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WAR DIARY
HQ. AND HQ. SQUADRON 306TH FIGHTER WING
JUNE 1944
1 June: Seven promotions of enlisted men were announced in Wing Special Orders today. They include T Sgt. John W. Stevens of A-3 Section, to master sergeant, Sgt. Norman Schneider, A-3 Section to staff sergeant, Sgt. Harold J. Davis, Inspector’s office, to staff sergeant, Cpls. Donald J. Bremer and Paul J. Fleming, Ordnance Department, to sergeant, Pvt. Chastine P. Gary, Inspector’s Office, and Pvt. Hardy H. Simmons, Transportation Department, to Corporal.
2 June: We are finally beginning to learn what the traditional “Sunny Italy” is like. The weather is getting warmer day by day, and can almost be called hot. If the heat continues to increase in intensity it will not be long until the boys from Texas and the mid-western prairie states will feel at home.
3 June: The big war against malaria is on in full force. Every means possible is being used to impress all personnel of the devastating effect of the disease upon an army. It has been brought out that malaria has defeated armies where hostile forces failed. So far, Hq. and Hq. Sq. has kept the little bug at a safe distance.
4 June:
5 June: The daily bulletin of the 38th Service Group quotes a letter from 15th Air Force discouraging the purchase of vehicles of foreign manufacture. It directs that no more foreign vehicles be purchased and/or requisitioned without approval of Air Force Headquarters.
6 June: Better late than never, Sgt. Conrad W. Catterlin of the A-2 Section is promoted to Staff Sergeant, and Cpl. William E. Wright of the A-3 Section is made Sergeant.
7 June: Major John A. Roth is relieved from assignment as Ass’t A-2, and is assigned to duty as Ass’t A-3. However, the transfer appears to be on paper only, as Major Roth continues to function as Ass’t A-2.
8 June:
9 June: Captain James T. Carroll, Wing P.R.O., is ordered to the Villaggio Mancuso Rest Camp for a period of 7 days. Capt. Carroll recently returned from a long stay in the hospital.
10 June: Lt. George Pope, Jr., the Wing’s original Weather Officer, is relieved from Wing Headquarters and is assigned to the 14th Fighter Group.
11 June:
12 June:
13 June: “Red Cross Clubmobile Party” is staged at the theater in conjuction with the Red Cross and the Special Service Office. Music, tap dancing, and a magician featured the performance, which was an all-Italian show.
14 June: A board of officers is appointed to examine and pass upon the qualifications of enlisted men and W/O’s applying for appointments as second lieutenants. The board is composed of Majors George F. Gales, Ordnance Section, Robert J. Purifoy, Adjutant, and John W. Goody, A-1. No one from Wing Headquarters qualified.
15 June: Speculation on our next move again holds the attention of Wing Personnel. With the capture of Rome and the rapid advance of Allied Armies up the Italian Peninsula, everyone is beginning to wonder “where do we go from here”.
16 June: Captain James L. Douglas, in addition to his other duties, named assistant adjutant of the Wing. Capt. Douglas is Wing Defense Officer.
17 June:
18 June: Rotation hits Wing Headquarters again. W/O Roland H. Broods of the A-1 Section is on his way back to the States.
19 June:
20 June: Captain C. Angel, the only Jewish Chaplain in the Fifteenth Air Force, visited Wing Headquarters today for the first time. Chaplain Angel held a special service in the gymnasium for the men of Jewish Faith. Before returning to Bari, his perma nent station, Chaplain Angel plans to visit as many of the Wing’s Groups as possible.
21 June:
22 June:
23 June:
24 June: Something new in the way of U.S.O. camp shows was presented last night in the theater by the Special Service Section. It was a deviation from the usual burlesque-jitterbug-slapstick variety, and offered classical and semi-classical numbers in entirety. The troop consisted of a baritone, and three young ladies, all from the States. They included a pianist, violinist and cellist. It was made clear that the show was purely an experiment, and was the first of the U.S.O. Shows to offer good music. They will be continued, it was pointed out, if they are well received by the men. If their reception here was typical, we probably will have the opportunity of hearing some more good music, a s the concert was most enthusiastically received.
25 June: Major Roth of the A-2 Section off today for a 7 day stay at the rest camp on the Isle of Capri.
26 June: Captain Butterworth of the A-2 Section, Lt. Godbey of the A-3 Section an d Lt. Kurlander of the Medical Administrative Section left yesterday for 3 days temporary duty at Rome. A system has been worked out whereby every three days three officers of the Wing are placed on temporary duty for 3 days at the Italian capital. Each group of 3 officers is from a separate unit of the Wing, and the units rotate in sending officers. By this system all officers at Wing Headquarters will, within a few weeks, have had an opportunity to visit the Eternal City.
27 June: Enlisted men are now wearing the “U.S.” metal disk on the garrison overseas cap. A memorandum from Hq. 15th A. F. is authority for the change in uniform.
28 June:
29 June: Another expedition off to Rome today, but this one was on a different type of business. Major Strozier, Captain Anderson, Captain Ferrin, all of A-3 Section, and Captain Carroll, Wing PRO, flew to Rome with 4 outstanding pilots of the Wing. The object being for these pilots to be interviewed by various war correspondents in Rome, and for them to broadcast on a program to the U. S. The three pilots were Major Herschel H. Green, 325th Fighter Group, Major Samuel J. Brown, 31st Fighter Group, Lieutenant James S. Varnell, 52nd Fighter Group, and Lieutenant Herbert B. Hatch, 1st Fighter Group.
30 June: The officers mess has a new mess officer. Lieutenant Posner has relieved Captain Alford, and has taken on the duties of Mess Officer in addition to being Town Major. Earlier in the month, Sgt. Le Pointe and Sgt. Reynolds exchanged mess jobs. Sgt. Reynolds is now mess sergeant at the officer’s mess.
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