Also, see Photo that Andrew writes about in his first letter

1/4/02

I’m in receipt of your communication of 30th November and felt compelled to input some of my meager knowledge.
I was the squadron S-2 at the organization of the 599th Squadron. This was sometime in the summer of 1943. I was straight from the Air Corps Intelligence School at Harrisburg, PA.
The picture of the B-26 really hit me. As squadron S-2, I was issued a “K-3” camera. This was a hand held camera. 5” X 7” negatives, designed for air to ground photography, however it worked fine as a regular camera.
I don't know if I took the picture in question or if it was taken by the Intelligence Section Sergeant, but it definitely originated in the 599th. It was taken outside one of the MacDill hangars before an early mission to “bomb” Dry Tortugas.” I acquired one of the prints, 17.5” X 21.” It was on my desk and I intended to get all of the officers of the squadron to sign it. I got 7 signatures and was then transferred to the Navy. I enclose a Xerox of these signatures:

William H. Garretson
John J. Ambrister
Gordon L. Payne, Jr.
Edward W. Kretschmer
Joseph Slusky
Kenneth H. Powers
Paul C. Johnson

• (Paul was our squadron flight surgeon. He was killed in training when a B-26 on its way to Battle Creek, Michigan, went in near Hazard, KY. I am sure of this as I was to be on this flight, but missed it because my girl friend (now my wife of 57 years) came to MacDill for a visit. Also, I had the terrible job of informing Paul’s wife of the crash.

When I left the squadron for the Navy, I took the photo with me and I now proudly display it on the wall of my office.
Thank you for all that you have done - you’ve really brought back some memories!

Andrew Charles Hauck
January 24, 2002

Mr. Richard P. Ellinger
B-26 Marauder Historical Society

Dear Dick:

Thank you for your letter of January 14, 2002.

1 have racked my memory and the only material thing that I have (except the photo) is my nameplate from my desk. It was done by the S-2 (it was still "S-2" not "A-2" in those days) Sergeant whose name I don't remember.

My military history is a bit different. I enlisted in the Air Corps at Montgomery, Alabama, not because I lived there but I happened to be there when the war started. My earliest posting was to Hunter Field at Savannah. There were 5,000 recruits there in charge of just a few officers and it was pandemonium. After several interviews I wound up as one of the 3 enlisted men in the Intelligence Section of something called the ,81h Bomber Command", whatever that was. I was shipped out a few days later to the Boston Port of Embarkation. Due to the submarine activity off the east coast, the whole Bomber Command was divided into thirds, and I was in the first third of the 150 men comprising the 8th Bomber Command. The fifty of us went in a lone passenger ship accompanied by a Canadian destroyer to Halifax, Nova Scotia where the convoy was formed to go to England. We were the first 50 Air Corps combat troop to land in England, and all of this with no basic training!

After living through the early formation of the 81h Bomber Command, myself and 5 other enlisted men were sent to O.C.S. at Miami Beach, Florida.

I graduated from O.C.S. in the class of "43 B" and went immediately to the Air Intelligence School at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. After completing this course I was assigned to a brand new B-26 Squadron just forming at MacDill Field, Florida. I spent about 6 delightful months with the 599'h and the only distinctive feat was that I survived 2 single engine landings in a B-26! I think this might be a record for a ground officer.

You are right about the Air Corps "transferring" me to the Navy. I was "attached" to the Navy and went through amphibious training at Little Creek Naval Base, Virginia.
Andrew Charles Hauck

I was most unhappy with the move to the Navy as I thought that being S-2 of a B-26 outfit was close to the tops.

The Navy further attached me to the 77 1h Infantry Division at Camp Pickett, Virginia as an "Air Ground Liaison Officer" attached to the 3rd Battalion of the 336 1h Regiment.

Eventually there was a company formed called the 292 nd Joint Assault Signal Company. This was an organization designed to support the infantry with artillery and air support. The company consisted of

13 Air Corps Intelligence Officers
13 Field Artillery Officers
14 Navy Officers
14 Signal Corps Officers
42 Air Corps enlisted men
42 Field Artillery enlisted men
70 Signal Corps enlisted men
70 Navy enlisted men

Due to friction, the Navy enlisted men were separated from the company in Hawaii, but the Navy officers remained.

My job was to direct Navy planes (usually F-4-Us) to targets. The Field Artillery and the Navy Officers directed naval gunfire and the Signal Corps maintained the sophisticated (for then) radio systems.

I was wounded in the invasion of Guam. After many months in the hospital I was assigned (by the Air Corps) to be Base Intelligence Officer at Bellows Field, Hawaii. I was separated from service at the England General Hospital as a Captain shortly after V.J. day.

Dick, this has turned into a book, but you asked for it.

Sincererly


Andrew . Hauck, Jr.