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In fond memory of
Robert A. Alderman
Belvidere, Illinois
3/28/1924 to 1/22/2005.
Personal Diary
S/Sgt. Robert "Hoggy" Alderman
12/15/1944 though 9/8/1945
This diary was graciously made public by Robert Alderman's son, Richard Alderman. It is presented here as it was found. Through these insights and memories, may we remember the
sacrifice of so many, learn more of the experiences of heroes like Robert Alderman, and
May We Always Honor His Memory.
 
DIARY
Vi Schumacher
110 Main St.
Phone – 81239
Left Lincoln at 4:30 A.M. - Dec. 15 44
Hit Manch. at 11:45 A.M. - Dec. 15
Left Manch. at 7:45 A.M. - Dec. 18
Hit Goose Bay at 12:35 P.M. - Dec 18
(GMT)
Left Goose Bay at 1:00 P.M. - Dec 24
Hit B.W.I. G at 5:30 P.M. - Dec 24
Left B.W.I. G at 9:00 A.M. - Dec 25
Hit Iceland at 1:45 P.M. - Dec 25
Left Iceland at 7:30 A.M. - Dec 30
Hit Preswik SC. at 12:00 noon Dec 30
Left tonight for Stone (pool) went through Glasgow, Scot.
1945
Mon. - Jan. 1 -
New Year’s eve dance at mess hall. Never danced. Went to barracks early. Had K.P. night of the 1st.
Tues. – Jan 3 -
Wrote Mom & Vi – sorted mail in post office all day long. Small room with 2 double deck beds. Cold! Blackout every night. Eat out of mess kits; but good chow.
Wed – Jan 2 -
Wrote Mom & Vi. Slept all day cause of night K.P. Walked to and from Stone 6 miles away. Had few beers – guy with sling and gravel digger! Very dark in houses at night next to sidewalk.
Thurs. Jan. 4 -
Wrote Vi. Had u.p. Duty in town until mid-night. First time I wore leggings since basic. Rest of crew came in last night. They took a plane to Belfast, Ireland & had a good time. Got rations today & Muley paid me the $200.
Fri – Jan 5 -
Wrote to Vi! Slept most of the day. Saw U.S.O. show at Howard Hall. Beat Whalie in 3 games of Checkers. Back at Duncan Hall by 10:30.
Sat. – Jan 6 - Had inspection today. Lot of C.S. at this base. Wrote Mom & Vi. Shipping orders came out, but not for us. Saw “Fanny by gaslight”
Sun. – Jan 2 -
Damn, got restricted last night cause our room flunked inspection T.S. I guess. Wrote Vi! We ship out to-morrow. Had mail detail again to-day. Am always hungry. Never seem to fill up.
Mon. – Jan. 8 -
Left Stone at 10:00 A.M. in the morning by train. Went through S.H. arrived at 547th Brn. SQ – 384th Bomb GP. APO0557. Cranford England. Mess about a mile away. Have been shooting the bull with some boys who have pulled missions. Really some stories floating around. Barracks cold & hard to keep ourselves clean. Showers way the hell away. Had K rations to eat on train. Tired so will hit the sack. Couldn’t write Mom or Vi.
Tues – Jan 9 -
Wrote Mom & Vi! Wrote out address cards, saw med. Officer. Turned in some flying equipment! Have to go to orderly room at 8:00 P.M. for lecture of some kind. Have to bring in water and heat it on the stove. Only have one damn little stove for the whole barracks.
Wed – Jan 10 -
Got package to-day – had security lecture by Major –had de-tail & shoveled coal in bin (Whalie & Red). Wrote Vi! Went to Aero Club & show “Impatient Years” with J. Arthur went to bed at 9:45.
Thurs. – Jan 11 -
Had lecture on flak & other missions. Also by fighter pilot. Signed per diem & also a 50.00 partial payroll. Got rations to-day. Wrote Mom and Vi!
Fri – Jan 12 -
Wrote Vi Had lectures on P of W & survival & escape if captured. Went to gunnery class in afternoon. Had chin turret explained over. Saw Scotch bagpipe band at Aero club Good meals! Got partial pay of $50.00. Lent Earn 8.00! (₤2)
Sat.- Jan 13 -
Had lectures on flak suits & equipment – orientation by Lt. Col. Gunnery classes in afternoon. Got 3 letters from Vi & pictures from Mom! Wrote Mom & Vi! V-2 hit 7 miles away at 2:00 A.M.
Sun – Jan 14 -
Wrote Vi! Sent Moe ₤1, sent Whalie ₤2! Lent Whalie ₤2 Lent Moe ₤1 – Had lectures on frostbite, oxygen lecture by medical officer. Gunnery class in afternoon. Stripped gun blindfolded. Saw show at night. We go operational in a few days now. About time!!!
Mon. – Jan 15 -
Wrote Vi! Had lectures on ditching. Shot skeet & gunnery classes. Lent Curlie ₤5. Went to Aero Club & read. Shaved moustache off to-night.
Tues. Jan. 16 -
Wrote Mom & Vi! Had ditching drill. Went to bombardiers & toggaliers class. Had gunnery classes again. All full days!! Got our parachute & oxygen masks fit. Guess I’ll go to show now.
Wed – Jan. 17 -
Wrote Vi! Had aircraft identification - Bombardiers & toggaliers had to go to bomb dump and look it all over. Got a hair cut & it is really horrible. The boys went to a dance at the Zebra Club, but I didn’t. Gals in tent next door. Saw movie “Mark Twain”.
Thurs. – Jan. 18 -
Oiled floor in barracks. Went to lecture for bombardiers & toggaliers. Painted numbers on flying equipment. Went to Aero Club in morning for a couple hours. Dance at club to-night but no soap for me. Rained most of the day; but the 8th still bombs the Hell out of em. Wrote Vi.
Fri. – Jan. 19 -
Wrote Mom, Vi, & a bunch of others. Had all day off & was at the Aero Club all afternoon. Still no more mail damn it!
Sat. – Jan 20 -
Got 19 letters to-day 9 of them from Vi! Good deal. She got the negligee okay. Wrote Vi!!! Had first aid lecture to-day. Other classes were cancelled, Snow, cold. So is the barracks as always. Good food & plenty of peanut butter.
Sun. – Jan. 21 -
Wrote Mom & Vi. Also others. Didn’t do much but stay in Aero Club. Saw “Till We Meet Again” Vi & I saw it in S.C. also. Russians are 200 miles from Berlin. Good deal!
Mon. – Jan 22 -
Wrote Vi! Got checked out on bombing. Patt flew his first mission as a co-pilot. We fly on the next mission!!!! Several went down!
Tues – Jan. 23 -
All got up for mission, but at the last minute they said I wasn’t completely checked out, so I didn’t go. My crew aborted just after hitting the I.P. so didn’t get credit for mission, no bombs dropped. Wrote Vi & mom. Target was Marshalling yards Ruhr Valley. Saw “Claudia” at Aero Club. I saw it in the states also. Got teeth checked & shot records checked.
Wed. – Jan 24 -
Didn’t do much. Got it straightened out about me being scrubbed yesterday. We were scheduled for a mission tomorrow but were stood down. Only 6 ships on the field. All the rest are diverted. Wrote Mom, Vi & Margy at Aero Club. Heard articles of war & V.D. lecture at theater. Russians 138 miles from Berlin. All cans are frozen up. Rough!!! Woods is still good. Favorite saying is You’ve had it.
Thurs. – Jan. 25 -
Got 2 letters from Vi & 1 from Mom! Wrote Vi! Saw “Her Jungle Love” at theater. Went to dance at Aero Club. Made Sergeant!!
Fri – Jan. 26 -
Had Gee Box lecture. Wrote twice to Vi at Aero Club. Got camera from Patt & Curley paid me the ₤5 he owed.
Sat – Jan 27 -
Full moon T.S. I guess! Stood down to-day. Alerted for to-morrow. Wrote Vi! Saw “Mark of Zorro” at theater. Also saw it before. Russians 100 miles from Berlin.
Sun. – Jan. 28 -
Went on first mission to-day. Marshalling Yards at Cologne. What a target for our first mission. Flak was intense. We were lucky!! several ships went down. Got bombs away okay. Always get shot of whisky at interrogation after return. 4 guys bailed out over Germany. Engine was on fire. Wrote Mom & Vi.
Mon. – Jan. 29 -
Four crews in our barracks went down in yesterday’s raid. Guys came in and got their stuff this morning. They had 21 missions in. Going to Sqdn. party to-night in Northampton.
Tues. – Jan. 30 -
What a band last night. Good orchestra! Not much doing to-day. Were stood down. Wrote Vi! Snowed like hell last night. Awful lonely for Vi: but that is an every day occurrence. Get 7 packs of cigs now.
Wed. – Jan 31 -
Had to clean guns to-day. Were stood down again. Bad weather & ground fog! New crew came in to-day to replace Jackson’s crew that went down. Wrote Vi! Saw “Cry Havoc” at show. I’ve seen 99% of them before. Still no mail------!!!
Thurs. – Feb. 1 -
10-500 G.P.S. & 2M17 INC. clusters
Mission to Manheim to-day. Bombed out a bridge & Marshalling Yards. They sure shot the hell out of our chaff but missed us. Got three letters from Vi and one from Mom. Wrote Mom & Vi!
Fri. – Feb. 2 -
Briefed for big “B” (Berlin) this morning; but was scrubbed after we had guns in & ready to go. Had interphone procedure. Cleaned receivers at night. Also signed pay roll. Wrote Vi.
Sat. – Feb 3 -
Well, we got the big “B” to-day. God, I never want to see that much flak again – never!! Had 10 G.P. bombs. Let loose on Marshalling Yds. In heart of Berlin. Really blew it to hell – 1400 bombers. Some grps. were attacked by ME410 but we weren’t jumped. Berlin radio said bombers were strung out for 300 miles. We got 8 holes in our ship. One right under me in the chin turret. We had it! Couldn’t write Mom & Vi – too damn tired. Saw one bomber go straight down in flames. Damn, that flak was close!
Sun. – Feb. 4 -
Wrote Vi & Mom. Saw “last Angel” at show. The papers really played up yesterday’s raid. There were 3,000,000 refugees in the city. It was the biggest raid yet on Berlin. Awful lonely for Vi!
Mon. – Feb. 5 -
Briefed for Munich to-day: but was scrubbed after we started to taxi. It’s the capitol of Berlin now. Just a moral raid! We lost 19 bombers on Berlin raid. A crew ditched & radio oper., Ball gunner, & pilot were killed. The crew came here with us & we knew em all real well. They got a flak leave. The live ones! Wrote Vi!
Tues. – Feb. 6 -
Almost got off. Even taxied, then it was scrubbed. We were briefed for the heaviest flak guarded target in Germany. We are so sorry it was scrubbed. It was Mersberg & Berlin as a secondary. What a secondary. We are up for a 48 hr. pass to-morrow. Got 2 letters from Vi & were very bad. Also 2 from Mom, wrote Mom & Vi.
Wed. – Feb 7
Thurs. – Feb 8
Fri. – Feb. 9 -
Wrote Mom & Vi. Left Wed. noon for London – back Friday at noon. Saw Ray & part of his crew & several other boys I knew in Sioux City. What a small world. The Piccadilly Circus is really a circus. The Commanders!!!!! Went to dance Thurs. night at the Paramount Dance Hall. Really a nice place & good band.
Sat. – Feb. 10 -
Had guns in & then mission was scrubbed. That makes 3 missions 1 abort & 4 scrubs. Got paid 14 lbs. today (in full). Moe paid & also Whalie! Saw show “ Best Foot Forward” and wrote Mom & Vi at Aero Club. No Mail!!!!!!
Sun. – Feb 11 -
Damn it – we were scrubbed again after getting up at 1:45 AM. Bunch of mail came in but none from Vi. Got 3 from Mom & 1 from Dot. Wrote Mom & Vi. Saw “Best Foot Forward” last night. We are supposed to be issued battle jackets in the near future.
Mon. – Feb. 12 -
Were stood down to-day. Cleaned gun receivers in planes. Saw “Mutiny on the Bounty” Didn’t write Vi, tried but couldn’t. Are alerted for to-morrow. Very uneventful day! Damn lonesome for Vi.
Tues. – Feb. 13 -
Were scrubbed again damn it. 6th Scrub in a row. Got 5 letters from Mom & 2 letters & card from Vi. Wrote Mom & Vi. Had Sqdn. picture taken today.
Wed. – Feb. 14 -
Went to Dresden on a mission to-day. A 9 hr. mission & 6 hrs. on oxygen. Damn long & tiresome raid. Toured Germany to flush out Luftwaffe. Were only 70 miles from Russian lines. Really a long haul. Red sent in a distress message on a ship that ditched & they thought it was us that ditched. We landed with only 80 gallons of gas left. Lot of ships landed in France. Whalie saw the ship ditch & said it went straight down. No flak at target, but hit lots of flak areas in & out of Germany. Probably the largest mission we ever will go on. no write.
Thurs. – Feb. 15 -
Were going to Bolen near Leipzig area; but were scrubbed (Grd. Fog) another long haul. Lost several planes on yesterday’s raid. Wrote Mom & Vi. Damn I’m tired. Slept from noon until 6:00 P.M.
Fri. – Feb. 16 -
Stood down to-day on account of weather. Had to go to theater for some award stuff. Lost more planes on that Dresden raid, than I thought. Wrote Mom & Vi!
Sat. – Feb. 17 -
Were on the way to Bolen on mission (oil target near Dresden) was scrubbed after we were in the air & on our way. Bad clouds & weather. Really sweat it out. Patt damn near salvoed me. We dumped bombs in N. Sea & I was putting the pins back in the bombs & Patt opened the doors. I really got in the radio room in a hurry. Red said my eyes were like saucers. Guess I’ll go to the show tonight. Wrote Mom & Vi!
Sun. – Feb. 18 -
Were briefed for bridge near Patterborn; but was scrubbed after we were all set to go. Wrote Mom & Vi! Read at the aero club!
Mon. – Feb. 19 -
Went to Munster on our 5th mission to-day. Intense flak; but we weren’t hit too badly. Other Gps. were! A plane crashed here in the woods just after we took off. Nothing left but scrapes of metal. Everyone burned to death; except the pilot. We saw the wreckage; when we came back. I got a piece of Plexiglas from it. Wrote Vi! No mail. Frank went to the hospital Sat. with a soar throat. Gets out to-morrow. Got several holes in ship on raid. We were luckier than others. Saw 2 V-2 bombs!
Tues. – Feb. 20 -
Our crew was stood down; but others flew. Had detail cleaning a coal bin & went to school for 3 hours. Wrote Vi! Took some pictures.
Wed. – Feb. 21 -
Went on mission to Nuremberg to-day. Bombed the marshalling yards in center of city. Flak was light, but accurate. Red got a hole in the radio room right where his leg should have been. The piece of flak stuck in a chaff box. Wrote Mom & Vi! It was our Air Medal mission!
Thurs. – Feb. 22 -
Went to Ulzen to-day on mission. What a screwy deal. We bombed at 10,000 feet. First time the 8th Air Force ever did that. B17’s at 10,000 feet. Just like sitting ducks. It was a joint operation by the 8th, 9th & 15th Air Force to knock out all the railroads in Germany. We bombed Marshalling Yds & God how the locomotives blew up. There was one trying to get out of the Yds & bloom! our bombs hit right on top of him. What a mess! We went through a really heavy flak area at 10,000 ft.; but never even got shot at once. Every one was really sweating this one out. 10,000 ft. – Ugh! Results were excellent – visual as hell! No mail & I didn’t write! It really was a milk run; but it sure wasn’t expected to be.
Fri. – Feb. 23 -
Had a tooth pulled to-day. Am grounded. Rest of crew went on a mission. Hurts like hell!
Sat. – Feb 24 -
Am grounded for another 24 hrs. My crew was diverted from yesterday’s raid so didn’t go on a mission. Jaw swelled up. Got 5 letters from Vi, 5 from Mom, 3 from June, 1 from Charlotte, and one from John. Wrote Vi! Will get others off later.
Sun. – Feb. 25 -
Went on 48 to-day. Back Tuesday noon!
Tues. – Feb. 27 -
Got back from 48 in Sheffield to-day. Good town! Really bombed to hell. Got 2 letters from Mom and 1 from Allen. Wrote Mom, Charlotte, John & Vi! Jaw a lot better & raring to go!
VISUAL – P.F.F. –G.H.-
Wed. – Feb. 28 -
Went on a mission to Haegen to-day. Had 2 runs on target. Our bomb bay doors screwed up & had to be cranked open & cleared. Flak was meager. It was marshalling yards in city. Wrote Vi! Got paid ₤20! Bombed G.H.
Thurs. – March 1 -
Went on a mission Bruchsel to-day. Bombed Marshalling Yds. Visual. Made 2 runs cause High Sqdn. didn’t drop the first time. Had little flak & it hit in our high Sqdn. We got one hole in our horz. Stabilizer. Flak was on second run & none on the first run. Got 3 from Vi, 4 from Mom, Dorothy 2, Margy. Wrote Vi & Mom!
Fri – March 2 -
Stood down to-day. We keep our own flying equipment now & can wear B-10 jackets on the field. Wrote few letters.
Sat. – March 3 -
Went on a mission to Hanover to-day. Hit synthetic oil plant. Flak was almost as bad as Berlin. Jerry really protects his oil. Caught flak again at the coast over Holland. Wrote Mom, Vi & June. Had ice cream.
Sun. – March 4 -
Went on a mission to Ulm to-day. Had 24 frag. Bombs. No flak at target; but got some at the Rhine river. Contrails were thick as hell. We free lanced to France & assembled there. Made 2 runs on target and just before bombs away another group ran right into us. Everyone went every which way. Very lucky, but no one collided. Funk’s crew lost a prop and had to abort. It was a supply depot in Ulm. Raining out now,
Mon. – March 5 -
Got mail, 1 Vi, 1 Mom, 1 Charlotte. Wrote all! The Luftwaffe played a little hell over Eastern & Southern England last night. Saw “When Hearts are Young and Gay” to-night. Patt made lead to-day; so our crew is stood down now. We will get way behind now damn it & I will probably go off the crew.
Tues. – March 6 -
We’re stood down to-day. Painted Sgdn. Emblem for my jacket. Wrote Mom & Vi! No mail. It’s almost sure I’ll go off crew. Red & Frank slow timed.
Wed. – March 7 -
Went on a mission to Dortmund to-day. I flew as togg. on Schissel’s crew. It was an oil refinery & storage depot. Bombed by instruments. Had 12 – 500 lb. G.P.S. Got leather jacket & 3 letters from Vi. Wrote Mom & Vi! Flak was intense, but inaccurate. Frank flew waist, Whalie, Moe & Skip flew in ship that was our element lead.
Thurs. – March 8 -
Went on mission to Essen to-day. Bombed a benzol plant. 10/10 coverage! Had 12 500 G.P.S. & 2 M-47 incendiaries. I flew with Lt. Whitesides! A little flak, but inaccurate. Guess Curlie is going to be checked out as first pilot & we may go on his crew. Some of us any way. D.B. Bland’s twin brother is missing in action. Got a letter from Aldy. Wrote Vi.
Fri. – March 9 -
Sqdn. Was stood down to-day. Fighters attacked a Gp. In the 3rd division on the morning of the 7th when they were taking off and assembling over the field, and shot down 18 planes. The Luftwaffe is still in existence! Ray is in the 100th Bomb Gp. of that division.
Sat. – March 10 -
Went on a mission to-day at Dortmund again. Hit marshalling Yds. In city. PFF – had 34 –100 lb. G.P. and 2 – M17 incendiaries. Flew togg. with Whitesides. Patt flew his first lead to-day. Wrote Mom & Vi!
Sun. – March 11 -
Went on mission to Bremen to-day. Hit oil refinery and oil storage depot. As usual Jerry really protects his oil & had plenty of flak for us. We had 38 – 100 lb. Bombs 10/10 coverage or we really would have had it more so!! Got a letter of 29th of Jan. from Vi. – Wrote Vi. Guess we are stood down to-morrow.
Mon. – March 12 -
The Luftwaffe keeps coming over at night to strafe & bomb our airfields; but we haven’t been hit. Too far North I guess. 3rd division gets it! Were stood down to-day & I don’t think they will fly to-morrow. Saw “ Carolina Blues” at show. Got package from mom. Didn’t write any one to-day. Toggleer’s had a critique to-day.
Tues. – March 13 -
We’re stood down to-day also. The whole group! Wrote Mom & Vi. Played softball in Sqdn. Area. This high altitude flying is supposed to get you in older yrs. We shall see! No mail!
Wed. – March 14 -
Went on mission to Minden to-day. Hit a bridge only we didn’t. Missed it!!! Had 6 – 1000 lb. G.P.s. Flak was intense, but not too much of it. Flew togg. With Lt. Shuff’s crew.
Thurs. – March 15 -
Went on mission to Zossen to-day. It was Hdq. For all the big wheels in Germany. Staff Hdqs.!! Just a short distance South of Berlin. Really a long haul. Never returned until 7:30 P.M. Made 2 runs on target. We were really meat for the Luftwaffe. Got hit by flak 3 different times. Had 10 – 250 G.P. s x 6- m-17 I.B.s Flew Togg. with Funk in 788 (Hell’s Messenger) Really an old ship. Got package from Mom. Tired!!!
Fri. – March 16 -
All ready to go to Bolen (near Leipzig) oil target! It was scrubbed. Suppose to fly with Shuff. Wrote Mom & Vi! They played up yesterday’s raid pretty big! Important I guess. Hitler was supposed to be there.
Sat. – March 17 -
Went on mission to Erfurt to-day West of Bolen in the Leipzig area. Suppose to hit oil target at Bolen, but couldn’t pick it up by instruments; so bombed the center of Erfurt. It was suppose to be an industrial center ahem!!!!! Really go a lot of flak over Bolen off to our right side. Had 12 ROX & 2 M47IB’s. Flew Togg Lt. Shuff. (spare) a (DP) again & they really tire you out. Every one is really beat at the end of the mission. Wrote Mom & Vi! Should be stood down to-morrow!
Sun. – March 18 -
Were stood down to-day. Had a critique! Had a guy in our barracks; who went down near Cologne & is back now. Was in this Sqdn. Before his ship split in half & he was blown out. His arm is all screwed up; when he was hit by flak. Is going home now. Wrote Mom & Vi!
Mon. – March 19 -
Went on mission to Plaun to-day. It was an explosive plant. Were suppose to hit Bolen again; but it wasn’t visual. Saw Paris perfectly from 10,000 ft.; when we assembled over France. The Eiffel Tower! What a day – wow! We were in the clouds half the day! Were up for 10 hrs. Another formation went right through us again. God what a scare! Planes every which way! Jet jobs were in the area to-day & hit 2 of our planes that was straggling behind. It was the roughest flying yet over here. Here it is 9:00 P.M. & I’m just getting cleaned up. No letters to-night.
Just got word that Lt. Griffin’s crew crashed South of London & killed everyone on the crew. They were one of the 4 crews in our barracks. They slept in the same beds as Jackson’s crew did & the crew before Jackson also went down. They were all our buddies --- Irons, Red, Marshall, Jeffrey, Mamberk, Hickey, all of them. I was joking with them at briefing this morning. Most all of them were married & Hickey & Mamberk were on second tours. Hickey in the S. P. & Mamberk in Mediterranean. All were grand fellas. The mission never should have been flown in the first place. The weather was the cause of it. Now wonder why you get mad!
Tues. – March 20 -
Went on mission to Hamburg to-day. It was a quickie! We were stood down & then they alerted us at noon. Got back at 8:00 P.M. It is 10:10 now & just got in the barracks. Man, every thing happened to-day. The deputy lead bombardier changed his chin guns & a round came right through the Plexiglas in the nose. Plexiglas flew all over & left a hole a ft. square. I stuffed blankets in it & rode with my foot against it all the mission. If we hadn’t of gotten it plugged we would have had to abort, or freeze to death. Then at the target ( we had it) ME262s (jet jobs) attacked us. One B17 went down & blew up directly behind us. Others also went down. I saw a jet job go down in flames – shot down by P51’s I couldn’t have fired even if they came straight at us. The blanket covered up my vision & I really had a rough time. The flak was all over and really in there. All in all it was just plain hell all the way. Made S/Sgt. To-day also on top of all this other stuff. They came in and got the boys stuff to-day. It really P.O I couldn’t get a shot in to-day. DAMN IT!
Wed – March 21 -
Were stood down to-day. Had a lecture on jet propelled enemy aircraft. Got a letter & card from Vi last night. Wrote Mon & Vi! Guess we will get battle jackets soon.
Thurs. – March 22 -
Went on mission to Westerholts to-day. It was the beginning of the second big Rhine crossing. Target was army personnel in camp. Visual as hell & well we went down. Waist gunner killed & I was hit in leg with flak. Went through my flak suit. Belly crashed in Belgium, No. 3 was feathered & No. 1 was on fire. Plane burned up except for wings & tail. Landed in middle of a minefield. Got leg X-rayed. Went to Brussels & got a C47 from there to England got Nazi helmet and other souvenirs.
March 23 -----Knokke Belgium
March 24-----Brussels
March 25-----England
March 26-----at Grafton Underwood & home.
Got a bunch of letters from Mom & Vi. While I was gone.
March 27 – Mon -
The whole crew that I went down with & me are getting flak leaves to-day. It’s a good deal, 7 days of good solid rest & comfort.
April 3 – Tues -
Back from flak leave.
April 4 – wed -
Got flying clothes re-issued. Got 14 letters from Vi. Others too. Wrote a lot of letters.
April 5 – Thurs -
Didn’t do much. 2 planes crashed into each other to-day. One crew bailed out. It was Cathey’s crew.
April 6 – Fri -
Went on mission to Leipzig to-day. First one after we went down & we really sweat it out. Scared??- Wow – Had 18-250 G.P. x 2 M17 lbs. Hit marshalling yrds. In the center of Leipzig. 3 planes crashed into each other & went down (another Gray’s) 2 planes from our high Sqdn. Collided & both went down. (no chutes) One had tail half cut off & went down in spin. The other dove & then split all up in pieces. Jets were in the area; but didn’t hit our guys. Also on take off this morning a plane crashed & exploded. Got up at 1:15 & took off in pitch dark. Bad weather is cause of most accidents. Flak wasn’t too bad! Wrote Mom & Vi.
Sat. – April 7 -
Went on mission to Hitzacker to-day. No flak at target; but had some close stuff on the way. It was Marshalling Yds. (Visual) Had 10-500 lb. G.P.s. Only 2 crews in Sqdn. Flew. We were supposed to be stood down. No mail & didn’t write.
Sun. – April 8 -
Group was stood down to-day. Oh glorious slept until noon. I was really beat too. Wrote Mom & Vi. Painted on jacket a little bit.
Mon. - April 9 -
Shuff still in hosp.: so our crew didn’t fly. Wrote Mom & Vi. I didn’t do much else.
Tues. – April 10 -
Shuff still in hosp. no fly. We’ll to-morrow I guess. Had aircraft duty to-day. Got partial payment & also reimbursed for Flak leave. Wrote Mom.
Wed. – April 11 -
Went on mission near Munich to-day. It was an underground oil storage dump. No flak on bomb run; but no sooner had we left the target & man up she came. Good & black & really tracking us & our altitude. Had 10-500 lb. G.P.s. A 9 hr. mission. Got mail from Mom. Didn’t write Jets came up yesterday & Boland claimed one. Saw his tracers go into it & explode.
Thurs. – April 12 -
Suppose to go on a mission to Wyden to-day. It was scrubbed after we were all set to take off. Wrote Mom & Vi. Painted on jacket.
Fri. – April 13 -
Were stood down to-day. Got the word of Roosevelt’s death. Dodged detail all day. Got 3 from Mom.
Sat. – April 14 -
Was stood down to-day. Wrote Mom & Vi. Got letter from M. Whitmore & answered. She is in love! We are up for to-morrow. Wrote Bert also.
Sun. – April 15 -
Went on mission near Bordeaux, France. It’s an isolated pocket of Jerries & they control the harbor, cause of a bunch of big coastal guns. We bombed the hell out of them. It was truly a milk run. No flak – oxygen, only 1 hr. A plane did blow up though & go down in flames. Carried 2-2000 lb. G.P.s & 2-1000 lb. G.P.s. Boy did that plane ever jump when I salvoed them. Excellent results. God what a mess down there. Shuff made deputy lead so I won’t fly with him any more now. Guess I’ll just stay with 25.
Mon. – April 16th -
Didn’t fly. Just laid on my big butt all day long. Wrote Mom & Allen.
Tues. – April 17th -
Didn’t fly. Same as yesterday. The Strategic Air War has been won. It was announced by Gen. Spaots. All tactical from now on. Just front line support for us. Went to Bridgstack last night & the Zebra Club.
Wed. – April 18 -
Didn’t fly. Went to Northampton with Whalie, Moe, L.O., Plover & Steed. Had a good time at Franklin Gardens.
Thurs. – April 19 -
Got a letter of Feb. 19 from Vi. Wrong APO No & was all the hell over. She had APO 90 in it. Got another from Vi & Mom. Dale finished up to-day. Got some more new crews in the barracks. Letters came in 7 days.
Fri – April 20 -
Ground pounding again to-day. Just laid around all day. Got letter from Mom & Vi! Wrote both. Guess we get a 48 Sun. Black out is to be lifted Sun. (Give you a 1000 words) (you’ve had it) (what the hell doc)
Sat. – April 21 -
Got letters from Mom & Vi1! Saw show. Painted name on jacket. Wrote Mom & Vi. Group is stood down to-morrow. Guess they must be running out of targets. Zebra Club last night. Ouch!!!!
Sun. – April 22 -
Group got up; but it was scrubbed. Joe is checked out now.
Mon – April 23 -
Went on 48 with flying crew to London Joe & I got awful drunk to-gether. Ke---! APR. 24
Wed. – April 25 -
Back now. Got letter from Mom & Vi. The mission to-day was a hairy one. An armament works in Czechoslovakia. The BBC announced to the workers to get away; because it was to be bombed. We lost a bunch of planes. Swieso is M.I.A. Made 3 runs & they shot the hell out of em. Got letters from Vi, June, Leonard, Bob Smith & John. Writing all of them now.
Thurs. – April 26 -
Didn’t do much to-day. (expressions) You never had it so good!!! You’ve had it!!! A 1000 words!
Fri. – April 27 -
Got pictures & sent to Mom & Vi. Got letters from Mom & Glenn. They flew practice mission to-day.
Sat. – April 28 -
Got my battle jacket (40) put stripes on. Went to Zebra Club & drank beer at night. Itch got drunk on his corn-bred ass. Sun. – April 29
Laid around. Saw show at theater. All the boys got pretty drunk last night. 3 girls went to Zebra Club from officers 7 ea danced, missed truck back; so they slept in our barracks & left at 6:30 in morning. Jack, Jr. & Steed had em. Hank & Moe got in a fight. Really a rough night.
Mon – April 30 -
Got paid to-day. ₤28 - $ Where’s Monty?? Favorite rib we pull on the English. Jack, Dale, Hank, Steed, and Jr. are leaving to-morrow for home. Going to Zebra Club to-night. Jack gave us his cap.
Tues – May 1 -
Wrote Mom & Vi! Joined Z Club last night. Hitler is supposed to be dead. Listened to radio & toasted cheese sandwiches. Red had a qt. Of gin; so we drank it.
Wed. – May 2 -
Were all set to go on a practice mission. It was tour of the Reich valley. Cologne, Dortmund etc. to see just what our bombings have done. We were taking ground men along also. It was scrubbed. We will go as soon as weather permits. No mail at all. Zebra Club!
Thurs. – May 3 -
That mission was scrubbed again to-day. We really had a sing fest at and after the club. Joe, Red, D.B., and I. Detail to-day. Zebra Club & through the mud in the woods. Joe & I leaning on each other & falling on our ass.
Fri. – May 4 -
Laid around all day. Wrote Mom, Vi, Glenn, & Marge. Go to Zebra Club to-night.
Sat. – May 5 -
Was on C.Q. to-night from 5:00 P.M. till 7:00 A.M. Grp. is suppose to move to Marseilles, France. Maybe we will get to go home; as all of us aren’t going. Something about the 12 youngest crews in each Sqdn. go there. It’s patrol & P.W. ferrying.
Sun. – May 6 -
Slept till 3:30 P.M. because of C.Q. Joe had guard duty last night. I’m going to Zebra Club to-night. Girls will probably sneak away from officers dance and come over to our club.
Mon – May 7 -
Went on tour the Reich mission to-day. Saw ruins of Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, and all the Rhine valley at 1200 ft. We were over Germany; when the war was announced to be over. What a mess of shambles. No mail! No write.
Tues – May 8 -
Cleaned up Zebra Club on detail to-day. They were holding a court martial on a guy for rape. All the forces in E.T.O. are restricted for 3 days; because of the end of the war. To-day is supposed to be the day the treaty is signed. May 8th 1945 --- Flares were being shot all over the place last night. Not a man got off base. Piss poor!
Wed. – May 9 -
Saw “Johnny Eagle” at show. Moe got hell kicked out of him by Pittman & Lilica got beat up by Lanun. Moe’s lip is all cut up & Doug’s eye is a mess.
Thurs. – May 10 -
Had detail crating up bombs out at bomb dump. Rolled 250 lb. Bombs around in afternoon – no mail.
Fri. – May 11 -
Crated up bunch of stuff at armament shop to-day. Awful drunk out at Zebra Club last night. Got a letter from Vi. Pretty sick all day.
Sat. – May 12 -
Screwed off and didn’t have to work to-day. No mail & didn’t write. Went to Z Club.
Sun. – May 13 -
Worked in bomb dump to-day. No mail J.O. and several others are leaving for home to-morrow. Guess the rest of us are due for the Pacific straight from here. May get a break.
Mon. – May14 -
“My Heart Sings” – “An Invitation to the Blues”. Got processed to-day. An C.Q. to-night.
Tues – May 15 -
Had C.Q. till 7:00 this morning. Took physical at hospital. Slept. “ More & More”, “ My Guy Comes Back”. Ran across Boyd Titman in orderly room.
Wed – May 16 -
“Caledonia” by Louie Jordon “Sweet Slumber” – Lucky Millender. Packed up heated clothing in the equipment room to-day. No mail – no write. Bland did get credit for that ME262. Got a cluster for it. He is supposed to leave for home in a few days.
Thurs. – May 17 -
“Who Said That Dreams Don’t Come True” – “Let’s Take the Long Way Home” Had to see 2 down & 1 to go at theater. Wrote Mom & Vi! “ I Don’t Want to Love You”, “ More & More”. “My Guy’s Come back” – “I’m Gonna Love That Guy”.
Fri – May 18 -
“There Goes That bang Again” by Russ Morgan. “A Little on the Lonely Side”. Tore down lockers in bks. & built ourselves some shelves. More guys are leaving for home; but we are screwed.
Sat. – May 19 -
Carried cots up to the Sqdn. yesterday to pack up for Marseilles. Sat on by butt to-day. Going to take Lt. White up to Zebra Club with us to-night. Bland Schuster & about 30 others are leaving for home to-morrow. Wrote Allen & Vi last night.
Sun – May 20 -
Laid on my butt all day long. Wrote a few letters. D. B. left this morning for home. Mail from Mom.
Mon. – May 21 -
Have C.Q. to-night Damn it! Laid around all day sweating out a 48; but looks like we won’t get it. Didn’t write.
Tues. May 22 -
Can’t remember what happened.
Wed. – May 23 -
Went to M.H. to night. Had drinks at Hare & Hound & went to dance.
Thurs. May 24 -
Still no mail! Plover is leaving to-morrow. Met Beaustring at mess hall to-night. Got G.I. battle jacket yesterday. P.P.! Wrote Vi. Still haven’t sent packages home.
Fri. – May 25 -
Went to Zebra Club last night. Girls came up from dance & we took em back to trucks. Red and I jitter bugged in the barracks. Listened at 12:00 to Major Glenn Miller’s American band of the AEF. Johnny Desmond (the crooner) sings with him. We are going on 48 to-day.
Sat – May 26 -
Sun. – May 27 -
Back from 48. Saw Wax museum in London. Went to Paramount dance hall each night. Got pretty drunk. Stayed at Hirmelton house hotel out on Piccadilly. Joe, Winsly & I.
Mon. – May 28 -
Cleaned up planes to-day with sand soaps. Even the officers & every one was working at it. No mail & didn’t write.
Tues. – May 29 -
Worked on planes again to-day. They really look nice. Have them all converted for A.T.C. at France. 40 seats in each one – all turrets & guns removed. Saw show! Now Glenn Millers Band of the AEF & Johnny Desmond.
Wed. – May 30 -
“Fascinating You” by Johnny Desmond. “I’m Beginning to See the Light” – Worked on planes again this afternoon. Joe, Whalie, Red & boys & I got awful drunk at the Zebra Club last night. Wow!!
Thurs. – May 31 -
Got paid to-day. ₤5 in English money & the rest in Francs. Screwed off to-day. Lot of ex P.W. coming back through this base. They all get a 7 day leave here & then 60 days in the states. Boy some of the tails they tell. Some are really funny & others not so much so. What a mess of Franks we got. Am sending 100 home, when I get the chance. Moe & Whalie paid me. Wrote letters.
Fri. – June 1 -
Joe & I went to Zebra Club & drunk up. Girls came over from the dance & Joe & I checked betty out on the states. Mailed 3 packages home to-day. Wrote Mom. Marg & Vi. The advanced party leaves for France Sun. Some were killed in France on another truck convoy. Zinnea just came back (ex P.W.) to visit us before going home.
Sun. – June 3 -
Wrote Mom, Vi, and Sophia at Aero Club. Went to Zebra Club with Joe. Were going to Bridgestack; but it rained.
Mon. – June 4 -
Went to Northampton with Joe & got drunk out at Franklin Gardens with Lt. Shuff. Met Mike Dugan in mess hall. He’s been a P.W. & was first flown here & is on his way to Marekworth his Gp. 303rd. He went down on that Hamburg raid. Hit by a jet job.
Tues. – June 5 -
Worked in hanger to-day. Wrote letters at night. Advanced part still hasn’t left.
Wed. – June 6 -
Got stationary from Vi to-day. No mail. Wrote Mom & Vi. Sent money order of $100 to Mom. Joe & me are going to check out the Zebra Club to-night.
Thurs. – June 7 -
“All of a Sudden my Heart Sings” – Hildegard – “You’ve got me where I want you” by Bing Crosby. “ I Didn’t Know About you” by Jo Stafford. Also “ It Could Happen to You”. Loaded ships at night & Joe & I went to Zebra Club.
Fri. – June 8 -
Cleaned up mess Kit as we are going to start eating in Consolidated mess instead of combat mess. Just the bare essentials now & the meals are bad. Didn’t do a damn thing to-day.
Sat. – June 9 -
“Sing Sing Sing” by B. Goodman!!! Started to eat in cons. Mess to-day. Got letter from Vi! Joe & I rode to Bridgestock to Geddington & back to base on bikes. Really tried. Didn’t write any letters.
Sun – June 10 -
Some awful bad reports coming back from France. It’s hell I guess. Wrote Mom & Vi. Got de-tail for next 5 days in a row. Plenty of C.S. around here! 2 more weeks here yet they say. Guys are getting busted all the time.
Mon. June 11 -
Worked at Bassingbourne all day ripping down shacks. Really had a time & also gave the boy in charge a hard time.
Tues. – June 12 -
Just got back from there at 11:00 this morning. Stayed in woods all night. What a mess that was. Lot of laughs though. What a stupid bastard in charge. Got a couple letters from mom. Should get a 48 soon now. Going to show to-night.
Wed. – June 13 -
Walked on Lumber to-day out on perimeter. Worked our ass off to. Got readers Digest. Didn’t write and didn’t get any letters.
Thurs. – June 14 -
Bing Crosby & Jeanie Baird in “You’ve Got Me Where I Want You”. Worked all day on lumber again. Going on 48 to-morrow. No mail.
Fri. – June 15 -
Sat. – June 16 -
Sun – June 17 -
Back from 48 to-day. Saw “The Way To The Stars” Quite a few scenes were taken from this field showing our planes & fire of oil. It was about AAF taking over from the RAF. Got a dress helmet there too. Some of us are going to some sort of pool now & aren’t even going to France. Went to Paramount dance hall both nights Met quite a few queens.
Mon. – June 18 -
Worked last night. Got letter from M.W. & Mom. Also stationary from Mom. Wrote couple of letters. All of 611 & 612 are suppose to leave here soon & not go to France at all. Suppose to ship to O.A.F. whatever that is. Probably occupation stuff in Germany! EEEK!! Saw “Under The Clock” at the show with Joe.
Tues – June 19 -
Walked at S-4 this morning. Have to clear the field this afternoon. Wrote Mom & Vi! Saw show with Shorty, Itch & Joe! On detail to-morrow.
Wed. – Jun 20 -
Worked at Group Eq. For Tatman to-day. Packed up one-man dingies! Got mail from Mom. Never wrote any letters – yet! Still sweating it out!
Thurs. – June 21 -
Worked at Kimbolten all day getting lumber. Joe & I & whole bunch of guys. Base all moved out. P.P. base!! No mail & never wrote.
Fri. – June 22 -
Screwed off to-day by going on sick call for Athletes foot. Heh! Heh! Mailed home German & English helmets, also papers clippings, letters, etc. Wrote to Mom & Vi.
Sat. – June 23 -
Sick call again. I’m really riding the sick book. Sat on my butt all day long. Saw “The Lodger” at the show. Wrote letters.
Sun. – June 24 -
Got cleared at hospital. Are suppose to leave Thursday for Stout & then home. Got feet treated again this morning. Wrote Mom.
Mon. – June 25 -
Got rations. Screwed off all day. Joe, Aly, Wilkie & I went to Keltering & got pretty well oiled up. No mail & didn’t write.
Tues – June 26 -
Big hangover all day long. Stayed in sack – didn’t eat dinner. Listening to “strictly on the record” with George Manahan.
Wed. – June 27 -
“There I’ve Said It Again” by Vaughn Monroe really good. Just out. “That’s What I Like About The South” by Phil Harris. Got letter of recommendation from Patt to-day. Leaving for 490th B.G. to-morrow by plane. Said good-bye to Shuff & boys. Meeting at orderly room.
Thurs. – June 28 -
Arrived 490th bomb Gp. 848th B.S. by plane from Grafton. Red Ritter was the radio oper.. It’s all mixed up here. We may fly home – then again we may go by boat.
Fri – June 29 -
Nothing has come up yet. They have music over the Tannoy here all the time. Lillcio, Seymore, Logan & a few other boys came in here yesterday afternoon. Went to show last night. Sit on our big asses all day long. Have to report to orderly room each morning at 9:00 now however. No news!!!
Sat. – June 30 -
Have meetings at 9:00 & 1:00 every day now. Still just sit on out butts all day long. Work later though I guess. Wrote Mom, Vi & June. Suppose to leave by boat in August I guess.
Sun. – July 1 -
Slept until noon. Went to show in afternoon. Had seen it before. Went to Aero Club. Wrote Vi. Not much doing. Just loaf around all day long.
Mon. – July 2 -
“In Apple Blossom Time” by Andrew Sisters. Didn’t do much. Got another small pox vaccination this morning. Signed pay roll. Reading “Look Homeward Angel”. Pretty raw in spots! Didn’t write! Raining on & off all the time.
Tues – July 3 -
Didn’t do much but sit & lay around. Have guard duty from 3:00 to 6:00 to-morrow morning. Wrote M. Whitmore.
Wed. – July 4 -
Got rations with new type card. Seymour gave me his cigarettes. Sacked all day. Wrote Mom!
Thurs. – July 5 -
Didn’t do a damn thing. Just sweating it out. Wrote Vi! Worried about getting our flying time in! P.P. Chow!!! Not enough & horrible coffee.
Fri – July 6 -
Had guard duty last night. 4 planes from Sqdn. Took off. More are suppose to leave to-day. Got mail from Margy, Mom, & John. Going to 100th bomb Gp. Tomorrow to get in my flying time for July. Wrote letters to all. Didn’t go to 100th B.G.
Sat. – July 7 -
General Huglin is coming to-day & we all have to fall out for a review at 13:15. C.S.!! What a P.P. parade. Wow!! Got word when Whalie came in to-day that Joe & Moe were injured in a truck accident a G. A. Moe has a concussion & can’t talk & Joe has a crushed vertebrae. A truck on the Liberty run. Wrote Vi. The rest of Air Echelon still hasn’t left. De-tail will really start coming now when they leave.
Sun. – July 8 -
Got a letter from M. Whitmore to-day. Lay around all day. Got me an ammunition box for cigarettes etc. Heard Sammy Kaye over radio. Wrote M. W.! Joe has 3 broken ribs & not a crushed vertebrae. Get paid soon for June I guess.
Mon. – July 9 -
The Tannoy isn’t loud enough; so we spliced the wire & plugged it in our headsets. I also have an individual amplifier hooked up by my bed. We have wires strung all over the hut now. It’s really going to be C.S. around here now. Have revile & formations at 7:00 every morning. Have to get the base cleaned up. We get paid this afternoon. Didn’t write any letters.
Tues – July 10 -
Didn’t get hooked for de-tail to-day. It rained most of the day. All combat men are going to 100th B.G. to-morrow morning at 6:00 for flying time. Got paid ₤28 16s 6 P yesterday. Got to show to-night. I guess “Keys to Kingdom” with Gregory Peck.
Wed. – July 11 -
Barr & I were on a garbage de-tail to-day. The first 3 graders are having a party the 21st. We each chip in 10 S & they also have 600 ₤ besides that. We are to have the officers club starting at 12:00 noon till God knows when. Plenty of women, beer, scotch etc. & a steak dinner. The officers are pulling K.P. that day & no work for us. The other E.M. has the Aero Club. The Limies were at the dump picking junk apart like dogs. Women & all! We gave a Limey at a pub some wood & got all the beer we could drink. Food is P.P.! Try to go horseback riding to-morrow with a Red Cross girl.
Thurs. – July 12 -
A P51 cracked up a little way from our area to-day. He was buzzing & never pulled out of his dive soon enough. Quite a mess. Parts of the plane were strewn all over the field. Pilot was killed. We got in our 4 hours at the 100th – to-day. A P51 flew formation right along side of us. Been having an awful lot of headaches lately.
Fri. – July 13 -
Had de-tail on line to-day. Laid around. Wrote Mom & Vi. Going to show I guess. No mail again.
Sat. – July 14 -
Loafed around to-day. Got mail from Mom, Margy, M. Whitmore, and booklet from Church. We are supposed to ship the 28th of this month. Turn in our flying eq. Monday. Saw show to-night.
Sun. – July 15 -
Got sun – burned to-day laying outside the bks. Laid around all day long. Saw U.S.O show at theater to-night (all girl orchestra) and one gal fainted before they started. Drummer look like Vi! Wrote couple letters.
Mon. – July 16 -
Turned in our flying equipment to-day. Half ass!! 2 Generals coming to-morrow. Wrote couple of letters. Trying for a 48 Wed.
Tues. – July 17 -
Had a show down on clothing to-day. Worked in hanger at night from 6:00 to 10:00. beds, etc. We are supposed to be in Stane by this Friday. Combat men only! Had a rare time at the hanger. We really kid around about the food here. “orange marmalade” is a good one to accentuate on. Got 2 letters from M.W & one from Joe.
Wed. – July 18 -
Worked at hanger again to-night. Wrote Joe & M.W!
Thurs. – July 19 -
Got mail from mom & Vi! Wrote both. Am going horse back riding to-night with Barr & Ancel. Got off of the hanger de-tail for to-night. Mom said 3 packages got there okay. Had this address on my mail.
Fri. – July 20 -
Got our ticket to the hog rastle to-morrow. Didn’t do much; but lay in the sack all day. Went to the show “The Picture of Dorene Gray” very mystic. Signed up for the horses again at the Aero Club. Rained off & on all day long.
Sat. – July 21 -
Party was really a flop. Not enough liquor to get drunk on. Had a queen & rode on the bus with her all the way to Norwich with out a pass. Took her away from Snyder. Had to have a gal to eat first. Stags ate last. Had steak! To dance this afternoon at Aero Club. Officers waited on us. Pigs all over camp now.
Sun. – July 22 -
Didn’t get in till 4:30. Logan & I! Got up late. Women still around on the base to-night. No Mail! & never wrote. Have to go to some kind of orientation lectures twice a week now.
Mon – July 23 -
Went to lecture- to-day. Laid around. Ducked de-tail. Wrote Mom & Vi & M.W. Got one from M.W. sent letter to Chicago to ask about A-2 jacket.
Tues – July 24 -
On de-tail at S-2 to-day. Rode horses again. We really monopolize them. 3 guys were thrown. Ate at Aero Club & also stopped for a few beers. Got letter from Shuff. Didn’t write any.
Wed. – July 25 -
Had de-tail for ½ day. Signed pay roll & supply forms. Our orders came in to-day. Should leave in a few days. Got letters from Mom & M.W. took Tannoy music out & now we have a speaker hooked up to a radio in another barracks.
Thurs. – July 26 -
Rode horses again at night. Couple guys ( Ancel & Barr) got thrown off a point. We stopped at Pub on way back & got a little tight.
Fri. – July 27 -
Got up at 3:30 & went to hanger. All combat men! Loaded bunch of boxes till morning. Seymore & I took a jeep & got coffee at mess hall. Slept rest of day. Leave for Charley the 1st. May get a 48.
Sat. – July 28 -
Got up at 11:00. Wrote Margy S. a letter. Got one from Vi. Didn’t do a damn thing all day. Raining & miserable. Was going to Norwich; but don’t guess we will.
vSun. – July 29 -
Left Sat. at 5:00 for Norwich & came back Sun at midnight. Got a little drunk. Not bad. Went in with Bergun & Chesney. Saw Joyce! Not bad at all. Some other gal took me to the train station.
Mon. July 30 -
Sqdn. Went on a recreation day to-day at the beach. Barr, Seymore & Schosle & I didn’t go however. Have 10₤ lent out. Get paid to-morrow.
Tues. – July 31 -
Got paid ₤28 –16-6. Had de-tail. Got letter from Mom & Vi. Vi Said she sent a letter to L of mine by mistake. Rode horses again. Wrote letters. Bill is home now. Leaving here for Stane in a few days now.
Wed. – Aug 1 -
Went on 48 hr. pass to London with Barr, Ancel & Seymore. Really had a good time. Two women (bartender & owner) of a joint fought. We broke it up. Got a cute blond!! Got cut up a little from flying glass. We rode horses in Hyde Park on Thurs. Aug 2nd. Came home to-day
Aug. 3 -
We packed our bags & they took them to the train. We leave to-morrow morning for station 394 or Stane Going riding again to-night.
Sat. – Aug 4 -
Left 490 B.G. at 10:00 & got in Stane at 6:00. We are at Nelson Hall. It is 6 miles from the other halls. Chesney knows the block chief so I’m set with a good deal.
Sun. – Aug 5 -
Have lecture to-day. Have permanent lat. Detail. Good deal. Had clothing check. Only get to take one bag home with us; so I have to send a bunch of junk home. Saw “Adam Had 4 Sons” at show. Saw it before but it’s good. Seymore, Bergner & I live in the same room. The details are flowing fast all ready. Good chow!!
Mon – Aug 6 -
Guys drawing all kinds of details now. Damn good chow & and get plenty with your buddies serving on the line. Dance to-night WACCS! Didn’t write any letters. Sent home some clothes & cigs. To-day.
Tues – Aug 7 -
The new atomic bomb has just been let out to the public. First one was dropped on Japan. Has the power of 5-1000 planes raids by heavy bombers. Japs are still being warned about it. Have a good deal here; but is still getting monotonous. Had a good time at dance. Free beer! We now have transient officers lounge for our beer parlor!
Wed. – AUG 8 -
Drank beer at the lounge & played black jack! It’s open from 4:30 till 11:00 & you can really get a buzz on in that time. Bergner, Scholle, Lellico, Richardson & Panyre stayed & got drunk. A few guys shipped out to-day. Wrote Vi. Saw The 7th Cross at the theater. Drank beer.
Thurs. – Aug 9 -
Russia declared war on Japan!!! Supposedly killed 100,000 with that one atom bomb in Japan. Really made a mess. Lay on my butt all day after cleaning up in the morning a little. Good deal! Damn good food so far? Wrote Mom! Drank a few beers at the lounge. Got drunk!!!
Fri. AUG 10 -
More atomic bombs dropped. Unconfirmed reports are that Japan has surrendered. Came from Russia I guess. Going to show! Wrote Vi. No beer to-night I don’t think, too much last night. Still no news on our leaving. Don’t get any mail here at all.
Sat – AUG 11 -
Cleaned up joint in the morning. Skip has a story he wrote about our crew. Not bad! He’s going to send me a copy in the states. He read part of it to me last night. Going to lay in the sun this afternoon I guess. Another dance coming up next Monday. Still confirming on the Jap situation! Wrote Vi. I drank beer at lounge with K.T.! lovely “bitters”
SUN. – AUG 12 -
Played basketball in the evening. Really in P.P. condition. We drank at lounge. Japan still hasn’t sent any reply to our offer of rule though the Emperor.
Mon. – AUG 13 -
Rumored that a shipping order is coming out in a day or 2. Wrote Mom. Some of us really have a good deal here! Moustache is coming out good. Really had a bull session on combat in the beer hall last night. Wow!!! Bail-outs. Crack-ups!!! Etc. Went to dance & didn’t ever dance once, only had 3 or 4 pints. Pat me on the back.
Tues. – AUG 14 -
Guess P.F. – K.T. & O.J. & I will go to town to-night. Still no shipping orders out. Went to Hanley with the boys & took in 2 dances. Wow, the women!!! At 12:00 mid-night Atlee made a speech stating officially the war was over with Japan. That was 6:00 in Chicago; so they really had a head start. We came back to the base & there was free beer until 3:00 A.M. Chaplin said a prayer!!!
Wed. AUG 15 -
Guess to-day is VJ day! Orders came out on us, but may be rescinded on account of the end of the war. Russ Gates name is on the orders. He is at station 391. Big party to-night. Guess I’ll get loaded. Wrote Mom.
Thurs. – AUG 16th -
Had the beer ice cold at the theater & lounge. It really tasted good. Had a good time but didn’t get drunk. Not enough women! Wrote Vi. Every G.I. in the U.K. is to get 2 days off: but not us! No more news. K.T. & I went to the show & had a couple beers.
Fri – AUG 17th -
Rumors are we leave on or before the 22nd. Guess we are to hit the Queen Elizabeth. It’s all rumors though. Don’t get any mail here at all.
Sat – AUG 18 -
Shipping date moved up to 25th. Going into Hanley to-night. No write. Beat myself at solitaire for first time. Just started yesterday. Ancel moved in our room to-day. More guys are coming in to-night.
SUN. – AUG 19 -
Had a good time in town. Took a gal home from the dance at the Arcade dance hall. 3 women to every man in that damn town. Got feeling pretty good on a bottle of ale & scotch. (Rum cocktails) UGH!! No real news yet as to our shipping. Staying in to-night I guess. Got a bunch of new men in & base really filled up now. We are supposed to leave Wed. Saw a double feature to-night. Had a couple of brews.
Mon – AUG 20 -
Really crowded here now. WOW!! Going to “Standing Bridge” to-night a Pub down the road a little bit. No more news. Went to S.B. & then took a bus back to Hanley. Went to dance & took a couple of gals home. Rich & I! We were to process to-day & ship to-morrow but it was all rescinded at the last moment. Really P. me off highly.
Tues – AUG 21 -
Went to Egelshaw at night. Got pretty tight & had a good time. Daly, Bergner, Bodvar, Rich & Chesney!
Wed – AUG 22 -
YIPPEE!! We clear the base to-morrow. We will probably leave here Friday for the boat. Most likely the Elizabeth! Not going out to-night. Wrote Mom & Vi. Went to show.
Thurs. – AUG 23 -
Cleaned to-day. Some are leaving to-morrow night at 11:30. No news on the rest of us yet. Went to Hanley last night & had a good time. Ancel & I took a couple queens home. Changed our money also! Drank a few brews. Did a few card tricks. Beat solitaire 3 times to-day.
FRI – AUG 24 -
Part of the guys left this evening. Went to show. Hope to leave this weekend!!!
Sat. – AUG 25 -
Big inspection to-day. No more news. There’s a dance but never went. Stayed in all evening. Played cards.
SUN. – AUG 26 -
No news. Went to show. Laid around all day.
Mon. –AUG. 27 -
YIPPEE! We are leaving to-morrow morning at 02:00. Missed the Lizz & it will probably take us 2 weeks to get home on a Liberty ship. Who cares though. Lot more men coming in every day! Seymore isn’t leaving yet nor Skip.
Tues – AUG 28 -
Pulled out of South Hampton on the “La Grande Victory”, at 5:30 in the evening. Met Russ & we slept next to each other. The chow lines are long & slow. Takes 2 hrs. to get in the mess hall. There are almost 2000 on the boat. It’s pretty small compared to others. Sleep in tiers of bunks four high. Boat is constantly vibrating. Very windy & cold now that we are on the ocean. Should be in N.Y. by next Wed. if everything goes as planned. Guess I’ll hit the sack now. Chow is damn good.
Wed. – AUG 29 -
Eat 3 times a day. Sandwiches & qt. Of milk for noon meal. A school of porpoises were playing around us for a while, diving up and out of the water & really showing off. Cliff Britlan is on this boat too. 2nd Lt & a pilot.
Thurs. – AUG 30 -
Really rough now. Good meals. Met Beaustuncy on boat to-day. On some compartment.
Fri. – AUG 31 -
Went on sick call for constipation. We should be there by Wed. or Thurs. Passed through 2 time zones now. Get our rations to-day. Really had a rough sea last night & to-day. Calmed down now though.
Sat. SEPT. 1 -
Forgot to mention that Holly is on the boat also. Had a long talk on deck with him to-night. He’s going to L.S.C. also. We are suppose to arrive Tues. now.
SUN. – SEPT. 2 -
Not much to say to-day. Good meals. Went through Gulf Stream. Lot warmer now.
Mon. – SEPT 3 -
Reading “ Strange Woman”. Epson salts really worked.
Tues – SEPT. 4
Should be in N.Y. to-morrow. Not much doing now. Just sweating it out. Hotter than hell & stuffy down here. Nice on deck. Lot of guys have the scabies. I’m lucky I guess.
Wed. – SEPT. 5
Suppose to see land at 14:00 to-day, anchor at 8:00 and unload into barges. We are to go in the second barge 8021-7. Points earned to 80 & VJ day. I have 75!!! Came up Hudson river – welcoming committee on boat (girls & band) – paper out windows – transferred to barge & then to land. Another band & then on trucks to camp Shanks. Had enormous deliveries tender steak & all the trimmings – sent telegram to Mom & showered & hit sack.
Thurs. – SEPT. 6
Bought a few things at P.X. (shorts) drank beer – went to show in amphitheater. Real good (Dolly Dawn) (Max Fliesher) and others.
FRI – SEPT. 7
Leaving at 2:00 this afternoon.
Sat. – SEPT. 8
Arrived Chicago 16:00. Cars all chocked up with 8th AF & stuff. Like that. – kids holler for souvenirs now. Have a layover here then to Ft. Sheridan.
MISSIONS
1945
M1 Jan. 28 - Cologne
M2 Feb. 1 - Mannhein
M3 Feb. 3 - Berlin (40) (visual)!
M4 Feb. 14 - Dresden
M5 Feb. 19 - Munster
M6 Feb. 21 - Nurenberg
M7 Feb. 22 - Uelzen
M8 Feb. 28 - Haegen
M9 March 1 - Bruchsal
M10 March 3 - Hannover
M11 March 4 - Ulm (1st crew?)
M12 March 7 - Dortmund
M13 March 8 - Essen 13
M14 March 10 - Dortmund
M15 March 11 - Bremen
M16 March 14 - Minden
M17 March 15 - Zossen
M18 March 17 - Erfurt
M19 March 19 - Plauen
M20 March 20 - Hamburg
M21 March 22 - Westerholts – down
M22 April 6 - Leipzig
M23 April 7 - Hitzacker
M24 April 11 - Munich
M25 April 15 - Bordeaux, France
Alderman Service History
Rockford IL Camp Grant cadet 12/14/1942
Wichita Falls TX Sheppard Field 2/15/1943
Jonesboro AK Sqd E 79th det. 8/18/1943
Denver CO Lowery Field 2/11/1944
Kingman AZ Flex gunnery train 5/11/1944
Lincoln NE 7/16/1944
Sioux City IA 224th combat crew 9/1/1944
Grafton Underwood 384th B.G. 547 Sq 1/4/1945
San Antonio TX discharge 11/2/1945
Planes flown in:
B-17G-55-DL #44- 6514 “Danny” M1
B-17G-70-BO #43-37843 “Alex” M2-M11???
B-17G-90-BO #43-38630 crashed 3/22/1945 M21
B-17G-65-VE #44- 8430 “Recall”
B-17G-10-DL #42-37788 “Hell’s Messenger”
Mentions throughout diary and on pictures:
Lt. Patt Patterson (pilot) on 1st crew
Herald (Curly) Bowman (1st crew)(co-pilot)
L.T. Nicholson (1st crew)(nav.)
Frank Kalinoski (1st crew) Engr. M12
Forest (Skip) Fickling (1st crew) L-ball gunner
Ernest (Moe) Moriarty (1st crew) (u. turret)
Red Ritter (1st crew) radio operator M6
Bernard Shorty Hendrick’s (1st crew)(engineer) M21
Wm. (Whalie)Yetter (1st crew)(tail gunner)
Nelson Patterson
Herb Everett
Martin Ritter
Lt. John Whitesides M13,M14
Lt. Charles B. Shruff M7,M16,M18,M21M22,M23,M24,M25
Lt. Griffin crashed (Irons, Red, Marshall, Jeffrey, Mamberk, Hickey)
Lt. Jackson crashed
Lt. Cathey
(“Itch”) Harrison (radio operator)
Mike Dugan
Joe
Robert P. Plover P M21
William F. White CP M21
Robert C. Birney N M21
George E. Lesko WG M21
George E. Cramer BT M21
Erwin J. Harrison R M21
Joseph R. Britton TG M21
Pittman
Doug
Hank
Steed
Seymore
Schosle
Ancel
Funk M17 (788 Hell’s Messenger)
Lt. Col Gunnery
Irons
Marshall
Jeffery
Swieso
Mamberk
Hickey
1st LT G.A.Schissel M12
Roland R. Dube waist gunner M14
1st crew = transcriber opinion
Transcriber: Richard A. Alderman
Alderman_384@msn.com
GLOSSARY
10/10 coverage cloud layer of ten-tenths
48 - 48-hour pass
₤ - British pound
AAF - Army Air Force
AEF - Allied Expeditionary Forces
APO - Army Post Office
A.T.C. - Air Transport Command
B-10 jacket - flight jacket
Bombardier - released bombs on the lead plane
C-47 - transport plane
Chaff - Aluminum foil strips, fool German radar
C.Q. - Charge of Quarters (duty)
C.S. - chicken sh*!
E.T.O. - European Theater Operation
Flak - Bomb fragments from ground artillery
G.H. - Radio beams
G.I. - government issue
G.P. - general purpose guided bomb
G.P.S. - general purpose guided bomb
Gps. - Groups
Grd. - Ground
K-rations - field meal packets
Ke-- - Christ
K.P. - kitchen police detail
ME262 - Messerschmitt jet
ME410 - Messerschmitt fighter/bomber
M.H. - mess hall
P-51 - US Mustang fighter/bomber
P - British Pence
P.F.F. - Path Finder Force
P.P. - piss poor
P.W. - prisoner of war
RAF - Royal Air Force
S - British Shilling
S.H. - South Hampton
S.C. - Sioux City
Tannoy - UK speaker company
Togglier - released bombs on all Sqdn plane except lead
T.S. - tough sh*!
U.K. - United Kingdom
V-2 - German rockets
Vi. - Sioux City friend
Visual - no instruments
VJ - Victory in Japan
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