When They Put a Bomber Gun on an M1 Garand — Japanese Called Them “Monster Guns”
# The Stinger: Major Mel Grevich and the Improvised Machine Gun That Changed Combat
At 2200 hours on November 17, 1944, Sergeant Mel Grevich stood in a storage warehouse at Camp Tarowa, Hawaii, staring at a row of damaged aircraft waiting to be scrapped. At 26 years old, he had spent 18 months in the Pacific and had seen too many lives lost without a significant innovation to save them. His battalion had lost 11 machine gunners in the past four weeks during training exercises, and he was determined to find a solution.
## The Challenge of Outgunning the Enemy
The issue was simple yet critical: speed. The M1919 A6 light machine gun weighed 32 pounds and fired 400 rounds per minute, while German MG42s could fire 1,200 rounds per minute, and Japanese Type 92s fired at 450 rounds per minute. American Marines were outgunned, and Grevich had witnessed the devastating consequences firsthand. He had watched three gunners die on Bougainville because they couldn’t lay down suppressive fire quickly enough to stop the advancing enemy.
As a member of G Company, 28th Marine Regiment, Fifth Marine Division, Grevich was preparing for the impending invasion of Iwo Jima. Intelligence reports estimated that 21,000 Japanese defenders were entrenched in 11 miles of underground tunnels. The Marines would land on black volcanic sand with nowhere to hide, and machine gun teams would be crucial. Grevich knew the M1919 A6 would not be enough to protect his fellow Marines.
## The Idea for Modification
Three weeks earlier, Grevich had approached his company commander with a radical idea. He explained that the M1919 A6 required three men to operate effectively: one gunner, one assistant gunner to feed ammunition, and one ammo bearer to carry spare belts. If the gunner went down, the entire fire team collapsed. The weapon was also difficult to reposition during an assault, leaving Marines vulnerable as they set up.
Grevich had seen a solution during his time with the Third Parachute Battalion. In November 1943, he had witnessed Marines salvaging M2 aircraft machine guns from crashed dive bombers. These guns fired .30 caliber rounds at 1,200 rounds per minute—three times faster than the M1919 A6. The M2 was lighter and designed to be cooled by the high-speed airflow of an aircraft. Grevich had modified one of these guns with a shoulder stock and a trigger, but the battalion was disbanded before they could use it in combat.
Now, with the invasion of Iwo Jima looming, Grevich knew he needed to recreate that modification. He proposed to build six M2 machine guns—one for each rifle platoon in G Company, one for the demolition section, and one for himself.
## The Quest for Parts
The company commander approved the project, as did the battalion commander. However, Grevich faced a significant hurdle: he needed parts. He required M2 receivers, M1 Garand stocks, BAR bipods, trigger components, and metalworking tools—all without official requisition paperwork, as the modification wasn’t standard issue.
Grevich enlisted the help of Private First Class John Little, a machinist who understood tolerances and fabrication. Together, they began searching the base for the necessary components. They visited maintenance depots, salvage yards, and aircraft repair facilities, eventually locating six M2 receivers in a parts bin labeled for scrap. They found two more in a damaged aircraft fuselage and obtained the final pieces from a source Little described as “God knows where.”
By late November, they had gathered enough parts, but they still needed to assemble the weapons before the division shipped out for Iwo Jima.
## The Construction of the Stinger
The first modification began on November 21st. Working in a corner of the battalion maintenance shed after dark, Grevich and Little set to work. They removed the spade grips from the M2 aircraft machine gun, which were designed for aircraft use and not suitable for ground combat. Little fashioned a trigger assembly from sheet metal and modified the stock to fit the M2 receiver.
They also created a 100-round ammunition box that would allow the gunner to operate the weapon without an assistant. The modifications took weeks of careful planning and execution, but by December 5th, the first weapon was complete.
The modified M2 machine guns, dubbed “Stingers,” weighed 25 pounds—7 pounds lighter than the M1919 A6—and fired three times faster. Grevich and Little painted the weapons olive drab and stenciled names on the receivers. Grevich named his weapon “Betty Anne.”
## The Invasion of Iwo Jima
On January 7, 1945, the Fifth Marine Division boarded transport ships for Iwo Jima. The six modified weapons were packed in equipment crates, their existence undocumented. The convoy sailed west, and Grevich wondered if their unauthorized machine guns would hold up in combat.
Upon arrival at Iwo Jima on February 5th, Grevich conducted equipment checks and test-fired each weapon. All six functioned reliably, though the overheating issue remained. The modified weapons would be crucial for suppressing enemy positions during the assault.
On February 19th, the Marines landed on Iwo Jima. The beach was littered with obstacles, and the Japanese defenders were well-prepared. Grevich’s fire team moved out, and he quickly engaged targets with Betty Anne. The modified weapons provided critical fire support, allowing the Marines to advance despite heavy enemy fire.
## Proving the Stinger’s Worth
As the battle progressed, the effectiveness of the Stingers became apparent. Grevich and his fellow gunners used their modified weapons to suppress Japanese positions, enabling rifle squads to advance and clear obstacles. The rate of fire and mobility provided by the Stingers allowed the Marines to maintain their offensive momentum.
However, the stress of combat took its toll on the modified weapons. By the second day of fighting, several Stingers had experienced malfunctions due to overheating. Grevich and Little had anticipated this issue and had trained the gunners to manage the firing patterns carefully, allowing the barrels to cool between bursts.
Despite the challenges, the Stingers proved invaluable in the fight for Iwo Jima. They provided the firepower necessary to overcome entrenched Japanese positions, and their impact on the battlefield was undeniable.
## The Legacy of the Stinger
By the end of the battle, the 28th Marines had achieved their objectives, but the cost was high. The modified M2 machine guns had played a significant role in the success of the assault, demonstrating the effectiveness of innovation in combat.
However, the Stingers’ legacy was complicated. While they had provided critical support during the battle, their unauthorized status meant that their contributions would not be formally recognized. The story of Grevich and Little’s ingenuity would fade into obscurity, overshadowed by the larger narrative of the war.
After the battle, Grevich returned to civilian life, but he carried the lessons of Iwo Jima with him. He understood the importance of innovation and the need to challenge the status quo in times of crisis. His experience would shape his future endeavors, reminding him that sometimes the most effective solutions come from unexpected places.
In the years that followed, the story of the Stinger would be rediscovered by historians, highlighting the ingenuity and bravery of the Marines who fought on Iwo Jima. Grevich and Little’s efforts would be celebrated as a testament to the human spirit in the face of adversity, proving that innovation and courage can change the tide of battle.
## Conclusion
The tale of Major Mel Grevich and the improvised Stinger machine guns serves as a powerful reminder of the impact of creativity and determination in warfare. It illustrates how ordinary individuals, driven by necessity and ingenuity, can rise to the occasion and make a difference in the lives of their comrades. As we remember these stories, we honor the sacrifices made by those who fought for freedom and the innovative spirit that continues to inspire us today.
