As the invasion of Iwo Jima continued, the Salt Lake City was one of many ships with big guns used to try to route the Japs from their emplacements and caves.

Our observation planes were also in use and vital. They shared the daily observation duty with other ship's planes and were used to direct the gunfire from many ships and correct the gunner's aim.

Our OS2U was a low wing monoplane with a large float and two cockpits. Also known as a "Kingfisher", the plane had a top speed of 164 mph and a cruising speed of 119 mph. After launching the plane from our catapult the pilot would climb to 3000-4000 feet altitude for observation of shell hits and radio necessary corrections.

On this particular day the observer who was usually an enlisted man riding with the officer pilot had been replaced by a Navy Lieutenant. I suspect this mission was considered a suicide mission calling for volunteers. The Japanese, knowing that Iwo Jima would be invaded, had assembled the best gunners in the Japanese Army for the defense of Iwo Jima.

Ensign Thomas W. Erickson , who was the pilot, agreed to take Lt. Robert F. Gallagher as his observer. Gallagher had washed out of flight school but the lure of being airborne was strong.

The OS2U was catapulted from the ship and climbed to the altitude required for observation. It wasn't long before the Jap anti-aircraft batteries on Iwo Jima began firing at the plane. The plane was hit and spun down into the China Sea killing both men. Due to a quirk of fate, Lt. Robert F. Gallagher now became a casualty.

Written by Robert J. Serazin, Lt. (jg)
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