1944 |
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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". |
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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. |
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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. |
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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? |
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10-22 Feb 44 |
El Aouina Airdrome, Tunisia. Again detached to MATS; plenty of flying
time. |
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2-23/3-17, 1944 |
Comiso Air Base, Sicily. Back with the 17th, flying missions in
support of Mark Clark's 5th Army. |
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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! |
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18-31 Mar 44 |
Regular transport missions and combat support missions are
flown. |
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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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