During the bombing campaign over Japan the B-29s had to cross thousands of miles of the Pacific Ocean to and from their assigned targets from their bases at Tinian. Fuel consumption, battle damage, mechanical failure, or becoming lost would all add to the tensions during the mission. This B-29 had ran out of fuel on the return trip and had to ditch in the ocean. The loss of men due to ditching was becoming a problem and so at various points submarines were placed around a perimeter to be able to rescue many of these downed air men. This became the precursor to the modern air and sea rescue units of today.
During the bombing campaign over Japan the B-29s had to cross thousands of miles of the Pacific Ocean to and from their assigned targets from their bases at Tinian. Fuel consumption, battle damage, mechanical failure, or becoming lost would all add to the tensions during the mission. This B-29 had ran out of fuel on the return trip and had to ditch in the ocean. The loss of men due to ditching was becoming a problem and so at various points submarines were placed around a perimeter to be able to rescue many of these downed air men. This became the precursor to the modern air and sea rescue units of today.