1944

 

 

 

2-9 Jan 44

Isle of Capri (Naples) , Italy. Cpl. Theron Hess, former clerk and the originator of the 17th insignia, recently cross-trained, and is now an OJT radio operator. He and I received orders to attend the 12th Troop Carrier Command Rest Camp, on the famous Isle of Capri. One solid week of rest and relaxation. Quartered in the Villa Floridiana; fabulous rooms; service-and the meals in the Pagano Vittoria are out of this world. Believe it or not all military regulations have been suspended. No saluting, and wear of the uniform is optional. Most of us have purchased civilian long-sleeve shirts and sweaters, which we wear with our khaki trousers. Some have even donned brilliant civilian neckties! While inspecting Tiberius Caesar's ancient castle, we spot a 17th aircraft buzzing the village of Capri, some 3,000 feet below, only the white fuselage ring visible against the forest floor. Evidently, some top brass saw it, too, as a bulletin was issued that day, placing the island in a restricted zone category. A unique R & R. Upon returning to Comiso, we learn that Air Transport Command (whom we refer to as "Allergic to Combat") has taken over El Aouina Airdrome, Tunis, and has activated a passenger service called "Mediterranean Air Transport Service", operated by troop carrier crews on a rotational basis; "MATS".

 

 

10-20 Jan 44

El Aouina Airdrome, Tunisia. Detached service with MATS: bivouacked on the flight line. Passenger runs throughout North Africa; Sicily; Italy; Corsica and Sardinia. To avoid embarrassment, we must carry both francs and lira; francs for use in North Africa and Corsica; lira, elsewhere. At times, I am so confused, I don't know what country I am in, when buying a meal in town! My crew is further detached to Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Forces (MATAF), on courier duty.

 

 

1-20/2-3 1944

Palermo Airdrome, Sicily. Detached service with MATAF; fly air courier missions between higher headquarters throughout the theatre. Quartered in first-class hotels wherever we RON. Relieved by another crew, to Comiso.

 

 

5-9 Feb 44

Comiso Air Base, Sicily. Upon returning to our home base, and tiring of fighting the elements in a tent, I and several of my buddies build a shack on the flight line from aircraft engine crates and other lumber scrounged from the base. After building permanent upper-lower bunks, and installing a wood cookstove, we find it very cozy. As a finishing touch, we install a real window from one of the bombed-out buildings. The finishing touch is a one-holer outhouse that we fashion from an ME-109 external fuel tank. The squadron is busy all day towing gliders, both CG-4As and the huge RAF Airspeed, Ltd., "Horsas", which are nearly as large as the tow plane! The wingspan of the Horsa is only 7.5 feet shorter than the gooney, but is actually 3'3" longer! In addition, the pilots practice navigation by practicing on the new Catania beam, the first such NAV-AID we have had in the theatre. Weather continues to hamper us, and the Germans constantly jam our radio frequencies, making the RO's job exceedingly difficult. To top it all off, Axis Sally is always bugging the 64th. Why do we foolishly risk our lives every day, while our girlfriends are dating the 4-Fs at home?

 

 

10-22 Feb 44

El Aouina Airdrome, Tunisia. Again detached to MATS; plenty of flying time.

 

 

2-23/3-17, 1944

Comiso Air Base, Sicily. Back with the 17th, flying missions in support of Mark Clark's 5th Army.

 

 

18 Mar 44

Mount Vesuvius, which has been smoking heavily for months, finally erupts, blowing much of the cone off; destroys all of the B-25s of the 340th Bombardment Group (Medium), that is based nearby. The first aircraft in history to be destroyed by flying missiles-rocks!

 

 

18-31 Mar 44

Regular transport missions and combat support missions are flown.

 

 

1 Apr 44

The 64th TCG, plus the 4th squadron of the 62nd, are ordered on an emergency deployment to the China-Burma-India Theatre. Due to the date, the Group Operations Officer calls back to verify the order. It is not an APRIL FOOL JOKE.

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