1LT Wesley Smith, A/C, flying
K-56, had what he stated was a B-29 first on this mission.
After bombs away, they lost #4 engine and #3 engine started to act up, so they headed straight for Iwo. Around Iwo this day the plane traffic was thick and the tower told all planes to keep circling and at this point,
K-56 lost #3 engine and Smith decided to land at the fighter strip near Mt. Suribachi.
Approaching the strip with flaps and wheels down, a B-29 landing directly ahead of them did not immediately exit the strip. In order to avoid a crash, Smith pulled up the wheels and flaps and Lee Ashby (P), applied full emergency power to the remaining engines. Ahead of them was a small hill with tents, which the plane just barely cleared. As the plane gained altitude, Smith gave the ditching order since he did not believe he could bring the B-29 around for another landing attempt. However, Smith and Ashby were able to trim the plane and bring it around, but at this point the radio went dead so they shot off some flares to indicate their dire straits. A P-51 fighter assisted them by warding off B-29s that might get in their landing pattern.
The plane came down and, to assure that it would clear the end of the runway to the left, Smith let the plane run fast. Exiting to the left, Smith noticed a jeep running after two life rafts on the runway. Richard Kurtz (CFC),and Harvey Landis (RO), experiencing the landing bump, released the life rafts since the ditching order was not rescinded. Kurtz, exiting the astrodome, stated "Hell, we are on land". As the crew exited the plane, they were met by a COL who asked for the A/C. Smith stated that he was and the COL stated "You did a great job, but you sure scared the hell out of my men. I never saw them move so fast". Smith attributed their successful two-engine go around and landing to a fine aircraft and training and dedication of the crew.
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