs. 

*Fireplace was the Canadian code name for the base on Adak.  

**The Kiska Mission is the first offensive mission the Canadians saw in Alaska.  On September 25th, 1942,  four RCAF Pilots: P/O Lynch, P/O Gooding, P/O Gohl and S/L Boomer, were chosen to fly with the 11th Pursuit's,  343rd Squadron on a escorted bombing mission over Japanese occupied Kiska Island.  The mission was a success.  Many targets were destroyed as well as the take down of two enemy rufes.  RCAF S/L Boomer credited with one of them and Maj. Jack Chennault, son of Brig. Gen. Claire Chennault, claiming the second.  S/L Boomer's take down will forever be in history as the only RCAF victory in the Pacific Theater.  Before arriving in the Aleutians, the Canadian Squadron Leader also had victories in the skies over Europe.  Read more about the Aleutian mission here. 

The 75th Anniversary of the bombing of Dutch Harbor has been filled with a weekend long remembrance ceremony in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor. We were blessed with the presence of nine WWll veterans, forty evacuees along with speakers, warbirds and an outstanding community that came together to honor those whose lives were effected. 

  

After nearly a year long of planning for this commemoration, it was a huge success all around, even when the Aleutian weather reared it's unsettled head.  It is an event quite worthy of a separate post, perhaps even multiple, which will have to come at a later date.

WWll Veteran from the 7th Infantry who landed on Attu May 1943, Signalman Frank Vaughn.

 

Right now, final preparations are being made for a second WWll historical tour through the Aleutians that leaves just hours from now!  This years tour has a very diverse group with three Japanese film makers, two ladies, both daughters of Aleutian Island veterans and four Alaskans, plus me- the Canadian.   Makes for a well rounded trip, I'd say.

As I so often do, before I left I wanted to sit down and investigate what the 111 (F) Squadron, RCAF were up to on this day 1942.  Around this time 75 years ago,  the squadron, then stationed out of Patrica Bay, British Columbia (now the Victoria Airport) were just days away from making their long trip north to Anchorage in defense Alaska.

Below are a few entries from the Squadron diary leading up to their arrival in the last frontier state.   After reading this and coupled with the memories fresh in my mind from last weekend, reminded me of exactly why I am out here and how all the blood, sweat and tears of this last year, is totally worth it.  

Patricia Bay, B.C. 

June 10th, 1942

No flying.  Servicing Ships.

June 12th, 1942

F/S Baird and Sgt. Stusiak returned to Pat Bay from leave and left that evening for Prince Rupert enroute to Anchorage.  Balance of squadron arrived at Wrangell and departed at 19:00 hours.

June 13th, 1942

Squadron Leader Nesbitt leaves the squadron to take the post of C.O. of the Canadian Wing at Annette Island.  He will be sorely missed by all personnel of the squadron.  F/L Kerwin appointed C.O. of our squadron.   The balance of the squadron arrived in Juneau at 07:00 hours. 

June 14th, 1942

Squadron left Juneau at 06:00 hours and arrived at Valdez at 14:00.  Squadron offices set up at Elmendorf.  No flying today. 

June 15th 

Squadron took over readiness (24 hours) with six Kittyhawks. Balance of squadron departed Valdez at 07:00 hours.

June 16th, 1942

P/O Lynch and *Whiteside on orders from W.A.C. moved by air to Sea Island (Vancouver Airport) for the purpose of flying two Kittyhawks of the 14 (F) to Anchorage, in formation with the three that are already at Sea Island.  All machines to have belly tanks.  Balance of squadron to arrive at Seward at 14:30. Disembarked at 19:30, embarking on train at 21:00.  Church services were conducted each Sunday by the Adjutant. 

L-R- my grandfather P/O Lynch, wife Eileen, Baird's wife Muriel, *F/S Baird at Patricia Bay, B.C. just before departing for Alaska.  F/S Baird was killed July 16th when he and four other Canadian Airmen were killed when lost in the Aleutian weather.

* P/O Whiteside did not survive the war, he was in the same formation as F/S Baird (above) when they got lost in the fog and crashed into Unalaska.