BobJoe

Aircraft Mechanics School, ISU, 1942 Dear Bob, About the picture. It was taken at I.S.U., in the summer of 1942. I think one of the guys was called Don Curtice. We lived in a motel, on 5th Ave., across from the campus. I'm standing next to the instructor, top row left, aircraft mechanics school graduates. Love, your brother Clarence. I talked to my brother about this picture and got the following additional information. Q: Why did you go to aircraft mechanics school? A: I was looking for a job, and the government had an ad in the paper stating they would pay you to go to school, if you became a aircraft mechanic. Q: How much did you get? A: We got 25 dollars a week. Q: How much did your motel room cost? A: I think it was a dollar a day, for two. I spilt the cost with my roommate, Don Curtice. Q: Was the plane in the background a Steersman? A: I don't know. Q: Did you work on the plane in the background? A: No, it was a prop for the picture. Q: How long was the school? A: About three months Q: Where did you go after you got out of school? A: La Junta, Colorado, a air force military training base. Q: What did you do there? A: They made me foreman of the hydraulic department Q: Why did they put you in charge, you were 18 years old? A: Cause, I was the first one there.

Annette and Peter emigrated from Norway October 1883. In an Idaho state Journal article dated July 14, 1957 it was claimed Annette Larsen (Nettie Powell), was the first white woman to reside in Pocatello. I believe they may have confused Annette with her mother, Maren Andersen, who proceeded Annette by a year, arriving in 1882. Maren Andersen, along with a daughter Inga, came to the United States, eager to join the Mormons. Maren came, under the auspices of a Mormon missionary program called, "Passport To Paradise". She apparently didn't understand polygamy, and when she found out what it was, she left the settlement in Utah, and moved to Pocatello. Nettie Powell lived out her life, in the house at 910 South Main, across from Paul Roberts Machine shop. Maren Andersen married Leonard Deutshenbauer, and together they owned the Pocatello House, on the southeast corner of Center and 2nd Ave.

  June 15, 2010

Dear Bob, Sixty six years is a long time to go back in time, don't expect very much. Our squadron was a night fighter squadron, number 543. We flew F6. F fighter aircraft equipped with radar for night flying. We left this country on Christmas day 1944 from San Diego, California. The first day of our trip was on a small aircraft carrier that took us and our planes to Pearl harbor. We spent 2 months in Pearl harbor, flying various places in C47 transport planes for work details, no shore leave was allowed. We left Pearl on early March 1945. I think the ship was called an A.K.A., but that's just a guess. It had most of our gear aboard plus accommodations for about 100 men in the bow. Our ship was anchored in Leyte gulf when a tanker came along side to refuel our ship. Knute and I wrote letters to each other, and I knew he was on the U.S.S. Suamico. Someone painted the ships name on a 55 gallon, barrel lifting device. As luck would have it, a crane on the Suamico was transferring 4 barrels to our ship, and I saw the name. My C.O. gave me permission to go and visit Knute, and I had lunch with Knute and his shipmates. He told me Rolf (our oldest brother), was a short distance away on the repair ship U.S.S. Hector. A message (by blinker light) was sent to Rolf's ship, and he came over to the Suamico, shortly thereafter. We had a nice visit, we hadn't seen each other in years. Leyte gulf was the assembly point for the convoy that was to take us to Okinawa for the invasion on April 1-1945. The invasion force consisted of 1500 ships of all kinds, it was huge. Knute visited me once on Okinawa about 2 months after I got there. He had a hard time finding me, because we moved several times. He didn't stay long. I hope this helps, Clarence

Additional information: Rolf, US Navy, is the oldest of the five Johansen brothers, who grew up in Pocatello. Knute, US Navy, is the 2nd oldest, Clarence, US Marines, the third oldest. The three oldest served during the 2nd World War. Johnny, US Air force, the fourth oldest served during the Korean War. Me, Bob, US Navy, served between the Korean war and the Vietnam war.

Knute's comments: "I was in the chow line and one of my shipmates told me my brother had permission to visit, and was on the dock waiting for me". " I told him to take a hike, I wasn't giving up my place in the chow line for anybody". I didn't believe him cause we were always playing jokes on each other. " No kidding", he said, "your brother Clarence is down on the dock".

Bob's comments: Clarence's ship was delayed until the 6th of April because it was hit by a kamikaze, and several sailors were killed. I asked Clarence to write the story, of the chance meeting, because the way I remembered the story it was totally inaccurate.