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The following
diary written by Tom Abberger, 97th Fighter Squadron,
was published
in the magazine 'AIR CLASSICS' a few years ago.
1942
CHECKOUT AT MUROC
APRIL 27
The last outpost
of civilization. We are located at the Muroc Bombing and Gunnery
Range on the
Mojave dry lake desert, 110 miles from Los Angeles east of the
mountains. The
sand and wind are miserable. A few old wooden barracks and a small
hanger containing
Northup's 'Flying Wing' are the only buildings. The numerous hard,
flat expanses
of dry lake bed makes the area one huge landing field. There are
no
tress, just sand,
sagebrush and jack rabbits.
We have
47 Lockheed P-38s to be used for pilot checkout. A pilots' pool
of
approximately
94 Staff Sergeant Pilots will furnish squadron strength for our
group.
Many have
already received twin-engine training, but some have had only single
engine an
AT schools. Nearly all the sergeants are in their very early 20s
and wear
the regular
Army enlisted man's uniform. Their lack of rank sets them apart
from the
commissioned
officers and they have a casual manner and natural friendliness
that
draws admiration.
Some of them we knew back at Selfridge.
APRIL 28
We have good flying
wweather and there is consant air activity. While some of the
new pilots check
out for the first time, others are shooting gunnery practice on
ground targets
on the far edge of the lake bed.
Ten Stearmen
trainers, on their way to Bakersfield 40 miles from here, landed
on our
strip today
for a short layover.
A Lockheed
12 (C-40) came in and we put in non-commissioned flying time.
This afternoon
an A-20 made a belly landing in the area after his nose gear failed
to
come down.
A huge cloud of dust raised during the landing, but the crew was
uninjuried.
APRIL 29
Two Lockheed C-40s
came in and we were scheduled for non-commissioned flying
time, but there
was a shortage of parachutes.
This afternoon
I flew one hour and 45 minutes with Lt. Strozier.
APRIL 30
Physical inspection
this morning. More men came in with trucks and jeeps for the
new groups.
This afternoon
put in several hours of flying time with Lt. Peterson. We flew across
the mountains
taking a major and flight surgeon to March Field at Riverside,
California.
MAY 1
Strong winds and
sandstorm all day grounded the planes. The barracks are miserable
with dust sifting
through the walls to cover everything. Afraid it will be tough on
the
engines of our
planes.
MAY 3
Saturday and weather
clear. Around 7:00 a.m. a Sergeant Pilot crash-landed his P-38
after power failure.
Plane No. 2224 burned. Around 9:00 a.m. another P-38, No. 776
crash-landed
and the Sergeant Pilot was cut up about the face.
MAY 4
Good flying day.
One Sergeant Pilot force-landed his P-38 successfully on one
engine.
We have
moved one mile from the landing area and are eating out of mess
kits. The
group is
going into final organization stages.
MAY 5
We are now designated
the 82nd Group, consisting of the 95th, 96th, and 97th
Squadrons.
A, P-38,
No. 791, crashed today with out pilot injury.
MAY 6
Our Squadron,
the 97th, now has 12 P-38s.
A fatal
crash occurred today with a P-38 exploding on impact. The Sergeant
Pilot had
reportedly
hit the tail boom on bail-out and his chute did not fully open.
MAY 7 to 9
Plane No. 747
landed with gear up without pilot injury. Another crackup occurred
during a forced
landing and the sergeant climbed out unhurt.
We have
recived eleven new P-38Fs from the old 94th Squadron of the 1st
Pursuit
Group who
are leaving for overseas, making a total of 22 aircraft.
MAY 10 to 11
On the 10th we
experienced a severe dust storm which grounded the planes, and we
were ordered
to change frequencies on the 38s.
Our group
is scheduled to leave for Los Angeles strips soon.
MAY 12
The Sergeant Pilots
put in long air hours. P-38, No. 789 force-landed, and a second
plane ran wild
after the brakes failed; luckily, no one was injuried.
COASTAL PATROL
AT LONG BEACH
MAY 13 to 20
Our 97th Squadron
left Muroc this morning and arrived at a strip here in Long Beach
off Cherry Road.
We are located beside a Ferry Command Base and can see the
Douglas Aircraft
plant across the field.
On the trip
from Muroc a jeep overturned breaking Sergeant Chape's ankle. The
report
is he will be lost to the squadron for weeks.
The 95th
and 96th Squadrons are located at separate strips around Mines and
Glendale.
Our 97th
Squadron Commanding Officer is Lt. Ernest C. Young; Lt. Peterson
from
Selfridge
is Operations Officer and Lt. Lehe is in charge of Communications.
Our Staff
Sergeant
Pilots are: Atteberry, Henley, Larson, Lewis, Lund, the 'McDaniel'
brothers,
Morgan,
Pratt, Rath, Rounds, Sabo, Seltz, Taback, Thacker, Towsen, Visscher,
and
Woods.
We are on
an 'alert' status and all personnel are restricted to the field.
MAY 22
The order came
to change radio frequency on the 38s. Then, on orders from Riverside
through Major
Gamble of the Los Angeles intercept board, we reset frequencies
and
check with the
Ferry Command Base on a new procedure used. Finally got the job
done in the early
hours working by flashlight.
The Sergeant
Pilots are to fly oxygen flights at 25,000 - 30,000 feet.
JUNE 3
Orders came from Group Command
Israel to stand-by for 'special alert'. The show is
on up the coast and they expect
a Japanese carrier attack. All personnel have been
issued steel helmets and gas
masks.
JUNE 4
The planes are flying coastal
patrols and operate on a 'squadron scramble' basis. Ou
r pilots can now get to the 38s,
start engines and get up in just under three minutes.
JUNE 6
We have had several close calls
within the squadron. Staff Sergeant Sabo blew his
canopy on a flight at altitude,
lost control of his ship, which was thrown into a steep
dive, and barely pulled out by
bracing his feet against the control panel.
Sergeant Rounds hit the ground
target with his tail booms on pull-up during gunnery
practice.
Sergeant Seltz was dubbed 'Rocking
Chair' Seltz after landing the Squadron AT-6 with
wheels up. A few days previous,
Sgt. Seltz let me fly the T-6 which found us in a dog
fight with a Navy trainer. We
ended offshore shooting down the Navy, theoretically
speaking. Seltz is a terrific
pilot, even in a T-6.
JUNE 10
Sergeant Pilot Lund suggested
my transfer to squadron 'Link' which he had been
handling, in addition to regular
flying duties. The talked-of goal is 90 hours in the 38s
and 20 hours 'Link' as refresher
on instrument navigation.
JUNE 12
Received a transfer to 'Link'
instructor from C. O. Young. On a weekly schedule the
pilots are to come in, shoot let-downs
on the various ranges and fly simulated
precision flights on instruments.
I will have several hundred hours before the training
schedule is completed.
JUNE 13
We have taken out the government
life insurance policy offered by the group.
Discipline has been enforced more
stringently with certain of the Sergeants 'walking
the ramp.' Some of the plane
crews have dug foxholes as a punishment from the line
chief for having missed preflight.
There is no shortage of 'good
times.' The Hilton in Long Beach, spots in Los Angeles,
Santa Monica, Hollywood are all
' in limits.' Morale is high and the squadron is close
both on and off the field.
JUNE 25
We lost Sergeants Rath and Thacker
when their 38s collided, crashed and burned
during formation flight over Santa
Ana. Their tragic passing has been felt deeply by
the squadron. Both had flown
Link the day of the accident and it is difficult to realize
they are now gone.
JULY 10
We expect to see foreign service
within a month and a half. The men have received
their first series of immunization
shots. The talk is ofnew P-38s with belly tanks, to
fly fighter duty with B-17Es,
and we are anxious.
SEPTEMBER 10
During the past few weks we have
made all preparations for going overseas, but
have been cautioned against talk
of the squadron's move which is expected
momentarily.
SEPTEMBER 11
We were given a final limited
pass to Long Beach, and most of the squadron
rendezvoused at the Hilton. The
13th floor 'Sky Rom' had more pilots gathered
together on a single night than
we could muster on the field. We had a proverbial
'ball' on practically the entire
seventh floor.
SEPTEMBER 12
Our 97th Squadron P-38s took off
from the Long Beach strip for the last time.
'Buzzing the field' upon pass
after pass, the P-38s came back across, barely clearing
the gas trucks on one run, and
the hangers on another. They pulled up into slow rolls
and snap rolls that had the ground
crews jumping for joy, and the Ferry Command
grounded. It was agreed that
our 'hell-roaring' staff sergeants were the best pilots in
the world.
PRELUDE TO COMBAT
SEPTEMBER 26
On the 16th of
the month our 82nd Group boarded a troop train. The rumor was that
P.O.E. was on
the east coast. We arrived at Camp Kilgore, New Jersey, on 22
September.
After being
given final inoculation shots, brought up to date on Army pay and
final
identification
photos were taken for the War Department, we were given a twelve
hour pass.
This was to be our last good time in the States and most of us wanted
to
make the
most of it. For several of us New York City proved to be quite a
spot.
Today we
boarded the troopship 'QUEEN MARY', sailed out of New York harbor
past
the Statue
of Liberty. As one of the group expredded it: 'I wonder if I will
ever see the
Lady again
?'
SEPTEMBER 27
We are well out
to sea. Though the QUEEN is one of the largest of the world's ships,
she rocks and
quivers under the strain of evasive course changes at close intervals.
The rumor is
that the gyros make topsides a place for old salts.
We are without
escort. This ship is reputed to be one of the fastest on the high
seas
and carries
her own anti-aircraft guns. The gun crew practice-fires daily.
SEPTEMBER 29
A fatal accident
occurred today. We cut a British ship in two. It sank almost
immediately.
About the size of a destroyer, the small ship came out to meet us
and
appeared to act
as a mine-sweeper cutting directlt across the path of the 'QUEEN'.
An apparent miscalculation
of speed on the paart of the smaller ship as it made a
second sweep
brought the 'QUEEN' crashing through the aft portion of the lighter
vessel. The men
below decks on our own ship heard and felt a distinct jar but did
not
realize the trouble
until the alarming S.O.S. whistle blasts were recognized. The half
of the severed
ship on the starboard side of the 'QUEEN's' bow was drawn under
the
side. When again
visible, seamen could be seen clinging to the shattered decks. Of
the stricken crew
hanging on to the forward portion of the condemned ship, passing
down the port
side along the 'QUEEN's' length, some were observed to be without
life
jackets. It was
speculated that these men would probably be picked up by British
destroyers. Our
own ship could not stop for fear of possible U-boats reported, but
she slowed considerably
while damage estimates were made to the bow. With the
forward compartments
damaged byt closed off by watertight bulkheads we again
increased speed
and arrived safely at our original destination of Glasgow, Scotland.
We were
immediately transferred to a ferry which came alongside and finally
disembarked
at Belfast, Ireland. Here we put aboard an English train and rode
to the
little
city of londonberry, Ireland. By truck we were taken to a small
airfield at
Maydown,
a picturesque countryside airstrip marked only by the quonset huts
and a
local pub,
within a dozen or so miles from Londonberry.
OCTOBER 5
The commissions
for our Staff Sergeant pilots have nearly all come through and we
have seen them
for the first time with their new gold bars and officer's uniform.
We are comfortably
billeted a mile away from our small airstrip and have learned to
enjoy the
lesser comforts of the Irish and English people.
Although
the group was supposed to be sustained entirely on British rations,
a
squadron
club has been suggested to which a monthly donation can be made
in
order to
buy customary goods for a separate mess.
OCTOBER 15
Twenty-four of
the group's planes have been maintained here at Maydown under
handicap of minimum
tools and facilities. Some of the pilots have played with an
English Spitfire
which we reconditioned but the 'Spit' was soon nosed over during
a
landing. The
Spitfire is very light in the tail and must be held down during
magneto
check on preflight.
Our P-38s
are ready for the next jump whenever it comes.
NOVEMBER
An advance echelon
has left Maydown. The first news of the Allied Invasion of North
Africa has prompted
rumors that we will soon be operating from bases there.
DECEMBER
Our main group
force ground crews are prepared to leave Maydown. Our planes and
advance crews
have been gone for over a month.
1943
JANUARY 10
We are aboard
ship, approaching the sand cliffs of Oran, North Africa. On the
3rd of
January we boarded
the sea steamer 'LADY of MANN' and crossed the Irish Sea to
Liverpool, England.
Our short stay in England was enjoyable, to say the least. Much
stout English
whiskey, good food and clean sheets were a part of our stay there.
When we
departed from our base in England, several days ago, we were brought
through
London at night and boarded this ship, the 'FRANCONIA'. We passed
through
the post
of Glasgow once more.
Many of
us have served gunner's watch at night while aboard the 'FRANCONIA'.
Once
while I
had my four hours watch, we sighted a small red light from afar
off, the only
sign of
like observable on the ocean'ssurface. During out daylight hours
we are part
of a convoy
of eleven ships with four destroyer escorts.
JANUARY 10 to
20
There were a few
anxious moments as we moved slowly along the sand cliffs into the
port of Oran.
Two fighters buzzed our ship, turned out to be Spitfires. With the
crowded troops
aboard we were very happy to see our own aircraft.
Oran had
first seen American troops on the day of invasion in November. As
our
group disembarked
there was little visible apprehension on the faces of the men
although
next to nothing was known of this combat zone. We had had no briefing
on
what might
be expected.
The 82nd
crews were immediately put aboard a small Algerian train. As the
train
steamed
away from the port city, we had a good view of the mountainous
countryside
but with little appreciation. We were more concerned with what we
might find
at the end of our train ride. A dozen miles outside Oran, at a road
crossing
the train
stopped. We were told that our campsite at this time would be a
spot within
walking
distance.
The 'walk'
turned out to be nearly an endurance hike. Our destination was a
distance
of nine
kilometers down the road. Under the load of heavy fighting clothes,
rifles and
/ or submachine
guns, musette bags and gas masks, many of us quickly tired before
getting
our second wind. Several of the men threw away their gas masks.
By the
time we
arrived at the campsite which was nothing but shallow foxholes dug
into the
side of
a desert slope, some of us practically fell into the holes as if
we had found
home -
we were that exhausted. Before darkness set in we threw straw (brought
in
by truck)
into our mattress covers and put up our shelter halves, two men
to a hole.
A short
time after dark we were aroused to the fact that an air raid warning
had been
sounded.
We removed ourselves from our foxholes to deeper slit trenches nearby.
From this
vantage point we witnessed our first air raid by the enemy carried
out
against
the ships we had been aboard that morning.
Without
supplies for a Group mess setup we do our own cooking: most of the
time we
eat directly
out of the can, to save having to wash mess kits. There is plenty
of food.
Piles of
tinned British rations are at one end of our camp. We help ourselves
to
whatever
we think is edible. There are also huge dumps of American 'C' rations
but
no one cares
for the miserable 'meat & vegetable stew' combination. People
before
us have
already sorted out and taken the 'meat & beans' and 'meat &
potato hash',
which are
actually not too bad even unheated.
JANUARY 30
Still at 'Mud
Hill' and no news of our pilots and planes. Blackjack and craps
is the
predominant pastime.
We even got back into Oran. The smell is what one remembers
the most, a dry
pungent order of dust and heat and decay. Some of us found a place
to take a much
needed shower.
There are
several blocked-off streets in Oran guarded by MPs at all entrances.
It is
easy to
walk past the MPs going into to these sections, but, no one is permitted
to
pass the
MPs coming out, unless a pro slip is shown for inspection, regardless.
The American
green seal dollar is in great demand by the Arab and French shop
owners
and vendors. The direct sale of American money is prohibited by
our military,
but, can
be sold at a substantial profit in Algerian francs.
FEBRUARY 9
Much has passed.
First reports of our pilots and planes have reached us. 97th
Squadron pilots
Lewis, Luddington, and Lund were reported shot down down or
missing, along
with Major Loe. Our Group has scored several victories in aerial
combat. The first
losses and victories took place over the Bay of Biscay during the
fly-over from
England to Algeria in December. The report is that recently
commissioned Lt.
Lewis and Major Loe were downed by Bf-109 and Ju88 fighters,
after pulling
out of formation to turn back and engage the enemy attack. Lt. Lund
was reported
last seen banking close to the water.
We have
talked to some of the men we knew back at Selfridge, from the 1st
and 52nd
Groups.
They have seen action from the day of invasion in November.
The 1st
Fighter Group has been flying P-38s along with the 14th Fighter
Group. The
52nd Fighter
Group is flying Spitfires, as well as, the 31st. Ground support
missions,
as well
as, escort to light, medium, and heavy bomb groups, have been carried
out
from Algeria,
under the most adverse conditions. A-20s, using P-40 and P-39
escorts,
fly from advance fields.
The 14th
Group P-38s worked from the desert at Youks-les-bains, close to
the front
at Djedeida
in Tunisia. They were under frequent enemy air attacks there. In
their
aerial engagements
in November, they were invariably out-numbered. The Germans
put up
Bf109, Fw190, Italian Mc202, Ju88, along with Bf110 and Me210 fighters
and
fighter
bombers. There were Ju87 dive-bombers to contend with at the forward
base
As reinforcement,
the 1st Fighter Group planes joined the 14th at the forward base.
Winter rains
have turned the desert strips to mud, grounding the planes. In early
December
missions our P-38 pilots encountered Goering's elite pilots in yellow-nose
109s. Superior
numbers of intercepting enemy fighters drew off many of our own
best pilots,
although our own pilots were just as good and as well equipped in
an
odds-even
engagement.
A half-dozen
P-38s as escort to a dozen or more bombers was the usual case. On
5
December,
escorting B-25 medium and A-20 light bombers, P-38s engaged a larger
German
fighter formation. P-38 losses during this encounter were ssubstantial.
Again on
9 December, as escort to B-17s against Bizerte, the P-38 pilots
fought an
aerial
battle with intercepting Bf109 flights. Three P-38s were shot down
and two
more failed
to return from the mission. Our own planes shot down down three
109
fighters.
Carrying
out a mission on 15 December, six P-38 escorts to seven B-17 bombers
against
Tunis encountered heavy flak and enemy fighter opposition. Our P-38
pilots
had already
begun to fly missions against enemy shipping off northern Tunisia
in
December.
Our Lightnings carried one 1,000 lb. bomb replacing a second bellt
tank
on the
underwing shackles. Anti-shipping missions were soon placed on high
priority
On 11 January,
medium bombers were escorted by our P-38s, in strikes during which
our pilots
flew as spotters and cover, while the bombers flew at low level
to lay their
bombs against
the sides of the enemy vessels. 20 January saw our P-38s escort
B-
25 Mitchells
on a sweep during which a direct hit was scored on a tanker. The
tanker
blew up
and sank. Adain on 21 January, two enemy freighters with destroyer
escorts
were attacked
by our formation. Our P-38s engaged the enemy fighter cover while
the B-26
Marauders sunk one and damaged a second vessel. Our Lightnings scored
seceral
vivtories and suffered several losses.
During the
remainder of January, while our P-38s flew fighter cover, B-26s
destroyed
or sunk
three enemy freighters under destroyer protection while damaging
more
than this
number of vessels.
While the
bomber-fighter strikes continued, enemy ships grouped up under heavier
destroyer
protection and air cover. There were fewer of our P-38s available
for the
long range
missions; all squadrons in the three P-38 Groups in North Africa
had
suffered
severe depletions.
As new dirt
airstrips were made available, the P-38 Squadrons relocated. A dozen
or
so P-38s
(less than one Squadron strength) remaining of the 14th Group, was
turned
over to
our 82nd Group located at the Advance Air Station of Telergma.
Yesterday, 8 February,
14 P-38s from our 82nd Group escorted 15 B-25 Mitchells and
18 B-26 Marauder
bombers against Gabes. The B-25s were bounced and took a
beating ahead
of the target, shot down several 109s and lost several bombers.
The
B-26s were jumped
by 20 to 30 enemy fighters. Our group scored more than half-
dozen victories.
We lost one P-38. On the flight back to the advance air station,
82nd
Group Commanding
Officer Covington and 96th Squadron's Major Vaughn buzzed our
'Mud Hill' campsite.
As they crossed over the camp performing 'Victory Rolls' in their
P-38s, we could
not help but cheer at the thought of an early reunion.
FEBRUARY 10
We have joined
the advance echelon. Our trucks pulled into what was called the
'Advance Air Station'
- a furrowed field contains a few pyramidal tents, a cook tent,
and the shelte-half
covered foxholes of the advance crews. Our apprehension was
justified as the
advance echelon ground crew and remaining pilots of our original
97th squadron
gathered to meet us. The shock of seeing the haggard, unshaven
faces of pilots
and crews we hardly recognized, because of their desolate
appearance, brought
final realization of the previously reported losses. My very good
friend Atteberry
- when asked about his three aerial victories, stated: 'It's really
rough.'
97th Squadron's
remaining few planes are visible a half-mile distant, parked around
the perimeter
of the desert airstrip. Just for tonight, we have put up our shelter-
halves over
furrows, without digging foxholes. It is cold.
FEBRUARY 11
A light snow covered
the area last night. All planes are grounded. Mail from
Christmas came
in by truck from Oran, our first letters and packages since leaving
Ireland. Before
our arrival with the main supplies, the advance echelon suffered
shortages of
everything and worked a nearly round-the-clock schedule.
Today we
dug foxholes for ourselves in the sand and rock furrows, as more
permanent
shelters. Some of us have two shelter-halves and some have individual
holes. Some
of the men have also buddied-up and live two men to a foxhole, by
buttoning
together four shelter-halves, over larger holes.
FEBRUARY 12
95th and 96th
Squadrons are several hundred yards over, closer to the flight line.
Someone in one
of the other squadrons was accidently shot in the hip last night,
by a
.45 caliber.
The b-26
mediums have a base directly to the north of us at the foot of the
mountains.
The 1st
Fighter Group from Selfridge is now camped a mile down the road.
Lieutenant
Miller looked me up to relate the story of his crash-landing during
the fly-
over from
England. I'd pre-flight his P-38 in Ireland. He had crash-landed
in Spain,
close to
Gibraltar. He said: 'My right engine cut out and I was blown out
to sea - then
my left
engine cut out ! I decided to try for a landing on the coast and
as I hit my left
engine
tore out, then, the tail boom on one side broke off, then, the tail
boom on the
other side
and I finally ended up sliding into Spain without much remaining
of my
plane."
He had bought his way out of Spain for a promise of 50 gallons of
gasoline -
and five
English Pound notes ! Sustaining head injuries in the crash, he
is not
permitted
to fly high altitude missions.
All crews
are working hard, to keep what aircraft we have available on readiness
for
missions.
Several of the ships need engine changes and parts are at a premium.
The
stress
of air combat is partly revealed in the number of times our 38s
have returned
on one
engine. Pilots find it necessary to pull over red-lined manifold
pressure, in
certain
instances during evasive action. In some cases the intake manifold
collar
'queen'
blows, often starting an engine afire. Problems are also encountered
when
the belly
tanks are jettisoned; the Fowler wing flaps are frequently damaged
as the
tanks fly
away.
Severe penalty
has been promised for anyone not oberving the complete blackout
rule at
night. Enemy reconnaissance called 'bedtime Charlie' fly their nightly
missions
from bases in Tunisia. Our crew chiefs, working on their plane engines
at
night use
flashlights, but, work under cover of a blanket or canvas.
FEBRUARY 13
Our P-38s escorted
B-17E heavies and B-26 mediums on a mission against an
enemy convoy of
ships off the coast of Sicily, Italy. Sixteen out of 17 vessels,
reported to be
troopships, were left sinking. Our planes were followed by nine
109s
which did not
attack.
We learned
more about Lt. Lewis who had been shot down in December. Lewis had
beed downed
by a 109 which in turn was shot down by Lt. Larson. After pulling
out of
formation
to strafe an enemy ship, one engine on Larson's 38 was shot out
and he
force landed
at Bone, 150 miles up the coast.
To daye,
the Group has destroyed 45 enemy fighters and bombers, to our losses
of
19. A few
new replacement pilots are now coming into the Group, regularly.
Recently-commissioned
Staff Sgt. Pilot Atteberry is the first pilot to utilize an entirely
new evasive
maneuver in aerial combat. He stated that when a 109 was on his
tail,
he chopped
throttle on one engine suddenly and used full aileron and rudder
on the
same side.
The single-engine fighter could not follow the action, now called
the
'Atteberry
Roll' and our pilots have been practicing this new tactic.
FEBRUARY 15
Twenty-eight of
our 82nd Group P-38s, as escort to 14 B-26 mediums from the
adjacent bomber
base, flew a mission against an enemy airfield. Four bombers were
lost. One of
the other shot up bombers crash landed, after succesful return to
the
mountainside
base. The tail gunner of the B-26 was observed to bailout just before
the ship bellied
in.
One of our 38s
had an engine shot out but all of our 97th ships wer able to return
without loss.
Pilots reported sighting five Bf109G fighters which turned tail.
Many
fires were left
burning by the bombers.
We hear that,
on the Eastern Front, Rostov has fallen back into Russian hands
and
that Turkey is
thinking of joining the Allies.
FEBRUARY 16
We had good flying
weather early but dveloped into rain and heavy overcast. We
learned more
about yesterday's mission. The B-26 that belly landed had pilot
and
co-pilot shot
up - was landed by a buck private gunner after the remainder of
the
crew had hit the
silk.
Our P-38
that returned yesterday on one engine was hit in left inboard wing
section
by a cannonshell.
The prestone tank was shot up causing loss of coolant and the
engine
overheated. There were holes in outboard wing and flap also. Pilot
lt. Jackson
said he
did not see enemy aircraft attack him at any time.
The 109s
seem to be using 7mm machine guns and 20mm cannon. Some of the steel
cores picked
from our shot-up planes measure to be 5.5mm.
There is
word of possible enemy air attack against our base and anti-aircraft
gun
crews practice-fired
against the nearby mountainside all day.
The ground
fighting against Rommel at Kasseerine is reported crucial.
FEBRUARY 17
The 82nd achieved
a 'famous first' today - first US fighters over Sardinia. Escorting
B-17 fortresses
along with B-25 and B-26 mediums, heavy anti-aircraft fire was
encountered over
the target. Four B-26s from the nearby base were lost due to flak.
Our Group lost
three P-38s, one of these from our 97th Squadron, called 'Cheeta'.
One enemy bomber
was shot down. A fifth B-26 bomber, returning from this mission,
crashed against
the mountainside after coming out of clouds at low altitude. The
plane burned,
threw huge black billows of smoke up from the wreckage. All crew
were reported
lost.
Our 82nd
Group victories now stand at 47 enemy planes shot down.
FEBRUARY 18, 19,
20
Bad weather prevented
mission on 18th. Heavy rain yesterday and today grounded
all aircraft.
They cannot get off in the mud. All personnel working at bailing
out
foxholes.
In talking to two master sergeants
of the 359th Service Squadron, they related that
several days ago, while on their
way to pick up a salvage P-38 on the main route to
Kasserine, they kept drivng their
flat-bed truck-rig past all these trucks and troops
coming in their direction, finally
stopped to ask what was going on. A, G.I. answered:
'Rommel is breaking through at
Kasserine !'
FEBRUARY 21
Fifteen P-38s, our men,
escorted flights of B-26s in anti-shipping mission. Lt.
Peterson went down but
Headquarters received a call from Algiers saying
"Pete" had
landed O.K. Lieutenants Towsen and Washburn crashed at sea
after shooting down a
German bomber. Towsen was reported last seen on a
life raft dropped by
one of our bombers. The Germans were also reported
close to the raft. One
enemy ship was sunk by the B-26s and other vessels
were strafed by our P-38s.
Our 82nd FG now has 48 vicitories to 21 lost.
FEBRUARY 23
Important missions were carried out against
targets in Tunisia. Our P-38s
shot down two Ju-88s. Four of our pilots teamed
up to shoot down a German
flying-boat over Bizerte. Lt. Towson now believed
definitely lost after crash
landing in the sea on the 21st. Lt. Atteberry
said Towsen attacked an enemy
bomber, from above and behind, and was hit
on the way in by the rear
gunner.
FEBRUARY 28
Due to very heavy rains and muddy ground conditions
the first part of week,
we had no missions until yesterday. Today,
five of our P-38s were shot up on
a mission, one of these failed to return. Escorting
B-26 bombers, they were
attacked by flights of Me109s. Lt. "Ace"
White, last of the 38s to return from
the mission, added another 109 to his score.
Our other Lt. White (H.G.) also
shot down a 109 which was laast seen streaming
into the ground with engine
trailing smoke. Our new Commanding Officer
of the 97th, Captian Wittliff,
shot downone 109. Group victories now stand
at 61. This includes 45 enemy
fighters, eleven bombers and five others. We
have suffered losses of 24
pilots, 25 P-38s. Lt. "Ace" White
had four vicitories and needed one more to
become an "Ace". Yesterday he was
called on the carpet for taking off
unassigned, as he put it: "To get my last
ship to get the title." Most of the
men have been supplementing their desire for
food by buying eggs, nuts,
and dried dates from the Arab natives who wander
across our perimeter. Ten
eggs cost about 30 francs (60 cents), a dozen
English walnuts costs 20
francs, and maybe three dozen dried dates will
run another 20 francs. But
half the dates are wormy.
MARCH 1
Lieutenants Rounds and Carpenter
scored victories for the 97th today along
with Lt. J.G. White. He reported
that upon opening fire on a 109 - its entire
tail section blew off. The official
Group record now stands at 66 victories to
our 25 lost.
MARCH 3
Our 38s escorted B-25 Mitchells
to target, an enemy field. The target was
reported to be well- hit. No
enemy fighters were encountered but one of our
planes was lost to enemy anti-aircraft
fire.
MARCH 4
An early mission saw 38 of our
P-38s escorting B-25 bombers to the target
in Tunisia. Enemy planes were
encountered but no reports of any shot down.
Several of our 38s failed to
return. One was seen to spin down after being hit
in pilots cockpit section by
a jettisoned belly tank, while they were over the
target. Lt. Caputo had one engine
on fire, which went out when the engine
was cut, and he came in safely
on one engine. Lt. Gasaway was lost. Lt.
Visscher is believed to have
landed safely at Bone, on the coast.
MARCH 5 &
6
No news on missions. Our planes
practiced and experimented with belly
tanks as bombs. The word is
the tanks are filled with a flammable liquid
ruber mixture. Both engines
were replaced on Lt. Caputo's P-38.
MARCH 7
On a mission attacking an enemy
convoy of ships in the Mediterranean,
pilots of 97th Squadron shot
down six enemy aircraft, four of which were
confirmed. Captain Wittliff,
Captain Peterson, Lieutenant Taback, Lieutenant
Visscher and Lieutenant Walker
scored victories. Captains Wittliff and
Peterson shot down two planes
each, but only one of our Commanding
Officer's victories was confirmed.
MARCH 8
Captain Wittliff's two 109s
shot down yesterday were confirmed. 97th
Squadron total is now 31 victories
and our 82nd Group total has been
brought up to 70 victories.
MARCH 9
In a ceremony on this field
today, our 82nd Group pilots were awarded
decorations for 'Valor In Combat'
by Wing Commanding Officer Colonel Rider.
97th Squadron's Commanding
Officer Wittliff, Lieutenant Atteberry,
Lieutenant 'Ace' White, Lieutenant
J.C. White, Lieutenant Walker, Lieutenant
Visscher and others, were awarded
the Distinguished Flying Cross. Missions
were flown by B-17 and B-26
bombers, escorted by Curtiss P-40s, in
constant activity all day.
MARCH 10
No missions for the 82nd today
but B-26s with P-40 fighter escorts flew
overhead on missions to the
front. B-17 heavies passed over in groups of 33
in one flight, 14 in another,
and 16 in a third flight. Several more Fortresses
passed directly overhead escorted
by the 1st Fighter Group in new P-38s.
MARCH 11
Our 82nd carried out an early
mission escorting B-25 Mitchells. 97th
Squadron pilots shot down three
Ju88s. Lt. 'Ace' White scored his sixth
victory; Lt. Atteberry shot
down his fourth; Lt. Visscher scored his third
victory.
MARCH 12
One of 96th Squadron's pilots
shot down two enemy medium bombers after
pulling out of formation to
attack the enemy. Group score now stands at 73
or 75 enemy aircraft destroyed
in the air. Our 97th Squadron has shot down
33 of these.
MARCH 13
82nd ran a mission. One of our
38s crash landed with the right main gear not
locked. Came to rest on right
wing tip supported by left main gear and nose
wheel. Pilot O.K.
MARCH 14 to
16
On the 14th our P-38s escorted
B-25s. Group lost one new pilot due to his
mistaking four 109s for Spitfires
which, by that time, drew down and fired on
him. The bombers hit their targets.
On the 15th, Lt. McAnulty of our 97th
Squadron shot down a 109 on
his first mission with the squadron. Many B-
17s Fortresses, B-26 Marauders
and B-25 Mitchells, with escort of P40s,
Spitfires, and P-38s have been
on the go in perfect weather.
MARCH 17 to
19
No missions. Heavy rains have
flooded out everything. We awoke in our
foxholes with the water pouring
in around our pup-tents. Our entire area is
like a swamp.
MARCH 20
Heavy missions carried out today.
Our 38s shot down ten enemy planes to
bring Group total count to 86.
Several of our ground crews came under fire of
one of our own planes this morning.
A run-a-way sprayed .50 caliber bullets
over the perimeter. A French
troop barracks a mile distat caught most of the
bullets and as the gun burned
out we could see tracers coming directly at us,
bullets hit the ground and a
truck in front of our plane.
MARCH 21 &
22
We of 97th Squadron lost Atteberry
and McDaniels. 97th Squadron escorted
70 B-26 bombers against enemy
shipping and very heavy opposition was
encountered from 109s. As a
result, Lt. Atteberry, Lt. McDaniels, and Lt.
McAnulty were reported lost
in combat. However, Lt. McAnulty came back
safely last night, and was flown
in by an English Beaufighter. It is difficult to
realize so many of our ex-Sgt.
pilots and friends are gone. Atteberry needed
only one more victory, unofficially.
During the mission, one of the B-26s was
brought down by a suicide 109
who flew directly into the middle of the
bomber formation. Our squadron
scored one victory in the air battle to bring
Group total to 87. 95th Squadron
planes got up on the 21st along with many
B-17s.
MARCH 25
An early mission got off with
out squadron participating. Fortresses,
escorted by the 1st Fighter
Group, flew over on their way towards the front.
Upon mission completion, 97th
Squadron was missing Lt. 'Ace' White and
Captain Peterson. But Pete is
believed to have landed safely on the coast at
Bone. During the last few missions,
Group victories have reached 94 total.
MARCH 26
It is rumored that Lt. 'Ace'
White, who had six victories, is in hospital with
crushed chest and skull facture.
He failed to return from yesterday's mission
and the report came in this
morning. An early mission today lastedd three to
four hours. Lieutenant G. White
reported shooting down one Ju88 offshore.
The enemy crashed into the
sea in flames. Lt. White's P-38 showed bullet
holes, the second time he has
returned with a victory and a shot-up plane.
BERTEAUX,
NORTH AFRICA
MARCH 27 &
28
All aircraft are grounded. Word
was given yesterday we were to move to a
new field. Today we moved to
Berteaux, closer to the coast and fourteen
miles from our old strip at
Telergma. P40s and A-20 light bombers flew from
here previously. One of General
Doolittle's bomber Groups is located directly
across the road from our perimeter.
They are flying B-25 Mitchells.
MARCH 29
We have again established camp.
The majority are still living out of foxholes
under shelter-halves, but there
are some pyramidals also. Our squadron
pilots are to go on a 30 day
relief, back to Casablanca. Eleven new pilots and
P-38s came into the squadron
today which, added to our remaining 97th
pilots to stay here, makes 15.
Of 97th Squadron, Commanding Officer (now
Major) Witliff, Captain Peterson,
ex-Sgts. (now Lieutenants) Henley, Larson,
Morgan, Rounds, Taback, Visscher,
Walker, 'Ace' White, and G. White, will be
at Casablanca. 'Ace' White,
who crash landed several days ago after a
mission and at first believed
lost, is O.K. and goes to Casablanca. He
reported turning upside down
on crash landing, when his left engine cut out.
Unable to get out of the cockpit
with his canopy jammed against the ground,
shot his way out of the side
cockpit window with his .45 automatic.
APRIL 1 to 4
Missions have been flown daily.
On today's mission two of our ships returned
early. One of these made the
flight back with the propeller gone from the
right engine after the pilot
hit the water while flying low over the
Mediterranean. The other ship
from our squadron belly landed after a
hydraulic line had broken.
APRIL 4 to 9
During the first part of the
week, on the 5th, our Group pilots shot down 16
enemy aircraft. Twenty-six of
our P-38s were on patrol over the strait and
intercepted a mixed formation
of 50 to 70 Ju52 transports, twenty 109s, six
Ju87 dive bombers, several Fw190s,
escorting a dozen enemy merchant
ships offshore of Cape Bon.
Ex-Sgt. pilot (now Lieutenant) Larson scored
three victories. Our Group was
missing two 38s: 97th Sqdn. scored four
victories besides Lietenant
Larson's. Today we had two crash landings. One
of these returned from the mission
with the right engine on fire and prop
feathered. He shot over the
field, dropped his belly tanks in the adjoining
wheat field, and crashlanded
safely alongside an anti-aircraft battery.
82nd Group victories now total
117.
NO ENTRIES FOR,
4/10 - 4/18
APRIL 19
Around the 11th, our Group pilots
shot down 32 Nazi planes attempting to
re-inforce Tunis with fresh
troops from Italy; Ju52s, along with 109s and
Mc200s were shot down. The Germans
are also now using huge troop
transports - six engines Me323s
- which are slow lumbering targets. Many
have ben shot down in flames.
NO ENTRIES FOR,
4/20 - 4/23
APRIL 24 to
30
Group victories have been brought
up to 168 total. Many new pilots have
been brought into the squadron
and Group. Itis more difficult to keep a close
account . Of our original 97th
Squadron pilots. Atteberry, Delp, Gasaway,
Heronemus, Johnson, Knell, Lewis,
McDaniels, McAnulty, Towson, Washburn
were reported lost in combat.
Also reported lost but in some cases reported
to be prisoners of war are,
Lts. Doddridge, Heffington, Lund, and Pratt (Lt.
Pratt has been reported to have
returned to the States after being a prisoner
of war). Nearly all of these
men were ex-Staff Sergeant Pilots from Muroc,
along with Henley, Larson, Morgan,
Rounds, Taback, Visscher, Walker, 'Ace'
White, G. White, at Casablanca.
Lts. Caputo, Crawford, and Wahiems are
now completing last missions.
Our original 97th Squadron Commanding
Officer, Captain Ernie C. Young,
was moved up to Deputy Group Commander
of the 82nd in January, and
is now a Lieutenant Colonel and 82nd Group
Commanding Officer. Captain
McAuliffe has been reported to be our new
97th Squadron Commanding Officer.
Line Chief is Strong. Crew Chiefs are:
Beck, Bellows, Duncan, England,
Graziers, Hillman, Jalufka, Kennedy,
Kizzare, Lange, LaTorette, Paulidas,
Settler, Sauber, Silva, Snyder,
Thompson, Walker, Wibel, Widhelm,
LaBoi, and others, along with their
assistant crew chiefs and individual
men who make up the crews, who have
contributed so successfully
to maintenance of our high record for mission
readiness. In Communications
we have Hathaway, with Simpson, Stoddard,
Abna, Allen, and Fletcher; Monson,
Lynch, Crenshaw, Sullivan, and Siember;
Mayo, Long, Poindexter, and
Erikson, and others. These are all 97th
Squadron men, besides our Engineering
section, Armament personnel,
Medical section, Administrative
personnel and specialists. There has been a
request for volunteers for gunnery
school to fly in the bombers. Several
have left the Group. Some of
our 97th men have also left on reassignment to
the China-Burma-India Theater.
Several pilots have gone into bomb groups
and / or other theaters. We
have heard that President Roosevelt, in a recent
speech, predicted that all men
serving in the African Campaign would be
returned to the States when
the Campaign was over. One of our original
Staff Sergeant pilots, Thompson,
was here for a short stay from the States,
assigned by Wright Field on
performance evaluation of our P-38s and
engines. Fot the past two days
we have had such heavy rains as to ground
all planes. The entire camp
area and perimeter is completely swamped,
making things very miserable.
Several of the section-heads and non-
commissioned officers, including
mysel, have a chance to try for Field
Commissions. We are to go before
the big Brass, in the event, for interview.
MAY 1 to 3
Many missions have been carried
out in good weather. As a result, our Group
score has come up to over 170
victories. Constant air attacks by B-26, B-25,
B-17 Bomb Groups with our escort,
have been made against the weakening
enemy in Tunisia. Captain Peterson,
Lt. Visscher, and Lt. Rounds came back
from Casablanca to continue
flying with the 97th. "Pete" will be the new
squadron C.O. We have built
two "piggy-back" P-38s by removing the radio
from behind the seat and installing
a simple bucket seat and safety belt on
the shelf. Our communications
men installed the radio in the gun
compartment. I got in a test
hop yesterday with another Tech Sgt. (Sgt.
Pilot) but our left supercharger
caught fire and we had to come back.
MAY 4 to 14
During the past two weeks we
have put up all possible 38s on daily missions.
Strikes against Pantelleria
have been carried out with our P-38s doing skip
bombing work. On one day, Group
put up 64 P-38s to escort 50 B-25
Mitchells. It has not been unusual
to see over 200 shipsin the air at one time
and, on one mission, B-17s flew
over in big mass to bomb Scicily. Most of our
missions now have been to the
lower part of Italy.
MAY 15 to 18
The latest report is that the
African continent enemy ground forces have
been completely beaten. Because
of the many prisoners our own ground
forces have taken, we are being
cut down on food rations. We expect our
next move to be in the direction
of Bizerte, Tunisia, and then on through
Italy, when the time comes.
To date, our 82nd Fighter Group has shot down
over 200 Me109, Ju88, Me210,
Mc200, Me323, Ju52, and Ju87 aircraft, in
addition to ship convoys and
enemy ground transports destroyed.
THE SICILIAN
CAMPAIGN
MAY 21
Big mission. Our P-38s, numbering
close to 50, carried bombs on wing
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