Frank Cline served with the "Flying Deuces," Marine Fighting Squadron 222. While stationed in the Philippine Islands, he took these photographs in Samar and Luzon. View a map showing the location of Luzon and Samar.
Bill Cline says that this was the only war story his father ever told him. Bill wrote: "It was during the Monsoon season in the Philippines so there was a lot of water, mud and pot holes on the strip. A Coursair was either taking off or landing, I don't remember, but hit a pot hole and broke a landing strut. It went off course, hit some civilians, went through some tents and flipped over. Frank, several other Marines and Filipinos arrived at the plane to try to get the pilot out. Frank was at the tail lifting it up while several others were trying to get the pilot out when it exploded. Frank remembered running on fire, looking down once and seeing flesh hanging from his hands. He dove into a bomb crator plunging his hands into mud. He once pulled his hands out of the mud but because it cooled him off and felt so good, he stuck them back until the Medics came for him. Several Marines and Filipino's were lost in the explosion." [read the Wikipedia article "VMF-222" that recounts this tragic incident.]
Bill Cline says that this was the only war story his father ever told him. Bill wrote: "It was during the Monsoon season in the Philippines so there was a lot of water, mud and pot holes on the strip. A Coursair was either taking off or landing, I don't remember, but hit a pot hole and broke a landing strut. It went off course, hit some civilians, went through some tents and flipped over. Frank, several other Marines and Filipinos arrived at the plane to try to get the pilot out. Frank was at the tail lifting it up while several others were trying to get the pilot out when it exploded. Frank remembered running on fire, looking down once and seeing flesh hanging from his hands. He dove into a bomb crator plunging his hands into mud. He once pulled his hands out of the mud but because it cooled him off and felt so good, he stuck them back until the Medics came for him. Several Marines and Filipino's were lost in the explosion." [read the Wikipedia article "VMF-222" that recounts this tragic incident.]