Guam Selects American Hero as Grand Marshall
Liberation Day Festivities
TUMON, Guam, July 16, 2007. This year Guam is proud to announce the selection of an American hero as Grand Marshall of the island's Liberation Day festivities. Mr. Jim B. Smith is the last surviving member of the crew of the Boomerang, which flew the final mission of World War II from Guam's Northwest Field on August 15, 1945.
Smith, who served as the radio operator on the Boomerang, is an accomplished author and wrote "The Last Mission," detailing his account of the final strike of WWII, which effectively ended the war and unbeknownst to many at the time, also foiled a military coup in Japan aimed at kidnapping the Emperor of Japan. Smith went on to enjoy a career as an actor appearing in television and movies, and as a songwriter. Smith was most recently featured on The History Channel to discuss his experiences during the war, particularly "The Last Mission."
Most of us grew up believing that World War II ended with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but in the 1980's, the U.S. military declassified information about the true last mission of the war, which took place six days after Nagasaki was targeted. The final mission of the war involved a B-29 called the Boomerang, which flew over 4,000 miles from Guam to Tokyo to bomb strategic oil refineries, leaving the Japanese Imperial Army without the means to continue fighting.
No one had any idea that at the same time a military coup was underway, organized by young members of the Japanese War Cabinet who believed their Emperor was under the influence of traitors and if they could safely remove him, they would be free to continue fighting the war. The bombing of Tokyo caused a black out that allowed the Emperor to remain free and his records of surrender safely hidden. Had the Last Mission not occurred, historians believe World War II may have lasted much longer.
Guam is proud and honored to welcome Jim B. Smith, the only surviving member of the Last Mission and an American hero to our island to join us as our 2007 Grand Marshall in the celebration of Guam's Liberation Day on July 21st.
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