"Yontan Airfield, Okinawa, April 23, 1945: Marine First Lieutenant Herbert Groff, a night fighter pilot in Marine Aircraft Group 31, receives congratulations from CBS war correspondent Tim Leimert for shooting down a Jap twin-engine bomber while on midnight combat patrol from Yontan Airfield on Okinawa. Groff, 24 of Summerfield, Mo., is a former country school teacher. Leimert, covering the war in the Pacific for Columbia network stations, made the first B-29 raid over Tokyo, He is from Beverly Hills, Calif. The picture was made in front of the Okinawa Press Club which is operated by public relations personnel of Marine Aircraft Group 31 commanded by Colonel John C. Mull, of Prescott, Ark."

From the Claude R. Canup Collection (COLL/5361), Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections