1942
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17TH TRANSPORT SQUADRON TDY
- Pope Field, North Carolina |
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15-21 Jun 1942 |
I am assigned to the squadron commander's ship, C-47 #41-7809 "FLAGSHIP." TSgt. Harold Goff is the Crew Chief. We are bivouacked on Pope Field, adjacent to Fort Bragg, and participate in intense dawn to dusk formation practice (our first), and airborne training with elements of the 82nd Airborne Division. We never fly higher than 500 feet, and when on lone transition flights, my pilot apparently believes that 500 AGL is oxygen altitude, because we are constantly hedge-hopping through the Carolinas at less than 20 feet! Often, we land with leaves and branches in the pitot tubes and nacelles. Made several practice drops in tight formation before executing a successful demonstration drop at Fort Jackson, Columbia SC for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. We were tickled pink to see ourselves in the Movietone News a week later. After the drop, we are ordered to our new base at Barnes Municipal Airport, Westfield, MA. |
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17th TRANSPORT SQUADRON Barnes
Municipal Airport, Massachusetts |
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6-22/7-4 1942 |
The entire 64th TG is bivouacked on this small civilian field. Unlike Westover, everything is within walking distance. Airlifts to Labrador continue, despite the inclement weather |
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Theron P. Hess, designer of the squadron patch. Hess was originally assigned to the engineering section of the squadorn. Later, he became a radio operator in Sicily. Photograph taken during squadron bivouac on Barnes Airport, Westfield, Massachusetts, July, 1942. (Photo by James Moran) |
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5 Jul 42 |
Several units of Air Transport Command, including the 51st Transport Wing consisting of the 60th TG, 62nd TG, and 64th TG, are re-designated Troop Carrier under the newly established 1st Troop Carrier Command. Congress raises military pay: |
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Enlisted Ranks |
Monthly Pay |
Commissioned Officers |
Annual Pay |
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Private (E-7) |
$50.00 |
General |
$8,000.00 |
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Pvt. 1st Cl. (E-6) |
$54.00 |
Lt. General |
$8,000.00 |
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Corporal (E-5) |
$66.00 |
Maj. General |
$8,000.00 |
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Sergeant (E-4) |
$78.00 |
Brig. General |
$6,000.00 |
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Staff Sgt. (E-3) |
$96.00 |
Colonel |
$4,000.00 |
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Tech. Sgt. (E-2) |
$114.00 |
Lt. Colonel |
$3,500.00 |
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Master/1st (E-1) |
$138.00 |
Major |
$3,000.00 |
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Captain |
$2,400.00 |
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1st Lieutenant |
$2,000.00 |
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2nd Lieutenant |
$1,800.00 |
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Warrant Officer (Chief) |
$2,100.00 |
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Warrant Officer (j.g.) |
$1,800.00 |
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Flight Officer |
$1,800.00 |
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17th TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON 1st
Troop Carrier Command Barnes
Municipal Airport, Massachusetts |
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5-26 Jul 42 |
Crew training and airlifts to Labrador continue; Group ordered back to Westover. |
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17th TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON Westover
Field, MA. |
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27-31 Jul 42 |
Group training flights intensify in preparation for overseas movement. |
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17th TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON Major
John T. Thompson, Commanding |
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1 Aug 42 |
51st Troop Carrier Wing is declared combat
ready and assigned to the 8th Air Force in England. The crews are issued
arctic flying gear and sleeping bags; fuselage tanks are installed in the
aircraft; Major Thompson assumes command of the squadron; more importantly, I
am promoted to Corporal! -- $66 basic pay; $33 flying pay, and soon, a .20%
boost of $13.20 overseas pay. At $112.20, I'm rolling in dough! The
"FLAGSHIP" is renamed "PINKY'S KIDDIE KAR" in honor of
Major Thompson. OPERATION BOLERO is implemented. |
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“Flag Ship” before being renamed as “Pinky’s
Kiddie Kar.” |
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