Mission Log of Lawrence J. Landolfe DA-110
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OVERSEAS DIARY of
HERSCHEL D. DAVIS
Donor Original Source PIMA ID Donor ID Category
Richard P. Ellinger Herschel D. Davis na G-DA-114 G-DA-OCR
Introduction:

Following is a transcription made in 1994 by Herschel D. Davis of the diary that he kept beginning January 28, 1943 until June 13, 1944 covering his service in the Mediterranean Theater with the 17th Bomb Group.

This is provided here as an OCR scan (Optical Character Recognition) of the original dot matrix transcription and does have some typo errors that are characteristic to OCR scans.
OVERSEAS DIARY of

1st LT. HERSCHEL D. DAVIS

17TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP 95TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
(MEDIUM) MARTIN B-26

Spring 1994

The pages following this are an exact copy Of my 'Overseas Diary- written during the period from Probably December 1942 through June 1744. The diary begins, while I was at a small airbase South of Casablanca, with a summation of events occurring between the date of the departure of the 17th Bomb Group advance echelon from Barksdale Field in September 1942 and my first dated entry, Jan 28 1943. As one reads through these pages entries inside of brackets, [ 1, will be noted. Those are additions made today for clarification and for further detail.

I am adding other historical information about myself and the 17th, dating prior to the initial entry. In part, this is for the purpose of providing information for the archives that may otherwise not be known. If my data are redundant, please forgive me.
PROLOGUE

At some time in late 1939 or 1940 the 17th Attack Group transitioned from Northrup A17As to Douglas B-18s and B-23s, becoming a Medium Bombardment Group, and were transferred from March Field CA to Tacoma WA. Between that time and late fall of 1942 the 17th provided cadres for the 47th Bomb Group (L) 020s), the 12th Bomb Group (Med. B-25s), The 319th, 320th, and all of the B-26 training groups at McDill Field and Barksdale plus the detached group comprising the 'Doolittle Tokyo Raiders.' Thus the appellation "The Daddy of Them All' was appropriately applied to the 17th. When the Group was transferred from the east coast to Barksdale, a clerical transpositional error in Washington DC sent the 73rd Squadron to Alaska and the 37th to the 17th instead of to Alaska.

When the skeleton 17th was transferred to Barksdale Field from Charleston SC, the replacement pilots largely came from Classes 42E, F and 6. Half of my graduating class 426 at Stockton Field CA was assigned to the B-26 units at Barksdale field. Many of my Primary and Basic classmates who went to Advanced training at Fields other than Stockton were also assigned to Barksdale, and many of them to the 17th.

My class group arrived at Barksdale about August 1 1942. We were immediately assigned as copilots to pilots having, for the most part, only a few months of commissioned time. My first crew was with Lt. Ken Reddy but that lasted only long enough for that crew and a replacement for me (I was on AOD duty) to be killed in a crash. Ken had been the copilot for Capt Charles Ross Greening who invented the '20 cent bombsight" used on the Tokyo raid. Ross at the time of my arrival was a Major and out Squadron CO.

My next crew was with Captain Frank Walsh. Our Navigator was Lt. Henry Potter who was General Doolittle's Navigator on the Tokyo mission and one of our gunners was Sgt. Harry Barr now deceased, also one of the "Raiders.'

My first flight in a 8-26 wasn't until 18 August 1942. Between that date and 14 September I made only nine flights amounting to 24:35 hours, Some of those were at night, most were not with the same pilot, and on none of them was I given the opportunity to either take off or land.

I don't know how much B-26 time my classmates had by then, but about Sept 15 an advance echelon was formed under highly secret orders to go to "XXX)O(.' Later we found out that ')0000(* meant England. Among the officers were ten co-pilots and it few aircrew members. It, seemed obvious to me that someone with a great deal of forethought recognized that there would be a dire need for more crews than the T.O. allowed. So, we were all given function titles for positions that didnt exist. I was the assistant Communications Officer. By strange coincidence, I finished my active duty career as a Communications Officer/ Base Communications Inspector at Lake Charles Air Force Base in August 1945.

As will be noticed, I am making no attempt to delete statements of feelings of fear, loneliness, frustration, likes and dislikes. For such offense as this may cause some, they were my honest feelings at the time and there is no intent now to degrade or offend others. Especially, I hope the reader can detect the change in my emotional stability from that of a badly undertrained pilot to one who exhibited little debilitating fear at the end of the combat tour.

Now, On with The WAR.
DIARY PROLOGUE

After leaving Barksdale Field our advance echelon was sent to Camp Kilmer at New Brunswick N.J.. On the way we went through Okla, Arkansas, Kansas City, Des Moines, DuBuque, Chicago, Canton, Pittsburg, Harrisburg, Philly and Trenton. At Altoona Pa. I got 54 the train to get my men some candy, but when I got back to the station the train had just pulled out. I was scared--plenty. However, the Station Master put me on a fast passenger train and I got to camp Kilmer three hours before the rest of the gang arrived. I It was odd, until I was put on that train, I didnt know where we were going but everyone from a young lady on the train, to the Philly Station Master knew where to send me. I ended up having to pay my own fare from Philly to New Brunswick-about $1.75 1 think. At the station, I found an empty bus that was due to go back to the camp. I settled myself in a seat, still hugging my huge sack of candy, and in absolutely filthy summer suntans. A huge MP Captain stuck his head in the door and motioned me out. He said in a tightly controlled whisper "Lieutenant, Just where in THE HELL do you think you're going dressed like that?" I said "sir I'm trying to get to Camp Kilmer and I've been lost off my troop train all day and I'm tired and I'm hungry." Well that must have tickled his funny bone because he went into guffaws of laughter. He accepted my feeble excuse, stuffed a big horrible cigar in my face and took me out to the camp.]

While preparations were under way for overseas shipment, Capt. Dale, L ts Warren f.- ."HammA Ham i I ton , [Perry] Collins, [Warren] Salz and I commandeered a command car. [actually, Capt. Dale conned me into hornswaggling it out of the Camp Transportation Officer, a bird Colonel, who fell for my blarney.] We visited Jack Dempsey's, Club 21, Stork Club, El Morocco,and the Latin Quarter. [ We parked our car in the middle of Times Square where a kind Irish cop said he would watch out for it--and he did without ticketing us.] At Leon and Eddie's we ate dinner and Eddie (Davis) had 4 of his lovely show girls come down [off stage and took us back up on the stage] and dance wi th us. [ I had my f i rst taste of Grand Marn i er i n a cof fee royal e there . I Met a bunch of our upper class in "Club 21." Brought the car home at 1:15 am.

Left KiImer & got on the Queen Mary Sept 26. Next morning we left the Statue of Liberty behind. Found out that nearly all of 42F [my upper class] from Thunderbird [Field, Phoenix AZ] and Gardner [Field, Taft CA.] was on board.-- HamiIton and I were in room 76 on the Main Deck & "Doc." Louzan our Squadron Doctor was at my mess table- he's a screwy guy but a good Joe.

The trip was uneventful except that when we were a half day out, and just off the north coast of Ireland we ran over a destroyer [actually a flak cruiser] and cut it in half. The wreck sank [immediately] and only 35 men were saved. Queenie had a large hole torn in the prow. E This caused the speed to be reduced from about 25 knots to 8-10 which scared the beiabbers out of the Skipper--we had only our speed to keep a sub from using us for target practice.]

We anchored in the Firth of Clyde between Greenock and Guerrick (sp). On Sat. morning toe debarked and got on a train which took us through Glasgow and Edinburgh. We arrived at Royston, Hertsforshire the next morning and went out to Bassingbourne Airdrome. [Before debarking, we were all told that the damage to the Queen Mary was highly secret and we must not discuss it among ourselves or with anyone. The moment we arrived at Royston, we queried by troops at the airdrome as to whether or not we had been on the Queen When she was damaged! ! ! Axis SalIy had some comments on the accident within a day or two! So much for top secrecy!] This field was a pre war training OTU and had been used by Wellington Bombers. [Called Wimpies after J. Wellington Wimpy, a character in the Popeye comic strip.]
We immediately started to get the place ready for our Group. We had wonderful barracks with a real English Butler [who claimed to have been a part of Their Majesty's household at one time.] In the process of cleaning up, we discovered an old feudal castle whose name I can't recall. Royston had some good looking girls, but on the whole, the [British] girls are all homely & the men are good looking.

Moved up to Kimbolton and the 91st Bomb Group (B-17s) replaced us. [That was the hard luck outf i t that got a lot of publicity in a recent National Geographic.] At Kimbolton we didn't have very good quarters, but we did have a good officers club. Had a couple of parties and invited WAAF [British] from Cardington. [At] The second party I met Rosemary Orr who was a really sweet girl but not too good looking and too tall for me. I Im only 5'--5 1/2", also she was a member of the IRA!]

Hammy, Curry and I bicycled to St. Neots which pooped me out. T"was about 25 miles all told. England in winter is a poor place to be. The weather is foul all the time. I dont like it at all. Made a trip to London & stayed in the Park Lane Hotel. Not so hot, but exclusive.) Met Dorr i e , a mov i e ex tra. Pre t ty as heck bu t too tal I . [ I honest I y had to stand a full step above her on the stairs to kiss her.] Had a wonderful "mugging" Cie kissing] party with her but got ditched for a Captain with a pair of silk socks. Phooey!

Rumors of something big coming. Moved to Ibsley air-drome near Southampton and Bournemouth.

More rumors. On the 8th we were alerted to go to Casablanca, but we didn't go. [I, for one, had never heard of the place and didn't know where it was.] Incidently, our little group [at Kimbolton] has been split up with 15 Officers and 20 men [sent here to IbsleY] and the rest at Kimbolton. (At Kimbolton there was a Castle built by King Harold of Hastings (1066) fame. [WRONG!!! So much for memory-- I visited that area in 1975 and it was simply an 18th-19th century Manor House, used for a boys school. It was on the far side of Kimbolton from the airbase, but my memory had it as being right at the base perimeter.]

On the evening of the 14th of November we were alerted again to go to Africa. Another small group of our boys breezsed in. We were taken to Hearne where we waited until about 1:00 am to take off in a C-47. Flew on instruments all night, Almost got lost and ended up over Spain. At
daybreak we checked our position 20 miles offshore from Lisbon Portugal. [This was not a result of poor pilotage, the Germans manned a radio beacon in Spain that bent the signal our planes flew along. So some planes ran out of fuel, and others landed and were interned in Spain and Portugal.]

At 11:30 we landed at Cazes Airdrome, Casablanca, French Morocco. Went to town but couldn't find a hotel. Rolled my bed [roll] out in a hangar on the field. Stayed three days and was [sic] sent out to Mediouna Airbase. We [re-]built the field tip from the ground. There were 18 wrecked planes on the field, 2 Dewoitines, I Martin Maryland [early version of the B-26], 6 DB-7s [export version of the A-20], 8 P36s EP40 forerunner with radial engine] and a Grumman [Wildcat]. The [Navy] Grummans [from a carrier that had transported a P-40 Group to Africa] shot up all these planes on the ground but one got blown up in the blast from an exploding DB-7.]
Hammy and I were m4de official road builders with 60 Arabs as workers. These Arabs are a dirty, thieving beggarly bunch as a whole. However, I met the Kaid (the big shot) & he was a very clean, kindly, handsome Arab. [We later learned that the French Government allowed the Arabs (Berbers) to have an absolute minimum of clothing and food, and it was a heavy penalty if they were caught with more than their allotment of anything.--No wonder they begged and stole.]

We went into "Casa" several times and had good rooms A the Hotel Splendide. The owner's daughter, Mademoiselle France is a baggy babe Cie: not well structured] but lots of fun. Blalock, Pence and Beaton all took a crack at her but Beaton made the big hit.

Bob Cain's [a chum from high school days] outfit, the 47th Bomb [A-20s] has moved in. Sure was glad to see him. He and 14 other yardbirds were in the initial assault on Port Lyaute, which is 100 miles north. He was recommended for the Silver Star and I hope he gets it. [He did!] The 310th [8-25s] is also here

The urchins in "Casa" follow us all around. Americans are real curiosity. Every Saturday is pastry day and boy do we buy a lot of it.

We still don't know where the Airplanes and Pilots of our Group are. We 15 Officers hold every important post on the field except for Col. Meisenholder who is base CO. Scales [Group Engineering Officer] ran into Major Jones who says our outfit is down at Marrakech. OH BOY! [They were scattered al I the way from Baer Field Indiana down and across the Car i bbean to Natal , then across to Ascenc i on I sl and to Accra, Dakar , Marrakech, Oran and Algiers.]

On Dec. 24th we got relieved from duty with orders to report to Telergma Algeria. We were a1l recommended for Ist Lt. but it won't go through because I'm still a copilot. The only flying time I've had is 15 hrs 50 minutes of submarine patrol in PBY 5As. [During this period of time, we pilots had not had flying time. By coincidence I encountered B.Gen. Joe Cannon, our Wing Commander at Cazes and after finding out that I was part of the advance eche Ion of the 17th , he arranged for al I of us to get flying time in as Copilots on PBY-5As doing submarine patrol flights out to the Madeira Islands.] Those navy boys are swell fell-as I'd like to fly with them.

[Dec 24 19421. The C-47s came in this morning [to pick us up] and who should get off but "Pops" Dillworth [34th Sq.] who was one of my flying mates in Advanced. [ Davis, Davis, Dillworth, Dorrow and Dorsey.] He told us that Maulden, Bostic and Tiemann had been killed coming from the states. Tough luck, they were good guys

Flew over Meknes and Fez but landed at Oujda. [bad weather] Everyone got pie-eyed on Coneyac.[sic.] The airbase unit had liberated a whole warehouse full of Henessey and when we checked in at the Xmas-eve party we were hand TWO bottles and told to come back when those were empty.

[Dec 25th 19423 The next day - Christmas- we got hot Tom and Jerries, turkey, and dressing from the 68th Observation Sq.] boys commanded by Lt. Colonel Fordyce. Flew on past Oran to Blida 14 miles from Algiers. Ran across Bob Cain again. He flew up around Spanish Morocco through Gibraltar.
Left B1ida on Dec. 27th and flew on up to Telergma. The 319th [BG] and 33rd Fighter [P-40s] are already here. Heres where the fighting starts! No mail here yet darn it. Am assigned to John McClure as Co-Pilot-it's ok by me.

Had 5 [actually 3] dry runs before I got in the air. Thrasher and Beall's plane got a I I shot up over a place called Gabe's. So did Essmeyer. Ess. came in on the belly Se Thrasher folded up a wheel so those planes were lost. Beginning to get scared?? [so soon???!!]

On Jan Ist or 2nd [actually the 5th] Capt. Walsh and I went over Kairouan airdrome-was an easy target. [Mission 1]. Pence and Morton got shot down over Green Hill on the way home from Tunis. He [Pence] was the first to "go" out of the ten pilots sent to England.

[Jan 8? 1943] Went over toward Sousse but everyone got lost & we came home [mission 2.]

Hammy and Rollason went* down under control east of Le Kef . Thank goodness he was ok.

[Jan 10] Went over Kairouan again and had an easy time. #3.

[Jan 15] Went over a bridge 15 miles north of Gabes. Major Greening made a mistake and went [back] over the target again. We dived for the deck but those ME-109s came down right on top of us. I looked back just in time to see one of those little devils come up under a P-38. The P-38 made sort of a chandelle but didn't pull out. He hit and burned. I was almost crying [for him] and scared to death. The tail gunner called up and said that a -109 had come up under Captain Taggart and Beaton. They crashed and burned too. [Beaton was #2 of the Group of Ten to die.] France, in Casablanca, will be heartbroken when she hears of that. I'm really afraid of these raids now! <Who ain't.) [Mission 4]

[My flight log lists a dry-run to Gabe's and one to Tripoli. My memory tells me that we were briefed very early for Tripoli on an overcast day. In briefing were told that we would not Iikely have enough gas to get back and would have to belly in, or land, on a huge dry lake bed about 200 miles SE. The take-off went on time but the join-up was a Chinese fire drill. Single planes, elements and flights were all over the sky zooming in, out, and around the clouds. After 1:45 of being crazy everyone came home. I should have known then that some of our fearless leaders were every bit as scared as I was. If Im not mistaken, that episode and our general poor bombing record and plane losses got our Group Commander, Col. Curt Sluman kicked upstairs.]
1/28/43 Flew over Sfax with Major Greening. Boy! Those B-25s of the 320th [BG] took a real beating from the flak and 109s. I took moving pictures of the whole thing. [ I did this more than once for Greening but no one knows what happened to his camera or films after he got shot down over Mt. Vesuvius.] #5 mission.
1/31/43 Went over Gabe-'s. with Schultz, boy what a lot of flak those guys can toss up at us. Those Messerschmitts are the best fighters [planes] I ever saw.--They're mean too! Weve lost a lot of planes and crews. Lt. Ogburn was shot down the same day Captain Taggart died but in a week he and his crew got back home. They were captured and had to kill a German and an Arab to get away. It was his first raid too!

[The more complete story was that they -be I I ied in on the dry I ake bed mentioned above. They started hiking NW and got to an Arab village and split up into two groups of three. They gave their "Blood Chits" to the Arabs but one of the Arabs called in the Italians. An Italian Lt. put them in a jeep and started east. But, A German Sgt. intercepted them and outranked the Italian. So, he took them towards the German area. They had all been stripped of their weapons except for one of the crew who had his "45" in a shoulder holster. After they were under way, the crewman shot the German and Arab and they took off to the west again. They finally ran out of gas and started walking. After a long period their shoes were worn out on the lava rocks but before things got too serious they stumbled into an Allied outpost and nearly got shot before they could identify themselves.]
2/3/43 Went over Gabe's auxiliary with Major Greening. Lost another plane and crew. Boy! This war business is getting rough. So far the 95th [Sq.] hasn't lost a single crew in combat. [#6] [My flight log shows this to have been on Jan 30. 1 did get #7 mission in over Gabe's on the 3rd but with likely someone else as pilot.]
2/7/43 Made a raid on Sardinia today-the first raid by the 12th Air Force over Europe. General Doolittle says we did a good job--he has flown on a couple of raids with us land got told to knock it off by the high brass.] GHO says we did a good job too. [#8]
2/15/43 Big-Bill Kemp and I flew over Kairouan again. Boy, theyve got lots of flak and Me-109s there now & they're as mean as those at Gabe's. Pardee got a flak burst in his bomb bay and couldnt close the doors. Kemp and I, Thrasher and Beal, Appleget and Worley all tacked onto him and gave him an escort home. Any other time we would have gotten a DFC for it but not now, Oh well-- we saved Pardee's life anyway. I'm getting more and more afraid of these raids. [#9]
12/17/43 Well, it finally came. This morning Salz and Captain Younggren [took] old dry-run # 906 up for a test hop. For some unknown reason they dived into the ground from 6000 feet.

The alert crew went on another raid to Sardinia. For some unexplained reason Capt. Walsh and Lt Case [1432nd Sq. who later became an All American Halfback at UCL.A , and is now an attorney in LAI collided in midair. Case and his crew all bailed out. The gunners on Walsh-'s crew also bailed out but Walsh, Yeats and Kirk all rode it in to a crash landing. We don't know if they were killed or not but we don't think so. I have been made assistant Operations officer and Dupler is operations Officer.

Well it's always come in groups of two crackups at a time. I hope that's all for now and forever.
2/18/43. Had funeral for Capt. Younggren and the rest of the crew.

Doc. Louzan made his Captaincy today. He [says he] doesn't care for the rank, he's too easy going for that--all he wants is the money.

2/20.42 The weather has been bad for the last few days which has given us a much needed rest. The Germans have been making a big push and have taken Gafsa, Feriana, Thelepte and last night we [our troops] had to evacuate Tebessa. Darn it all, we've lost some important landing grounds. If [Marshal] Alexander doesn't take Gabe's soon we won't ever be able to bomb that joint again. I wonder when this German push will change directions?
2/22/43 German drive still going on. We have evacuated Tebessa. The weather is still poor. 16 ships took off after noon to bomb a pass near Kasserine but the clouds were too low and they couldnt get near the target. Im on the list for tomorrow flying tail-end charley again. We seem to get that position all the time. Rumors are that we will be doing 2 & 3 raids pr day. Boy, I hope not. More rumors that Von Rommell is now in Russia trying to get things operating [for the Germans]. Hammy made Ist. Lt. the other day. I'm as tickled about it as he is.

2/23/43 Raid wasnt too bad. Flew over the Kasserine Pass to bomb a troop concentration. I doubt if we did much good because there was a 10/10 ths overcast and when we came over the target there was just a darn small opening there. Kemp scares me to death with his formation flying. He is darn good but I just dont care to get two 82682s that close together. Not by a long shot. Rumors are that we will get the 320th [Bomb Group] in with us and all 8 squadrons will operate as units of IS crews and 15 planes. [#10]
2/24/43 Our Group has taken one heck of a beating in this African Campaign. Up till yesterday we only had 25 ships in service out of all those they brought from Baer Field [Fort Wayne Ind.] Today the 37th lost 3 crews and ships, the 34th lost one ship. "Pops" Dillworth brought it in on the belly. The other three either spun in or went down in flames over Tunis. Of the 10 extra copilots that went to England, only 5 are left. First Pence over Tunis (Green Hill), then Beaton near Gabe's, Salz on a test hop, and today it was McLeod and Anderson over Tunis. That leaves only Hammy, Sugrue, Mitchell, Collins and me.. Gosh it certainly hur ts to see al 1 that gang get shot up . One b i t of good news is that perhaps McLeod and Rohwer made a crash landing. I pray to God it's true. It's just plain suicide to go over Tunis unless it's a coordinated raid wi th the B-25s and B-17s. Why on earth they sent a 41 flight of just 12 planes into an area with such concentrated A.A. fire and Pursuit defense is more than I can f igure out. Even the 20 f ighters escorting us were not enough. Oh well!! All Bomber Command thinks about is getting another promotion.

2/25/43 Weather was pretty bad today-no flights. Heard that our bombing of the Kasserine Pass did a lot of good because the Jerries have retreated. Also heard that toe were going to do altitude bombing of convoys instead of skip- bombing. I hope its true. One more tall tale f rom W i ng was that we won' t have to bomb any targe t I i ke Tun i s aga i n under the same conditions.

2/26/43 No flying today due to bad weather. We were scheduled to go out after a big convoy but it fell through. [We were briefed to skip-bomb a large troop transport but by the time the clouds lifted it was already in port at Tunis. Turned out that it was the Italian luxury liner 'Rex" and it had a huge number of flak barges and other craft with it. We would have been dead pigeons had we attacked that flotilla.] It I ooks 1 i ke the ol d 17th has real I y got i t i n the neck now. A] I we are after from now on is merchant shipping. Boy I don't like this at all. I wish we could get a rest soon. Checked up and found that we knocked off 38 enemy planes, not counting those on the ground. We have lost about 12.

A roster of [95th Sq.] pilots that left Barksdale is. Mai Greening and me, Capt Younggren and Salz, Capt. Walsh and Yeats, Capt. Tiemann & Loeb. Shultz and Conlan, Johnson and Bondurant, Merriam and Stringhamp Cornelison and Caywood, Appleget and Kemp, McClure and Atkin, Beall and Thrasher, Bostick and Lamb, Sullivan and Clay, Tudor and Daniels, Dupler and Pitman, Abernathy and Keely. So far we've lost four crews. Bostick went first off the coast of Accra. Tiemann wend down north of Marrakech, Younggren here at Telergma and Walsh over Sardinia. Abernethy is still in the states [never did come on over and we never heard further from or about him.]
2/28/43 Finally got good weather and tried to bomb a* bridge north of Sfax. Couldnt make it because of too many clouds and also 9 Me 109Gs jumped us. Well, I'lI relax for now, I dont fly tomorrow. Saw Phil McMills tonight, first time since last April. [Basic flying school.] He's flying P-40Ls with the 33rd Fighter Group. He says old "pot-belly" Fletcher is a first pilot on a B-17. I guessa lot of "42G from Stockton is over here. In fact a lot of 426 [from the west coast training command] is here. [#11]

3/1/43 Group took a real beating today. Our squadron lost two ships and the 432nd two. Lts Appleget, Caywood and Martin were killed over the El Diem bridge, flak blew their tail off and they went in. Capt. Kirstens of the 432nd was knocked down by an Me 109 . Lt Boone be I I i ed in at Youks Les Bains. Lt Schultz and Col. Baumeister bellied in here. Lt Weppner [the Bombardier] had one eye shot out. That sort of messes up our squadron a bit. Anyway, they got the bridge.

3/4/43 Have had good weather the last couple of days. The Group went out on a sea sweep and did very little good. Rumors are flying that we are on the move on the front lines again. It seems that we have penetrated to within 60-odd miles of Sousse or Sfax. I guess the big push is on. I'm due to go tomorrow. I wonder if it's a sea sweep?

3/5/43 No flight today--icing and overcast. Got 24 torpedoes some mines in [along with a navy Lt. Senior Grade to take care of them--he stayed plastered most of the time on torpedo juice.] My. Ist Lt. recommendation was made out today. I hope it goes through soon. No more news on the big push.

3/6/43 No mission. Went out with Schultz and really buzzed the area Quzzed = flew low),scared me bad. The real big push is to start tonight at midnight. I wonder?

3/8/43 Am in "rest camp" 20 miles from Algiers. It came as a complete surprise to me. Got on transport this morning and here we are. Tomorrow we are supposed to go to Agadir which is about 150-250 miles south of Casablanca. I doubt if we go-the weather is dud. Saw Ann Barron today. She is a nurse from good old Barksdale. She should fix me up ok. Was in a movie short today [promoting air evac flight nurses]. Hmmm--the blonde one was a beauty.

3/9/43 Moved down to Marrakech today. Couldn't go any further. Slept in the Casino.
3/10/43 Flew to Agadir this morning and am now in the Hotel Terminus. Boy what a place. Jim Conlan and I are in one room. This hotel is overlooking the bay which-is a blue as can be. I think this place will be plenty OK. Bought a whole box of Lifesavers--YUM! Have a wonderful shower, will use it night and day.
3/11/43 Sat around and rested all day. Food gets better all the time. T'iz rumored that we will go on a gazelle hunt next week--oh boy!

3/12/43 More resting today. Went on top of the mountain to the old fort or Casbah. There was an old cannon made in the seventh century up there. The fort was just a mass of ruins with the usual dirty Arabs inside

3/13/43 Still more resting, played ball and rode bicycle, that's all,

3/14/43 Went to native market and saw a snake show. The old boy had a whole bunch of snakes including a Cobra. He knelt down in front of it and let it hit him on the head. It must have been rendered impotent [sic] or something. I also met a beautiful French girl, only Conlan has her sewed up already-the lucky dog. Tomorrow we go for a yacht ride I think.

3/15/43 Went on a yacht ride all right. I only caught 3 little old fish though. McArthur caught 7 fish, I eel and I lobster, of all things. We also caught pieces of rocks, starfish etc. The trip wasnt much--only 10-15 miles up the coast and about 3 off shore. The skipper had been all over the world and spoke American with ease. One of his men caught a dog-fish and when it was cut open, 4 baby fish fell out.

3/16/43 More sack time. We're supposed to go on a trip up to an oasis but it fell through.

3/1743 Went to a party at Lucienne Gautier's house tonight. Boy what a girl!! [see 3/14 above]. Didn't have too much fun so came home early on that account. I guess Conlan will chew my fanny when he comes in.

3/18/43 More sack time. Am leaving the rest camp and will go to Casablanca tomorrow, Inshallah!! [lord willing]

3/19/43 arrived at Casa at 5:30. The 335th [fighter Gp.] is at Marrakech now Went to Hotel Splendide and got rooms. When Francine [Mile France] saw me she burst out crying. Fine thing!!

3/20/43 Saw Major Hayes and Col. Sawin today [from mediounal. Had long talk with Francine.
3/21/43 Am back in Telergma again. Came all the way in one day. Saw Ann Barron again. She just got back from here. The boys told me that Logan and Pardee went down Con a sea sweep]. Only 33 planes left In the group now. Also, Sugrue is gone-only 4 of us left Tough luck! [The four of us survived the war but HAmilton was killed during the Korean war]

3/22/43 The boys knocked off a couple of ships today but two of our planes went down. One whole crew gone and two from another [squadron?]. Its getting worse all the time.

3/23/43 Saw Ann Barron again and brought her over to our mess for dinner. I'll have to see more of her I guess.

3/24/43 Flew over and bombed a landing ground west of El Diem. Bedford's ship got the left wheel nacelle shot out so Kemp and I escorted him home. We were lucky to only encounter plenty of heavy flak and no pursuit of any sort. We had about 44 fighters to cover us.

3/25/43 No raid today. Lots of rumors floating around: maybe we'll get B-25s with a 75mm cannon in the nose; maybe will go home, maybe will moveto The1epte or Tebessa. ; maybe get rep1acements here & keep on getting killed. Kemp is in for some sort of medal for escorting those planes home. I guess the co-pilot doesn't count but he's sure as Hell sitting there beside the pilot when it all happens!!
3/28/43 No activity in the group for the last three days. Something must be in the wind. There's all sorts of [new] rumors floating around: we are or are not going to India; we are or are not going to be split up. Corny [Cornelisen] Mack EMcClurei, Beall Me and Goodrich are being transferred out to something somewhere I think. All I want is to get out of B- 26s as soon as I can . Major Hayes at Mediouna says he'll make me base operations officer if I can get out of this blasted outfit. I'll go crazy if I don't get out. If I get transferred to another 26 outfit I'll be the worst "f"up they ever saw.

3/30/43 Went down to Batna to see the Roman ruins of Timgad (Thumagaudi.) It dates back to the time of Hadrian. Some beautiful ruins there. It's too bad there isn't some means to take care of them.

Last night Doc. Louzan told me I was all through with combat flying and that I would be sent to a transport outfit maybe. I certainly hope i'm [sic] right.

3/31/43 Mission called off today. Gabe's has fallen and is now in our control. The 10th and 21st Panzers are retreating & it wont be long now. Rumors are that Sfax has been heavily shelled.

4/1/43 Today nearly all the Group went to Rest Camp at Agadir, Fez and Algiers. It's a good deal

4/2/43 Johnson, Merriam, Glaze, McAda, Sullivan, Jackson and I are all on DS to the 3rd Area Service Command. What's cookin'????

4/3/43 Sully, Glaze and I are at Ain M-'Iilla. It seems as though we will handle convoys of ammo, bombs and gas to Tebessa and Youks [Les Bains.] I think things are going to break ok for us. There is a Captain Blanchard here who has pull up at HO and he is gonna be sent back to the US to be CO of a new Troop Carrier unit. Well he needs twin engine pilots and it sounds like a good job for me and Sully. He wants a letter from Doc. Louzan certifying that we are unfit for combat but OK for C-47s and C53s.

4/4/43 Got Doc to make out those letters & we'll take 'em to.Constantine in a day or so. Boy, I hope all will come through OK. McAda called in and said that Diamond [Major Charles, became CO replacing Ross Greening who went to Group HO] said not to worry, that we would be taken care of OK (?????). [Little did we know that we were really in the dog-house and that Doc's letters made it worse.]

4/5/43 More convoy loading. Went to Telergma and found out that Dupler was flying at night as target for searchlights. Brrr. Found out that Rollason was killed yesterday in a crackup.

4/6/43 More Arab chasing.
4/7/43. Glaze got the Purple Heart or something today. Also found out that Curlee and Haugstadt were killed last night. They overshot the field and hit a mountain.

4/8/43 Nothing new. Our big push is going strong up front. Jim Conlan's Ist. Lt. Promotion is in HO at Constantine so maybe mine is too.

4/15/43 Am in Youks tonight. have spent the last three days out with a convoy [of twelve trucks with black drivers. I learned fast to not be racist when it came to sleeping warm in the back of a GI truck] that went from Ain M'lilla to Montesquieu to Souk Arras to Montesquieu, to Le Sers to Le Kef and to here. Now we turn back and go to Thelepte and then to Souk el Arba & shuttle for a few days. After that we return to Youks and shuttle to Le Sers. It will take over a week.

I wish I knew whether my promotion came in and how soon we will be put back on flying status again. In the last week the 8th Army has moved from Gabe's to Enfidaville. Our bad targets of Kairouan,El Diem, and La Smalla Des Souassi are all taken along with Sfax and Sousse. I'll probably end up convoying way over there somewhere (I hope not.) I hope Sully brings me some mail when he gets here.

4/17/43 Am back at Youks again. Have been down to Thelepte and to Kasserine and clear up to Souk el Arba. Bob Cain was in the bunch that I convoyed up and I got him in my truck for a while. Am going back to Ebba K'sour tomorrow I think.

This desert, if it is to be called that, is really beautiful at this time of the year. Those big red poppies grow everywhere along with daisies and flowers similar to buttercups and bluebonnets. In the last week Ive been way up in the pines where it looks like the hills in Arizona and way down on the desert where it looks like the San Joaquin Valley [California's central valley.] It's amazing how this country resembles that in california. I'd like to see some of the other desert south of Biskra and Gafsa or Chott el Dierid. If it's any dustier than the road from Thelepte to Le Kef it must be a killer. Saw Sully this Eve. and he had no mail & no news of my promotion. I'm wondering if one was sent in for me or not!!!!.
4/24/43 Am back at Ain M'lilla again. Saw Carter I probably the CO of the Truck Co.] up at Youks and told him off, so the next day we all came home. I dont know if that helped or not but here we are. Have had a rough time getting this railroad yard in order again.

Mc. Ada came down and told us this amazing story: 1.) we are here because we are being punished and which is why we were out on convoy! 2.) In about six days we will be called up to see Major Reynolds [???] who will; give us our choice of several flying jobs." Now, what beats me is why we three here are being punished. We were put on DS by orders & notby our own request. Will have to look into this a little later. As for the flying jobs, we'll see!!

4/28/43. Nothing new happening but it should any day now. My promotion still hasn't come in and I can't figure it out. Well, Im still praying for it. I just noticed that I forgot to mention that when I ferried Bob Cain into Souk el Arba that we got dive bombed by Me-109s. They have a cute little trick of coming in about 10,000 [feet] and diving almost to the deck with 250 or 500 pounders and strafing everything. Well this time they got one A-20 and the ack-ack held them up above 5000. 1 hope that's my first and last real air raid.

5/1/43 Well things should break today. I went to Col. Miller & told him our story & he's going to try to get us in this outfit. Sounds good to me.
5/5/43 My above mentioned plan didn't work (as yet). I am now transferred to the 47th Bomb Wing as night fighter controller. It's a soft job but we work at all hours of the night. It is now 03:10 for example. We still don't know whether we will go back to combat or not. I don't think we will but who knows? I'd like to keep this job for the duration.

Sure are lots of storks around here, They kept me awake last night with their noise, clapping their beaks open and shut. My promotion didn't go through for some reason. I guess the [home] folks are wondering why I've never gotten one. Well, so far circumstances beyond my control have prevented it.

5/8/43 This job isn't bad at all. We have a desk raised above the plotting board and whenever any plane comes around we can mark his progress on the board and tell just where to send our fighters. Some fun!

5/17/43 Nothing much new has happened the last couple of weeks. The African campaign is completed as of the 15th. Tunis and Bizerte fell about a week or so ago. The 17th has moved up to Sedrata. They were in on the big raids on Sicily last week, & along with the rest of the 12th AF are enjoying a three day rest. Rumors are rife as to where the 12th AF will go now. India? China? who knows.

5/27/43 Nothing unusual. Am still on same job. Lt.Col Kellogg and Lt. Col Fordyce were killed Sunday in a crack-up. Major [Ted] Willhite [Group Ops.] says he put in a plug for Herbert & myself so perhaps we will get promoted. Jim Conlan and Essmyer are being assigned to Wing. Have found out that the story about us being punished is so much hogwash.

6-4-43 Well more travelling is in store for us. This searchlight deal is being abandoned which leaves Herb, Pops, Fish, Joe and me out in the cold. We are being sent to La Salamander near Oran to an Officers reassignment and replacement pool. Who knows what will happen there. Maybe the Transport deal will come through after all. No promotions in view darn it. Found out that our [Wing] Special Services Officer is Banks McFaddin who was an All American from Clemson & that Col. Goodman the Searchlight CO was also one in 1923 at West Point!-More fun!- lie: big deal]

[In retrospect, I am amazed that I didn't mention a chance meeting I had with B.Gen. Ridenour, our Wing Commander early one am when I was having my "dinner" after work, and he came in for breakfast. He asked if he could have his meal with me and of course I agreed. After he inquired as to who I was and what I did he said *oh, youre one of the pilots who refused to fly combat! I just forwarded the papers on you yesterday to go to Casablanca to meet the Flight Evaluation Board.

In sheer shock I hastened to inform him that I had never refused to fly combat although I did say that I told Kemp after the 24 May. mission that I would never fly combat again if I had to fly with him. I also informed the General that I had never seen any copy of charges against me and had never had a chance to reply by endorsement to anything. Then, it came out that Doc. Louzan had told the CO I had a bad case of combat fatigue. He based that on the fact that one day I heard about sleeping pills for the first time and asked if I could try one. As I was assistant Ops. Officer, I had to make out all the flight schedules and tried to make sure that I stayed among the top list of pilots with most combat missions. When I didn't have to fly I would sleep a good share of the day. Then at night I had a hard time sleeping any more. So I made a dumb request for a sleeping pill.

Thirdly, Diamond was P.O.ed at me because I had tacitly refused to move into his cubicle with the rest of the Sq. Staff. So, when Kemp told him about my comment, and Doc. told about the sleeping pill his ire at me was "slightly'' raised. But, the other six pilots who were put on DS with me had all refused specifically to fly combat. So, I got tarred with the same brush.

This information stunned the General and he apologized because he had overlooked checking for the reply by endorsement, and said that there was noway he could retrieve the papers on me. So, he went into detail as to how I could stand the Flight Eval. Board on its ear, IF! I really hadn't refused to fly combat and would, if necessary, fly the B-26 again.

So, I followed his advice and as you will see, I ended up back in the 17th, 95th Sq. again.]
6/8/43 More Crap! They've decided not to release us but to keep us on DS with someone & it seems like it may be for the duration. Boy we were really gigged this time.

6/8/43 S.U.S.F.U! [Situation as usual, still FOULED up] Tomorrow we move to Chateau Dun & help Dill1worth]. Goodness only knows how long it will last, I sure don't. Ran across Albright and his pilot today over at Chateau. Also ran into Oil Freeman who is a [Class 42]"G" man from Stockton. Gosh it's been a long time since I've seen him

6/11/43 Yesterday was Mary's I my sister] anniversary & I couldn't send her anything darn it.
Well we've been here at Chateau Dun for 3-4 days now & it looks like we will be here for a long time.

6-16-43 Was wrong about being here a long time. Our job is completed here and our orders say to report back to the 47th Wing. We've sent off a radiogram for further instructions. We will probably leave in a day or two.
Have certainly run into a lot of my upper class and lower class around here. Geodecke, John Burns, Larsen, Freeman, Fletcher, Albright, Rimpau, Carr and one other.

6-18-43 Answer came to our radiogram & it says to report to Salamander. So far the direct orders haven't shown up. We've been waitng four [????] days now so they should show up soon.

Some of the boys in the B-17 outf its near here who were due to be sent home, were put into the ATC. That's the job for me. [But], in a way

I hope to be sent back to the Group because I'm ready for combat again. I'm getting plenty tired of just sitting around--there's a War to be won yet.

Saw Hammy the other day and he says Frank Dorsey is in the 95th Sq. now. Id like to see the jerk [this really was intended as a friendly word because we were close friends]. Dorsey got killed a couple of weeks after reporting to the 95th. He spun in over Sicily [when the spare plane, in filling in, came up underneath him. Both crews were killed.] I feel sorry for Norma [his new wife] because she was nuts about him.
6-23-43 Well we've f inally got started on our way to the re-assignment pool . Lef t Telergma yesterday and got here to La Senia [Oran Airport] about 1:30. Had to go up to Salamander for orders last night and came back here to La Senia this morning. Can't leave here until tomorrow for Casablanca where we meet the Board. Visited in Oran this afternoon--town isn't any better than Casa.

It seems like the invasion [of Sicily] is very near. The Ist and 2nd Armored Divisions Se a lot of other troops are massed here near Oran. Several convoy steamers wee not allowed to leave port because they are going to be needed. Also I ran into a fellow in the CA (AA) [Coast Artillery Airborne] who is in an Airbourne [sic] NG batallion & who said his outfit is ready for the mad dash. Also ran into one of my upperclassmen who came over on the Queen Mary with me and was forced down [out of gas in his P-393 in Portugal. Name Jake Mahler.

6-26-43 Flew in here Yesterday at Casablanca & am-now at the 20th Rep]. Btn. [fondly called the repple depple] . All the gang is here- Lacy, Larsen, Silsbee, Sully, Johnson, Merriam, Mollett, Van Trease, Jackson, --in fact everybody that was in the NASAF that got grounded with less than 50 raids. The amount of raids the boys have varies from I or 2 to almost 50. Saw lots of guys from my lower and upper class. Saw Jim Burke whom I hadn't seen since Barksdale.

Bought my first real candy bar & f irst real ice cream I've had in months. Most of the gang have net the Board but don't know what the score is yet. A bunch of "fresh meat" came in last night all set for the 'War" phooey.

7-17-43 Have been up to Alters to see the Psychiatrist. I hope he doesn't ground me!!! [Coincidently, that Dr. was the same Dr. that gave me my Aviation Cadet flight physical at March Field back in 1941.1 A ship blew up out in the harbor and really knocked the windows out. It was sabotage. Sicily was invaded the day I got [back] here. [Odd-- I left my cigarettes and Zippo lighter on my bunk when I left for Algiers, and after several days absence, ther were still there when I returned. Then that day I went to shower, and when I got back they had been stolen!!! Another oddity--one night a sentry near- my tent hollered HALT--HALT --HALT! ! , and then a I oud bang. Seem as though a came I refused to give the password so the jittery sentry shot him.]

7-21-43 Glick came down from Group today and says that Col. Greening, Stierstorfer, Major Diamond and Hoch went down over Naples [actually over Vesuvius]. All of them bailed out ok. It looks like the 17th is back in the groove losing crews again.

8-13-43 Have been here at Casablanca for nearly two months. I've met the evaluation board and they don't know what to do with [or about] me. [Gen. Ridenour sure had them pegged, but I was still very apprehensive about my flying future.] I wish they would hurry up and decide. I got a letter from Mom the other day and she was so relieved that she cried when I told her I had been grounded. That will help my morale a lot if I get grounded permanently.

This place gets monotonous after a while. There's a lot to do but it gets boresome [sic]. The usual routine is to lay around and censor mail in the morning. Go to the Red Cross & eat ice cream & see the [movie] show afternoons, drink this poor excuse for beer and wine in the evening & see the show here at the f ield at night. This can be changed by going to the beach and swim & then eat supper at La Reserve. We've found one place in town where we can buy steak, chicken & porkchops, all sold to this restaurant by the Black Market. But even so [with all this posh life] I wish the Board would make up its mind about me.
8-25-43 Well the 20th Repl Btn. is moving up to Constantine day after tomorrow & we will have to tag along. Herbert met the board again and they busted him [back to 2nd. Lt.] and put him in the Ferry Command. I still dont know whats happening to me.

9-2-43 Here we are at Khroub Airport which is about 6 miles SE of Constantine. We left Casa sometime in the evening on Fri. nite and arrived here yesterday morning. All this time between we travelled on a crummy old train with 2 3rd class cars for some of us and box cars [40 et 83 for the rest. I slept on one of the slatted benches that served as a seat & after 5 nights and 4 days of it the cinders were like gravel all over us. I managed to take an ice cold shower yesterday but goodness knows when I'll get another one. This place is a real tent city. It reminds me of my recruit days in 1940 but of course we dont have a shower, latrine, mess hall, wooden floor & gas stove at our disposal. It's extremely hot here. Nothing at all like the cool ocean breezes we had at Casa.

There's a "fair" snack bar in town so when & if I go in, I'll eat there. Still, even with all the luxury that Casa offered it seems good to be back in the area where my combat career started,

Sept-5-43 Italy was invaded day before yesterday. The 8th Army made a bridgehead 10 miles in length near Reggio Di Calabria. Everything is going well, but where is the US 7th Army?

Sept 8 1943. Italy surrenders today. We should be knocking at Germany's door soon.

Major Willhite was visiting Casa while we were still there & he told me that both Kemp and myself had been recommended for the DFC but it had been disapproved. Wouldn't that frost you? [Kemp did get his DFC though]

Oct 3, 1943. One year ago tomorrow I landed in Scotland. It's been a long hard year & I hope the coming one isn't quite at tough. Saw Hammy today, he came down to get Pops, Glaze and myself to come to a party up at Tunis but Pops & Glaze were leaving and I wasn't sure I could get a pass so we didn't go.

Saw Major Engstrom the other day and he said I was supposed to report to BTC and check out in B-26s & go back to combat. I sure hope they hurry up. My orders should come through any day now. Guess Im not grounded.

[More importantly] thought I had gotten rid of all the bedbugs in my "sack" but it seems that there is still one or two around somewhere.
Oct 8, 1943 Well, my orders finally came through and I am here at BTC [Telergma] for a refresher course in B-26 manipulation. [Whadda ya mean refresher course? I only had 72:25 hrs just sitting in the right seat and NEVER having a chance to take-off or land the critter! Oh well-on with the war(?)] I've been trying to switch to B-17s but it looks hopeless.

Hammy, Burgess and Morehead moved in yesterday and they are to instruct the Frenchmen in B-26s--Poor boys, I don't envy them at all.

Oct 25, 1943. Not much new has happened since my last entry. Dillworth and I have been flying quite a bit with me as his copilot. We may go back to combat as a team. Yesterday Lt. Eastburn and I flew down to Biskra just for fun. We took along a nurse just for fun too. We saw where the "Garden of Allah" picture of the same name was taken. It's an extremely beautiful spot. We plan to go there next Sunday.

I had a little trouble the other night. I told a full Colonel--the BTC C.O. ---to get back in the chow I ine. I thought I because I was speaking to his back] that it was Lt. Mac CIA Ian. OH woe is me! Hammy is a Captain now.

Nov 7 1943 My orders came the other day and I am to report to the 12th Bomber Command for Assignment. I hope I hit the 319th but it wil 1 probably be the 320th. I Can't imagine why I thought this, or why???]. Held West and Pops got their orders at the same time. We wi 11 leave either tomorrow or the next day.

Nov 11 1943- We 11 here I am back in the same ol d 95th Bomb Sq . again. I don't know whether I'll get to stay. but here I am. [Crazy war-- I was told by the rear echelon commandos that "I could NOT go back to the 17th Op. 95th Sq. because of the shame of refusing to fly combat. I said hey--not so, I never refused and told you so. They said, no matter, you can't go back. So- when I checked in at Wing HQ. assignment office, one of my old Cadet buddies was the assignment officer. He says where do you want to go? I said 95th Sq.- -he says OK, I says what about the rear echelon guys? He says they dont assign, I do!! So back to the 95th again,]

The outf it has been on OTU for a month but tomorrow they are scheduled for a raid. I'm not on the list. There's only one flying officer & four enlisted gunners that were in the old 95th. Thank goodness I know all the ground officers though. [and they all knew what a shafting I took].

Went into Tunis today. It's a raunchy town no better than Oran. [Golly, I sure sound negative about those cities. I cannot imagine what I expected.- Maybe a Hollywood setting like 'the Garden of Allah was?]

Nov 23, 1943 Went on my 13th combat mission today. It was a milk run no flak, no fighters. I hope the rest will be as easy. Was over Ceccina Italy.

The last few days Ive flown over to Sardinia where the 319th and 320th are located.[we were at Diedeida in Tunisia.] They say that the Italians are very hostile toward us. That isn't new though, because the French, Italians and Arabs here in Tunisia don't act like old long lost buddies either as far as I can see. It seems like the Germans only mistreated the Jews and also spread a lot of no good [American] currency around. So no one gave a darn [about us being liberators] one way or another.

Nov 24. 1943 Was spare ship today to Go to Salon A/D near Marseilles France. Didn't complete the mission because no one fell out of formation-oh well, better luck next time.

Thanksgiving day we had a swell dinner with turkey, green onions, pickles,cranberry sauce, potatoes, gravy, bread and ice cream. Boy, I couldn't walk for a couple of hours I was so full.
Dec 4, 1943. Have been so busy that I haven't had a chance to write in this diary. Two more sorties and a dry run to my credit since the last entry. One target was Guidonia A/D near Rome but there was a solid overcast lie undercast]. [No. 143. The next target [No. 151 was supposed to be a little innocent bridge north of Rome. But we went over the A/D at Perugia and got the heck shot out of us. The 432nd lost one ship and crew and we don't know if they've -been found yet or not. The dry run was supposed to be over the same bridge but as. I was spare ship again we had to come home.

I am scheduled for the next raid but it wont come off for several days as we start moving to Villacidro [Sardinia] tomorrow.
Dec. 10, 1943 We are finally installed in our new home & it is pretty nice. Our tents are pitched in a grove of walnut & olive trees on a gentle slope. The ground is covered with moss and green grass. The only drawback is that everything is damp. I've moved in with Al Woodill, John Cain and P.K. Young, who all seem to be nice fellows Se as screwy as I am.

The group has been out on two raids since we've been here. The usual run over the bridge at Olveto [sp--s/b Orvieto]. The one today was near Nice in France. I should be on the next one.

Dec 13, 1943 Yesterday, Cain, [Bill] Johnson and an [Italian] enlisted man and I took a trip to Iglesias which is a small town about 30 miles from here. We went, ostensibly, to buy some bed spreads [for our families], but when we got there the Italian [storekeeper's] family made us come in and eat with them. First came a big dish of macaroni and sauce to be washed down with wine. Then came a huge chunk of roasted mutton spiced with garlic, & still more wine. After this came a course of almonds and one of Oranges with a new sweet wine. Finally it was topped off with coffee. During the last part of the meal an Italian soldier came in, then later an Italian pilot. Everything was fine till he came along, then things got tense. We sure did a lot to advance friendly relations between us & these people. They want us to come back for Xmas dinner but I don't think I will pass up turkey though. The people on this island don't seem to care about us one way or another as long as we don't bother them. I'd hate to have them mad because the men all carry a shiv or a gun & sometimes both. Brrr.

Lots of new rumors floating around these days. We may have to do 50 missions & toe may not. Most of the pilots will have to go to train pilots at Telergma when they do finish.

12/15/43 Well it looks like we're going to be grounded for a while. Last night we had one of the heaviest rains Ive ever seen. Everything was flooded de the planes can't be moved for several days. Woe is me--how will I ever finish 50 missions?

New rumors that the Nazis & Fascists are sending workers and agents into northern Sardinia to stir up trouble. It could be pretty mean business. [As I recall this was somewhat true. It became standing procedure to check under the seats of our jeeps for grenades because some guys got blown up that way. I don't recall how such a check out was made.] The front seems to be at a deadlock right now for-some reason or another.(Couldn't be weather??)
12/17/43 The field dried off and a mission was on but it was cancelled.

I just happened to remember an incident that happened in Tunis before I left. Cie while still at Djedeida] I ran across one of the Frenchmen that was in training in Telergma and he took me into the "Residency" in town to have a drink with him and his wife. When we got there we found that the room was full of people. One man spoke excellent english Se it was remarked that he had an American wife who lived in Washington D.C. After we left the party I asked who he was and the Frenchman said he was the equivalent of Sumner Welles!!! [The Sec. of State] WOW! Anyway, that gentleman invited me to come in at anytime & see him and have a drink. I must be getting up in society or something.

12-18-43 Am on the schedule for tomorrow. Gonna be a big raid. All groups are going out & we are to supply 48 ships. Our Squadron is leading the Group. For more information see tomorrow's edition.
12-21-43 Big raid still 1 hasn't come off yet. Really poor weather the last couple of days & its still raining. Boy! This is the place from whence "The Rains came". Found out that the raid wasn't going to be too hot after all. The Jerries have moved about 200 fighters into the area & one of these days when we don't have an escort we're gonna get it in the neck!!

Forgot to mention that Herbert was killed last month. It seems that he was checking out in a P-39 at Maison Blanche & had a mid-air collision with someone. Poor kid, his wife will probably go crazy. I'm sure glad there's no one like that to worry over me.

Today I brought my memory (?) into play and realized that one of the guys [a pilot in my Sq.] who had just come back from [a long stay in] the hospital was a guy who took his physical with me at March Field in 1941! over two years ago. Boy what a memory.

12-23-43 Finally got off the ground today but we took off in a bad rainstorm & lost the main part of the formation. Five of us flew around for 3 hours and then came home. 30-36 airplanes got off and went over the marshalling yards at Imperia just inside the Italian border near Nice. Am scheduled for the raid tomorrow to make up for the one I missed today.

12-24-43 Was briefed for M/Y at Pisa but it was overcast so we splattered bombs all around Ceccina M/Y. Very poor bombing. Mc Kay's engine cut out and he nearly spun in-other than that everything was pretty smooth. Could see the Alps as clear as if they were right under our wing. It was really beautiful. [No. 161

12-25 Christmas day--the big day for most people--for us, just another day and another mission completed. Lots of the guys got polluted [drunk] last night but I didn't for some reason. We even had two $20 bottles of scotch and I didn't bother with them. We were supposed to go to Pisa M/Y again but when we got just off the coast of Corsica the Group leader led us through a "hard center" [???] cloud & my flight got lost as usual. Capt. Kundrath led us up to the coast of Italy but we couldn't see anything so we came back. We got a sortie apiece out of it though. [No. 171 No flak, no fighters.

Our Xmas dinner was good but not as good as Thanksgiving. We had turkey, candy, sweet potatoes., oranges,nuts, water, donuts, pears, pickles, cauliflower and gravy. Not bad, not bad at all for a field mess.
12-26-43 Today I am an old timer. I have completed 3 years. in the Army Air Corps. Half enlisted man and half officer . Not so proud of my promotion record but it couldn't be helped. Al Woodill was made Sq. Operations Officer Se it seems like a good deal all around. Today the Group went over the M/Y at Pistoia & did an excellent job according to the pix. No flak, no fighters.

I've never written it down before but my numbers seem to center at 26. 1 enlisted on the 26th, got commissioned on the 26th and am flying a B-26. Maybe I should to write to Ripley. [I overlooked the fact that I was inspired to be a pilot by the P-26s of the 34th Sq. when the 17th was a Pursuit Group at March Field in the middle-late 30s. Also, I started flying as a cadet on the 26th, got on the Queen Mary for England on the 26th. I couldnt have known in 1943 that after combat the next combat plane I flew would be the A-26, would meet my future wife when 26 years old, get engaged on the 26th and married on the :26th and after 26 years of marriage get separated and nearly divorced.]
12-27-43 Well the 95th SNAFU'ed today. We missed the target by a mile. It was supposed to have been the M/Y at Poggibonisi lsic]. Tomorrow will be a tough one I think; 48 ships loaded with frag bombs. It will probably be the airdrome at Salon near Marseilles. Before I forget it, M/Y = marshalling yards, L/G = landing grounds, flak, ack-ack and AA mean antiaircraft artillery. land A/D = Airdrome] There will probably be beaucoup fighters and ack-ack tomorrow.

12-28-43 Group went over Guidonia A/D again and encountered only moderate flak and no fighters. One plane bellied in at Naples. I went as spare. According to reports the bombing was very good.

12-29-43 Had an easy time today. Went over Poggibonsi M/Y. No flak. no fighters. Half [of the group] went to a RR and M/Y near Poggi and the other 18 went to Poggi. Had an escort of about 10 Spittys. [No. 181 1 wish the 22 raids that I have left yetto go would be as easy but I imagine they will be getting rougher before long.

These Sardinian towns are placed in the most awkward spots; on top of peaks, on cliffs, in canyons--anyplace but where one would think they would stay.

12-30-43 Today the group went over a Tactical target at Cassen Vento or something [actually Rocca Secca]. Anyway they ran into a lot of mobile flak along the front lines. All six of our ships were hit several times but none too severely. I went out as spare ship & didn't get to fill in. I did get to shoot a landing from the right seat though. [Hallelujah--after 18 months I finally got to land an airplane again, and my ego memory says it was a good one.] son supposed to get some transition time tomorrow but we only have 8 ships in commission so I may not get in any at all.

This coming invasion is slowly but surely building up & coming to a head like a boil. Big shifts of command & movements of troops are being made daily. I am probably wrong but I think it will happen within the next two to four weeks.

Just found out that I am on the 1 ist for tomorrow & I'm pretty sure it will be the same schedule or target as today's. The fellows saw five or six FW-190s in addition to all the flak.

12-31-43 . Two years ago tonight I left March Field for Will iams Field to start Cadet training. Boy it seems more like twenty than ten [oops-two]. Today we were supposed to go back to Rocca Secca highway bridge but it was called off due to bad wealher. The wind has been blowing about 50mph all day plus overcast sky, rain and hail showers. It will probably continue for several days like this. It's gonna be a quiet New Years Eve for us I'm afraid.
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