VMF-224 Scrap Book
Roi-Namur Recollections
Personal Transportation
"Upon our arrival at Roi-Namur, Harold Irish and I purchased a Japanese
motorcycle (in parts) from a GI who had salvaged it after the invasion. We
purchased the motorcycle for $30, each paying $15, and assembled it to discover
that we were missing a distributor and a generator. A Vought representative
assigned to support the squadrons on Roi made a distributor for us out of a used
jeep distributor. The squadron routinely sent pilots and aircraft to Kwajalein to
provide the B-24's stationed there with fighter protection. One day while on alert
at Kwajalein we ran into a guy that had a similar motorcycle in parts. After some
negotiations he agreed to part with a generator in exchange for a case of beer
which we flew from Roi to Kwajalein in an SNJ . Our motorcycle ran great and we
enjoyed using it as our personal transportation while at Roi-Namur. I don't know
what became of the motorcycle since I left Roi-Namur a few weeks ahead of
Harold."
VMF-224 pilot, Jack W. Morrison
"On Roi-Namur John Spinner, John Montagne, Earl W. Johnson and I lashed on
to a wrecked Jap version of a 193? Graham Page Auto which we rebuilt for
personal transportation. Lieutenant's did not rate jeeps."
VMF-224 pilot, George C. Knapp
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