Mon. 2/1/43.....Eight of our boys escorted B-17's high altitude
over Tunis. Bombers did a swell job and all ships returned. Ace
White gave us a scare but he came in later after being lost. Just
heard Decker is missing. No one over at the 1st Fighter Group
knows what happened. I rested today.
Tue. 2/2/43.....A quiet day for me. Our Sqd. was off. 96th had
a fairly good day. They got 7 victories. Also lost one of our
new boys from the 14th. 95th went out and all came back, nothing
sighted by them or the bombers. Received a letter from Ess and
Paul and also from Milt Brietman.
Wed. 2/3/43.....Our day today. Rough day for the morning flight.
We lost two new boys, Johnson and Wilson. McAuliffe and Visscher's
flights had running fights all the way. My mission this afternoon
was OK. Target bombed. No fighters sighted. All ships return safe.
No mail today.
Thur. 2/4/43.....My day off. Pete's and McD's flights went with
the 95th. No bombing. Overcast. No one knew what happened to the
two missing boys. (Grady & Doddridge). No one saw the attacked.
No mail today. Hope they show up.
Fri. 2/5/43.....Our day off. Weather bad. No missions. Received
a package of figs and dates and nuts from the Lewis Family. I
rested all day and wrote a few letters.
Sat. 2/6/43.....Went into Constantine today. Took a bath and
shower,etc. Slept in a bed for a change. Saw an American Show,
"Breakfast for Two". It's a damn nice town. Had a few
drinks (wine) at the casino. Also had some swell meals. Surprised
at seeing so many French women. No kidding. Weather bad, no missions
for the 95th or 96th.
Sun. 2/7/43.....Got back home from Constanine 1 o'clock. 95th
and 96th went out today. believe they got 3 victories. Thought
we lost Maj. Vaughn but he came in 7 o'clock on one engine. A
night landing. Got two letters from Harriett. Answered them.
Mon. 2/8/43.....Went out today escorting B-26's and B-25's. ?4
of us at the target 6 returns. We lost Dunn but we got 8-Me109's
and 2 damaged. Boy we had some Dog Fights!!! Never saw so many
planes going different directions in all my life. Didn't see the
bombing. Was too busy!!
Tue. 2/9/43.....96th went out but back in a short while. Not
enough fighter escort. Laid around and did nothing all day. A
much needed rest after yesterdays workout. No mail at all for
me.
Wed. 2/10/43.....96th went out today. Our day off The rest of
the outfit came in. Was sure glad to see them all for the first
time since Ireland.Began to snow today. Received a letter from
Milt. Answered it.
Thur. 2/11/43.....Bad weather. It rained all day. No missions.
Sat in most of the day reading, writing a couple of letters and
eating. we had quite a little feast this evening.
Fri. 2/12/43.....No missions today. Field was too muddy (non-operational).
Everything is muddy as hell.No mail today.
Sat. 2/13/43.....95th went out today. All returned without seeing
any enemy fighters. Report says they lost two B-26's. A bunch
new replacement pilots came in with new planes for us. No mail
today.
Sun. 2/14/43.....'12' of our boys went out on anti-shipping with
the 1st FG. Saw nothing. All returned. I sat around all day. No
mail.
Mon. 2/15/43.....Four of us went out with the 96th escorting
B-26's. Got jumped but all returned safely. Ace White and Sloan
claimed one victory each. No mail today. Jackson came back on
one engine. Got hit between the right boom and the gondola. A
hole as big as a football.
Tue. 2/16/43.....95th went out on anti-shipping. Ran into bad
weather and returned. I was supposed to escort - Gen. Marshall
but bad weather stopped us. Nothing much doing today. Met an old
buddy I played baseball with at Mitchel Field, Dick Farr also
met 'Spic' Cordover.
Wed. 2/17/43.....95th and 96th went out to Sardinia. Kinsey got
an Italian bomber. B-25's and B-26's did the bombing. Osher's
whole flight missing. No mail today. Had dinner at the French
Commandant's house. Very nice people.
Thur. 2/18/43.....Bad weather prevented us from going out today.
Not much doing all day. I did a little reading, etc. Received
'V' mail from Evy Lewis Rosenthal and Sylvia Schwartz. Osher's
flight all accounted for.
Fri. 2/19/43.....Bad weather again stopped us from going out.
Laid around all day. We did a little cooking in our room. Visited
the French family across the way again. No mail.
Sat. 2/20/43.....Bad weather again. No missions today. Received
some rations today. Chocolate, Life Savers, etc. No mail.
Sun. 2/21/43.....Left for Casablanca today on C-47. Landed at
Algiers. Spent the night there. Heard that Towson and Washburn
went into the 'drink' after getting an He177. Alert sirens went
on in the middle of the night here, but no bombing. Alert siren
again about 0500 in the morning,but still no bombing.
Mon. 2/22/43.....Left Algiers for Casablanca on a C-47. Got in
there in the afternoon after stopping at LeSenia. Saw Capt. Norris
at LeSenia also Cox, Walker, Miller, and Gerry Rounds. Saw Seltz
and Liebers at Casablanca.
Tue. 2/23/43.....Casablanca is great!! They've got everything
compared to us at the front. Had swell meals, etc.
Wed. 2/24/43.....Still here at Casablanca. Ate some meals at
the Hotel Souisse. Met Col. Cochran my old C.O. Boy was I happy
to see him!
Thur. 2/25/43.....Still here. Had a long bull session with Col.
Cochran. Gosh what a memory he has. He remembered everything about
me. Saw a show at the Souisse Hotel.
Fri. 2/26/43.....Still here. Oh yes, I visited town quite a bit.
Quite a place. Ate ice cream for the first time in months. Purchased
a bunch of shoulder holsters for the boys.
Sat. 2/27/43.....Leading '16' ships. Landed in Algiers and spent
the night there. Heard that Leon Bass was killed.
Sun. 2/28/43.....Took off leading them all to Telergma. All O.K.
Boys came back from a mission. J. White shot up quite a bit but
returned. Ace White showed up later. Heffington missing.
MARCH - 1943
Mon. 3/1/43.....Eight of us were supposed to go out with the
96th. Six of us didn't go. Ships not gassed, radios, etc. Ceawford
got two Me109s and G. Rounds got one. I didn't do much today except
answering the mail I received from Harriett, Leo, Paul, and the
Folks. Found out Heffington bailed out in enemy territory.
Tue. 3/2/43.....Nothing doing all day today. No missions at all
but don't know why? The weather's good. Spent most of the day
writing letters and listening to the radio.
Wed. 3/3/43.....Escorted B-25s today. Pryor hit by flak but got
back on one engine. All ships returned. 96th escorted B-26s. Scott
hit by flak. Boys saw him go down. 8 of the 95th went with us.
All O.K. Ace White had to land at another field. Short on gas.
Thur. 3/4/43.....Went on anti-shipping today off Tunis and Bizerti.
Gasaway got hit by Witt's belly tank. Went into the drink. Caputo
and Morgan returned on one engine. Morgan landed at Bone. 96th
also out on anti-shipping. Didn't see anything. Our bombers (B-26s)
missed their target by at least 300 yards. Piss Poor !!
Fri. 3/5/43.....Nothing doing today. Did some letter writing
and reading. No missions at all by any of the Squadrons. No mail
from home today.
Sat. 3/6/43.....95th went out but saw nothing. We did nothing
all day. No mail from home today. No lights so I couldn't write
any letters.
Sun. 3/7/43.....We went out on anti-shipping with the B-25s.
Ran into a big convoy escorted by Ju88s, Me109s, and Italian fighters
etc, etc. Wittliff got a Ju88 and an Italian fighter. Pete a Ju88,
Walker got the seaplane Cant 506. I shot at a Ju88, a Me109, and
also a Cant. 506. "No confirmation"!!
Mon. 3/8/43.....Nothing doing all day. Bad weather. A dreary
day with nothing to do. No mail from home.
Tue. 3/9/43.....No missions today. Weather good. I had a flight
of four ships on an oxygen hop up to 26000 ft. My birthday today
"24" years old. No celebration at all. No mail today.
Wed. 3/10/43.....Nothing doing today. Weather's bad. No mail
from home. Wrote 3 letters home. Left for Constantine. Slept at
a RAF Hotel. Saw a show at the Casino Theater.
Thur. 3/11/43.....Left Constantine after lunch today. Came back
to find eight of our boys went on a mission. Atteberry and Ace
White each got a Me110. No mail today.
Fri. 3/12/43.....We went on a mission today. '32' ships. 16 of
ours and 16 from the 96th. 96th got two Italian ships. Bombers
got some hits on a convoy of barges. No mail today.
Sat. 3/13/43.....95th went out today. They saw nothing at all.
We sat around. Oh yes, we moved to different quarters. About 150
yards from our old place. No mail today. Just heard officially
that K.K. Lund was a prisoner of war. Everybody happy. We thought
he was gone for good.
Sun. 3/14/43.....Nothing doing today. Six of us took a bath at
the Hot Springs. Got two letters, one from Leo and one from Harriett.
I answered Leo's letter.
Mon. 3/15/43.....We went out with the 96th on a ground target,
Airdrome near Merzouva. We got jumped by 6 Me109s. Jackson of
the 96th got hit. He crashed landed in safe territory. McNaulty
got one Me109.
Tue. 3/16/43.....We went out with the 95th escorting a new outfit
of B-25s. The sky was completely overcast and the bombers milled
around over enemy territory until we told them to return home.
All ships returned o.k. Recieved a letter from Harry Lewis. Jackson
got back ! (note I omitted Wed. 3/17/43- I don't know why?)
Thur. 3/18/43.....Our day off. No missions. It's been raining
all day. The men got flooded out of their pup tents. Everything
is muddy as hell !! Received a letter from Leo and also from the
'Y'. Answered Leo's letter and also Harry Lewis'.
Fri. 3/19/43.....Field was unoperational. No missions today.
Wrote a bunch of letters. Laid around all day. We now have to
carry our gas masks and helmets. All pilots confined. Big push
is suppose to begin.
Sat. 3/20/43.....Eight of us went out with the 96th on an anti-shipping
mission escorting B-25s. 96th got 8-Me109s, 2-Ju88s, 1-seaplane.
We got separated chasing a plane. All planes returned safely to
base. No mail today.
Sun. 3/21/43.....We sat ready for a mission all day but nothing
developed. 95th started out but returned. No mail today. Weather
was beautiful today.
Mon. 3/22/43.....Went out with the 95th today escorting B-26s.
Met convoy in Bay of Tunis. Also ran into a piss pot full of pighters.
95th got victories and I got my first one (Me109). One B-26 was
shot down. Bombers claim 3 fighters and hits on 3 ships in convoy.
Atteberry & McDaniel missing. Hays of the 95th bailed out.
McAnulty crash landed at another field.
Tue. 3/23/43.....8 of us escorted 1 F5 on a photo mission over
Tunis and Bizerte. Saw 2-Me109s. Witt got a shot at them but no
hits. Ran into lots of Spits and B-17s. All of us back safe. McAullife
and White returned early.
Wed. 3/24/43.....No missions for anybody. Took a hot bath. Wrote
to Harriett and the whole family tonight. No mail today.
Thur. 3/25/43.....Went out with the 95th escorting B-25s. 95th
strafed the one barge we saw. No bombing. 95th shot down 1-seaplane.
Lt. Shearer caught fire and went into the sea. No fighters sighted.
Bombers got lost on the way back so we left and went home. They
wouldn't follow us. Ace White still lost. Low on gas.
Fri. 3/26/43.....Went out with the 96th escorting B-25s. Nothing
sighted on the sea. Capt McAuliffe got one Ju88. All ships safe.
My ship all painted up. Ace White injuried somewhere. Now in a
British hospital.
Sat. 3/27/43.....No missions. Moved out to the field in tents.
Worked hard all day getting things set. No mail. Capt. Wittliff
made Major. Major Young made Colonel. I became a Flight Commander
tonight.
Sun. 3/28/43.....Our whole Group moved today. Now at Berteaux.
5 miles from Telergma. Am quite tired of tearing down and putting
up tents. Big talk about giving us a rest.
Mon. 3/29/43.....A bunch of us are going for a rest. Off operations
as of today. McAulliffe, Crawford, Pryor, Caputo, and McAnulty
are the ones staying. Moved our tents again about 300 yards.
Tue. 3/30/43.....Doing nothing all day. Waiting for our orders
to go on our rest. We got a couple of pilots and six planes for
replacement. Ace White got back today. Larson came back from his
rest.
Wed. 3/31/43.....Payday today. Took a hot bath at the springs.
Still waiting for orders to go to the rest camp at Agadir. No
mail. Our promotions are starting to come in.
April - 1943
Thur. 4/1/43.....Surprise!! We were ordered to go
on a mission. We started out but the weather was too bad so we
came back. Left for rest camp at 1 o'clock in B-26s. Arrived at
Marakech. Stayed over night.
Fri. 4/2/43.....Arrived here in Agadir. Weather
swell ! 1 hotel is beautiful. Scenery is beautiful. Food is excellent.
Everything for our convenience. Received mail through Major Wittliff
from Harriett, Leo, Milt, Sylvia, and Paul.
Sat. 4/3/43.....Fooled around all day looking the
place all over. Wrote a bunch of letters.
Sun. 4/4/43.....Went deep sea fishing on a beauty
of a yacht. Had a swell time but didn't catch any fish. Wrote
some letters.
Mon. 4/5/43.....Laid around all day. Did some cycling.
Went in the ocean for a dip. Water's fine. Went to bed late after
a long bull session.
Tue. 4/6/43.....Went deep sea fishing again on the
same yacht. Caught three big fish. Tied for the prize of catching
the most fish. Won $8.00. Had a swell steak supper tonight.
Wed. 4/7/43.....Went fishing off the pier most of
the day. Caught 13 fish. Rode the bicycles around a bit. Wrote
a bunch of letters to the family and Harriett.
Thur. 4/8/43.....Went floundering with spears this
morning. Also went horseback riding. Swam a bit while floundering.
Wrote a couple of letters and laid around quite a bit.
Fri. 4/9/43.....Went swimming a little bit today.
No fishing for a change. Took a picture at the studio in full
uniform. Shaved off my mustache. Played softball against the bomber
pilots. We won!
Sat. 4/10/43.....Got up 5 o'clock this A.M. to go
deep sea fishing. Yacht broke down so we didn't go. I fished from
the pier and rowboat. Caught 2 nice sized fish. Wrote a few letters
today. Not much else doing.
Sun. 4/11/43.....Didn't do much today except lay
around and read and listen to the radio. News is good. We took
Sfax. We had a tea dance from 5 to 7 PM. I enjoyed myself very
much.
Mon. 4/12/43.....Took all G. Rounds negatives to
the photo shop for prints. Traveled on horseback. Spent the rest
of the day reading, playing ping pong and shooting the bull. Today
we took Sousse and Kairouen. Swell !!!
Tue. 4/13/43.....Visscher came back from Telergma.
Boys have been getting a lot of victories. But, lost Hieronymus,
Kinsey, McAnulty, Lawrence, Riddle, Rawson, V.White, and Hamric.
And a couiple of new boys. Nothing much doing all day. Got my
photo.
Wed. 4/14/43.....Schildt came here today. I got
the pictures today. All swell snap shots. Wrote letters and sent
home my pictures to the family. Played a lot of ping pong. Nothing
else exciting.
Thur. 4/15/43.....Played Bridge and read most of
the day. Not much news over the radio. Still surrounding Tunis
and Bizerte. Got the rest of the snap shots back today.
Fri. 4/16/43.....Played ball this morning. We beat
the bombers 6 to 5. Played Bridge most of the day. No changes
in our campaign today.
Sat. 4/17/43.....I flew up to Casablanca today.
Got some rations but couldn't get any pins or campaign ribbons
got back 06:30. Had a good meal, listened to the radio and fooled
around and then went to bed.
Sun. 4/18/43.....Went deep sea fishing today. Caught
three big fish. Had a swell time. We put the boat in full sail.
Don Gerber brought us a bunch of mail from Berteaux.
Mon. 4/19/43.....Sat around all day. Played Bridge
in our little tournament Cannon at once in Casablanca. OTU No.
African Training Command.
Tue. 4/20/43.....Went up to Casablanca today with
Major Kirtley. Found out we have to pack up and leave Agadir.
Still don't know all the dope about what's going on. Going up
tomorrow.
Wed. 4/21/43.....Got to Casablanca by transport.
Saw Gen. Cannon and found out we would be Instructors at a Fighter
training School. Stayed at the Souisse Hotel.
Thur. 4/22/43.....Got here at Berrchid Field today.
Found out all the details. We are now back to living in tents
again, etc. Planning to fly up to Berteaux to pick up my belongs.
Saw a show tonight, "Andy Hardy" an old one.
Fri. 4/23/43.....They stopped us from going up to
the front today. Going tomorrow. Leading nine new boiys there.
Nothing doing all evening. Played Gin Rummy with Major Kirtley.
Just the two of us here.
Sat. 4/24/43.....Test hopped a school ship. Took
off for Telergma leading 2nd flight. Major Kirtley lead the 1st
flight. Weather got bad so we stayed overnight in Algiers/ (Maison
Blanche)
Sun. 4/25/43.....Took off from Maison Blanche and
got all the boys in O.K. at Telergma. 82 got all the new bous.
Stayed in Berteaux in my own bed for a change. Saw L.B. Thompson.
Also saw a show.
Mon. 4/26/43.....Took off from Berteaux 09:30 and
landed at Berreched 01:30. Ran into a little bad weather. Witt.,
J.G. White, Walker, Yahne, R.L. Hattendorf and Jones are going
to be instructors at the F.T.C. Clearing my trouble up.
Tue. 4/27/43.....Just laid around all day. No flying.
Discussed the setup for teaching. I'm waiting for orders to go
back up to Berteaux.
Wed. 4/28/43.....Nothing doing all day. Took twenty
pilots to Casablanca to go by transport to LaSenia and ferry back
new ships.
Thur. 4/29/43.....Weather bad. Spent most of the
day at the airport. Saw a picture this evening.
Fri. 4/30/43.....Weather still bad. Went into Casablanca.
Saw a show. Had some good food. Also saw a show at the field.
May - 1943
Sat. 5/1/43.....Still here doing the same thing
as usual. Seeing the town and also the shows.
Sun. 5/2/43.....Still here at Cazes Airport. Visiting
town and seeing shows.
Mon. 5/3/43.....Weather still no good. Am still
passing my time the same way.
Tue. 5/4/43.....At last !! The transport took us
to LaSenia. Met L.B. Thompson there also Zubarik and Sloan. Got
our ships and took off. I lead 11 ships back. Saw a show at Berrechid
this evening.
Wed. 5/5/43.....Got my orders to return to the 82nd.
Rode in to Casablanca in the evening. Saw a show at the Red Cross.
Mr. "V" an excellant show.
Thur. 5/6/43.....Spent the day here waiting for
them to fix the ships I was going to take up to the front. Saw
a show in the evening. Met Seltz again. He just got down from
England again.
Fri. 5/7/43.....Flew Back to Berteaux leading Morgan,
Schildt and Creighton. Was glad to see everybody. Heard about
Powell and McArthur running into a hill in bad weather. Also three
new boys.
Sat. 5/8/43.....Went out today escorting 6 B-26s.
Saw one little boat. They bombed it but no direct hits. No enemy
aircraft sighted. All ships return safe and sound. Heard that
L.D. McDaniel is a prisoner of war.
Sun. 5/9/43.....Went on the biggest raid today.
Palermo in Sicily was the target. And 'boy' it sure was hit. Flight
lasted 6 hours. Was I tired. All fighters return safe. Some bombers
were hit by flak.
Mon. 5/10/43.....Went out today on anti-shipping
escorting B-25s. Nothing sighted. Played ball this evening against
the 95th. We won! C.F. Woods is here to visit us. I got two hits
for four.
Tue. 5/11/43.....Our day off today. The 96th and
95th went on a mass raid. I didn't do much all day except write
about four letters. Some of the boys went into Constantine. Played
ball against the Artillery. We won. I got 2 for 4.
Wed. 5/12/43.....Nothing doing today for anybody.
I wrote letters all day. We had a little entertainment in the
evening. A swell band.
Thur. 5/13/43.....Big show today. B-17s, B-25s,
B-26s. Did a swell job on Cagliari in Sardinia. Visscher and Zubarik
each got an Me109. All back safe.
Fri. 5/14/43.....No missions for our outfit. 95th
and 96th lost a total of three men. I did a little practice Dive
Bombing. Easier than I thought but no flak coming up.
Sat. 5/15/43.....We were told we had three days
off. Everybody got in their planes and went visiting in Tunis,
Bizerti, etc.
Sun. 5/16/43.....Went up to Kairouan. Met Jim Boyhan,
Dethlifs (1st Lts.) and Dyer, a Major and all the rest of the
gang. Had a swell time. Bought a German Luger. Saw all sorts of
German equipment.
Mon. 5/17/43.....Stayed here all day. Wrote some
letters and laid around and rested most of the day. Took Sgt.
LeBoi up in the 'Piggy Back' this evening. Received a few letters
today.
Tue. 5/18/43.....96th and us escorting B-25s and
B-26s to Pantellaria Island. Nice job of bombing. All ships back
safe.
Wed. 5/19/43.....We escorted 24, B-25s. Target,
airport at Milas, Sardinia. All ships back safe. Bombers did a
pretty good job. Visscher got one Me109.
Thur. 5/20/43.....Our day off. Pete, Gerry, and
Williams went out on a bombing mission. I took Lt. McHugh up to
Algiers in the 'Piggy Back'. All ships back safe today.
Fri. 5/21/43.....Escorted B-25s today. Target, Villacidro
Airdrome, Sardinia. Got jumped by a mess of fighters. I got one
Me109, and a probable. Caram and Shoemaker each got a victory.
96th got some. Fair bombing. I got six letters this evening. All
fighters back safe.
Sat. 5/22/43.....Prepared to gout on a mission but
was called off. Rained pretty hard here for about an hour. Wrote
some letters this evening. Received one.
Sun. 5/23/43.....Twelve of us went out on a sweep
carrying 1000 lb. bombs. A couple hit the docks. Some landed amongst
the fishing boats. Three near misses at the big boat. My bomb
wouldn't come off. If fell off on the way home. Where ???
Mon. 5/24/43.....Escorted B-26s today. Target Aalgagro
Airdrome, Sardinia. Some good hits by our dive bombers. B-26s
didn't do too bad. G. Rounds and Reager each got one Me109. No
mail today. Wrote some letters. Chas Zubarik missing.
Tue. 5/25/43.....Escorted B-25s. We had 12 dive
bombers. Target Licata Harbor, Sicily. Dive bombers got some nice
hits. B-25s didn't do too good. All ships back safe. Kinsey is
a P.O.W.
Wed. 5/26/43.....Our day off. Went to Constantine.
Ate a couple meals and saw a couple of pictures at the Red cross.
Received a letter from Leo for the first time in a long time.
Thur. 5/27/43.....Escorted B-25s today to Villacidro
Airdrome, Sardinia. Lots of flak but no enemy aircraft. All ships
back safe. Got a letter from Leo today. Answered it.
Fri. 5/28/43.....C.F. Wood left for home today.
All Squadrons out today. We escorted B-26s to Costel Vetrano.
Lots of flak and fighters. All ships return safe. Good bombing
all around. Received 3 "V" letters.
Sat. 5/29/43.....Off all day. Nothing doing all
day. Three missions of dive bombing went out. All ships back safe.
Sun. 5/30/43.....Off today went to Constantine.
Saw a picture at the Red Cross. No mail today. Had a couple of
fair meals in town.
Mon. 5/31/43.....Dive bombing, 1000 pounders and
also escorted 18 B-25s. Lots of good hits. All ships return safe.
Mission was Pantellaria. No mail today.
Tue. 6/1/43.....Just 12 went off dive bombing Pantellaria.
That's all we seem to be doing lately. I sat around all day, played
poker for the first time in years. Won $25.00. No mail but I wrote
some letters today.
Wed. 6/2/43.....Off today. Layed around all day.
Played a little ball. Went to Constantine in the afternoon. Saw
a picture, drank some beer and had a fair meal. No mail today.
Thur. 6/3/43.....Went out dive bombing and escorting
18 B-25s. Some good hits on the gun positions of Pantellaria.
No mail today. All ships back safe from the mission.
Fri. 6/4/43.....Nothing doing today. Went to Constantine
and saw some pictures, drank some beer, etc. Saw a picture here
in the evening.
Sat. 6/5/43.....No missions for our Squadron today.
I stood out at the field all day. Some of the boys have been laid
up with Dysentry. Bunch of the enlisted men too.
Sun. 6/6/43.....Escorted B-26s to Pantellaria. Also
dive bombed. Bombers did swell and so did the P-38s. I got a direct
hit. No mail today. Rumor has it that there is no mail in North
Africa.
Mon. 6/7/43.....Two missions today. I went out first,
dive bombing and escorting B-26s. I got a direct hit. Bombers
did well. All back safe. The second mission took off just before
we got back. No mail. Visscher is going home.
Tue. 6/8/43.....Escorted three B-25s dropping pamphlets
over Pantellaria. All ships back safe. No mail.
Wed. 6/9/43.....Nothing doing for me today. Layed
around all day. Wrote a letter to Milt. No mail.
Thur. 6/10/43.....Went out on the early mission
as a spare. No one dropped out so I had to return. Went dive bombing
to Pantellaria. All did a good job. I went after the barracks
near the airport and got a very near miss.
Fri. 6/11/43.....Big day today !! Went to Pantellaria
with 1000 lb. bombs as part of the Air Force aid to the invasion.
At 11:45today the Allies invaded the Island of Pantellaria. Missions
were running all day. Got three letters.
Sat. 6/12/43.....Nothing to do today. Went to Constanine,
saw a show, ate and drank at the Casino. No mail today. Moving
tomorrow.
Sun. 6/13/43.....Moved today from Berteaux to Marleybone.
Some went by truck. Crew Chiefs flew in B-25s, the pilots flew
their planes. Chutes and equipment came late so we had to sleep
in the open.
Mon. 6/14/43.....Getting settled today. After getting
all set up we drove to Tarbarka and went swimming in the Mediterranian,
Had a nice time. Water was swell!! No mail.
Tue. 6/15/43.....Went out early today escorting
B-25s to Sciacca, Sicily. Ran into about 15 fighters. We got three
probables. All 97th ships back safe. 95th lost Kenny, forced landed
on Sicily. 96th lost Halverson.
Wed. 6/16/43.....No missions today. Hung around
camp all day. No mail. Wrote a couple of letters. Can't understand
why we're lying idle ?
Thur. 6/17/43.....No missions today. Some of the
boys went to Tunis. Played volleyball and fooled around all day.
No mail today. Wrote a few letters.
Fri. 6/18/43.....96th went to Sardinia. No missions
for us. 96th lost Wehman and got 16 victories. I went to Kairaoun
to visit the 57th. They moved to Boukara south of Gabes so I flew
down. Had a nice time. Had a chicken dinner with a French family
near our field.
Sat. 6/19/43.....Nothing doing again today. Sat
around all day. Weather still fine as ever. Recieved a letter
from Al Newman.
Sun. 6/20/43.....Nothing much doing today. Weather
quite good but warm. No mail today. Read quite a bit all day.
Mon. 6/21/43.....Went out today escorting B-25s
to railroad yards South of Salerno and Naples in Italy. First
time for us and the medium bombers. All ships back safe. 95th
also went out to Salerno. We consolidated on the return. No mail.
Capt. Pete got in his 50th mission.
Tue. 6/22/43.....No missions today. Read all day.
Wrote to Harriett. it started to shower a bit toward evening.
Wed. 6/23/43.....Four of us escorted two Baltimores
in a search for survivors in a Dingy off the Southeast coast of
Sardinia. No luck after 05:45 minutes of flying. Received one
letter today.
Thur. 6/24/43.....Escorted B-25s to Gulf of Oranciqui,
Sardinia. Saw a few fighters but had no trouble. All ships back
safe.
Fri. 6/25/43.....Nothing doing today. Received the
most wonderful letter from Leo. Maj. Vaughn left for home today.
Sat. 6/26/43.....No missions today. Wrote a few
letters and received about six letters. Everybody at home mentions
the paper clippings.
Sun. 6/27/43.....Nothing doing today. Wrote letters.
Played vollyball. Saw a show in the evening. No mail today.
Mon. 6/28/43.....Escorted B-25s today to Obia-Velafiorita
Airdrome in Sardinia. Enemy fighters sighted. A couple of attacks
but no harm. All ships back safe. McAuliffe and Larson got in
their 50th missions.
Tue. 6/29/43.....No missions today. Pretty hot today.
Layed around all day. No mail today. Wrote a couple of letters.
On the alert for parachutists. No trouble as yet.
Wed. 6/30/43.....Escorted B-25s to Sciacca Airdrome
in Sicily. Saw a couple of fighters, no trouble. 96th went to
the same target (45 mins.) earlier. L. D. Jones is missing from
the 96th. All of us back safe. Larson and McAuliffe lefet.
Thur. 7/1/43.....No missions today. Very hot. Went
swimming up to the stream. No mail today for me. Saw a picture
in the evening. Jorda from the 96th left for home.
Fri. 7/2/43.....No missions today. Heat still quite
intense. Layed around all day. Received a letter from Paul and
the "HC".
Sat. 7/3/43.....Escorted B-25s today to Alghero
Airdrome in Sardinia. Not much trouble. Good bombing. All ships
back safe. The 96th lost Doug Chrichton. He ran into Wolfe and
went into the drink. Wolfe came back with only one rudder. No
mail today.
Sun. 7/4/43.....Escorted B-25s to Gerbini Airdrome
in Sicily. Ran into lots of fighters and loads of flak. Really
finished up with a bang !! My "50th" mission. No mail
today. Lost Stover. I saw him spinning.
Mon.7/5/43.....Boys went out but I sat home. Am
awaiting orders. Presented '8' clusters tonight. Just got the
orders. Heard my 'DFC' came through. No mail today.
Tue. 7/6/43.....Still waiting for orders. No mail
today. Was hot and dusty today. Went up to the stream and layed
in it all afternoon. Didn't do much all day because of the weather.
Wed. 7/7/43.....Received my orders this evening.
Did nothing all day. The boys went to Sicily. All came back safe.
Received letters from Harriett and Sid Goodman.
Thur. 7/8/43.....All the boys left for Trpoli and
Sousse. I left for Constantine. Got my 'DFC'. Boy am I happy.
Spent the night here. Saw a show and ate a good meal.
Fri. 7/9/43.....Took off for Casablanca today. Stopped
at Algiers then Oran and then into Casablanca. Met Vissscher,
Oliver, and Langdon. They're going back to combat. Saw a show
that evening.
Sat. 7/10/43.....Today is the big day !! The invasion
of Sicily started at 03:00 A.M. Spent all day in Casablanca. Shows,
drinks, etc. Boy what a break. We're ordered back to Algiers.
Maybe I'll get my orders for home. I hope so !!
Sun. 7/11/43.....Took off for Algiers this morning.
Arrived in Algiers and reported to NAAF. Have to wait for orders.
Expect to get them tomorrow. Got rooms at the hotel. Went to the
'O' Red Cross club. Saw a show, read, ate, etc.
Mon. 7/12/43.....Got our orders to go home ! Spent
the night here again after seeing a show at the Red Cross and
having a few good meals. Met Ray Sylvester the Red Cross girl
that I knew from Agadir. Heard about Grechen Jones getting killed.
Tue. 7/13/43.....Left Algiers and after stops in
Oran and Fez we finally got to Casablanca. Picked up our baggage
and in thirty minutes we were on our way to Marrakech. Signed
up for passage home. Ate a good meal at the Hotel Mamouria.
Wed. 7/14/43.....No C-54s going out today. Stayed
at the hotel most of the day. Ate some good meals and drank beer.
Sweating out tomorrow.
Thur. 7/15/43.....Didn't get scheduled on the one
C-54. Jumped a ride on a B-17 piloted by Col. Rogers. Got to Dakar
after 7 hours of flying.(1310 to 2010). Saw a show and ate at
the PX.
Fri. 7/16/43.....Took off this morning at 06:40.
Arrived at Belem, Brazil, South America after 10 hours and 50
minutes of flight. Went to town, ate a wonderful meal and had
a few drinks. Got to bed 10:30. Awoke 01:30. Took off 03:00 in
the A.M.
Sat. 7/17/43.....Arrived in Tinidad 08:15. Took
off for Florida 09:40 Florida time. Am getting some swell co-pilot
time. Arrived at Morrison Field after 7 hours and 50 minutes of
flight. Boy am I happy !! Got to the hotel. Took a good bath and
shower got all dressed. Ate all the good food I could. Boy, I
even had a malted milk and a Coca Cola !
Sun. 7/18/43.....Took off from Morrison Field 08:50.
Landed at Orlando and then took off again after picking up some
passengers. Landed at Patterson Field 02:20. Got a transport all
the way into Newark via Middleton. Got in 12:00 still a co-pilot.
For those individuals that don't know my personal
life. I give you these names.
Harriet (Harriett), who I married and loved for
55 years.
Leo, my middled aged brother.
Lee, Leo's wife.
Milt, my oldest brother.
Paul Feig, a very close friend.
Sid Goodman, a close friend.
Milt Brietman, a close school friend.
Al Newman, a friend.
The Lewis Family, I stayed at their home weekends
when I was stationed at Long Beach and San Diego. Friends !!
'SIGNED', Pincus Philip Taback, 82ndFG/97thFS. Lt.
Col. U.S.A.F. (Retired).
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