31ST FIGHTER VETERANS

L/G (R) MARVIN L. MCNICKLE: Thanks for the roster & menu, also the Base & Campaign lists. (31ST during WW11) Appreciate all the information. I remember those days very well. Capt Egan took over the Sqdn shortly after the 1st of Jan I think when Maj George too the Group. I have a white stool that came from the mess hall of the 94th - used to fit under the tables. Have no idea how or when I got it! Am happy to use it almost every day. Does well in our bathroom. B/Gen John F. Egan (R) would love to have a copy of the Xmas Dinner menu I am sure. He is very active and looks good. He was a great officer. (Ed: It's in the mail.) I remember Fransetic, Lesniak, Hay, Bentley, Hayes, Lane (his son too) Marinchak, Bryan, King, Marlin, Rangel, Tucker, Carter, Elliot, Vollstedt, Bonham, Delaney, Gillitzer, Diehl, Gordon, Righetti, Quick, Rohloff, Apitz, McGillvray, Sny. Not sure about Harrington. Guess he didn't get into any trouble! John Rohloff opened an aluminum fabrication shop & I saw him several times. His wife had worked in the PX. Boy that list brings back a lot of memories. Would like to see pictures of the old gang. We had a great organization and a lot of fun.

COL (R) Joseph A. Kelly: Thank you for the letter and the 94th Squadron Christmas menu and roster. I recognize several names on the roster but only remember a few of the pilots. It was fun looking over the make up of the outfit. In the overall scheme of things, the organizations got worse as the key personnel were shredded out to make new organizations. That process continued into the war.

FRED M. DEAN: Thank you indeed for your letter of 6 Dec.. Sorry for the delay in replying. As most retirees have found, we seem to be busier and less organized than when we had full time jobs. Accolades to you for the fine job you are doing in reviving and keeping alive memories of those days when we were a real team with known mission and objectives and the energy to do something about it. In due time when I overcome lethargy, will comply with your request for somewhat of a biography and some recollections of former days. Some are still fresh in my memories - like many of those from others you have collected. As for me, health is relative, and relatively, I am healthy, having lived in South Carolina on Hilton Head Island for over twenty years. H.H. is (or was) a fascinating place - so much so that is has become too populated - but still great!

Best to you for the coming year, and to all ex-308'ers. (s) Fred Dean

COL(R) FRANK A. HILL: Thanks for the 94th Pursuit Sq, 1939 Christmas Dinner Menu. A good number of the 94th were assigned to the 31st when I joined in Dec 1940. One, Pvt.1st Class TED LEMKE, my 40-G room-mate and future Brother-in-Law, was also to go to the 31st but he was ill at the time of our graduation and was held back to the next class, then assigned to Sandy McCorkle's outfit in La. Ted was killed in action in P-40's in Iceland, summer of '43.

MERLYN D. KEMPH: I was glad to receive the menu of the 94th Christmas Dinner 1939. It brings back many memories of Selfidge Field. In 1941 June I

was discharged from the AAF to go to the Chinese AF which several others at Selfridge did. The "Tigers" had a reunion in Scottsdale AZ in May 1993 and I saw Milt Nast and William Minkel there. If you have Roy Siegert's address I would like to write to him. I am enclosing some more names and

George R. Bailey: George phoned to say "Thanks" for the 94th menu and roster of 1939. We had a long talk with a lot of memories of the 94th. George recapped his career. After serving with the Flying Tigers he reenlisted in the AAF as a M/Sgt, went to OCS and got a commission as an Eng'g Officer. During years of service he attained the rank of Col and closed out his career in 1976 as Director of Matériel at Brookley AF Base, AL. His final active duty included "closing" Brookley.

FRANK ANDERSEN (JACOBSON): Frank said in part, "Just this past Wednesday, George Bailey & his wife were our House Guests and we relived Selfridge Field days, both a little foggy in some names. Here you come along with a roster which helps so much. (We all benefited - Thanks to Don Harrington). Kemph, Rodewald, Bailey, Daube, Bonham, Quick, McKinney, Blackburn, Blackwell, and me all served together in the Flying Tigers under Gen Chennault. When they have their reunions us Selfridge guys have a Mini-reunion. Richardson & Lasonsky are there. Bonham lives close by but I haven't seen him. Pleased to find Egan and McNickle so close here in FL - perhaps I'll visit them this year. After the Flying Tigers I worked at a Texaco refinery in Westville, NJ for 32 years as a Machinist, Bldg. Trades Foreman, and Inspection Specialist. I've been here in Fl since 1984.

ROY M. SIEGERT, 12-21-93: Thanks for the 94th Sqdn info - brings back a lot of old memories. I thought S/Sgt. William Hoffman was still Mess Sgt. then. Nobody will ever forget him! PS- I live only a few miles from Vince Hammerlund.

307TH STATUS & BS BOARD

CHARLES O'ROURKE, 12-12-93: You are doing such a super job putting out "Flight-Line" I truly appreciate it! Makes me feel guilty for not contributing more toward perpetuating the distinguished record of the 31ST. As a consequence - I got out my old diary and will copy some excerpts that may be of interest.

308TH STATUS & BS BOARD

O. FRANKLIN BEUMER, 10/31/93: (In part) This to send my personal appreciation for the article recognizing our brother Herb. I know I speak for our entire family in thanking you for your excellent work. I plan to contact the others in the bibliography of your report on Herb. Also hope to meet Art Bleiler when visiting Dothan. We're hoping that things will work out for Florence & I to attend your reunion in 1944 in Oklahoma City. Enclosed are a few bucks to help in your work... we can never repay you enough!

MRS. LILLIAN BENDER, NOV 16, 1993: (From her letter) "I am sorry to have to inform you Charles L. Bender, died November 4, 1993 from 2nd by-pass heart operation complications." (Ed: "Thank You" to receive the "Flight-Line" through the generosity of the subscribers. We who served with Charles in WW11 join in our condolence to his family and pray he rests in peace.)

MRS. JEAN McLAIN, 11-10-93: Please notify everyone that former T/SGT John v. McLain died at home of a massive heart attack Oct 5, 1992. He was a proud member of the 308th and enjoyed the newsletter very much. We had a wonderful life blessed with two children. Our son is Principal of a High School at Raymore, a suburb of Kansas City.

He's been there 25 years. Our daughter has taught for 15 years in the High School here in Clinton. She teaches in the learning disability Dept. We have four grandchildren, (two boys - two girls), our pride and joy. Without all of them my life would be almost unbearable now but I enjoy my home which we bought shortly after we married in August of 1945. J. V. had been retired 9 years before his death, so we got to travel some in his retirement years. I look forward to each issue of the newsletter.

ED & EVELYN CZYZ, DEC 6, 1993: Evelyn and I are doing pretty well health wise. We had a 4-1/2 yr old great-granddaughter living with us since last April and she is keeping on our toes but is such a pleasure to have around. She stays with us because her mother has health problems, we don't know for how much longer but we love having her. We are anxiously awaiting the next reunion and we intend to make it.

HERB & BERNICE DOWLING, DEC 6 1993: Herb and I enjoy reading the Flight-Line articles. During my recent major kidney surgery I read a lot from Herb's WW11 diary. I am enclosing an uncensored letter Herb sent to me from Italy by way of M/Sgt C. W. Smith when he came back to the U.S. for OCS. I thought the happenings of war and the way he got the letter to me would be interesting. We will spend Christmas with our son and daughter and their families up north. Our other son & family are in Anchorage and we hope to visit them soon. We hope to see Don and Millie Murray while up north. I especially want to see the snow on Christmas Eve.

WILLIAM F. "BILL" SMITH, DEC 7, 1993: Enclosed is a check to keep Flight-Line coming. I look forward to each issue. It would be nice to have a P-51 at our next reunion. Maybe Bob Goebel could work out something with that Dr. Lewis and his P-51 with the 31st markings. (Ed: It would sure make a good background for some "now" photo's to compare with those from 1944.) Grace & I celebrated our 40th Wedding Anniversary last month. Both of us are looking forward to our 308th reunion next year in OKC.

JIM LOKEY, DEC 9 1993: Just a note to say all is well in the Lokey household. Expecting two of our girls (the two that were at the Dayton reunion) & their families for Christmas. Should be a lot of fun. We are looking forward to the next reunion in OKC. Keep up the good work with the newsletter.

RAY & GRACE SNYDER, DEC 10, 1993: We are both getting along about the same. I can't do much as I run out of air. The Dr. said I was doing OK. Don't know if we'll be able to make it to the OKC reunion . . would be hard on us. Here's a photo of a shower we had in Sicily. Those bare a--es belong to Ed LeClair and Jim Leister.

DON & IRIS FIROVED, 11 DEC, 1993: We were gone all summer so our mail finally caught up with us. The newsletter was already printed when I got the card about Beumer. I could not add anything except to repeat, "He was a low profile person, very quiet, and a real nice guy." We really enjoy the newsletter. . keep up the good work . . and if you need any more money just holler. We plan on being in OKC in OCT.

GLEN & MARY HOLMAN, DEC 9, 1993: Mary writes, "Happy to say Glen's eyes are better. I still do most of the driving. We had a great trip to Branson this summer on a tour bus. You'll never know how much the recent Flight-Line meant to Glen. It brought back lost of memories. We are looking forward to the summer of '94 when we expect to be in Oklahoma City. Until then, here's a check to help with Flight Line.

JIM & MARY LEISTER, DEC 22 1993: Thank you for publishing "Flight-Line", the real "life-line" of the Squadron since the war. Being a publicist for many organizations including our church, I know the time, effort & deadlines involved. We appreciate you keeping on top of things. The mailing list is a Godsend. Hope all are healthy and happy . . . Salute!

HOWARD & DORIS GANGWISH, JAN 7, 1994: Congrats on your birthday Elmer. You picked a good day. Mine's also Jan 10th. I'll be 67. It's cold here today . .but no snow on the ground. It's a big week end for us. All the kids and Grandkids home for supper Sat night and "open house" at church Sunday. There are twenty-one of us now. See you in Oct. We have received 37 Post Cards from different states so far. (s) Shorty & Doris.

DON & MILLIE MURRAY, 12-29-93: We are both OK. It's been a very busy year for Milly & I with both daughters. Elena, our oldest bought and moved to a home near Philly. Dona and family are planning to move from Delaware to Jersey around Princeton. They were here for the holidays. We hope to see everyone at OKC in October. We love "Flight-Line"

ED OLBEY, 12-28-93: I had a call from Jeff Jordan but didn't get his address & phone # . . . do you have it? (Ed: On the way) When I attended the 309th Reunion in 1989 I got Paul Pecsi's address, lost it, and recently found it again. I am enclosing a check for "Flight-Line". Keep up the good work! I contacted Jim & Jackie Carpenter about signing up for the newsletter. Said they would.

ROGER & BETTY ROBINSON, 12-16-93: Greetings. Hope to see you at our reunion next fall

WILLIAM C. WALKER, 12-17-93: We were in Albuquerque last week to visit a daughter and looked up Werner Kuhn and had a good visit, shared pictures and some memories. .

JOE SWARTZ, 12-17-93: I enjoyed Dayton and had a great time with all the buddies. my wife and five children are all doing fine and I'm enjoying retirement.

ANDREW J. VANGALIS, 12-18-93: "Hoot" Gangwish's daughter lives here and wants me to surprise him when they visit her at Christmas. Do you have a time and place for your reunion yet? (Andy doesn't subscribe to "Flight-Line") My wife was a Navy Nurse at Norman in WW11 and would like to see the place again.

PAUL PECSI, JAN 15, 1993: (Paul was surprised to get my call.) He remembered me and many others in the 308th but hasn' seen or heard from any since 1945. Paul said. "I'm doin' fine."First I worked for Burlington Truck Lines as a diesel mechanic, then I went to Eagle Supermarket. I was there ten or twelve years and then I retired in 1983. Paul said he wished he had stayed in the service, could have retired much sooner. He asked about Don Firoved, Stober, Ed LeClair, and Jim Jacobs, other names wouldn't come to him. I gave him their address and phone #. He's probably called some of you by now. Paul married right after he was discharged he married a woman with three boys who still consider Paul their "Dad." The marriage produced another son.

WORLD WAR 11 FLASHBACKS

TUNIS TELEGRAPH, MAY 10, 1943: The following articles are from a copy of the paper brought back by 308'er Herb Dowling. The paper was published by the British Army and touted as the first British paper in Tunisia. The Editor & Publisher was British Army Captain J. M Maclennan. The price: 1 franc.

The Editorial reads . . .

"This paper is a product of the hour. The hour is one of high drama. The war is still on. Relentlessly, the enemy is being pursued into the last corners of Tunisia. The end is in sight . . . the hour when the last Axis troops must perish or give in."

"These words sum up the magnitude of this victory, your victory, which is now being acclaimed by all the free peoples of the world. And rest assured that those who cherish freedom but are now slaves under Axis rule will hear of it too - - if they have not already done so - - and will draw courage from your triumph."

"And in this momentous hour which means so much, we give you the first - - and we hope it will not be the last - - issue of the *TUNIS TELEGRAPH*. Whilst the first British troops were still making their triumphant progress through the crowded town amid what must have been the greatest reception yet received by British troops in this war, work on this paper was beginning."

"One last word about our handicaps. We have a British staff - - of one. He has a lot to do. He likes doing it. But he has a lot to do. Remember, he's doing his best. Don't be too harsh at first. Later, if and when we expand, we shall revel in criticism."

"Until we have found our feet we dare not print many copies. Probably, if you buy a copy of this issue, you'd like to keep it as a souvenir. Do so by all means. But first of all pass it round your immediate circle. Point out this paragraph to them and they'll let you have it back."

"BAG"-- MAY TOTAL 120,00: British, American, and French troops continue to "clean up" the last points of enemy resistance in Tunisia. It is too early to give any reliable estimates of the "bag" either in prisoners or equipment. But already several tens of thousands of prisoners have been counted. In the Bizerta area alone 5,000 Germans surrendered unconditionally yesterday after vain attempts to escape by sea. A total of 120,000 Axis troops are faced with surrender or annihilation in the three main battle areas: the regions of Tunis, Bizerta, and Pont-du-Fahs.

These areas and Zaghouan have been 0ccuppied and "mopping up" operations are in progress to the North of these places. The air offensive - - the greatest in history - - goes on without respite by day and night. Up to yesterday 4,500 sorties had been flown over the battlefields since the opening of our offensive. In 48 hours 42 ships were sunk between Tunisia and Sicily."

REVERSED ROLES OF WAR: "Soon we'll be getting all the sleep and you'll be doing the guards." said Italian sentries to Corporal Robert Carver of Edinburgh in an enemy prisoner of war cage in Tunis." His words came true. On the day Tunis fell, 1,500 German and Italian prisoners were marched into the cage. And Cpl Carver ceased to be a prisoner and took them over as one of their guards.

HERB BEUMER WORKED ON ACHTUNG!: According to Paul Pecsi, the bi-plane trainer had a wing area needing repair after someone ground looped it on landing.. Since the wing had a wood spar and ribbing Herb was asked if he could "fix" it. He could . . . and did

A TIME TO COME CLEAN! Ray J. Snyder sent this WW11 photo of Jim Leister and "Leaky" LeClair in un-em-bare-assed enjoyment of one of our improvised showers somewhere in MTO.

Charles O'Rourke, 307th Tech Supply sent the following excerpt from his diary from our time in England.

August 19, 1942, Biggin Hill, England: Just about noon, Have been on the go since 3 AM. There is definately something cooking! Our Squadron has been on several sweeps over the Channel. I've just heard that two of our A/C are missing. Reports are coming thru regarding the success of an operation in France. We are hoping this is the long awaited 2nd front, or it may be just another raid? This is certainly a hornets nest today---A/C landing and taking off all the while. Have'nt heard how the other Squadrons are doing.

August 20, 1942, Biggin Hill: After yesterday's operation three of our A/C are missing. Reports have it Lt. Wells apparently crashed in the channel and his body washed up on the beach this AM. Two are still missing. Not sure but think our Sqdn got 3 enemy A/C. An exciting day full of suspense. A feeler for future operations? Later I learned this was the Dieppe Raid

August 24, 1942: Leave Biggin Hill and travel to the S. Coast by train to Chichester, then by truck to Merston. See Anti-aircraft guns in action against two Jerry A/C., too high to identify. Visited Chichester's Unicorn Inn for a couple pints with locals Hollie LaRonde, Steve Kubjalko, Ulla Patrick, Chet Shea, and Morrie Harris. We're in Quonset huts again like at Atcham. Merston not a good as Biggin Hill!

LeROY MARSH , 309TH, DIEPPE: Very secretively on Aug 19, 1942, the 31ST FG started its part in the Dieppe Raid. Pilots scheduled to fly, after being briefed, were locked in their quarters under guard for the night. Ground crews suspected something was up, having to arise earlier than usual, and the pilots were silent as they got to the line. The mission was to fly cover for the Canadian Forces testing Jerry's defenses across the English Channel. The me-109's and the news Focke-Wulf 190's gave a good account of themselves. Both were faster than our Spitfire V's. However, 309's Sam Junkin shot down the first Jerry by a U.S.A.A.C. pilot in the ETO. Both sides had other losses too. Junkin and others were shot down later and fished out of the Channel. Pilots and men had a healthy respect for the Jerry pilots and planes. Nevertheless, the ground forces at Dieppe were clobbered. The next day Jerry dropped leaflets on our field showing how the tanks were wiped out. It was about "His Majesty's Forces".

WE HEAD FOR N. AFRICA: LeRoy continues, Along in October we went off operations and packed everything--bikes included--into big wooden boxes, and stenciled fancy code names on just about everything. We fired twenty rounds from our Tommy guns on the range--mainly just to learn how the muzzle would rise in spite of the compensator when a burst was fired. It was our first and only firing up til then. Then, in a big formation, maybe the whole Group, we were inspected and told we were leaving England. As a parting shot some officer stepped forward and asked if anyone spoke Norwegian. No answer. Wotinell did he expect?

I think it was Bristol where we boarded the ship "Moultan" and headed up the Irish Sea. In the little sailing I've done this had to be one of the roughest stretches of sea in the world. We were quartered low near the fantail. When the bow pitched down under a head of sea--something like a submarine preparing to dive--, the screws near us came clear out of water and rattled and shook the whole ship. What play the bearings had!, or out-of-balance propellers! Then when the bow jerked up again, the stern slapped the water, loud and sharp, with another wrench and shudder felt throughout the ship. It was no landlubbers trip! We slept half doubled up (or tried to) in hammocks strung tight to the overhead deck ; ankles and necks hanging over the ends of the hammock so some guys feet were always only inches away from your face! I got woozy--most got plumb sick! Each day we rolled up the hammocks so the crew could mop down the deck with the stinkiest, most pungent disinfectant I've ever smelled. Kipp's face was a white as the pile of hammocks he sprawled on. He refused all offers to help him get topside. He could barely talk. He was one of the sickest guys I've ever seen.

The upper deck was not much better. Many guys got the GI's besides being sea-sick. A multi-holed latrine built across the deck slopped and spouted with each roll of the ship. It was smooth when we got to the Atlantic. Little did we know! We had 3 weeks to go on that boat and would have gotten off anywhere they stopped near land!

TEXT OF HERB DOWLING'S UNCENSORED LETTER TO WIFE BERNICE, NOVEMBER 1943: Well, honey, for the first time, I am able to get a letter home uncensored. Our Line Chief, Master Sgt. Smith is leaving tomorrow sometime for the States, and I'm going to have him mail this to you when he gets home. He is going to O.C.S. He's an older fellow than most here, and has about fifteen years service. He put in for O.C.S. quite a few months back, and it is just now coming up. So you can see how slow the Army works. He had to wait six months for his physical exam. They don't have a school here or in Africa."

Well, I have so much to say, I don't know how to begin. However, I'll start by saying that we are now at a drome in the town of Pomigliano, just north of Naples, right at the foot of Vesuvious. We have a concrete runway here, but the rest of the field is a mire. We've had rain & plenty of it. It is very cool here at present. I went to Castel Amore today & nearly froze. I had a three day pass to go to the Isle of Capri but spent it in Naples & surrounding towns sightseeing. It was too cold to go to Capri, and too wet. It's about 18 miles by boat & very rough seas. I may get to see it sometime in the future tho. They say it's a beautiful place. I spent most of my time in Naples. Went to some GI movies & drank a little Cognac. The cognac here is very poor. I really had a lovely three days. I got caught in a rainstorm three times (drenched) and in an air raid twice. You ought to see those Dago's run for (Al Ricovero) when the siren lets go. Boy! They really are scared. If you could see Naples, you people are surely suffering for listening to Musso's baloney. They live like animals - and will do anything for food - up to and including murder. We usually carry our guns (pistols) in a shoulder holster under our coat when venturing out at nite. I have a captured German P-38 pistol which I got at Korba in Northeast Tunisia at the end of the campaign there. Dandy gun. Shoots straight and faster than our .45.

There are some nice Italians in Naples Tho. The higher class Neopolitans are a lot like we Americans. They are very modern too. More than I ever expected them to be. But in these times the better classes suffer with the poor, who have always suffered here. They are on the streets selling everything for food or money. Heirlooms, watches, etc.. You people back home ought to get a look at Naples, & you wouldn't think of the gas rationing as such a problem.

Guess I'll tell you about it from the beginning. Well, to begin with, we came over here on boats. My particular group came on an L.C.T. a very small Landing Craft for tanks and trucks. We had four or five trucks on board, and also a Jeep & Command Car. Our essential equipment was on the trucks & we carried only our arms and emergency rations. We slept on the cold steel decks (and I mean they were cold!) Brrr! I can still feel the chill of those nites. We left for Milazzo, Sicily early in the morning. (I forget the date) Anyway we were to land at Salerno with the first wave (as usual we were in front). The beaches were supposedly cleared of mines, etc. and we were to hike to the 'drome at Monte Corvino. Well, everything went as planned - except the nite before we disembarked we were raided by air & shelled by land. Some fun! I'll never forget that nite! Here we were, just a few hundred yards off-shore and it was pitch dark. Jerry came over and dropped flares for his bombing. Every time he made a run, we all thought, "Ye Gods, this is it!" But by some miracle he always bombed some other ship. Boy! Were we scared. And nothing we could do about it either! We didn't see any hits although there were some damn good near misses! It started to get lighter & then a few 88's started to open up from the hills. Those really put the fear of Christ in a guy! You can tell where bombs are coming from, but shells - what a nite and morning. Our Navy soon took good care of them tho & we weren't bothered any more until we reached the beach. The mines were supposed to be all cleared, but Jerry had planted some wooden ones & the detonators didn't pick them up. Consequently when we stepped off those Englishmen were blown sky high, just in front of us. Well, from then on we were very careful. I think I could now walk on eggs without breaking any. We really stepped carefully. That is also a helluva' feeling. When you step on a mine you have about two seconds to take a couple of steps forward & throw yourself down. They don't go off immediately. But I think if I ever heard that plunger go in, I would be glued to the spot. We were lucky tho, there didn't seem to be any more in the vicinity. A few dead Jerries were laying about, their rifles alongside them. A group of them got hit by a shell apparently. They were a mess.

Well, we started our hike to the field, but Jerry had other ideas. He began giving us hell with his 88's & dive bombers. Our air cover just didn't seem to be in the right place at the right time. The first day was a nitemare (sic) & so were the next 10. The field was taken by us & retaken by Jerry five times before we got on it. We were dug in between the field and the beach. Between our Navy shells going over & Jerries coming back we nearly went nuts. The British also had quite a number of 5.5's behind us & Jerry was trying to get them. Consequently, his shells fell all around us. Shell fire is the worst possible thing to undergo. It's terrifying - every time one whistles, you think it has your number on it. Our Navy finally silenced the 88's but the tank's and the Infantry were still coming at us and we didn't seem to be able to hold them back. One night in particular, Jerry broke thru to within a few hundred yards of us, and we sure thought we'd have to swim for it. We took to the trenches with the infantry and were ordered to hold at all costs as our beachhead was showing signs of disintegrating. We sure were a scared bunch that nite. After all, we only had Tommy guns & what good were they against tanks? What a sweat job that nite! You've probably heard of those British Monitors?-- Well, they save our a--es that nite. They finally got the range on those tanks and blew them to hell. Jerries Infantry also politely retreated. All this time the Limey 5.5's field guns behind us were firing point blank, range 1100 yards - less than a mile. Many Christians were made that nite. You can really learn to pray in a foxhole."

"Well, for about 10 days we had very little sleep, & food was getting low also. Things sure were critical and if it weren't for the Navy holding them off we'd be back in Sicily or else dead. The Navy held them off long enough for Monty' to come up from the South with his Army- and then you should have seen those Jerries haul a--! But it was no pushover. Even after we landed our heavy equipment & tanks Jerry put up a stiff delaying fight in the hills. We were supposed to operate off Monte Corvino the seconds day, but we couldn't get on the drome for ten days. All was not easy then either. Focke-Wolf fighter-bombers came over three times a day every day, and dive-bombed & strafed us. 308 was lucky but 307 and 309 lost about ten men. There were many Jerry and Dago aircraft on the field there. That F.W. is some airplane. As good as any I've seen, I think. A real piece of work. We also did have an ME-110. A beautiful ship.

Do you know we are flying Spitfires? I've never been able to tell you. . Censorship. Our P-40's compared to Spits' - -phew! At present we have mostly Spitifre VIII's and IX's - - - - - (garbled) There is no ship except a Zero which can outmaneuver a Spit. They turn on a dime. Our American ships are all too heavy. - - Politics as usual.

We stayed at Monte Corvino for a couple of weeks and now we are at Pomigliano. We have only had one raid on the field. Anti-personnel bombs. Killed a few. Naples has been raided quite frequently, altho not for some time now. Jerries air power has shot it's bolt. We don't meet much opposition any more. We have well over a hundred victories tho. Got 28 in two days over Pantelleria. We were then at Korba." Our food is still lousy, altho tomorrow we are having turkey again. But generally it is lousy, as can be proved by the fact that about 1/3 of the men are sick in quarters - most of them with Yellow-jaundice. We've had very few cases of Malaria tho - mostly Jaundice & Dysentery. The general health of the outfit is poor, and we really should be sent somewhere where we can get a chance to build up again" - - -(remainder of letter is missing)

45TH DIV VET'S RECALL '43 CAMPAIGN TO FREE ITALY: (Excerpts from DAILY OKLAHOMAN article on 45th Div reunion at OKC Sept. 11, 1993) ...

Winston Churchill during WW11 promoted the invasion of Sicily and Italy, describing it as the "soft underbelly" of the Axis empire. But Allied troops 50 years ago learned otherwise. Some 40 veterans of the Salerno landing and Italian Campaign remembered what later became known as the "tough old gut". A review of the Italian Campaign was narrated by MG John F. Dubia, Fort Sill, OK CO. rekindling memories of the Salerno landing on Sept 9, 1943. Gen Dubia said, "the battlefields of Italy were some of the bloodiest". Dubia said 25,000 troops were lost in 21 days, many of the 45th Inf Div members who were among the first troops to land at Salerno via ship from the Mediterranean Sea. Col.(R) Odell Shaw recalled the amphibious landing at Salerno, and the sound of Allied planes droning along the beach. Some 12,000 members of the 45th landed, along with 3,000 "other" troops.

(Ed's comment: 102 of those "other troops" at that Salerno landing were from the 308th Fighter Squadron and I was their First Sergeant.)

The 36th Inf Div had landed the day before and were in trouble. The arrival of the 45th swayed the battle. Shaw said, "If it hadn't been for the 45th, we wouldn't have stayed on the beach head." Col Harry Hughes (R) 45th Div, remembers being dumped into the sea before hitting the beach at Salerno. "I'm short anyway, and it was too deep for me. I had to float on my bedroll to shallower water." "We were surrounded by German troops. We fought two days before breaking through and coming out. (Ed: I don't know where they "came out"... I remember it was ten days before we could get on Monte Corvino airfield and if was even sort of "iffy" for a few days after that!)