Essex Association Air Groups Main

Furnished by Marian C. Tougas, wife of Lt. (JG) Eugene J. Tougas

Eugene Joseph Tougas and his gunner Charles Richardson crashed and were captured 1300 hours, 19 March 1945. Tougas writes, I was captured in the inland Sea near Kure Harbor, between the islands of Shikoku and Hanshu.

CHARLES J. RICHARDSON, Aircrewman-Gunner

The spring 1992 issue of the Naval Aviation Foundation Magazine included an article I had written describing the strike of 19 March, 1945 against the Primary Japanese Naval Base located on the Island of Honshu. This was the most heavily defended target in the Japanese Home Islands. The article related the strike and the results as they applied to Lt. (jg) Eugene J. Tougas and myself.

We were hit by flak after dropping our bombs and scoring a direct hit on an aircraft carrier. As we attempted to reach the rendezvous area we were hit twice by flak and forced to make a water landing. The article describes the strike, our capture and treatment by the Japanese.

Upon being released from Ofuna Prisoner-of-War camp I returned to the United States and was treated at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital and granted a ninety day leave. During this period of recuperation I gained over sixty pounds.

Gene never talked about his duration in Ofuna. He did say that the Japanese Government presented the prisoners a yen upon their release Gene had the prisoners in his cell block sign it. Pappy Boyington was one of his cell mates. I donated this to the Aviation Museum in Pensacola.

Charlie Richardson died 4/2003 and Gene died 3/15/1992.

Marian Tougas

TESTIMONY OF PRISONER OF WAR LT. (JG) EUGENE J. TOUGAS