1941: the year unarmed B-17s flew through hell over Hawaii

Major Landon’s B-17s and Honolulu’s Purple Heart Firefighters

Twelve unarmed B-17 bombers flew into hell on December 7, 1941. Led by Major Ted Landon, they reached Oahu at 8:00 AM just as Japanese planes swarmed Pearl Harbor.

The pilots thought the gunfire was a welcome show. Instead, they landed under attack from both sides.

One B-17 broke in half mid-air. At the same time, Honolulu firefighters raced to Hickam Field and paid a steep price.

Three died and six got hurt when bombs fell. These nine men later became the only civilians in U.S. history to earn Purple Hearts.

The bullet holes still visible at Hickam Field today tell their remarkable story.

Twelve B-17s Left California With No Way To Defend Themselves

Twelve B-17s took off from Hamilton Field, California at 9:00 PM on December 6, 1941. Major Truman “Ted” Landon led the planes toward the Philippines, planning a quick fuel stop in Hawaii.

The crews took all weapons off their Flying Fortresses and flew with fewer people to save weight for the 2,400-mile first leg.

Mechanics put extra fuel tanks in the bomb bays and left behind all ammo, making these huge bombers easy targets if they ran into trouble.

Radar Operators Spotted Something Big Coming From The East

At 7:02 AM on December 7, Army radar at Opana Point spotted large groups of planes heading toward Oahu.

Private George Elliot Jr. and Joseph Lockard called Lieutenant Kermit Tyler to report what they saw. Tyler ignored their concerns, saying it must be the B-17 flight from California he’d heard about.

The radar team closed up at 7:00 AM as planned, missing their chance to notice the difference between twelve bombers and the huge Japanese attack force coming from almost the same direction.

The Worst Possible Timing Brought Bombers Into A War Zone

The first B-17s reached Oahu at 8:00 AM, right when Japanese planes started attacking Pearl Harbor. Pilots looked down confused at explosions and antiaircraft fire, thinking they’d flown into some military exercise.

Flight Surgeon Lieutenant William Schick took photos as they passed Diamond Head, thinking it was just an impressive drill.

Major Landon’s group soon realized they had flown straight into America’s entry into World War II.

American Gunners Couldn’t Tell Friend From Foe

B-17 crews found themselves caught in deadly crossfire. Japanese Zero fighters attacked Captain Raymond Swenson’s B-17C.

American gunners on the ground, nervous and unable to identify the high-flying bombers, shot at everything in the sky. The unarmed planes had nowhere to hide and no way to fight back.

The shocking truth hit home when Schick yelled from his spot, “Goddamnit those are real bullets! I’m hit!”

Fire Tore Through Swenson’s B-17 At The Worst Possible Moment

Zero fighters shot up Swenson’s B-17C repeatedly, hitting a box of magnesium flares stored in the radio area. The intense fire burned through the aircraft’s structure, creating big holes in the floor.

Thick smoke filled the cockpit as the crew tried to keep the damaged bomber flying.

With fuel running very low and no way to defend themselves, the crew faced a tough choice: try to land on water or attempt to land on an airfield under attack.

The Burning Bomber Broke Apart On The Runway

Captain Swenson crash-landed his burning B-17C on Hickam Field’s East-West runway while Japanese planes kept attacking. The weakened body of the plane snapped in half behind the wing as it skidded to a stop.

Lieutenant Schick got out of the wreck only to be shot in the head by a passing Japanese fighter.

The young flight surgeon died later that day at Tripler Hospital, becoming the first Army Air Corps doctor killed in World War II.

Honolulu’s Firefighters Rushed Toward The Explosions

Honolulu Fire Department Engine 6 got the call at 8:05 AM as part of their help agreement with the military. Lieutenant Frederick Kealoha knew something was terribly wrong when he saw black smoke rising from the base.

Engines 1, 4, and 6 raced to Hickam with 12 firefighters, arriving to find the base’s own fire station destroyed by bombs. The civilian crew saw a nightmare: burning aircraft, scattered bodies, and ongoing attacks.

Japanese Planes Targeted The Fire Crews

At 8:26 AM, a Japanese bomb hit the firefighters as they fought fires near the hangars. Captains John Carreira and Thomas Macy died right away when a hangar fell from the blast.

Hoseman Harry Tuck Lee Pang died when a Zero fighter shot him in the stomach.

Six other firefighters got hurt by shrapnel: Lieutenant Frederick Kealoha and Hosemen Moses Kalilikane, John Gilman, Solomon Naauao, Patrick McCabe, and George Correa.

Still, the survivors kept fighting fires while under attack.

Bomb Craters Became Emergency Water Sources

The surviving firefighters showed great thinking, using water from bomb craters to supply their hoses.

Armed with only small 1½-inch attack lines, they worked to stop spreading aviation fuel fires while protecting undamaged planes. Japanese fighters kept shooting at them as they worked.

Back in Honolulu, every off-duty firefighter got called in as they tackled 39 separate fires across the island, all during the attack.

Pilots Landed Wherever They Could Find Safety

The other B-17s scattered across Oahu looking for any safe place to land.

Captain Richard Carmichael landed his B-17E at the tiny Haleiwa strip after seeing chaos at other airfields. One clever pilot belly-landed on a golf course when he ran out of options.

Others touched down at Wheeler Field and Bellows Field during the confusion.

Despite the terrible odds, all twelve B-17s managed to land, with only Swenson’s aircraft completely destroyed.

The Only Civilian Firefighters To Earn Purple Hearts

The six wounded firefighters received Purple Hearts in June 1944, an unprecedented honor for civilians.

The three who died waited longer for recognition, finally receiving posthumous Purple Hearts on December 7, 1984, during a ceremony at the USS Arizona Memorial.

Their sacrifice stands alone in American history: the only civilian firefighters ever attacked by a foreign military on U.S. soil and the only ones to receive this military honor.

Today, Hickam’s hospital bears the name William R. Schick Clinic, honoring the flight surgeon who died alongside them.

Visiting Hickam Field, Hawaii

You need a valid military ID to visit Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam at 1230 S Drive in Honolulu, as civilians can’t enter without a military sponsor.

Great Life Hawaii runs Hickam Historical Tours from Fleet Store ITT at Building 1786 on 810 Willamette Street – call 473-0792 for reservations.

You’ll see original battle-scarred buildings with bullet holes from the December 7th attack. The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum also displays hangars 37 and 79 with authentic bullet damage.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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