1942

15 May 42	I am part of a paint detail ordered to eliminate the red center in the insignia on our planes. Pilots in the Pacific report that it too closely resembles the Japanese "meatball" under certain lighting conditions. We also remove the rudder stripes and the insignias on the upper right and lower left wings. Removing the red center was the first change in the National Insignia since its adoption in 1921. NOTE: Rudder stripes, with rare exception, only appeared on uncamouflaged aircraft. Although many bombers and fighters were camouflaged before the war, transports were not so painted until December 1941.
5-15/6-4	The squadron continues to fly normal transport/training missions.
	San Francisco, Spring 1942. 17th TCS Crew Chiefs, M.O. Carlson and Bob Bramble, perambulate down Market Street.
5 Jun 42	The 64th Transport Group is ordered to Westover Field, Massachusetts
6 Jun 42	HQ 64th Transport Group and the 17th Transport Squadron depart Hamilton Field. The ground echelon travels by troop train, while the pilots and crew chiefs ferry our aircraft to Wright Field (now Wright-Patterson AFB), OH, where the ships are replaced by a fleet of thirteen new C-47 "Skytrains." The C-47 is a modified DC-3, with a wider fuselage, reinforced floors, more powerful engines, and a large cargo door. The jump door inset in the main passenger door can be removed in-flight. The radio compartment is on the flight deck opposite the navigator's position. A strong pectoral fin has been added, along with a glider tow and navigational astrodome. The aircraft's serial number now appears on the vertical fin. Until this time, aircraft were ID'd by a single number assigned by the group, starting with 1 and proceeding through the fleet as required. Beneath this number was the group ID: 64T for example; 4P (Pursuit) , or 19B (Bombardment) , etc. Although the 17th had a fleet composed entirely of C-47s, some of the other squadrons retained their C-53 "Skytroopers," which were incapable of carrying heavy cargo. The "U. S. ARMY" ID does not appear on the underside of the wings of the newer aircraft, but it has not been eliminated from the older models, such as our #41-7777 and -7809. The first C-47s were built in 1941, with the first being numbered 41-7722. All of our ships were of the 41-77XX and -183XX series. NOTE: Control surfaces were of fabric.
	17TH TRANSPORT SQUADRON Major Thomas Cook, Commanding Westover Field, Massachusetts
9 Jun 42	The 64th Group is in place at Westover. The 16th Transport Squadron has joined us from Portland, Oregon. The 18th TS from March Field, California, and for the first time the entire 64th Transport Group is gathered on one base. The group has been expanded by the assignment of the 35th Transport Squadron from Middletown, PA. This squadron is brought up to strength with personnel from the three original squadrons, including several of my buddies from basic such as Badowinitz, and the Walker brothers from Bozeman, Montana.  A large number of pilots arrive directly from flight school, and we receive our first navigators. Many new radio operators are assigned-directly from school at Scott Field, IL, but we are still under-staffed. One of them, by the name of Private George James Jenkins from Los Angeles, California, became a close buddy of mine. Also, thankfully, Moneymaker was sent to the 35th squadron.  I just turned 18 and am the youngest aircrew member in the Group.
9-l5 Jun 1942	I vividly remember the first time I met Bob Bramble, a crew chief in the 17th.  His regular radio operator was George Jenkins.  At any rate, Bob was showing the two of us how to "swing the compass" out on the compass rose.  When we were finished, Bob told Jenkins put in the rudder lock--and Bob and I both nearly flipped when "Jenks" climbed onto the horizontal stabilizer, since he was too short to fasten the bungee cord.  Bob chewed his butt royally, and all "Jenks" could say was "Well, hell, I just transferred from the 45th Infantry Division, and never saw a plane before."  Then, Bob sent "Jenks" to the hangar for three bottles of Coke.  Jenks starts across the ramp, and then broke into a run when Bob shouted, "On the double."  We were both laughing our heads off when he returned, still at the double.  Seeing us laughing, he grinned back saying, "In the infantry, I learned to do as the sergeant said.  He was a great guy. The Group is involved in intensive familiarization flights in our new aircraft. We are ordered to commence a maximum airlift to Labrador, and to install the new VHF crystal controlled radio, with four channels: A, B and C for normal communications, and Channel D for emergencies. We must also comply with British voice procedures. Until now, the Air Corps had no standard radio procedures: "Army 1234 calling Hamilton Tower," or "Army 1234 to Hamilton Tower," etc. However, the pilot made the decision to establish contact. Under the British system, we had to use, for example, "Westover Tower, this is Army 1234, over." British radios had to be changed from transmit to receive, and vice-versa, by a manual switch. This was simply a way of reminding them to switch over. The airlift is initiated immediately, flying to Labrador, via Presque Isle, ME; Moncton, New Brunswick, and fields in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, during the construction of Goose Bay Royal Canadian Air Force Base, Labrador. Weather is terrible, with both pilots constantly fighting to control the ship. It was a rarity to see a blue sky! Transient quarters are practically non-existent, and the enlisted crew members work, eat and sleeps on their ships. During this time I am assigned to aircraft number 41-7809 with Dwight Goff from Sioux City, Iowa, and am the youngest crewmember in the entire group.  Never will I forget how happy I am to be on flying status.  The flying suits were first-class gabardine--far superior to any flight suits since--and my A-2 jacket was my most prized possession.  The A-2 summer flight jacket was was made from seal brown horsehide leather, and had knitted wristlets and waistband.  Two snap-flap patch pockets, a shirt style collar, epaulets, and knit cuffs and waistband are about all it takes to describe the distinctive A-2 jacket.  (Note:  The Royal Canadian Air Force no longer exists.  All of the Canadian forces are now under one command called the Canadian Armored Forces.  Nor does Labrador exist, having been absorbed by the province of Newfoundland.)
15 Jun 42	The 17th is chosen to represent the group during airborne exercises at Fort Bragg, NC; after borrowing four R/Os from other units, we proceed.

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