Early in the war, the Pensacola boys in the South Pacific were introduced to a local character by the name of “Washing Machine Charlie.” On several islands, notably Guadalcanal and Bougainville, the Japanese made a habit of sending a lone Japanese plane over the American lines at night on a regular basis. The purpose was harassment and disruption of their sleep in a primitive form of “psychological warfare.” The enemy used a variety of planes, but the most common was the single or twin-engine Japanese seaplanes or “float” planes as they were called. Another was the Mitsubishi "Betty" bomber. The twin engine aircraft were better suited for their purpose because the pilot could unsynchronize the speed of his engines creating a distinctive sound reminiscent of the old pre-war Maytag washing machines. The old Maytag’s (below) were used in the American rural areas without electricity and had a small one-cylinder gasoline engine that made a comical rattling sound similar to the enemy’s engines, thus the nickname. These Maytag's were produced from 1927-1937.
In the meantime, old “Charlie” would drop flares or a bomb or two during each of his bothersome flights, but all in all he created more irritation from the noise than damage from his bombs. Since the seaplane engines were more delicate to maintain than some of their other types of planes, the Japanese would occasionally have to ground them for repair. So, whenever Charlie was down they would send up a replacement such as the Betty bomber that attempted to recreate the same harassing flight as his predecessor. These substitutes were dubbed by the caustic Marines as either “Louie the Louse” or “Millimeter Mike.” Whenever the planes were spotted or picked up on radar, the air raid sirens would go off and searchlights would light up the sky, as the American night fighters scrambled aloft.
One day the famous Major Greg “Pappy” Boyington of the famed Black Sheep Squadron took on September 20, 1943 for the sole purpose of shooting down the “irritating little bastard.” But unfortunately, he failed in his deadly mission. Also, the Medal of Honor winning fighter ace, Joe Foss tried the same thing over Guadalcanal because none of the pilots could get any sleep from the ruckus “Charlie” was causing. Foss also failed to locate and eliminate the cause of their friction. In the European theater the Germans send up their "Bedcheck Charlie" for the same purpose. Ironically from 1976-1978 there was a television show called “Baa Baa Blacksheep” that was loosely based on Boyington’s famed Black Sheep squadron. In the show, there was a character called “Washing Machine Charlie” that most viewers thought was nothing more than a fictitious comical character, never knowing that it was based on historical fact.
Occasionally, one of these Charlie’s met their fate in the dark lonely skies much to the cheers of the Marines on the ground. Hospital Corpsman Cary C. Ward, Pensacola High Class of 1943, stated they would watch from below as the searchlights came on as their fighters scrambled to intercept the incoming Charlie. As soon as the American fighter was in position the pilot would radio below and the searchlights would shut off. Then, before long they would see red tracers pierce the sky and a Japanese Charlie would meet his end. It was war!
Maytag Gasoline Washing Machine (1927-1937)
Japanese Seaplane known as a "Float Plane" and used as a "Charlie"
Japanese "Betty" Bomber, also used as a "Charlie"