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THIS PAGE DECLASSIFIED IAW E0 12958

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1, F . a i.n t.day x s t. Be a snta again. he target s the l n bridg®epa . g t he r i er d vi di g t he t s ect i . ns of t he ci y . h. t

ah. rd th b.mba narr.w issing th brid , l.planea r turned

s el .hi a s t he f i t i et h mi aai . n f . r Lt , i t e and S . l i ns i n s r, s ti n ou Sq d on t . reach t at nu ber . t . hi t e ' a . n] c. nt as"The i r s t f f t y are t he hardest . "n additi.n t the Squ d n s P t. A.D. R ce, h. tra sferr d

t . day f rom t h 8 h. He l kes t he n t he a u dron, d t h kthe th is the best squadr n in the G up. et v g the dec.nta i tisn tru k.

e had • ur f i r t r i n t oday - a pr l s b . at dusk a d c.ti u g inter ittentl thro tb ni t. T e "rai sea n" hbe n, d .perati.n f.r the next fex ks y be held up c.s i derab y . Cre et . g y s t er a r t he Napl es ar a sa d t argets r ob r d by lOths cl.ud. Rainc.at are peppi g sutthe quadr.n .r the f r t ti e e cs e x re .n the bsat csmi .v®r.Sx ds datr , the Tax City id, ent .ff t. th® h apit teday.His eysa aundiced nd he a be n f®eling pu f.r t . p t f rdays , di agna i s yet of hi a t oubl e . Lt . ' o k. f f , t h a c upl e•f t lega alse depart d f.r the h pital. H® fe®18 that scratch-

g a q i t . bi t e c used an i n ect l . n.aple® s eccupi d t.da by the fa .us Br ti h t Di ei.n,

xh. ere firat at Bengaai, Tripe , d n .a.The di. a nces

that the pepulatisn ch® red il l . We think they ere pr bab say-i ng , "'A1 ; nut s ?" ` , -Sf 3g , Ha d ng and Pf c . Gl en et rn®d f r t he he spi t al . - .

M '

2, Sat. T e c xs b unc d .ut ef he i a hu r yesterday , target

as a r.ad uncti.n west .f Capua, g.t . er ® gr.up brie i g, f.undthe t s . r a g t had be n ch ngsd. ey c b clc and a ted fern h.ur er s., a d ere briefed in the aquadr®n. Ju t a e nd o ,the issi.n xas canc®lled, d ah.r ly there a ter the qu d n asgi n a stand-d. m fer the r ainder ef the day.F ohhaven fell t. etr lian tr..ps t da , ths th d Pac ic ictoith a enth. her Auat ali t epa, g.i g o irom Britain aft r

f our year s , xer • f f i ci al l c d by Ne Y. k ci t y , r .t h t i c or t aped all.

e t day reat buc ets. hese dese tents (m t •f u sust u i the t.pa) n't e bac the x ter either, Ther er ®." a " i bt out under the tr es got a g.od o king. a e S th r ,gl u ], c ent ed, "I h. pe t he s a nes t sr sx - a hst . T ;

r aen ca uf l age p t o e t he s i dee . f . r t ®nt s l ke s - .cara f r m t ar l f emal e e s .he me i an heatre in s h reop ned. st i t a shs as

"Ja h uee Bl ues " ver b d . he Bri t i ah were h ng "They l s s dthe Br de." m® hat better.C. u ca ens secti.n ad a p y .day at the re taur nt in Yiara de. They h d a a s t , a d all g.t et c. i h. .

P s t ns : 9 . Pres . h ads T®c ; Sgt . rgan g. t a r. c er ; ndPfc. B er bec a full lled d n com t t at pse.

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._Cat a a & S Pancrazi .

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3. Sun. Stand .wn all d y.The sh. at the h gar s "T e Great altz" with u se R ner,Ferd d ravet, and el t a K.rge.us. It wa rather nice untilth. rain s arted. The r..f •f the ha gar is full of h les and gaps,and keeps .ut ev ry ttle r n. a left . see t• their pers.n lbe n i g at home. S.we tried to leava, g.t wet ust l..king fvrt r nsps r at i . n,G ner l n.ld says cti ity in Ita y at present is .r c.mp redhat i e cp®cted t• take pl ce some day,an new su biles are spri ing up in the S d n. Captain Pa s.ns

has a gs d l . ok n . b i ch p babl y . s. . n be c e a f l i ar ai tar und the British hospital. Lt. C yls c uld be seen ridi g al.ng clte the cu b, bl®ring his h.rn at the n tives.R er has it t t t. Egber is gett g the DFC for flyi g tra siti.nith Lt. O N ill. R er has it that Lt.

Sime tzky ia goi t. et he li he dsesn t t.p buzzing his ttle 109 .ver the S 2 tent.Vignette: Lt. D. ld G. a .nd, b. time ag. in the general ar a• ston, assachu etts ( t.n, perhaps). Assist nt t. Captain G.eri ether in the 2 secti.n, sq dr n athletic direct.r, and C asanance a ge t . Semet hi ng • r f i v e f e ®t i n h i g ht , x r s g. l d ri d

spec . Sa s "c h" f®r car,"p.k" for park, nd gripes becuaa h.

dve n t ha e a h t. p.k i .ne • the l.cal p.ks. A dig ified y.u ga rhs ds e s urpr i s i ng t hi ng s s n i pul s . as j u s t di s c s r d t he

de l ght s . s ex , r e i ace s ab ut s s cs ns t ant y and i t h d ap r nni nger cit . S meti es kn. n a "far ck." s veice gr xs huak when

he thinks •f Sa an a ,G rgia. ca kn n as the "Sav nn kid."m.tt.: "Suffer n.t l ttle children to come unt the ."F/ 0 G f f i t hs ret urned f ram st eave n Ef r i n, f . u d t he p ce ery

pl a nt.

4 . n, T. day t arget was a ad ct i . n and r i l - r a f . ur l es x rt h efCapua, near Pig atar.. Th s ae one vf the in r.ada us d by theGer ana suppl g thei ne l ne •n the V.ltu o R ver. 6bth t..k .at 1030 , f . l l . d by 7t h . "A8 e app a ched t he ai l and ef I t a , , t hesk s vered with cl uds and the navigat.r as te .rried ab utse g the targ t,

" saya Lt. L ysen; e ere s reating it .ut. Thr. ga break t he c l e uds w s p. t t ed t he V. l t ur o i v e r a d Be ev ent . . es west ard, keepin the V.lturne sight. ihen we neared the target,the k wae b ack ith ack-ack being shot at the 4 th. L d b. ba dierda a quick deci i.n, and we d cided t• a e a N®rth t• uth u inst®ad

• f and Ea t t • We st . T e s ky • v e r t he t a rg et wa s r c l ear , and t hetarget t..d out f.r a ,

les. e came in ®n the targ , taki g e asi eaction, ack bu st g .n both sidss .f us. They xere rea y thr wii t up t here - n t s . uch bef or e e dr . ppe d . ur b . bs a s f t e r . I t a sabout the sa e as at F a,,

ire ade eur r n, drepped .ur bsmbs, tha ck- a ck bur t i g • a al a de a at t he a e t i e . ade a s harp ri ht t urnf the target and started t© ake for the V.ltur ® River. The ack-aas e s pe ci a1 eavy • e r t he r i e r . A de c i si . n had t • be nade t . p nge

t hr . h t he f i re a d cr s t he r v a r , b e cua s e t her e s e ed t . be n rraysf g ing ar d it. Fsr what aee ed agea, xe finall g.t acr theriver, and started t• ta e invent.r te ee if everyb dy as still thus. The f.r ati n was in ct, a d e p ®ceeded to the baee, hen ene ed the base, •ne p s e pulled out of the . ati n and pr c ededdirectl to the field. e figured there must be so e.ne woundsd .nboard. A we ca e in f.r a ding, r saw 7 park d •n the r y, andt hen knex f . r ce r i n t hat s ame. ne had be en wou x ed . rre at er l ea edthat Sgt . Pini.n had bee wounded in the thu b d leg."



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Cat ani a & Sa P nc azi .

Oct . bsr __ ., _.

. don. Sg . Pini n as hurt seri®usl , but not criti al y. Lt. Fo and Sgt.( snt'd) Peterssn ad inistered fi t aid n the pla e, gi n hi ten sul at ab l e t s and d i ng a s e l l j . b i t h bandages and hat - n. t .Nine sh ps ere holed.3 gt, H ll as lead bo bardier in the second box, a d did a caln,m oth .b. Bombs l dad thi a fe yards of the actual o d unction,nd hit b.th roada, Th® railroad as als. bel eved to have b en da -aged.n the inte nati.nal scene, C rsica ha at last been cle sed of allGe an an the Fre ch have occupied astia.Lt, g, ssistan t Gr.up S 2, ent on the ra d d s interr.gatedin .ur squ dr.n. T is adds a other raid to rd his first cluster tohis ir edal.E S theatre te sh. ed " oon and Sixpence", hich is a athertalky shox. he South-Sea ending s pleasantlv decorated by a lushl ttle beauty.

, Tues. Sg , Dil g a repert hav ng seen Lt. Chandler in t e hespital,ar.d that he is doing well. He says they are g®i to t e the castv f h s t.e s..n. he sq dron m dics deserve ag .d deal •f cr ditfor their swe care Lt. C a dler, They got to h qu ckl , ardedo f the effects .f sh.ck, hich might have pr®ved a great d al oreserisus than the bro ken to nd burns hich he reeei ed in Lt. Bell scrack-up.e of the m dics brings ne S that Swede Hol t .m is doi g ..k. e

med c sai d he ras s f eri ng f r® yel l . j aundi ce , but Hc st ro ri t esthat he is taking pills for alaria.S of t he n crerre f l e a pract i ce mi s si . n t oday , bo bi g ri gent arrith a a ng pr®cisi.n. They rep. ed fl k as e tre ly heav andthat 98 shipa had been h.led. Ever ene returned safel , a d Lt. Gellmanreported co b t t. be n.thing.here is considerable dis ussi.n of the ne B 2 G 's, and so e fe nhave seen them. They carry a ?5 ann.n in the nose, which is c.vered.ver. Thare is n. bombardi r. Ev dently the c -pil.t does the navigation.

ere is a 11 inch recoil. It's used for tank busting. w r has itthat •ne for ti.n ent ©ut ® get a bu ch ef ships and g.t ne fish-i essel.T e 321s t Bornb . G up , © i n I t a , ha s be en b r r e e c . Thi s aybe a shadow of th ngs t• c e for u ,Lt. Petersen has added an.ther jeep to the squ d n ' g ing sup l efvehi cl e s .

(. , Pe t e r s . n , n. t .R, , r o adde d . ne so e t i c ago ,No sh.w at the han er t nig t. The officer club pa d off f.ur do l.rs

. f t he ei ght i t l l e ct ed f m each of f i cer at ergl .'e se to have the moving bu again. Preparations are al ead beingm de, but n. t me has been given. T e place is als. rather definite.The S 2 ssction no has transp.rtati®n - the a mm nd car fer erly u edby Supp . Capta riwether ha a chain and pa l ck 1®©p®d arsund thes t e e r i ng he e l , ' en he r i ve s of f , i t s ound l ke s. me t hi ng cl anki•ut of a Univer al thrill pi ure.he Card n a and the Y ees pl yed the irst game of the or d eriesin New York, the Ya.cees innin to 2. Ver oor reception startedab ut 1900 h.urs, nd inni by inning rather than play by p ay reaultsere given. he br dcast w s very fa nt.

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6, ed. ws 487th crewa went with the 8bth t d y, to attack a r.ad junction

at pi npe i t 0 694 , n. r t h s f Capua . They we n 4 bt h pl a e s . Thelst b x hit the to n, but the sec nd b.x ©vershot . Lt. Egbert'splane had tr uble i one eng e. Over the inner ph.ne, he told Lt,athsr "i "the r ht engi e onks .ut, salv. botbs ediately," Lt,ther d d not hear the .

f but only "the r ght eng ne conk d out,• s a l e med i at e y , " He di d , droppi g t he borbs i t he s ea . hey

left the f r ation a d a h me earl . Lt.Garrett s hip ent sn.The Cardi als w llop d the Y te ev n the series at ©ne game apiece.Cardinals 4: Yan ees 3. Batteries: orton Cooper a lker Cooper;

E ne Bonham and Bi l Di ka . Th s rae Cooper's first vic ory o er ateam o ri a uer and just m naged tv stave off a Y ee rally

the h xhich netted them 2 runs but 1 r n sh rt f a tie.he ra n to .ght ras heavy, but it at least let us see good show,"'i ht T a to dun ch"! an Engl sh fi that w d have besn better i

, the sound track had functioned better.The A,L.O. spoke briefly at 1715 hours, had very little news t pa t..

e sp ke of the p bable d fficu ties ®f the allies in h.lding the sevenDodeoa ne s e i s l ands , s ai d t hey r e vi t a t o us ( al oxg w t h R hode s andCor u) if e planned and i vasisn in G ece and Ba kans. CaptainSchrei er then de an an unce nt that to rrow 'a G ©up issi®n(including 12 ships from the th) would be to G eece. The targetuld be the L/G t Ioan ina,ration has for supper tenig t.

7, Thurs. The rains fell heavily last ni,t early ning, but the u as

shining brightly at the 7 o'cl. k group briefi g. T ty sic pla es of

,t he 340t h t o®k . f , l ead by t he 8 t h, at 8 e ' cl s ck, They were t • gaup at Brindisi, rendesvous at , ecce at no n, a d hit the L G about

4 5 . But f i f t e en nut e s f r m Pr ndi s i t hey er ca l l e d ba b cua s e®f the weather over the target. S t, Schwartz said it leoked prettygry over in that directien. They were a d© n in ti e for lunch.lot f A erican nur e , one ©nth overseas, y be seen hereabouts

now. "Th y look atun g i.n

their brass buttons and nex u i o ms,"says

Lt . She rb®ur ne . The new un ©rms l o®k l i ke a AC' s u f ® . Very b®no ,says Lt . Ha ®nd. Lt . eysen see s to be checkin out an the girlstand that doesn t ea "to leave in the lurch,"

}The show in town was "Pard.n my Saron ," th Abbott and Costells. TheBritish ughed, evidently adv® ting the slapstick high ,y,F/ 0 Gri f f i t h advocat es t he r e st ca p i n N. ri ca , near O , Saysits swell, with ch s ng, golfing, tennis, best meals n this he s-phere . L t s of w en i n t he parks . Lt . g ue won ' t c©me h me .Lt . Jac an i s R. O. . i ng T ni s .he f f i cers Cl ub f eat ures a pa ne agai n af t er a dry spel l .News on the inter atio al front is sc rce. The ussians are bo ed do ni n t he rai n .The anks + n the third gam of th series b to 2.The pr epa ra t i ©ns f or our n v i hav e been post pone d i def i n t e ,T nail: Lt. 0'Pei11, a Ver nt lad ho tal s and wal s like a

ui s i a b y . Bl onde , of inedi u wei ght and he i g t . a de r e around agood doal, l ok g for semeth_

ing. unds upon people, t isitn thairarms unmer c i f ul l y . Cro s t h d l ht :en t he s hout "uuc l e " a. dstruts over iis ict ry. See ngly an agre able cuss-seldom a sabout l f e i t he rou h ,

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5, Catania & S Pa crazi.

Oc ober 3

7. T urs. Ha a cha ce in Ju y to o on pass to t is, p ferred to stay n ca p.(Cont d} Absolutely inexplicable nduct . Semeti es o as " i ts" or"Ha e -

in k." On a ght rission over Patern., turned on both l dili ts over the target. Ie assietant cre ch ef on an 9. Is

i ed , and o r al l we kns a t r e and f ai t hf ul hubby . us t che k onthis, bby : de u in red dev ls.Vignette:Lt . C f f ord . S eari ng en , com n y kns as S re ar er . Bor ? Pr e-su ab yes, that cuaint territo y called T as ust South st .ft he U t ed St at e a p . per . Y. u ay s e h " ri , n " a ]

. n t he s quacr.n area and if he reet y u ith "g®od mern " at 3 P. . and "go d

f t e rn. . n" a t 10 d , , t h. n. t hi ng o i t - e e al l ent i t l d our

id osyncracie . He so ti es ga bles someti es dri k ; neither verye l . H ad i t s hi s s ex l i e has be en ea,u

l t a t hat o a he r i t crab ,but sn aks silent] o by im e f for s me myateri us purp.9e, He isq te a cyn .c on arriage and believes there is na fut e in it. •t en mat e i s do i hi s be s t t o conv ert h f rom hi s warped s t at e of

m nd but i t i s boubt f ul i f t he a r l l l as t t hat l . . For pe r s ai t er .e

he y f rec e nt l y be f v .ud "ov e r ; nde r " ®n hi s f ar t s a k

his ir t l ve,

6 , F i , T a un s shi at t hi m r i ' s br i ef i but i t he o rt hea st ,over the sea, the sky ss be in to da ken. T

.ke- ff a at 09 0,

nd the pri ary target a a road unction across the Voltur , n rth

est .f Capua. The $6th l d the fo tion, but retu n o the basei h their b be. e 4 th ade an attempt to go thr.ugh the cl.uds

hi ng t he t arge t f r . r t he s t t hen t ri ed i t o t he e s t . Si t ky ,, who d. e n ' t ad r. cat e f l n ar . und on a l i t d suppl y . f ga s l s ok . g' f . r a t ar get ras a l i t t l e e r r i ed . Fi al l y , t he s ar ch a gi n uand the for ati.n nt for the alter te target, a road bridge overthe Garigli . ver near Sessa ur ca L/G, The ca e at it from thesea .n a est to East headi , could see the r ad, the brid e and theatrea unt l the bo ba ere d opped, hen ll ere obs ured by cl.ud.

• et of t he crews f el t t he b bs ®nt s l ght S ut h of t he r. ad, t hpatter b i n ith the st a and perhaps extending across theL . O e be bard er s certain the bridge had been hit. T e ef theatta k as 1202 hours.Lt , arns ek c pl a i ns of t he i ce ea t i ng h s can dy , che i n up hi s gu ,and rippi.ng

the cellephane off his cigarettes, here have been ssverao pla nts ab ut snakes. he li zards upset ever ne until it l rced that thay eat flies.The sh.w at the han ar as "Gold u h a sie" ith nn Sothern, It aa rarm, friendly sh. about a tou irl ith a heart of gold. ai i

appeals a great nu ber o inen. pecial Service has a fex ood records,recently added t. the c llection. Some ll orcheatra featuring apian. and an acc rdion turns out a g.od recordin of"Stardust" d" o tude" played as a medley. The ld nes, l ke "T ere ll be othar

n ht l i e t e " ar e s t i l l ' gs s d , al t hough t h dus t . f r i ca l engaga scratched them until you can hardly hear the uaic.n syst has en .rked out •n the ne ereby are assi ed

to de i ite p ane , and e "i espensible," This keepa the .ut oft he reach of t he Order , f . r det ai l s , d t hey are happy . lthe engi eers live eut on the line.

By this arran e e t, they are all up

ear l y a d t he re o r pr ef l i ght i ng , a ob hi ch f or e r l y s done s omet i e sby cre ch i f s a l . ne , be eau e t he ot her s re up i n t he a re a f . r a lf e r at i ®ns .

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6, . Cat nia & S Pa C a .

Oc# ber _ _3 ...

$. Fri. Today's ssi.n wae the f tieth f.r Lt. Bre n, b bardier, and S Sg ,(C nt d) all, ho had seven m ssi.ns as a g nner d 3 as a b. ba dier. Lt.

Br.r : "I dsn't n.x nothing. I didn't see nothing." S , Hall: " e• first and the ast are the hardest."

_.S : B rkley and .thers have .ved into a bar .ut •f the rain.... t,Ber ' s I t al i f ri end f . u d hi m a bot t l e of er an be er f . r t ro bucks .It is reported that Serio is s. adept at Italia these days that het s it in his sleep.... e n i the q adrsn saya hia m ther out-rank his brother. She's a PFC....Yom ippur is t.m.r .. ague i back frem rest ca p at r in rith a dog ed Jacks.n.

9. Sat. N. missi.n t.day.... h®tos of yeste day's mission sh.x a great deal

.f cloud. ®mbs in the 2nd b.x are falli g over the river and se th ©fthe place where the bridge sh.uld be, so it is d.ubtful if they ca ecl ae t• the bridge. Noth c n be t.ld fr.m the .ther ph.tos..., t1 0 heur s t hi s ni g ne r pape r pho t o apher s t . ok p i ct ur es of enn the G up fr.m several cities in the U,S, They sse bled them in the

488t h a a , be s i de a e cked e e , a i rc raf t . e en of . ur en f r .Chicag• er there,

includ g S Sgt. Futterer. S . Joh Smith of Eost.nas there ith the rest o the E stonites. Captai rir th r stoodbeside those fr.m Kansas City.... gt. L t in says there are three bigitems h reabouts:"Vi.n ,

Se .ra, and nuts."...... t used t. be "home bqChrist as", but it's changing graduall,

t© "home by Ea ter" - a be. l nseem to be less hemesick, h® ever....

S Sgt. o.dr ch s he'd l ke toave a e p when the ar ia over. his see s t. be a fairl nde ire - so th g to g. ridi around the U.S, i , t. see that go d old

u try th ne ®yes....,PX supp es a e .ut l te est®rday. Thesel x ries used to be taken f.r granted, an d there were great h.wls h®nwe didn't get b

. stscks hen xe first ca e overs s. N. e ook onthem n t as ur in lienable r ht but aa cha ce g®od .rt ne..... ea ou s f c s ney be i ng s ent h® i n ney . rde r s i droppi ng • f . Cs ul dthe Sicilians be getti g rich?..... ch •f the ney sp nt ar h reis g.ing f.r photographs.

This is the first opp rtun ty 've had t•get eur pitahers struck, and eve ybocy's taking advantage •f it. Somesf the ph tss are a little t . "pretti d" up f.r erf an t tes, but

•thers, n.t s. doc red, are very g.od. Fa rite shot seens t. be theg up p ot., s eti es ith

.ebottles and glaeses, supplied by the

photographer. P t, G .ss,T/Sg , Gi is, a d T S t, E .t do 't l.ek

pa ticul rl tanked up in theirs...., a chicken for lunch t day.Het

b d.... rd nanc held n i sp cti.n of firearms, ith alar irg results.me n ad t s n r barrs l l . . . . ca ra c l ub f under ray a s ng

s m .! t e en. T e idea is t. tr de p ata, nd is ver go.d one,c n ide g he sc cit e n gati as.....

T/S t. Bu ler stepped on athird re.

il whi e n n . a da er . a , g.t the sh.ck •f his l fe.The u eia a a att aki g 81e s. hs b , a n uncss the French,a o,

has been entirely ea ed .f Ger ans. An •ffeneive begins te-rrs on the Voltu e. the Paci ic, the drive on ada g is p g essing.

10. un. agedy v sited the sq adron teday - tragedy that as u necessary a d

avoidable. S S t. a kov ch, i the enginee ing section, was fatallyunded en a It lian Barett pist.l held by Sgt. Fl yd xaa fir d.n e pla tion •f the tra gedy as it circulates i or allq am n then in the quadron was that S . Fl yd had his safekeep an

I t al i an pi s t o l . rned by a c bat cr e membe r x h• had beught i t t enight bef.re and as at the t a n a miasion. '

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. Catan a & S Pancr sio

Qc ober _ _3

. Sun. at Sgt. F yd was un a il ar ith the pistol; that he was demon trat-i the "sa ety" which is ound on the U.S. . 5 pis l - that of pl c-i t he zzl e agai n t t he r s i st ng sur ace nd pres ai f o ard.

' E idently, from general t lk, the cl p as r ved, but a m und re aio-ed in the ch ber. Ths bullet passed through S . Flo d' hand aery nearly through S S , ackovich's bocy. acko ch died withia

f ew i r ut e s . Hi 9 f u e ral ri l l be he l d o o rrox at 1 0 ho s . . . . etar et tod y r s troopa concentrations a d equ pment No h of Cap a,n ar the tow of Finchi,

Ital . ur bo bers xere over the area at 110hour an d r ported good r ults. oto overage $howed the patte sw thin 600 yarda of the given p po nt, rhich is not so bad in any-body's bombing.... shoa at the han er ras a pl®as nt su pris - aGI shox with talent and an i ectious q a ity that n the audience.The 5 piec• orchestra rked nicely together - th the tru peter d

the pia st eho in real talent, A e ow i ichin b ns got agood haad, as did the tap d cers, The ahorr was ix , colored a dhite. Notable b their absence were ancient ug lers, ma c ns, dfat precious sters o Cer onies,... gt. Kin 's torcycle cau htf i re near t he ga so l ne d p , burned t o a cr i s p . Hi s f re qu nt co ®nt aat the ahow led to the bel e th t he as holding a alce for the ds

paated chi e.... t. Su ivan, bo bardier, and Lt. Peteraon,bo bard-

ier,finiahed their fi tieth ssion today. Kesults o their celebration

of the event are not yet kno .... er ission has been granted by Col.Toka z and Capt . Brarbl e t o make p nt s f or t he s q a dron al bu . S t .uller is busy at Ork on s e.,.. the usai f ont,

Gomel is beinencirclsd. Tan s have croased the D eper, ux ow fro nt ia soakingwet. Chief ite of terest f om England was the C asse ion thatCol. Ira E er ade the statement that the air offen ive could t alonebr .n

i ct o ry . Thi s i s di re ct cont r di c t i on of f o e er s t at ement s at t r i but edto h . ut F y Fortresses and escort lone accounted for 102 aircraft(ene r) ye terday. C n Ge a y be bo d o nconditional surrenderithout the aid of g ound and naval forces?,,,,,, he Ya ks won the th

g n of t he s ®ri es - 2 t o 1 . . . . . PJagy has been t ransf erred t o bt hsquadron.

11 . on . Sho rt l y af t e r t he f e ral wa s he d t oday f o r S , a kovi , t ragedystalked the s ad on again . Lts. over,

Pirn ,d S enit k went

do n t o C s o t o f i d a t i r f or t he l at t e r ' s 10 9 . l e t her ethey d scovered that all s on that field 'n d beea grounded after ap ot had been kil ed a fe days before, that t o n who o ned thesefighters ere glad to give them a ay. Lt. er, although he as not

ve ry f i l i ar wi t h t he pl ane , ant ad t o f l y t he . He t ook of f ,e idently discovere he could not get thro u h the ci cle of cloud

eovering the hills, probably ca b back to tell the other men to itfor a r favo able day to fly the pl.anes to Cata ia.

O the landing,his pl e either hooked right or wa c u ht on someth g. It f pped

over on its ba . Lt, ver was t ken aw y in an a bulanee to ahospital, and his death was a nounced late at night...,. n spite ofheavy rairs ,

Sgt. ackovich's funeral was dignified and i pressive.Chap ain Cooper onducted se ices at 1000 hou s..... ransition ni t

missiona be in soon for the new pilots. Perhaps ore night s io ....Officers who tailed to have the pistols in pected have been con ined

to the base until sa e is done. st r shed over to O dna c today'sdo npour to get it done..., r llo has bou t a ne r radio for s ty bucks„o b r ier Peterson, he o the fin s ed issions, has been sleeping

t he b l anc® t a keep out of t he rai . . . , t , o l koi f s p o ot i on , dat d

as of gu t 25, ha ust come th ou h..., here are a hell of a lot of

bi t i n f l i ®a i t he sho e r bat h , i d t hat at t i ng doe s n ' t ke ep out t heco l

.d i nd . . . . he n .

i s t ed n ' cl ub i n Cat ani a ha s f ol ded f or l ack oi

attenda ce.... or Paul is in the hospital. doesn't he r uch of

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8, Ca an ,a & Sa Pa crazi o

Oc ober .3.

1 . on . t h s e day s . . . . he s q adron ar ea i s not a ].ov e s i ght wh t

cont d) ith ra n. ooks va uely like bar ard. L1 the n re nd one of xetchickens a dering ai ess y and unco ortable around .n

the xater, Tooda ned d pressi .... frequent xpressed opi on is t at rhen xe gethome it' goin to bs hard to say the t thin s in pol te society.e're too used to cuss n..,. ome n in the squadron teel that beingatetioned here n Sicily i better than being tationed at alterboroSouth Caro lina. e n sa s that "bein overseas ia better than beinatation d anyrrhere belo the aso Dix n li e",.,, he en enjoyed thestage sho last ni ht. O e n says "ahen xe ee shows it see li ke reare back i th States, and n t ay over here i Sicil .".... eat likedongs: "As T e oes By", and "I y A m "

. ChoruB to the latter:

" ar s , i n ar s :i n' t I ver go a have a gi rl i n ar ?n ny a s , i n ar ns :Ain't I ever ganna have a bundle of char s?Co es t he ca , i 11 be gone ;in't I onna have a honey holdi me t ht?You can keep your knittin and ur purlin -I I ever gonna go t o B rl i n -G ® a gi rl i n ar t on ht . "

o opinion on the so g has been vo ced by lbert J. DeLorge, o hafe ale acquaintances in Berl n New ampshire.... he ks won theirfourth g e, 2 to 0. They tell us Lt. Gavi n seven hu dred bucks,and that Lt. Rosenberg lost a tidy s .... ck Ack opened up in the Soutthis a.

ternoon. No planes were aeen. Nobod got excit d.... It ly,the Volturno offen ive is soon to start.... battered Naples there issa that no Ger a l ever dare to visit the city gain.,.. n us a,the are three big bri geheada acro s the ll eper. a divisiona ofmen and tanks have c oss d,

1 , es, The rain is playing hob with our activities. F 1ed- n bomb cratere aresoft and treachero us. A old R.A .F . A be rle got a nose xheel in thesoft ud, turned its tail up the air. Two DC s had a l ttle trouble.d oui ru way t he s e l v es ar e hav i n t roubl e - t hey ar e cavi ng i n r e recraters were filled close by or on the tar ac.... rders have co forsome of the p ane to leave for our new field. Th®ir chief purpose xillbe to stake out a cl on the field an d hold it, so that so otherG up n' t come i n d t ke i t . The f i e l d s eems t o be l o cat ed atSan Pancrazio, about 20 or 30 il

.es south of Brindisi, near Taranto, Noone see s to be pa ic larly enthusi stic about it. S x of the oldestpl es, with cre s ho have co pleted fifty missions, ll leave in the

rning. The idea is for us to re ain operation l here,,.. wede Holmstro ,a little yel ow around the gills, has ret ed f o the hospit ...."Strawber y Blonde" was scheduled to show at the han ar tonight, but aschanged to "Y on the Bur a oad" at the Iast .nu

te, .e got overt ere, hun aro d for an hour and orty-five nutes and fin lly le tithout sseing any hing. T o ble w th the achi e, so they say...,Capt in Bu bee,

Lt. hite, and Lt. Coyle, who ave weekended in P er of or s o e r ea s on , a r ba ck . The v s ay t hey went up t o buy O.D. s f o r t heofficers. .'aybe so,.., a dkerchiefs are the big items ei sent homeas presents. ost are de o parachute si k, a d many are handp intedith ir Force insigni aps of Sici , , silv r- nged birds, etc. They

are bei g Put in letters.... he cog ac hereabouts is bottled ghtenin ....

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& Sa ancrazi o

Oct ober - .

1 . Tues , t hen Tuf f St uf f co pl et ed f i f t y ci s s i on w.t h ori i al engi nes , t he( cont d) cre b oke a bot t l e of cha pa ns on her n se whael . . . . n w i t e I I

ha s co l e t ed 54. s s i on . He r c e w cl a c s t o hi p and a i a zi p l ane

for her. T ey re all p oud as punch.... ns poured aga n throughoutthe day. You c n et in so,:,e ood sack time i your tent doesn't le k...

• Hi t t.ng t he s a ck a round 9 o t c l o ck at r ht i s poor t rai ni f or ght -

clubb g ba k home. on our Characters: S Sgt, 1en P, osack,Fro t h , nneo s t . no . a "Kos ey .

" ropens i t y f or t ype r i t a rsand slit trenches. Voc bul ry li ited to,

" :hen o we go home," Can't

, etand c ld weather, nd use more blankets than anyone in the s uadron.' Nis life is ust one ro ter after another. :nows a be ut;ful girl

na r.e d Al ce , •r.ho e rr i e d o n a 7- a y f ur l o ubh . Took hi ru t hre e d y st et ther and three to come back. Ta , wears glasses, al ays s ilas,i n s p i t e o ' rk n i n t h e r de r oo . .way ob i i i n and a c co odat ng .Doesn't su ke or drink..., he battleship " irpitz" has been hi and put

ou t of co i s s i o n i n =o egi an w t er s b et s ubr, a r i ne s . I t i s n.ot

cl ear rhe t her t wa s s un b ut at l e s t i t c :n ' t be us d . I n :' us si , t :s t uat .o n i s rav e f o r t he Ger a ns . ' he re i s s t i l l a l u l n a ct i vi t yon the oltu no..., his norning t o pl es cont ni n honor guardao pos ed f f r i ends of Lt . Hov e r went t o o s o . The f l ag dra e dco f f i n wa s pl a ced i n C nt a i n Pa r s on ' s s hi p and t rans o ort ed t o Pont eO i v o . I n a 1 r e c et e rv t h er e , . et but i mpr es s i ve f une ral s e vi ce s

ere r e d by Capt . V, C. ' Fra . Tha hono r ua f i d t hr e o l l eysalute a the casket was lowered nd Lt. Hover as laid to rest....

1 , ed. S x l anes an3 t he 4 h mes s f i nal l y got of f f or It a y , sowe hatl at er t ha . t he t i.me set . The h i s now e s s i ng i t h us . . , , l s f or o

ove ent are def i ni t el y up i n t r e ai r . o shi ppi n can be s ar ed , andthere is doubt about our being a la to ake it i our vehic

le . T1.ereare n bridgea over the man rivers, all of which are roaring torrentsby now. There ia some p n for our pl nes to operate th the 12thw hi l e t he nd t r i es t o g et t o Tt al . . . . 0ur publ i c .

t y i s comi rg outin the states. Clippin s are co .

in to the boys.,.. ew addition:nner K.C. Gr ntha , in ured over Pantelleria, sent to a hospital

and tr nsferred to us. Sa s he: "Seems to be the best outfit hav -et s i nce t he o l d 71s t ba ck i n 19 1 . oy i t s ur e i s hard t o f i d a

good out it no adays."....9ack home there is an epide ic of polio....surprise: no ra n tod y..., mprassario to Stel to and friends ins aa dr on s upp l y got t o e t her a s ho Cat an a - "Si c i l i a n Var i e t i e s rr _adv rtised as guaranteein a trip tease. Perfor ers were our oldfriends o e had seen before, nlus a couple of kids ho san ,accompanied by a blind iolinist . The chorus as ne , and the mosthi de ous s e t of omen eve r f o nd on t he ong s i de o t he f oot l i ght s ,They ere a sizes and all ahapes, and all ug . Cli ax ca e when theyargued with each other over the utine. In the special bedroo scenet he bra came of f but t he gal began t o f i t be f o re he r pant i e ca efull down. e babe finally took everyth ng off, r v aled a ur-pris g unhandsome body . Capt in eri ether recei ed a sweet k ssfr a blonde singer who bounced do nto the audienee. Com ent:"It as so bad it s good." Ever one had a good ti .... tal hasde c l a ed war on Ge r .

1 , Thurs, S x re pl nes sta ed to leave for It ly but re called back becausethe w ather asn t so avorable. Pla s are ch nging entarily, andnot hi ng i s def i ni t e about t he ove . . . , ' e t he r i s cool er , d s l ®epiis good. Itts mighty easy to get i 10 or 11 hours of good sack time...,

ht nt hs ago , on Febru r 1 t h, we got on t he U. S, est Poi nt i

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p Cat ani a San Panc raz i o

Oct ober .3 •

11, hurs.San Francisco harbor and got ready to pull out.... o e of the men n the

cont d.) En neeri section fou d a Sicilian ith some Irish isk :y hich tasted

pretty good. They went on a li ttle pa ,to a restaurant where some pia o

player knew a fe A eri songs. They reported a good t e and uch

food,...Sic l , the meric n soldier is i pressed by the pe l ar local

attitude toward sex, the picturesq ness of the is nd, nd the general

pove y.,.. he roads are becomin re and ore cluttered th carts.The ount ry i s ov e run t h t hem. . . . ome of t he men hav e sor e s nappylookin rubber t pe for pl ci g their address in the pper left hand

co er of their envelopes. Co p ete ith bo b.... the .ssianfront,

the capture of paroche has been announeed as an in o ant victo y. There

is tighting .topol. h allies announce that Southern ny will

.be bo be d f r om Co r s i ca nd rd a . e r . e st e rn e r a y ,

Fo s we e

kno cked do , but e rmans l o st l f i ght e rs . The 29 i s i n product i on ,and .1

1 ee s er ce nex y ear . I t has t wo ot o r s , 4 cal t s , and hi h

peed and reat range. ade b art n and Nort A erican,

15,F i.

Thr e pl ne and four cre s of the 4 th left this afternoon to join the

1 h Bvmb p . for an ndefinite ueriod.They w h do n t i sions th

t he 1 h , and ru r has i t t hat a i s s i on was f l o n t oni ght . . . . . i' l a ns f or

mov ng are still in the air, but def n tely..... eturni fro m Via Gra de

. tonight, a bo b trailer skidded on ome rocks, ass opped by a b ing

at t he ' i de of t he hi ghway . ebb , u h , ond , and Le s t e r H wn e rin ured, not seriousl ....T Sg . ould ng retur ed fro m rest ca p outside

gi e r s , r e o t ed hav i g a good t i . . . . t , ro kof f r e t u ned f ro ho s -

pit l looki e11.... i ht nths ago at upper ti e t e U.S. . Jest

Point passed u der the olden Gate nd out into the Pacific and ourFo ei n Ser ice dditional Pay be n....Th BN I L: S . J e s G Joh n . Fro Bi r ha , aba a . Bi rm ngha

.Southern gr duate - wa ted o be a dor like his pa. Never been out of

is sack after ine o clock, but calls hi elf a light sleeper. Knom

a s " e S et " Johns o n . L s e s eve r hi ng t he o nl y n who di dn ' t

l s hi s "B" bag on pu c• o s e . P n ct ua l at mea l . Arg e s wi t h hi m. e l

out l oud - and f re ent l y a r ue hi s e l i nt o a c an ge of mi nd . The

ne one never seems to +rk any better.Started to s ke a pipe took

hi f t ee n nut e s t o ].i ht i t gav® up t he habi t i f t ee ut e s

ater because it gave hi a headache. A bition: to go hom a d r y

• so e orgia pea h.Pr s nt oc upation: wander n th u h the war, aad

keeping L w s morale up." o ee - I not going to thi k

about that anymor ."....t erb ni: The planea arrived in afternoon, tents were set up, supper

eaten. i ht m ssion sweated out, but a st d-down was anna ced. The

show was "Girl Tro uble", with Do Ameche.At a bi go game l ter,

hertea a ser ed,

Lt. ague on a couple of dollars.

lb. at. P ots o the th operated a shuttle ser ice between Sicil a Italy,tran po ting a ar men a as ch eq ipment as poasible by air, The

only unusu l incident oc rr d hen t. Peter on was delayed by hav .g

a wheel stuck n the ud, fina y took off at five o c ock, got toSan Panc azio well a ter dark. rhen he shot a red fl re, a flare path

was l t or hi ,but it went out before he could land. He went on to

Brindisi for the night.

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1 1 .Ca t i a . c 8 r a O

Oct ob er _3

16. Sat. t Gerbini : Pilots a roke at 0 ho rs by sou d ng of ho n for pro-(Cont'd) spective raid on Italy. T e off finally occ ed at 0900 hours, a d

the target as Sparanis , a s all to No th of Naples. Yeather asclear and the target as pla ly visible. No ack-ack ras encountered.sult ere good altho gh no photos xere t ken. Stand do for the

rest o the day. Three planes nd crerrs of the $7th took p rt inthe raid.... erbini res bled Hergla - a barren raste....

17. S n. . jority of the S adron per onnel have reached Italy, comi g by25, DC-3 d Savoy archetti. Captain eriwether shepherded a e p

over n one of the transporta - the onl a of transpo ation noin the squadron.... onfusion rei ns. Concensus of opinion is that no

ve xas ever more disorganized.... he ovie eq ip ent, man tents,and ost tranaportation is co in by convoy, but chairs a d tableaf rom G up me s a we r f l o i n . 'r1e hav e chai r s and t abl e s ga l or e al -ready here, but the other equip ent ill be a week in arri i ....There are some barracks here, but they are dilanidated d absolutelfilthy. hey are bein.g us d indiscri nately until Squadron areasc be arked out.... reat deal is han in in mid-air because the310 h Group is also trying to ove to thia field, and a ts us tol ave..., e are not operational -- there is no gaso ne d thereare no bombs.... ne pla e of the th went with other planes of theroup to erb ni to op rate ith the 1 h Group .... u rs floataround here in great abundance, probably because e are shut offfrom sources of news. is points to the value of a good S-2 sectionhich disse nates enough real news that rumors are uel ed . ec-

o mendation: that all S 2 section be furnished ith a good rad o .t some poi t in this period of confusion, several men n the roupth 50 issions have left for home. Eut no one yet fro the $ th.at erbi : ter ttent rain all day. "Santa Fe Trail" howed in

the evenin , alkoff, c ughl n, and senberg arrived.the Co : on oy left Catania at 110 hours nd drove alon the

co a s t Nort h t wo rds e s s i na . Ve ry mount ai nous . t 16 0 hour a ca ae nsight of Ital acro s the Str t. Country rather pretty, r th sheercl s dropping into the sea. P 1ed into ssi a at 1700 hours,gassed up, and bedded dorm for the n ght. The place as a e k frombo bing. ain fell.

18. on. ost of the Squadron went v siting today . One truck lo d o inen hitch-hiki to Lecce were surprised when they passed the Ki g of Italy andhis retinue on the high ay betxeen S Pancrazio and L cce. ll saluted.The t u de grand procession through the fl decorated streets oeveral amall to s, receivin a reat ovation f om those ho ere

aw ting the ng's arriva . The GI's were not in parade d ess - therexere coverall , khaki8, and 's -- b t no one see ed to mi.

d. It ishoped that the ki g did not object to havin his ro al thunder stolen.Fi r s t r e s s i o n o L c ce ( about 20 l e s f ro here i s t hat i t i sclean, that there re any attractive girls to be had, that the pop l-ation is reserved but urious, that pr ces are high.... nother pl nejoined those at Gerbini.... ts. hite, Bro n, Peterson, a d Sull anhave receiv d orders to go ho e. Everyone else is as ccited as theyare....

Lt . Sul van and Peterson are taking and ust be enjoy ng nex ended vacation someplace a don't yet know the good nexs. It ishoped that they rill turn up f m their gallivanting in ti e for takeoff for the U .S...,R in to ight caused the unco ortable d scoverythat our barra ks l ak .... he cho line is extre ly l ng these d ys,what with only one mess h ll or thi crowd.

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1 , l on. t Ger : :. .id t odap - t aksof f a ound noon, eat her was bad and p a e

ont'd) re ned with the r bombs. Credit as given for the raid. T roe n nesand three cre s of he 7th took art. Tar et: ro d jun ion at Ve f o.

,O the co o : U at 0 0 haurs and prepared to leave. Rode do n todoeks at Messina. actically ev y ng was busted ide open. P ll-

` d onto the barge at 0700 hours a d landed on a beach bet een Reggioand Villa S. Giovanni at Gallico, Ital . Proceeded to a o pin a ea

nd r ef o ed, t a g t he Nor t h r oad al o t he es t coas t of It al .ravelled along the ea most of the ay, see .ng e dences of bombibut ver fe ecked vehi l s. Tho a ds o kids elamor f "cigaretta"

or 'q is-Ket". People vere terribly poor - r.o retty g rls and only threefai'r•loo i g ones the whole Way. h mountains and to alle s.Road good, ith o ly a few bomb craters. Ra road enti el blo out.Bedded down in a nice grove of t_rees for the night.

19. .es,Another pl e ent to Gerbini, ma s x e have there.... apt. Parsonssa fa aec combat crevs ave r ived in the Squa on.... h s is adull period of inacti lty for us. Sa one man: " an one asks ou,e're ready to l ave this plaee.".... pl. ITelson advocates Lecce....5gt, ax Johnson got into an ar ument th some Italian sol ers, hadto have fou stitches t ken in the side of his head. "It as partlymy fault," he gr gly ad ts.... apt. Schreiner, Capt. B yless, and

ot her s had a s el l t i e cce . hei f ood bi l l as . f or el en.Rumor h it that the crews in Gerbini have m de four issions already,and th t Lt. Nowle has co pleted fifty missions. T e pla e leaving to-day ent t o r el i eve hi . . . . t s . `h .t e and Br own t r i ed t o l eave t oda ,had to wait to cle r the post.... he h mess has been set up, re-lievi the co gestion at the 8th mess so ewh t....

t Gerb n s Roger s -Iague Fonda, a1 of _f , and Gr i f f i t hs now at Ger bi .Bri fing at 0800 for raid on 'roz none, a town half way between Naples

and Rome. Takeoff at 0915. Cl ud coverage ove t get was 9 10. Rogers,O er, and Lo sen led the form tion, did a fine job of i ation. .

ter-nate target as selected (Terracina), and it could be seen through onehole in the clouda. O l the 37th-186th form tion hit the target. Onefor tion frorn the 2th bro ght the bo bs ba ; the other wa de ed

rou d a d opped th m someplace besides on the target....Som Na es

had t r oubl e wi t h bomb r a ks - - - ge s l a ded hi s pl ne .t h a " bomb, '

being u able to get rid of it. Sherbourne brou.ht i a d ne a that

hite, S lly, nd others we e lea for the U.S.... the veni , anA erican sta e show presented music, si gin a d nci .n e Cov : Started out at 0 0 hou s aft s e l sleepin and con-tinued on along the c ast, oin up the most w d roa and a ound

the shar est urves. Road a d. o e idences of ar. People still

nbelie .bly paor. 102 il vered. Camped just 3outh of Belvede e

and built s pfi e, as the ss t uck had stopped at another place.More ra .

20. ed. ts, ite and o n, 3/Sgt. Hall, and 3/Sgt. Ki singe le t for theIInited States.... he 1 7th Sq on a ea ha been assi ed, but isfilled at p esent th It l s who re slow on the o e. The osition

of the It ians as our " llies" complicates tters.... omeIta an

o icer n cce :ere bu i etty new uni orms in cont mplation of

enter the w r again.... ep are ver meti ou matters of dress.T e civilian here have di i u t recogn ai g the ericans becau ethey appear n su v ied cost e....:elson took up the a tgoing afor t e first t e.

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13 , _ _Cat an a & S P ncrazi o

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. ed . G®rb : St a d o n a d . o s t of t h boy s went t o Cat ani a .(Cont'd) Henderso ,

D . ,P terson, nd La be t arr ved."Jailbird Blues" on at

the ovies,C v : Up at 070 hou s. Kids still be ging od, sa i g the

Tedescos took it all a ay fm them .So e of ths men visited elvedere

bef o r e l ooki up t he me s s t uck 15 l e s a s t f or bre a a s t . . . . tS ate, girls were ashi cloths n a stre .... o ore v ment

today.

1, Thurs, 87th area has been to soae extent occupied. A fur her acti it ust

a ait the rrival of the convoy.... e convoy of ee s arriv d today.D vers said they had passed the other convoy 300 ilea back, thatit uld take at least t m re days for them to reac us. Several c rshad to be rep ired. Pres ric pro bably is still just autside the ou

skirts of Catan .a....talia ci il ns say they haven t had any real

cof f ee f i v e y ear a , t hat an e r s at z ha been c ade f ro ev er hi nf ro a onds t o ape s eeds . hey l ook f o r rd t o t he arr i val of f ood

from erica.They sav that the plentitude of food in icily is caused

by i ports fro A erica.... he er an club in our area h s a "Te as bar"

decorated ith urals of co pu chers, astern bel .es, and horse pistols.

.,.. k has it that t o -25's of the Tactical r Force ( n n of the1 th or 34 th) were shot do near 1aples, but might have belly-l nded

in the Naples area. No other news.25 i reported to have crashed

into t. Etn .... a k has it also that our field is g d by Ey TieA ners, an d that ol.

Tokaz has registered an objection.... ye-tieskno t o to s i A e ica and both of them are rooklyn.... . Jonesheard the tail-end of the C e1 Caravan pro ram dedicat d to the"leaderlesa" 3 h Bomb G up the "best medi m o ar ent Group .nthe world". e re due to get a bu ch o free C mels out of it. e naed

. obody in the S ad on has any .... rack go g the ounds: a Lt.kno s ever th ng aad does everything - a Capt. knows ev hin and

does nothing - a ajor knors nothing and does ever hin . .... er in"Sal" g ve the orld e ies results a d football scores the other night

, , , , A u,back home i s kno a s a "L So l er ".

Ger ni: A scheduled mission ras cancelled at the last n te.... nt he af t e rno on, Capt . oger s f ound a t r uck and o r gani zed a s r mi

.ng par y ,plus a trip o foo . ia Gra de was closed (because of difficulties

with the British authorities) and the fellows went to Nicolos a.

On t Convo : Left ca p at 1000 hou .Beautitul count y -- unt ins

and valleys.... ravelled f m west coast over the mountains at the top

of the toe vf Ita y to the east oast over rough roa s. Ca ped atTrebassacre on the coast. Diacovered an nerican citizen xho as caught

ove r he re 1 4 by t he war , ho a t ed t o et b ck .f po s s i bl e . . . .

ess truck uppe wa lou y and soms nen scraped aro nd and c oked

their own.

22. Fri. Capt. La be nd Lt. Nenderson returne f o G$rbini, h vin finished

their fi ty ssions in to ay's raid fror that base. ey report d

that both of the two lost planea we heard about were 12th p. ships.T ey also reported that the oin up there is gstti pretty ough....: e a r not re ce i i ng t he pro per nur ber o f ci garet t es , nor are t heyin the proper pro portion en they arrive. ur ci e as are q ite old,d it has been ten daya ince e h d a show.

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, •Cat ani a San ancrazi o

Oct o.ber _

" 3.

22. Fr1 . or e1 e r bai l ed out of a t her p ns t oni t . . . . he ye t T s ave(Cont ' d as uch unk as re have . here were not any here , but t hey 've ays "'

and endless bera of trucks to v cate. n elderly, so ewhat rotu d,a or gre loquacious in the 48 h mess, about the situation: "A shot e ago you were bo ing our homes, ou wo en, a d our children. Andnow we welcome you into our homes and feed you .

" .... he soldiertsatt tude is one of increasi cy icism..,. en on the li e have r .ge

dup a sho er ith hot water. There are also hot sho rrs i the f yiofficers barracks. So fine.... en li in near the .ye-tie

A crel ke them. hey visit a play cards, si , nd plav the accordion.At G r : other raid.

T keoff at 07 0. Tar et: road in the towof Vena ro , us t No t h of C pua . e at her a s good and t arget a s pl a l yisible. A/ very intense nd e tremely ac urate.

Five o the six 4 th

s hi ps re hol ed , but a got ba ck af e l y . Cagt . a b , f i ni s hi ng hi af i f t e i t h s i on , kept t he s l ug of shrapne l i n t he n v i at o r ' s o parment for a souve ir. 1 th G up h d a ounded a . ts.

Hendsraon andowle finished their ssioas.,.. eal ice cre for upper caused uitea stir a ng the 4 7th conti ent.... e ovie: " Favorite Blonde" w thob ope d adeline Carrol.

: On the road at 0 h urs. Road ver rough. Stopped forthe ni t u outside Taranto.

23. Sat. Taranto, about 30 or 4C iles from here, is a clean, modern city . tpresent, it is filled th sailors of " e ia ar n " h do not appearto have a care in the world. nu ber of shops are open. The harbor isa pleasant c sdent, uch e T poli's. The city does not appear tohav e be en bombed . . . . ourt e en l 7 ' s f rom f r i ca l anded

.h r e t hi s a t e

noon. hey w l t ke off oror ow to bo b a tareet in ustria, an air-craft Pactor n r Vie n . A total of about 2 0 hea es rom Africaw ll participate..., , Par ins supervised the blowin ot a latr .nethis a te noon. Zt was done ith a te er ine, and S , Park s sayshe gave arni tv those aro n . ut otticers in ad ac nt barracksthought e were bei bo bed hen the buildi a shook and plasterca e fal n down.

The con ussion wa felt i the 4 th area, so onecan i gine what a sleepi ma 30 feet a ay felt like doin .... heconvoy arrived.

The eneral op on was that it was an interestiourn ey "Oh, how I ish I could have had a camera" -- but that it

wa s pai d f or by a l ot of ha d ro . Vehi c l e s we re abando ned , en i neswere chan ed, and uch repair xork wa done. T e Service Group doesn'teel that o transportation il be up to a other ove....At Gerb : Sather, Egbert, Ge an , and Garrett ca e over om It l .12th ., 4 th and th went on a raid. he o ie: "Y .k on the

Road.n0 t o y : ef t ca area at 0 00 hour and by- pas sed Tara t o . Roadsa ch better. rrived San Pancrazio at 1100 hour .

2 , Sun, are co bat crews ar ved today. Th see ta'b® ri ht fr®sh out of

school.... ed Cros gave out don ts day at G oup pe tions. Di i lto tell how ma men heard the ood ne s, outside of Gr p Operations...he 1 17's took off at 0 0, wera back by 17 0 houra. e hugefo ation found th t r et ncealed by clouds. So e ettisoned the rb bs, others returned with the . hey ®ncou ter d o en y fi ters,,,barber shop has be n set up n the quadron.... o oae describea

A rica a "Te as ith Arabs"...." li arlen" is regarded a Sicil ana d Ital a as r n (Tedea o) so , but there are Ita an orda.T e f ol l o .n were set do by an It a i an of f i cer i t h ha ai d ot hi sitch®n boys:

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15.,Catania & Sa Pa cra io

O t ber 3

I V

. S . t t e l e sere uando nel f angocont d,

) otto qu l fanal Debbo co inarPresso l case a Sotto il o b ttTi sta o ad aspettar sento vacilla

II IA che stasera aspetter Che co aE t ut t o i l ondo s co rde ro Sara iCon t ® i ar l en a poi s o rr i d e pens o at eCo n t e l i ar l en A t e Li

. r l enA t e I l i ar l en

I I I 1I I0 tro batti®re Se chiudo gl occhiStasera n suonar 1 iso tuo m'app rChe volte a cor Co quella seraL voglio salu ar nel cerchio del f nal

IVddio piccinaDolce orTi portero per se preI n cuo rCon me ili rlenCon i l arl en

Transition: E ry ni ht under the street p by the pol ce statian Iait for you. his evening I look for ou. I sha l for et the world,th you, Lili rlen. T e bu ler cantt b .o taps until I shall have

. aeen ou once agai . oodbye, s ethea . I shall take ou al ays with

me n he ar t , Li l i ar l en , i en t he d s t i c s t o m boot a , s o t hat I

c n't mo ,I sh ll o on because of you, arlen, etc..... ahould

be abl e t o get a ood e r an t rans l t i on i n a f e o re mo hs . . , , a e sar e be i n f i l l ed f ro - ga l l on c: s of ga o l i ne , n abs ence o asbo sers. It' ha d work, a d the gas u t be filtered.... ines arebetter here. Someone reports gett g a fe bottles of sp rkli g Burg ady...Sta and Stripes of frica,

October 23 edition, carries a fine photo of

s 1 t h shi p d ppi n bo bs Nort h of t he Vol t ur o . . . .

At Ge rbi i : Up at 0 0 hr a . f o r a ra c . Target : Fo m a , a t o o t hecoast N . o Naples. Six planes ok off, one retu ned d let thealternate take his place.

Capt. odgers led. 7eather was clear andtarget as clearly visible, Sp ed ov®r tar et: 300 les indicated.Results: good..

A was not i tense but as accurate. the for ationca e off the target, there xas a burst of A/ near Capt, d ers ship.He atayed th the for at on at first, then fishta led and p ed out.

s l e f t prop was i nd i i ng , .ni cat i hi s l e t ot or wa s gone . He

de for the airport at Na les. It was reported later that he had tel-ephoned that he had lan ded near Na les.

25. Don. Reports drift i that Capt. odgers bel ied his sh p in , hit a hightension ire, but no on was injured. Thsy Plew back to Gerbini in atranspor . Lt. osenber,

F/0 Gr .fiths,

T/Sgt. Driscoll, an S Sg .Bi rk l ey ( s l

.ng hi s f i f t i e t h i s si on er i n hi s cr e r. . , , t he ot e rcrews f om G rbi i returned today . They were considerably i pressed

i t h t he s pi r i t n t he 12 h Group and of f er d ar s u e st i ons f ori pro ing o r o . They especi ll i

.ked the ess, the P , and the

o ie at the 1 th Group.... rindisi, about 20 or 30 ile a y, i a"goo d t o n" but i t t s t r ee t s a re a co ns t nt p rade of t a l i e r vi ee

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men . . . .t ve had l i t t l e news of t he war . u o f t i s pract i cal y25. n.(Cont d) station y. 'he ussians have taken e t pol, after savage ten-day

f i ht i , whi ch s houl d us e a Ge r a .n .t hdrawal i n t he Cr ea , open

the sea of v and the Black Sea to ussi traffic, and outflan ,

, a,,.. r has it that fields in icily are getti a nch of

l ders,ich i ht pre a e a new landing omeplace a o nd•

6, es , perat i ng f rom San pa crazi o f or t he f i rstf

tF

eZ

°one (al re t

b e

t h had as a pr nci pal t arget t he t o o

some cr - of the 8 th fro Gerbini}•d the

ffor tio

n chose the

galte

the pri ary target s obscur d by clou

nate at Terracina. sults repo ed ere ood. o ack-ack s eneounter

nd al planes returned safely. Capt. Parsons and Capt. Schreiner were

on the aid....t.

Gavi retu ned fettvoices

pare those

pwho never w t

a bulance for nt of a room ....d

to see an nart of this side o t e world a ain, but cuieter oices

ad t hat ot he r y f e el - - t hat t hey ' d rat her l i ke t o come a ek af t e r

t he a an d t r ve r s e t he i r r ut e agai . . • . ue s t s go .n o i nc l de

lante ck these days.... or has it that Congress has li ted over-

seas ser ice o 20 nths.is p bably should not be law,

t should

be a sort of po cy ( ch c be ch ged, se of e ergency). It does

cut down t he f ee n t hat u ' e a ll

an t hm

®1

k ke

s he

ar,le three fourths of the men n

for the duration....

2?, ed.Cne af the ar s shot and unded an Itali an worki i one of the

Sq ad on mess halls. ee a li ttle strange....Group Officers Club

has opened, ith cookies, local choaolate bars, wine, bourbon and loc

• The chocolate bara are ersatz, a d t ste and smell peculiar....

Captain ogera an d hie cre retur ed. ey say Lt. Rosenber d 't

dvocate bai out over ene y territory,d as a l fo t yi g the

belly landing.

2 , Thurs. l t S , Parkins and others flew tohe bod had

abe n

ltr fe

redtto th®

nderson grave. hey discovered t yi l i t a y ce et e ry .

9,g • ,

Lt. inebre er arrived th th onerations trail r a d other equip ent

v hi ch he s h®phe rded f o Cat a i a a L d n Shi p ,Tan . . . . ch nc i e nt

l arrived.... tions, i ood quantity, were distr b ted .... a n

cont i nue . a y o f t he l and g i e l ds t hi s ar ea ar ent i l y s i c

able.hey l not hold up a heav _

ly aden pl ne.

3p, Sat, S • Harry rasavich ha le ed he is the father of a boy, f rst....Th® Italian A/A g nsrs l t 0 on a flock of eese, ssi th .

31, ,Pay day today. very e needs oney....

i, a ut 75 8s from here, is

a slick-look h.

town.The 1 th A SC has sponsored nice facilities for

housi and feedi , transients.The to n has a p etty ater-fm nt,

bordereS

w .th ote s, a i e ndri8•

class iedn

ndgisgnow

subect o a

' o

h.the Squ on has been

defer ent.He's been overseas nine onths.... he general opinio is that

Italy is not as attractive ss Sicily wa .It ust be the d, which i

like glue.... gt. Copeland, o likes pie, traded the only piec he's had

for nths for a pack of ci arettes.ich shows how scarce the l tter

ha e be n.

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