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This is a fragment of Robert Goldsworthy's diary:
Target Tokyo:
On December third, 1944, at 8:30 in the morning two groups of B-29's of about 45 planes each left Saipan for a raid on Tokyo. The first group to take off was led by Major Gay of Spokane, Wa., who lost his life on a later raid. I led the second group.
With me in the plane were Colonel Brugge of the Wing Command, who was along as an observer; Col. Richard King, our group commander, who replaced Lt. Bob Sollock my regular copilot; Lt. Edwards, navigator; Lt. Patykula,bombardier; Lt. Warde engineer; Sgt. Wright, radio man; Sgt. Goffery, CFC gunner; Sgt. Wells, radar; Cpl. Abel, ring gunner; Cpl. Schroeder, right gunner; and Sgt. Corrigan, tail gunner.
On the fifteen hundred mile trek to Tokyo, Maj. Gay's navigator got just slightly off course,enough that instead of his preceeding us over the target, we arrived first. This was just a little quirk of fate that was destined to have tragic consequences for most of the men in my plane. It was a beautiful clear day. Our particular target, the Mitsubishi aircraft engine factory, was clearly outlined 30,000 feet below and Patykula hit it right on the button with all of his bombs.
However, we had no time to observe results. It was then , just as you got the "bombs away" signal that all hell seemed to break loose. All the fighters in the Tokyo-Yokohama area were up waiting for us that day, and being the lead plane we caught the brunt of the attack.
Things happened so fast that to give a chronological account of the happenings of the next few minutes would be imposible."Tonys" were everywhere, mostly making head on attacks. The guns of my plane were all open and to good effect. I saw one Jap explode from direct hits,another went down trailing smoke and three or four others were seen to to be more or less badly damaged.
But, in the meantime we were taking a tremendous beating. Three of the four engines were shot out and the communication system, too. All control cables with the exception of one aerlieron were inoperative. One wing was burning and the front compartment was in flames.
The intercom being out, the emergency signal to bail out was given with no certainty that it could be heard by all the crew. However, it was perfectly apparent to everyone that that the ship was disintegrating and that it was a matter of bailing out, and fast! Here, may I get ahead of my story to say that all of the crew did get out, except Edwards , Able and Corrigan. To the best of my knowledge and belief, Edwards was trapped by the flames and Able was seriouly wounded during the fight. What happened to Corrigan we never could figure out as he had the easiest escape hatch to reach of any of the crew. Maybe he was hit--maybe he decided to go down with the ship. We will never know.
All my efforts were directed toward keeping the plane on an even keel as long as possible to allow the crew members a chance to bail out. With no power, one wing crumpling and flames licking at the seat of my pants, this was no easy task. After all but Patykula and myself had disappeared from the front end I turned and yelled to Pat to hurry it up. He seemed in a daze. He was slowly and methodically preparing to jump. Finally I went back to him and dragged him to the escape hatch.
Flames were everywhere. We dropped throught the opening. Some time later I saw Pat's chute open up, turn brown and burst into flame. a fine boy, a grand friend and one of the best bombardiers in the Air Force, dropped to his death. The loss of Patykula, Edwards , Able and Corrigan, more than the suffering I later endured, was the thing that tortured me most. Perhaps thay were the lucky ones,but I wish they could have had a chance for their lives.
Because of Jap fighters all around, and also because I had forgotten to connect my emergency oxygen cylinder, I chose to make a free fall of what I judged to be about 15,000 feet before pulling my ripcord. I guess that is always an anxious moment. It was doubly so for me, as I suspected fire might have got my chute, too. A sigh of relief accompanied the jolt of its opening up. I might record here that I was glad I had been raised to believe in prayer. No one who has not bailed out over enemy territory can appreciate how lonesome a trip that is down to terra firma. I prayed plenty on that five mile drop through the ether.
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