The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutHooks, Lt. William Joseph "Joe" u ", ~ J Lt. William Joseph ~ Hooks 315589 262-01-0301 In 1945 I was a fighter pilot assigned to air group VF-80 aboard the USS Hancock. Early on the morning of March 1st., our flight took off for Amami 0 Shima, an island south of Japan and north of Iwo Jima. The Japanese on Amami 0 Shima were harassing Iwo. We had just finished helping to secure Iwo Jima. Our bombing run put us over Amami 0 Shima at about 19,000 feet. I dived, located my target, fired 6 rockets, and considerable rounds of ammunition. As I leveled off and pulled out at about 1,200 to 1,500 feet my plane was hit by Japanese antiaircraft ground fire. I was hit aft of the engine and forward of the ,ockpit, also a large hole was blown in my right wing near the flaps, my windshield was cracked badly, my compass was gone, and the left side of my cockpit cover was completely blown away. I took shrapnel in my leftarm at the elbow. My engine kept running intermittently for a few minutes, cutting off and on, and filling the cockpit with smoke. Now my dive was toward the ocean. The combination of my initial speed, and the small help that my engine was able to give me in it's last bursts allowed me to make it a good ways off shore before I hit the water. One of the pilots followed me out, and once he realized I was going down, he returned to our air group. I had to land with no flaps because my right flap would not come down. I tried both electrically and mechanically to get it down, to no avail. My left flap was at about 30 degrees, I had to get it back down into position quickly to stabilize the plane. I landed with no flaps. I put the tail hook down, so I would have some warning just before hitting the water. I hit hard. I suffered numerous cuts to my forehead from flying debris. The next thing I remember, I was in the water, kicking, and close to drowning. I still had all my heavy gear on. I felt like I was swallowing all of the Pacific Ocean, one gulp at a time. I looked around me and saw a submarine. It was the USS Tilefish, (Submarine #55307), and she was out looking for me. The crew tells me that a rope was thrown to me three times. I was too dazed to take hold of it. I wasn't thinking clearly then, nor would I be for the next few days. A couple of the crew finally had to fish me out of the sea. Thanks to Captain W. F. Schleck, Lt. Charlie Styer, and crew I was quickly brought aboard, checked in, my wounds were treated, and I was given two uniforms, and assigned a bed for my stay. The entire crew were great to me, very, very friendly and helpful. The food was great, and the ice cream couldn't be beat. The first week under chief corpsman's care and my forehead healed well, but a small piece of shrapnel in my left arm started to become infected. The chief corpsman decided that the shrapnel had to be remo:ved from my arm. With permission from the captain, the chief corpsman, and the chief cook, removed the shrapnel from my arm. They did a very professional job. My arm began to heal almost immediately. I stayed on the USS Tilefish for the next thirty days. I helped out where I could, but mostly I tried to stay out of the crews' way as they went about their daily tasks. I spent a lot of time with Lt. Charlie Styer at his navigation board. Those thirty days were very exciting for us all. . On 3/30/45 orders were received for the USS Tilefish to return to Midway. I was real happy when we arrived at Midway. Except, this is where I had to leave the Tilefish and my new friends, and report to the senior medical officer. The Tilefish headed for Pearl Harbor. I spent the next three days on Midway. On 4/2/451 flew to Pearl Harbor. I met the USS Tilefish when she arrived in Pearl Harbor, and said hello again to her crew. On 4/3/45 I was transferred to the senior medical officer at San Francisco, CA. Here I was awarded the purple heart medal. On 4/15/45 I was assigned to the commander of Naval Air Operational Training, NAS Jacksonville, FL. On 7/27/45 I reported to the commander of NAS Green Cove Springs, FL as an operational training instructor. This is where I met and married my wife, Katie. 9ver the next few years, Katie and I had five children, four boys and one girl. On 12/14/45 I reported to the commander of NAS Miami, FL. On 3/31/46 I was released from active duty. On 4/17/47 I reported to active duty, once again, at Jacksonville, FL as station keeper, and assistant flight officer. On 7/7/47 I reported to NAS Grosse lIe, MI as station keeper. In August 1949 I was transferred to NAS Floyd Bennent Field, Brooklyn, NY. In August 1950 I was reassigned to St. Albans, NY Hospital as a patient. In October of 1950 I was transferred to the commander of Air Group Four, Cag Staff. I was the Administrative Assistant to the Commander, Air Group Four, for the next four years. We were attached to Jacksonville Naval Air Station and during that time we made three cruises aboard aircraft carriers. Two cruises were made to the Mediterranean. The first aboard the USS Oriskany CV34. The second aboard the USS Coral Sea CV43. The third cruise was to Korea aboard the USS Lake Champlain. I was then transferred to the NAS Jacksonville, FL Hospital for an operation. On 10/30/54 I was released to inactive duty and started in the Naval Air Reserve Program. I returned to Lake Worth, FL, my home, and became an insurance agent. I worked as an insurance agent until 1957. In 1957 I moved to Detroit, MI and worked for Nicholson Terminal and Dock as Superintendent. I remained active in the Naval Air Reserve Program. I worked for Nicholson Terminal and Dock for the next thirteen years. I moved back to Lake Worth, FL in 1970 and purchased Pit Central Gas Company, (a propane gas company). I completed my Naval Air Reserve Program in 1972 with 30 years of service. I operated Pit Central Gas until 1983. At which time I developed severe heart problems and had to retire. My wife Katie took over the business and ran it until it was sold in January of 1984. At that time Katie retired too. We traveled . 1 "--" , ~ ~ '----"" all over the world for the next few years. During that time, as a retired reserve officer with over 30 years of service, I began receiving my retirement checks and related benefits. .,., Over the years I have often thought of, and been very thankful for, the wonderful crew of the USS Tilefish submarine who fished me out of the sea and saved my life. The recent call by Jim Newman after fifty years, was the best call I have ever received. . It was great to hear from him, and make contact with some of the Tilefish crew. I joined the C. E. Whitten Chapter, U.S. Submarine Veterans of W.W. II, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, as an associate member. And I have already made my reservations in Norfolk, VA for Oct. 5th. I'm looking f9rward to the National Reunion and seeing all of the old crew, who are in attendance. In closing I would like to thank those wonderful submariners of the USS Tilefish who fished me from the jaws of the sea, and saved my life. And a special thank you is appropriate here for all the submariners everywhere who have executed their duties with such compassion and valor, saving many lives. God bless you all. '-...---- (~ w~ ~ /ss/ Joe Hooks Joe left the service in 1954 and became an insurance agent in Lake Worth, Florida. He and his wife, Katy, moved to Detroit in 1957 where Joe was Superintendent for Nicholson Terminal and Dock remaining in the Naval Air Reserve. In 1970 Joe and Katy moved back to Lake Worth, Florida and purchased Pit Central Gas Co., which they operated until they both retired in 1984. In 1993, Joe and Katy attended the Norfolk Convention of "'-"'1 ~ .J -http://www.subnet.comlfleet/hooks.htm 3/11/02 \. r---- A~' '\ ~ ~/yy~ ~/M~4~.~~-4-~ ~r~' J#~;dZ.d ~~Mv.~#~afl/ ~ $~~~~Z ~ .~~~~.~ J! ./J/.5: -f:~ /~A /~--~ ~ ~. 5.c/~. ~,' - o~.-- -:JL-;zM~'Yi../;z;h~~;?z./ I ~( ~A.L/~ J:~ W /vrT'-/~ ~~%~.$~ aqy ~ #,<V~; $-~~ ~cv~r ~/2uud~~d~. !J~.~~~~a/ ~~~~~ ~~~dd/r . ~~