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New Years Day
This morning I didn't get up until 9:45. Didn't do anything after lunch
when we came back to the barracks and cleaned it up a bit. Briefing at
2, one crew got a 2 day pass to go to London. Mac, M.D. Fred + I went out
to "Hi Jinx" to see if they had started to patch her up. They had fixed
oxygen leak + interphone cables that had been cut by a piece of flak. Turkey
for dinner tonight to start new year off right. After chow went to show
"San Francisco" with M.D. + Fred. This last raid that the fellows went
on was pretty bad; but for some reason, I'm not worried a bit about the
next, the sooner the better because after 25 we can go home. Lt. McGurer
told me this afternoon that we were on the alert for a mission. Since then
I've heard rumors to the contrary. If they wake us up at 2:30 AM we'll
know. B10
Rattlesden
Sunday January 2
Got up at 7:15 to eat chow and get to the theater for briefing which
lately have turned out to be roll calls. I had a class on the camera operation
at 11. It lasted 15 min. At least 3 ships in each group have cameras which
start taking pictures when the first bomb that is attatched to the camera
switch with a string drops out. It continues for 10 minutes to get the
results of the raid. It is very successful. After the missions we can see
the pictures we take in the crew library. We didn't do much all afternoon
except read and play cards. I heard from a good source that on the last
mission one of the top turret gunners was hit on the head with a 20 m.
shell. This fellow had his crash helmet on. The total results was a dented
helmet and a headache. B-8
Rattlesden January 3
Monday
Fred and I jumped out of bed at 8:10, got dressed, walked a half mile
to the messhall, ate a breakfast of a sort and got to the theater for roll
call at 8:33. A Record? Crews 2 3 + 4 got 2 day passes to places off the
base + not to London. The 1st sargeant recieved orders to have the passes
made out by 9, but when the fellows showed up he said: "He didn't think
it was important." These fellows were mad + didn't get off until 1:30.
Maj. Lund was mad at the 1st sargeant who did the same thing with our furloughs
in Harvard. He, the 1st sarge, is going to get injured during some blackout
but he won't get a purple heart. for bruises. Played cribbage + 500 all
afternoon; went to "China Girl" after supper with Fred, came back to barracks
to find we are alerted for tomorrow. The weather is clearing up so we'll
probably go. B-8:30
Rattlesden January 4
Tuesday
Lt. Dalzell woke us up at 3, ate at 3:30, briefing at 4. We gunners
were told we were to bomb Kiel. We got out to the ship #207 by 5 AM and
had enough time for once to get dressed in electric suit, shoes, gloves,
and put the guns in. Take off at 8, leaving English coast at 10, I.P. 11:30
and bombs away at noon. We met no fighters, saw a few FW 190's + ME 109's
that stayed way out of range. It was a good thing as the tail guns didn't
work and the ball turret's oxygen supply had a severe leak so Harris couldn't
stay in it. There was quite a bit of accurate flak. We bombed thro a partial
overcast at 24000 ft. It was -52 degrees C outside. A lot of fellows suffered
minor frostbite about their necks when they got down. Landed at 1500, ate
donuts coffee + sandwiches served by Red Cross at the briefing room; ate
supper, cleaned guns and bed about 9:30.
Rattlesden January 5
Wednesday
1944 The C.Q. came in and woke up crew 7, Small, Hess, Zesuit, Boyd,
Hill and Bently at 12 midnight for a mission. We didn't get up until 7:30,
briefing at 8:30. I went to school most of the morning. Our crew cleaned
guns after lunch for an hour or so. All of us were pretty tired from the
raid yesterday and have taken naps whenever possible. The men got back
from their mission at 4. They bombed a FW assembly plant in Bordeaux, France,
meeting some fighters. Small and Zesuit got a FW 190 between them. 2 other
190's were brought down. Zulo's crew got in trouble + headed back for land
as they were over water. As Crew #5 we are expecting a 2 day pass soon.
Hi Jinx is getting patched up pretty fast, she'll be ready to go when we
get to go. B. 9:30
Rattlesden January 6 1944
Thursday
Got up at 730 this morning, in the dark. There is no electric power
on the field. Roll call at 8:30 as usual in the theater. Another crew got
a 2 day pass. They seem to be forgetting crew #5 wants passes too. Went
to radio school from 9 to 11:20. Lt. T.W.G. hurt his ankle when he was
on a little ferrying job at Honnington yesterday. He went on sick call
this morning with a sprained ankle. Lt. Mamlock was out hunting a 1st pilot
in case we have to go on a mission tomorrow or in the near future. In the
messhalls for breakfast and supper light was provided by candles that were
swiped as soon as we were thro eating to light the barracks. The mess officer
was yelling + objecting; according to Lt. Dalzell. I guess he wanted his
candles. I'm going to bed early because there's nothing to do. "Hi Jinx"
should be ready to fly tomorrow afternoon. B-8:30
Rattlesden January 7
Friday
Got up at 8:15, the C.Q. was late waking us up. Consequently we took
our own darn time eating breakfast; walking into the theater 15 minutes
late. A lot of fellows came in after our crew came in so Jarrel couldn't
start the role call until about 9 oclock. I was told to be at the equipment
room at 11:30 to fly as radio op on Lagasse's crew on a practice mission
to check the lead ships as they do every day. We got back down just before
the fellows returning from their mission. No planes were lost, fighter
protection all the way in and out. They bombed some city in the interior
of Germany. After chow Harris Mac and I went to the show, after which a
G.I. magician gave a pretty good show. Came back to the barracks to find
out I take a mission tomorrow with some other crew. Today is the first
time I've ever flown with another crew. B 9:30
Rattlesden January 8
Sat.
1944 The C.Q. came in at 5:45 to wake us up for the inspection by the
colonel at 9. We got things real clean as only crew #5 is in this Barracks
now, Small and crew 7 are in London now. It turned out that the leutenant
making the inspection commended the barracks on our cleanliness or something.
I went to code class an hour this morning, spent the afternoon playing
poker. Time seems to go very slow during periods of inactivity. Lately
we've been playing cribbage, rummy, 500, and poker to pass the time away.
Went to the show "Behind the Rising Sun" with Dill, came back + played
some more poker until 10. We are not alerted for a raid and will get to
sleep until 7:30 tomorrow. Hi Jinx is ready to go now. I didn't make that
mission that was scheduled for today because of the bad weather. B11
Rattlesden January 9
Sunday
Got up at 8:30 this morning, dressed and got Fred out of bed and managed to get down to the theater on time with him. No ground school today. Everybody except Mac TWG + Laz went to Protestant church this morning at 9:30, the rest went at 11. Since we've been going on missions there's a lot of fellows going to church, and the greatest percentage are combat crew members too. Cleaned guns and worked on the interphone system of ship most of the afternoon. Played rummy with Fred and MD for an hour after supper. Read a while and hit the hay as soon as the fellows get thro playing blackjack on my bed. B-830
We are supposed to go on a 2 day pass Tuesday.
R. January 10
Mon.
I got up this morning at a quarter to seven, dragged Fred out of his
sack; got down to the chow hall at seven and to the barber shop at 7:30.
The shop didn't open til 8 but we got in at the first of the line. I got
my hair cut and went over to briefing at the theater to tell Jarrel where
Fred was. It was O.K. by him. We had a class in aircraft rec in the theater
at 10 when we were told that we'd fly in the aft-noon. We had to put the
guns in for the flight. We were up in the air for an hour during which
time I was listening to a British radio program which featured songs like
"Deep in the Heart of Texas". Pretty good. All of us did a good job cleaning
our guns for the mission tomorrow. Dill came in at 9 saying that we'd go
on pass tomorrow instead of going on the mission. The whole crew would
rather go than let someone else let Hi Jinx get all shot up. We'd be willing
to forfeit the pass. B10
Rattlesden January 11
Tuesday
1944 We got up at 7 oclock this morning, had roll call in the officers
barracks at 8:30. Afterwards all of us went back to the barracks to get
ready to go to town. I walked down to operations and got the passes. Crew
#5 left at noon by G.I. truck from the messhall. We didn't have to show
our passes. We got to Stowmarket at 1230, caught a train for Ipswitch after
waiting 15 minutes. It took 20 minutes to go to Ipswitch about 17 miles.
As soon as we hit town we got beds in A.R.C. got supper there and went
to a show. Mac went to a dance instead, getting to bed at 11. The trolleys
in this town are as modern as anywhere, good service too. Most of the people
seem pretty friendly, contrary to what most of the fellows say. The first
impression of the town gives us a good impression of things. Gene + Dill
went to London to spend their passes.
R. January 12
Wednesday
1944 At 8 the four of us got up and had breakfast at the A.R.C. Service
Club. It wasn't a bad breakfast, stretched sausages, potatoes, bread toast
butter and jam. Afterwards we went out and bought sueveniers, pilots caps
and squandered money in general. I spent about \10 for a necklace, brooch
and purse, but they are all well made, and very pretty. I think I'll send
the brooch to Mom, purse to Lois and necklace to Alice. I guess the jewelry
is pretty expensive for the Britishers but the Yanks spend their pounds
like water. After lunch the four of us started walking to see the town.
We went thro a park with a big pond filled with Mallard ducks + geese.
Really beautiful. On the grounds was a mansion that was an art gallery
and very old domestic furniture dating back to 13th century. We found another
museum and went thro it in a half hour when 2 days wouldn't have been enough
time. Natural history, zoology and gun collections filled most of it. A
show finished up a swell day. B 11
R. January 13
Thurs.
1944 M.D. and I got up at 7, took a shower and shaved, Fred and Mac
got up at 8:45. Soon afterward we went to the A.R.C. Service Club to get
breakfast. M.D. and I went off shopping while waiting for the two to finish
their coffee; stopping at a jewelry store.-Met them at the train station,
leaving at 1015, getting to Stowmarket at 1045 where we met the rest of
the crew, including the officers back from London. After waiting a while
we got a ride to the base in the mail truck. A class from 330-530, P.W.
+ naval ident. Charlie Harris had to ditch on the last mission when Col.
Bowman + Jarrel's plane blew up. Harris and crew had a rough time: the
ship broke up, sank in 30 sec. but the whole crew got into boats OK. The
R.O. got an S.O.S. off, 15 min. after landing a Hudson circled, 3 hrs later
they were picked up by the Limey coast patrol. All of the fellows suffered
from exposure and shock. C. Harris says he's going to quit flying. B 10
R. January 14
Friday
8:20- Fred and I got to briefing just in time. Capt. Richards is squadron
operations officer now, Dalzell + La Gasse assistants. They had a good
ground school schedule mapped out for us when they alerted us for a mission.
T.W.G. said we could clean guns until briefing at 11 when we gunners went
to their ships, as too much information as to target for the day has been
leaking out before the planes take off so they told just the officers the
target + particulars. The officers got out when everything was ready +
told us that we were an extra crew. The formation take off was at 1-2:15,
we stood by in the ship until 2:30 then came back + got something to eat.
It was a milk run, and for the first time we would have been in our own
ship. They got back at 5:30, no flak or fighters. All combat crews are
alerted tomorrow for a maximum effort, restricted to barracks. I owe 6
letters + am going to bed instead of writing. Charlie Harris is going to
get a 7 day pass for rest. He deserves it. B9:00
R. January 15
Sat.
The C.Q. came in at 3:30 to wake us up for a mission this morning, ate
at 3:45, briefing at 4:45. After the gunners briefing I was in with the
rest of the R.O.'s getting briefed by Capt. Unitas when he recieved a call
from Berry that the mission had been scrubbed. We got back in bed by 6,
slept until 930 when we got up to get paid flight pay, \14 5' 6d. We had
to go up to briefing room at 11 for a brief lecture by a maj. of some other
sq. An electronic supercharger lecture 2.30-3.30, and poker took up all
afternoon and evening. 6 pence loser, about the cheapest entertainment
possible around here. It was just a friendly game among the 6 E.M. of the
crew. At 7 Lt. Dalzell came in to get his radio + told us we probably would
not go on a mission tomorrow because bad weather was expected. A bit of
fog came up very suddenly this morning + hung on till noon. 3 more missions
we get the air medal. 2 day pass the 21th. B-10
R. January 16
Sun.
7:15, Briefing at 8:30 in the theater. This was over at 8:45, Gene Dill,
M.D. + I went to combat library until 925 when we went to church. At 10:30
after church I went up to take code in room 13, but the code instructor
was skipping out. I shot the bull with a limey flight leutenant and Al
until noontime. After chow there was a short lecture at 1:30-200 by S-2,
then I went + took code for an hour and passed 20 W.P.M. again, the first
time being at Scott field last May. Some fellows flying B-26's land here
from a mission 2 days ago + have been fogged in ever since. Those boys
say that the grub is a hundred times better here than at their base. They
don't mind their staying here at all. After chow M.D., Fred + I went to
the show "Wake Island", played 2 cribbage games + hit the hay. The fellows
are galloping the dominoes against the floor. B10
R. January 17Monday
7:00 I got up good and early this morning. Some reason, Fred got up
too! It was nice to sit in the mess hall for 45 minutes. Went to radio
school most of the morning, code + a lecture, plus bull sessions. There
was another class on zone sighting the 1st thing in the afternoon. The
rest of the afternoon we read in the library + read in the barracks. Didn't
do anything except read after supper. Today was another day of fog. The
weather hasn't been very cold but pretty damp. No mail has come in for
4 days. We are getting pretty impatient because of the lack of mail. The
B-26 boys have to go thro 50 missions, but 25 in B-17's are a lot harder.
The 26's can make 2 missions a day, while one every other day is the most
we can make except in emergencies. They have had anti personell bombs on
the base for a month. Sort of expect the invasion to break loose in two
months. B-10
R. January 18
Tuesday
7:15 Got up in time to eat, make some cocoa + heat it on a stove + take
all the time in the world to drink it. Roll call at 8:30, no ground school
during the morning, a class 1:30 to 2:30, I took blinker then for an hour
and went back to the barracks until chow time. At 5:30 in the officers
mess Col. Harris presented the D.F.C.'s and Purple Hearts earned in the
past raids. The D.F.C.'s were presented to fellows that have finished thier
25 missions were of another group. Most of the Purple Hearts were earned
in the Kiel raid by frostbite. The 26's + their crew are still here. Lt.
Dalzell came in a while ago, telling us that we're on alert, we'll probably
fly the purple heart earner tomorrow with Lt. Bye, Dalzell's copilot. He
says we might not have briefing very early but I'm going to bed early anyway.
B-9:30
R. January 19
Wednesday
The C.Q. came in waking us up at 6:30 for a mission. All of crew 5 except
Fred went to chow at 6:45 and stayed at the messhall until 8 when all but
me went to the main briefing room. I went back to the barracks to get a
scarf + to wake Fred up. He was dressing as I came in; got to breakfast
at 8:35 + sat around till 9 briefing time. We were to bomb rocket installations
on the coast of France. When we got out to the ship + got the guns in T.W.G.
came out + told us the mission was scratched. We went to the barracks until
2 when we had to take the ship out + dump the bombs in the North Sea. We
had delayed action bombs that can't be defused without going off, so we
dumped them, the six regular bombs went off + made beautiful gysiers. Then
T.W.G. took us down on the deck, 30 ft. + test fired the guns, 300r. per
gun. Came back, ate, cleaned the guns, got thro at 830, came back to the
barracks + went to bed. 9:00
R. January 20
Thursday
The C.Q. came in at 6:30 to tell us we were going on a mission. We slept
until 7:30 when he came in again to get us up. Chow at 745, nothing to
do until 9 when the gunners were briefed. Same lecture and target as yesterday.
Same as yesterday we got the guns in and everything ready and mission was
scrubbed. After chow all the E.M's went out to the ship, got it cleaned
up, loaded a lot of ammo; T.W.G. turned us in as present at the afternoon
classes in ground school. After dinner I went to the show alone, came back;
went to the latrine and shaved + got cleaned up in general in cold water.
I felt pretty good AFTERWARDS. This scrubbing of missions is getting tiresome,
for us, ground crew + everybody. But, most of the time we get our chocolate
bar and gum every time to soothe us. So far none of the fellows I've noticed
haven't been bothered by combat as they've seen so far. Got a "V" mail
letter today from Mom mailed the 9th of Jan. So far they've recieved none
of my letters. B-1030
R. January 21
Friday
We got up at 7:30, briefing at 9, when they told us we were going on
a mission at noon. After the usual preparations we made a nobal raid, bombing
the rocket installations on the coast of France. T.O. at 12, landing at
4:15. No flak, no fighters, we missed the target by 500 ft, hit a railroad
instead, bombing at 12,000 ft. The Jerries were shooting up some sort of
rockets at us; they got up to our altitude + exploded, off to one side
about a mile. We saw about six of them, none coming close at all + we are
not sure what they are. After landing we got away from the ship in 15 min.
the record just about, got thro undressing, packing interrogation by 5:30,
ate chow, went to the barracks to get mail. Mom and Alice seem not to have
got any mail from me yet, the address is stil APO 9006, Tad has it tho.
Tonight the Jerries are keeping the searchlights busy, we can see light
from exploding bombs in distant towns but cannot hear it. The Jerries must
be mad. B- 10:30
R. January 22
Sat.
We got up at 8, had breakfast and went to briefing at 9. The rest of our baggage came this morning. After roll call T.W.G. and the rest of the crew with Sgt. Honeycutt the supply sgt opened the big box with our stuff. I was glad to get the protective clothing, shoes, brand new pair from Kearney, and my new field jacket. Last night a lot of Ju 88's bombed London for the first time in a long while. 8 out of 30 were shot down. This afternoon we had a lecture on the British rescue boat. It is hooked on the belly of a Lockheed Hudson or some other plane + is dropped by parachute to a dinghy with a ditched crew. It has outboard motors, sail, warm clothing, emergency radio, rockets and food. It is 24 ft long, is self righting mahogany boat with CO2 filled bags at each end. A complete unit complete with instructions, gasoline and good wishes.
B-11 No briefing tomorrow morning.
R. January 23
Sun.
I got out of bed at 10:30 this morning, read until 11, got cleaned up
and went to chow. Just after noon we were ordered to go to briefing room
as soon as possible for a mission. It turned out to be a practice mission,
we didn't have to go because Lt. Mamlock was still D.N.I.F. No classes
during the afternoon; spent the time in the Red Cross Rec drinking tea
and eating sandwiches; sewing 8th air corp patches on my clothes. They
had chicken for supper tonight; a swell meal. Crew 7 got back from London
today; they say most of those Picadilli Commandoes are thicker than flies
+ are pretty eager to earn money. They had a swell time tho. We get our
passes in four days, M.D.,Fred + I plan to go Ipswitch. We are not supposed
to fly a mission tomorrow except as individual replacements. Briefing at
9. B-10:15
R. January 24
Mon.
Much to Crew #5's surprise, the C.Q. came in at 3:30 waking us up for
a mission. Briefing at 4:15 when they told us we were going to Frankfort
to bomb chemical works and railway yards and explosive factories. We took
off at 6:25 to fly high echlon for the 94th group. At takeoff we had trouble
with interphone; used emergency interphone on the command modulating unit
for an hour then switched back to interphone. Mac's interphone jack box
was shorted out. Our composit group reached the rendevous at 10 over the
Channel; the 94's formation was very poor. The trip was cancelled as we
were 40 miles in France. On the way back out ran thro some accurate flak,
2 small holes in ship. Got back to base at 12:30, after interragation +
putting up equipment went back to bed at 2 P.M. sleeping until 6 when Fred
+ I went to A.R.C. to get tea + sandwiches, went to clean our guns and
came back to go to bed at 10:30
R. January 25
Tues.
Got up at 7:30, ate chow and went to role call at 9 when we were told
the P. C.P N. + R.O. of Crew #5 were to take a ferrying trip to Honnington
at 10:30. We took ship 146, took off at 1050, me in the tail. It was a
great thrill during the take off back there. We landed at Honnington 10
minutes later on the prefabricated steel runway. After checking in Leavitt
+ I went to chow, a poor one at that and got back to operations at 12:45;
Stenvig + T.W.G. + officers showed up at 1. We took off in 095 15 minutes
after Stenvig got off. On the way back I rode in the nose. After landing
spent some time in the barracks, Mac, Fred + I had tea in the A.R.C. until
5:30, then I went to the show. Afterwards back at the barracks they say
there is an all out alert for tomorrow. Maybe we'll go even tho we made
the last mission. B-10:30
R. January 26
Wednesday
Again, much to our disgust, the C.Q. came in at 2:30, pulling us out
of bed for a mission. Briefing at 3:45 where we're told our target was
Frankfurt again, with a Nobal target as a secondary mission. Takeoff time
was to be 7:50, start engines at 7:25. At this time they told us both missions
were scrubbed, due to 7/10's cloud over the Continent. There was another
briefing at 9, so we had another breakfast + went back. Practice mission,
skeleton crews + we got hooked. Flew from 10 till 2, me riding all over
the ship. Came down, ate a late lunch, and finished reading a book by supper
time. Dashed off a letter instead of going to chow, and am going to bed
early. Lt. Mamlock says the 447th has the best bombing record of all time
here in England for Yanks, 708 being high squadron. If we have good record
for the next two raids we'll be in for a presidential citation. B 8:00
R. January 27
Thursday
We got up at 7, and when the rest of the crew went to breakfast I went
over to the washroom to shave + wash up. At 12:10 we got in a truck + headed
for Stowmarket, getting there at 1. Just for a change we took a bus to
Ipswitch at 1:30, getting there in an hour. It was one of these tall double
decker buses, we rode in the top, getting a good look of the countryside
as we passed thru the two towns on the way to Ipswich. During the afternoon
we walked around town got a room at the A.R.C. dormitory. Harris + I went
to a show, the rest except Kealer went to a bar to get some drinks. Kealer
stayed on the base in hope of getting a mission during our two day pass
to catch up with us. The five of us hit the hay at 11, in clean sheets.
It sure felt good.
Ipswich January 28
Friday
Got up at 7 this morning. Harris + I took a shower before going out.
By the time we were ready, the rest were ready too. After looking around
a bit we went into a radio shop and asked if they had a radio. The owner
swore up + down he didn't have any, then casually mentioned he'd sell us
one for \20. We bought it before he could talk much. That would be \3 1/3
for each man of our crew. After buying it we took it up to the A.R.C. dormitory
to have them keep it for us. For the rest of the morning we went thro the
museum on High street that we just skipped thro on our last past. Fred
+ I went out to a golf course to spend the rest of the afternoon while
the rest shopped. I had a swell time walking around and maybe learned a
little about golf. In the evening the five of us went to a show. B-12:45
at the A.R.C.
Ipswich
+
Rattlesden January 29
Harris + I got up at 7:45, went down to the middle town to do a bit
of final shopping: buying some wine, a pillow. We got to talking to a civilian
who said the Forts had been going up all morning from 630. We got the radio
and got down to the station at 9:15. Mac + the rest showed up at 10, the
train left at 10:15 with us standing up. The officers of the crew were
on the same train. After a 15 minute run we got to Stowmarket, went to
our tea room + had tea + cakes. This time it was on Mamlock. We got rides
out to camp at different times. I came out with H.E.M. + McGurer. The radio
works very well. Jimmy Boyd went on the raid + says it was to Frankfurt,
a milk run, some flak good fighter protection. Bombed thro clouds at 24
thous. saw smoke come thro clouds that were at 10,000. B-9. No alert as
yet.
R. Bombed the city at 24000 thro clouds; with incindaries.
Returned at 430
January 30
Sunday
We were a disgusted bunch of guys at 2:30 when they woke us up for a
mission. T.O. was 820, headed for Brunswick Germany. Chemical, gas, and
airplane city. We flew over at 24,000 ft, sometimes as high as 27,000.
Looking back I could see group after group, wing after wing behind us in
waves above the clouds, P-38's zigzagging back + forth above us. Those
38's looked pretty, so pretty in fact a few FW 190's came above the clouds,
saw them and changed their minds and headed home. We always had at least
30 P38's in sight, a few P47's. It wasn't cold, I didn't turn heat on until
after we left the target + went up to 27,000. Throwing chaff out kept me
pretty busy. Quite a bit of flak, 2 holes in our ship, Putnam turned back
at the I.P.; on the way back we were the lead ship for the group as Dalzell
dropped behind to no 6 position with a feathered no 2 engine. Got back
at 4. Went to bed at 7:30 dead tired.
Mon
M.D. + I got up at 2:15 to go on a mission I was to go as RO for Donahue.
At briefing at 4:15 we found that we were headed for Frankfurt, Ger. a
pathfinder mission. I was to fly in a late B-17 G with all the radio equipment
in the r. room, radio gun mounted on the hatch, waist guns mounted so that
the waist guns + r. gun could be fired without opening any windows. It
would have been nice + warm. After pulling the props thru the mission was
scrubbed because the weather was too bad. Came back to barracks + stayed
in bed from 8 till lunch time, got my rations and slept from 2-5. If we
had of taken off we would have been loaded. 2700 gals, Tokyo's clear full,
+ 10x500 demo's; the ships would have been 200 lbs under maximum gross
weight allowable for takeoff: 63000 lbs. A B-17 G can't get off the ground
with more than 65000. The 63000 didn't count extra flying equip. we took
along. Cleaned guns after chow. Alert for tomorrow. B-8:30
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