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Nov 9 1943-Apr 21 1944
Kearney Neb. November 9
1943 Took off from Harvard A.A.B. at 1330, landed at Kearney Neb. 35
minutes later. An uneventful trip, all I did was to tune in some music
on the liason reciever. We were off duty all afternoon looking around camp.
The fellows treat us nice here. Kearney Neb is our staging area for overseas
movement. Where the heck are we going? Guesses right and left. The driver
of the truck that hauls us from place to place seems surprised at the way
Crew #5 gets along together, we are just a regular gang and have lots of
fun.
Kearney Neb November 10
1943 Got up today at 7:45. The officers called for us at 9:00 to go
to the briefing and processing building. First a show down inspection,
then thru all the stalls checking our records. Got out about 2:15 P.M.
to load all our bags on a truck + head for the barracks. After chow in
Service Club I went to Radio Building No#1 and spent 2 hrs. taking tests
on ROG's duties. I think I came out O.K. I'm to go back tomorrow morning
at 8 for code + blinker check. Didn't want supper, went to the show + met
Dill + Hawley there. Went to P.X. got some pop, came home + tried on all
the new equipment. Bed at 10:30
Kearney Neb. November 11
1943 Got up at 7:30 to go to the Communications to finish the tests.
After being there for ten minutes I was called out to attend lectures on
escape procedure. Later Maj. General Street spoke to the group commenting
on our training and he wished us all the luck in the world. After the talk
I went to the dentist, then back to the radio schoo until 1:30 P.M. At
2 the crew drew our guns, ammunition and long hunting knife. I spent the
rest of the afternoon shopping around in P.X. The whole group attended
a breifing at the war room at 7. They tell us, we're going to England but
I don't believe it. The whole announcement is fishy. Bed at 11.
Kearney Neb. November 12 Fri
Out of bed at 9:30, breakfast in the Service Club + reported for roll
call at communications. We were informed we won't be moving until at least
Sunday. I exchanged my G.I. watch that was running too fast in for a good
one, and worked on the "Hi Jinx" for a while this morning. The afternoon
was spent reading in the library, working around the barracks, fooling
around in the P.X. etc. At 7 Fred, M.D. + Dill + I went to town. Kearney
about 18000 souls. First we skated for a while; was I a sight, almost falling
down most of the time, then we bowled a line until 12. Got some pie + milk;
came home + to bed by 1:15 A.M.
Kearney Neb. November 13 up at 10:30
Another day of inactivity, going between the P.X. library + barracks.
We have worked in the ship a good share of the afternoon loading baggage.
I have to stand guard over these ships tonight because I drew the lowest
card. Tonight at 9 we had a good imitation physical exam, + T.W.G told
us we were leaving the field tomorrow headed for our P.O.E. I've got a
hunch it isn't going to be Presque Isle or some other point in Maine as
we were told. Oh,well, nobody knows. While writing this I'm listening to
the liason radio reciever to a station in Montreal, Canada. Some life.
The crew is glad we're leaving the field, we've been inactive so long.
Bed at 10:15
Kearney Neb.-
Ft.Wayne Ind. November 14 Sun
Got up at seven, left Kearney at 8:30, headed for Syracuse N.Y. We have
a lot of rations, all our baggage, and a lot of other things. I recieved
a message from Topeka Kans., the 21st Wing ground station ordering us to
stop at Ft. Wayne Ind. We landed at 3:15 PM, the second ship down. Later
Capt Smith, operations officer, called a meeting + told us we'd leave tomorrow.
Harris stands guard on the ship tonight. We spent the rest of the evening
in the P.X.. It got dark at 5:30. It still seems as if we're heading for
Syracuse + Presque Isle Maine for P.O.E. to go to England. This cross country
hops are a lot of fun, but no time for play as I have to guard that frequency
all the time. Tomorrow T.W.G. says he'll take us over the Niagra Falls.
Bediby 8:00
Ft Wayne Ind-Bangor, Me. November 15, Mon
1943 Got up at 6 this morning. Left Fort Wayne at 9, headed for Presque
Isle Maine. We didn't get to see Niagara because of the groung fog. Flew
altitude for an hour to get over some bad weather. I worked pretty hard
sending the position reports in. Landed at Bangor Maine at 4:00 E.W.T.
had a short physical, went to the P.X. to get supper. It started to snow
so the EMs went out to the ship to put all the covers on the turrets; windows
and wing covers on to kee the ship from icing up. It got pretty cold out
there. At 8PM Mac + I went to Operations to be briefed. Lt. Laz + I went
to a separate building to be briefed. They gave us more data than we could
digest, we have another one before we leave. Got lost coming back to barracks.
Feeling kind of excited by prospect of going across. Bed at 11.
Bangor, Me. November 16 Tues.
Climbed out of bed at 8 this morning to go to radio school at 9. Code
practice in the morning and afternoon with a little bit of procedure mixed
in. An A.T.C. man is instructor, a swell fellow who knows his business.
It has been snowing all day, with freezing weather, altho very nice outside.
The crew, 6 of us went to the show tonight + wandered over to the P.X.
afterwards. All the grub we bought was on Mac; hot dogs milk shakes + pop.
I haven't been too busy tonight. Gene is guarding the ship now, my turn
day after tomorrow, maybe we'll be in England by then, I hope so. If we
go to England I've got about 2 months of school ahead of me, so I hope
we go on to Africa or some where else; why should we use jungle hats in
England? Bought a carton of candy in P.X.. The P.X. here as in Kearney
is selling cartons of candy + gum to combat crews going across. Bed at
10:30
Bangor Me. November 17 Wed.
Out of bed at 700 to relieve Gene at the plane. At 9 I went to radio
school until 1030 then out to the ship to get the calibrations and M.O.
settings for all the frequencies I'm going to use on the way to U.K. From
noon until 2:30 the enlisted men + T.W.G. sat in a booth shooting the bull.
This is about the first time we had ever had such a long talk with our
pilot. He told us a lot about his ideas + past life. Going thru Cadets
he was as much as a G.F.U. as possible + still not wash out. Going to England
as we seem to be will mean a 2 month stretch of schooling for the whole
crew before any operational missions. I sort of hate to look forward to
more school. Maybe we'll stay in U.K. for a week or two + go on to Italy
or Africa. Saw another show, "Son of Dracula", (no good) and to bed by
11 P.M.
Bangor Me. November 18 Thurs.
Got up just in time to go to school at 9. Stayed there until 11, went
to P.X. + fooled around until about 3. Hightailed it out to the barracks
and slept until 5. I had supper and went out to the ship. After playing
the mandolin for an hour I read for a while. Those negro guards seemed
to be going round and round the ship as long as I played. They seemed to
like it O.K. This camp is really pretty nice. A good P.X. non coms club,
pretty good chow house with good grub. We wake up in the morning to the
roar of a cannon going off and the bugle. All thro the day the bugle is
blowing, it sure is pretty. I'm writing this in the ship as its my turn
to guard it tonight. I've read a while by flashlight, and then hit the
hay about 8 P.M.
Bangor-Gander Lake Newfoundland November 19
Fri. Harris woke me up at 6. I hightailed it over to the barracks +
packed, got breakfast and went out to "Hi Jinx" with the rest of the crew
at 7 AM. We took off for Gander Lake A.A.B. Newfoundland at 9:45. Things
were sailing O.K. all the way. I tuned the liasion transmitter up on voice
+ sent in position reports and E.T.A.'s to Stevenville + Gander for the
pilot. We used the trailing wire antenna, 190 ft. The range on voice is
about 180 miles in poor weather, which we had. Lazarus, the navigator,
got us over Gander at the exact E.T.A. Landed at about 1500 E.W.T., the
pilot was briefed + was given 10 cartons of cigarettes, as cigarettes are
rationed here. Newfoundland time is E.W.T.+1 1/2 hours. Actual flying time
from Kearney is about 11 hrs. Half of the field is run by R.C.A.F. + the
rest by the U.S. Army. After getting bunks went to chow, P.X. and canteen.
Bed by 7:30.
Gander Lake November 20 Sat.
I jumped out of bed at 9:30 this morning. Went out to the ship for a
while, then ate chow. At one I went to briefing and they told us about
what to expect going across and all the stuff we would need to know. Dismissed
about 3, went to the ship again got some stuff out of my B4 + A3 bag that
I'd use going across. It is definite we won't leave tonite at 12 because
of weather. I'm glad because this post is pretty nice. After supper as
we were standing in line at the theater we met a Canadian soldier + got
to talking to him. An interesting fellow and very nice. He's from B.C.
Canada, been in Army four years. After the show we took him to the P.X.
talked + got acquainted, ate a lot. In all ways he is just like any American.
We went bowling after exchanging our home addresses. After bowling we parted
at 1130, promising to write each other. Bed at 12.
Gander-Nutts Corner Ire. November 21 Sun
1000 gals in tokyo tanks
1100 gals in main tanks for takeoff
Got up this morning at 900 went out to the ship to relieve Gene. Read
until 12 when Harris relieved me for chow. The rest of the crew came out
with me at 2 + worked on the ship until 6 packing and cleaning the ship
up in order to go across. We took off at 10P.M. GCT the 21st for Prestwick
Ireland. The trip across was uneventful, I guarded 6500KC all the way across,
switched to 4220 voice when we got near Nutt's Corner Ire. We landed at
800 GCT in the morning Nov 22. We didn't get to bed until just after noon,
local time, 12 GCT, 900 local. It rains almost every day here. The countryside
from the air is pretty green. We slept for 4 hours on beds with 3 cushions
for mattresses, have blankets for bed covers. The blankets are rough,
11 miles from Belfast
Ireland called November 22
Nutt's Corner
Mon
but not too bad after you lie still for a while. The blankets aren't
too warm, but we have 5 of them so it's not to bad. After sleeping for
4 hours I got up and went to chow. The grub here is not much to talk about,
mostly meager and flavorless, but it is G.I. grub and it does fill you
up. Fred + I went for a walk as soon as the blackout started, about 6,
trying to find the P.X. the British call the "Naffie". We met a small red
haired English gal from London+ talked with her the rest of the evening.
She talks fast + with that lingo of hers neither of us could keep up with
her. I had some tea and cakes, the tea was very weak, the cakes were as
if someone had forgotten the baking powder. They were an inch thick but
still "flat". Beryl seemed to be pretty nice, 23 yrs, and full of common
sense. Fred and I are going to take her to the show tomorrow night, at
her suggestion. Bed at 11. The first night in Ireland, too.
Nutt's Corner
Tues. November 23
1943 We got up at 8 this morning at the orders of the P.A. system. A
truck came up a little while later + took us out to "Hi Jinx". We stayed
out there until T.W.G. came out and told us we wouldn't take off today.
We didn't get back to the barracks or hut for a long time as it was raining
a heck of a lot, we didn't get a ride very soon. I spent most of the afternoon
playing cribbage with Fred. At 6 Fred, M.D. + I went to the "Naafi" + sat
back in a corner + let some limey explain the English monetary system.
He was a darned nice chap + helped us a lot. Beryl dropped in at 6:40 +
we sat around talking until 8 + went to the show. M.D. and I walked Beryl
back to within 100 yards of her barracks. Got back to the barracks at 10:30.
Ireland isn't bad, altho its always raining it seems. I wish I could go
to Belfast but no passes are issued to us + it's hard us if we are caught
in town without a pass. These Irish Jails are supposed to be pretty rotten.
Bed 12.
Rattlesden, Eng. Thanksgiving Eve and the cooks promised roast turkey tomorrow
Wed November 24
1943 I got up this morning at 8 when all the combat crews of the 447th
were ordered to be ready to ship out. At 10 we were out preflighting the
ship. We took off at 10:30 headed for Rattlesden, England; landed about
1:30. All the country was really beautful that we passed over. All or most
of the houses were red brick. This field is about 40 miles N.E. of London.
It seems funny to be occupying a field that might be bombed in the future.
This 447 Group is the only outfit on this field; we keep our own ships,
it ought to be swell. The grub is swell, at least this afternoon's meal
was tops. The ground echelon + stuff that is coming by boat aren't here
yet. There are a lot of small towns around here, we are supposed to get
passes soon. From what the fellows say that have been here a while the
people's morals are very poor in surrounding towns, London included. Bed
at 8:45
Burtonwood, near Liverpool
Thursday. Thanksgiving November 25
Got up this morning at 7:15 because the radioman, pilots and co-p's
+ navigator were supposed to be briefed at 8:30. After being briefed we
took off at 11:00 after a lot of dillidallying for Burtonwood, a modification
center for bombers someplace up near Liverpool. Got there at 4, but had
circle around the field because of ground fog for 1 1/2 hours. Got down
at 5:30. We all had hopes of getting a Thanksgiving dinner but by the time
we got to the messhall we had roast beef. We were very disapointed. They
then dumped us in trucks + took us 14 miles to a place to sleep. A G.I.
camp between Manchester and Liverpool. Pretty good beds. Got to bed about
10 P.M. Going up we passed over a lot of beautiful country, some large
old English churchyards and churches with graveyards around them. I bet
some were hundreds of years old. This is my first time away from home on
Thanksgiving + I'm kind of homesick. Bed at 10
Near Liverpool
Burtonwood Eng back home
November 26
The Major came around + woke us up at 8. Went over + got breakfast across
the street. Poor grub. Soon afterward we got in trucks + went back to Burtonwood.
It took an hour for T.W.G. to get a ship to take back to Horham. For the
time being we were going to act as ferry crews. We took off at 11, landed
at Horham about 25 miles south east of Rattlesden. A group of six ships
were coming back from a bombing mission. All accounted for, but an ambulance
was following one of them. After waiting for trucks an hour + a half we
headed back for home. It took two hours before we got to the mess hall
+ stormed it. Nothing to eat since breakfast. Read for a while, brought
diary up to date, etc. I've got to go to school tomorrow, hope it's interesting
and beneficial. This English monetary system is pretty bad for me, altho
I'm just beginning to see some light thru the dim overcast. Bed at 9:00
Sat.
Rattlesden November 27
Jumped out of bed at 630 in order to get breakfast before going to school.
Code occupied us all morning and some of the afternoon. I got back to the
barracks at 4 PM. After reading a while Capt Smith came in + put the fellows
in the barracks on detail. We were out there sweeping mud off the street
about as fast as the trucks tracked it on. It was sort of futile if you
ask me. After chow the officers came out + took over our job. We were put
to loading cement blocks 3'x3'x2", weighing 150 lbs on a 6x6 truck. Dolan
was driving + in his spare time he was making out our ration cards for
gum, candy, cookies + smokes. I gave mine to Mac. Ever since we've been
here we've been walking around in mud up to our ankles. It sure is hard
to keep clean + I succeeded very well in getting good and dirty. The ground
crew are supposed to get here two days from now. Bed at 11
Rattlesden
Sunday November 28
I happened to wake up at 7:25, just in time to get up and get dressed
to get to school on time. All morning there was code classes, afternoon
was spent on QDM, QTF procedure. These English instructors surely know
their business. Most of them have been in the Air Force a long time as
radio operators. The instructor we had this afternoon had a rank equivalent
to captain, but he wasn't the least bit strict on dicipline. He is really
just a swell fellow. I went back to radio school at 7, then a lecture at
8. At 8:20 some captain stepped up + told us to go home. TWG, the rest
of the EM's went to the Red Cross Rec Hall + drank tea + coffee for an
hour and shot the bull. Then came back to barracks + am going to hit the
hay. I sent a telegram home saying I'm O.K. and all that; changed my $30
to English pounds. 8\ 11' to be exact. Bed at 10:15
Rattlesden November 29
Up at 7:35; school at 8. Same old stuff, W/T procedure, code checks
until noon. Afternoon we had a talk by a couple fighter pilots that would
escort us in P-47's as soon as we start our missions. They were a couple
of quiet guys, they told us how they came up + where they would fly to
protect us. They also asked us not to shoot at them; some B-17 crews had
shot at them in the past. To help us be able to recognize P-47's we all
went outside + they buzzed us + flew around + over us about 20 feet off
the ground doing someplace around 350 M.P.H. A beautiful sight, a plane
going directly overhead, 20 feet above you, then a second later a big roar
+ the plane is a mile away. After supper I went back to school at 7. Limey
luey's gave us code checks + practice until 8:30. These fellows are nice
instructors + sure know their stuff. Bed at 10
Rattlesden
Tues. November 30
7:15- Aircraft Identification for two periods in the morning along with
code and procedure. Same classes in the afternoon. The ground crew got
in this morning sometime. It sure is nice to see some of the old fellows
I knew back at Harvard. The mail came in too. One of the men brought in
the sack that had been laying near the orderly room for a few hours, went
thru it + got all the mail for the barracks + put all the packages + stuff
back in the bag + carried it back. I've got 2 packages but we'd better
not take them because they've got a list of all reciever's of packages.
We are supposed to get passes to London after our first mission. The ship
"Hi Jinx" is supposed to be back from modification in a day or so. I'm
feeling kind of lazy, the only exersise we get is walking, it's a mile
from here to the mess hall. Plenty of mud, too much in fact. It rains almost
every day. 1130
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