February
1943
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2-17-43 |
The squadron aids in an emergency
evacuation of Biskra and Youks-les-Baines airfields in eastern Algeria, after
Rommel's troops mounted a counter-attack and pushed into that area.
Eisenhower is promoted to the temporary rank of full general. [NOTE: All promotions until the mid-fifties were temporary, and became permanent only after attaining the next higher rank, or upon re-enlistment. When the war started, Ike was a permanent Lieutenant-colonel] |
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3-18-43 |
Northwest African Troop Carrier Command (NATCC) is established |
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Northwest African Troop Carrier
Command 17th Troop Carrier Squadron Mediterranean Air Command; Northwest African Air
Forces Brigadier General Paul L. Williams, Commanding |
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3-18/5-8 1943 |
Blida Airdrome, Algeria. Sustained combat support missions to Tunisia. The 17th is placed on Detached Service with MAC, and ordered to Telergma Airstrip. |
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8-28 May 1943 |
Telerqma Airstrip, Eastern Algeria. Another desert bivouac. Passenger/air courier flights throughout North Africa. I'm on the first plane into Souk-Ahras, another new strip. Colonel-General von Arnim, Rommel's deputy and successor, surrenders the Afrika Korps, ending the North African Campaign. We fly von Arnim and several other generals back to Algiers, and I am on the first C-47 into El Aouina Airdrome, Tunis, Tunisia. Ordered back to Blida. |
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5-29/6-6 1943 |
Blida Airdrome, Algeria. Normal transport missions continue throughout the theatre. The 17th is ordered to Nouvion Airfield for further paratroop training. Higher headquarters dictates that all equipment, boxes, tool kits, vehicles, and baggage be marked with a solid triangle for rapid identification and loading: 16th squadron - Red; 17th squadron - White; 18th squadron - Yellow; 35th squadron- Black. One of our crew chiefs reasoned that it would be beneficial if our ships were marked accordingly. He went one step further. It would be even easier if our ships could be marked so as to be located from any direction. So he applied a narrow white band around the fuselage, just forward of the stabilizers. The Group CO concurred, and distinctive unit markers were born-a triangle on the nose, and matching band around the fuselage. Before departing Blida, my crew chief and I "liberated" three cases of C-Rations from the Officers' Mess, which we stowed under the floorboards in the aft fuselage. During stops at other fields we were normally given a Spam or bologna sandwich, and a cup of warm instant lemonade, and it was prudent to carry our own rations, even if we were forced to commit such nefarious crimes. |
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Photo and caption courtesy
of James A. Moran |
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Daisy Mae. C-47 tail
number 41-7777 at bomb damaged Maison Blanche Airdrome (Algiers), Algeria in
May of 1943, with newly adopted unit markings on the ship. A white triangle
on the nose, and a narrow white band around the rear fuselage. Note flame
suppressors on the engine exhausts for night operations. Sergeant Robert G.
Brown, crew chief, is on the left, and Corporal Jim Moran, radio operator, is
on the right. (Click on photo to see larger image - 100K) |
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