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WAR DIARY
Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, 51st AAF Base Unit, APO 520. Africa and Italy
1 June 1944 There was no Squadron formation today, due to moving my new Hq. PLATFORM.
1 June 1944 Memorial Services were held for Lt. Sherburn in the Group Chapel today. The assigned spot was off limits to the Group of observers. "Lucky Strike" cigarettes were brought and left all of us in high spirits. The entire squadron gathered around graves that they attended before.
2 June 1944 Double the "roller skater was at the Special Service Theater and presented a wonderful new floor show. She had the boys calling during the entire show with her snazzy dancing and her remarks in English brought the house down.
3 June 1944 Our ball team is on a practice game due to the fact new teams have joined the league. There will be more games of nine between teams now. "Madame Curie" was shown tonight and it was an excellent show. Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon are a wonderful pair in the movie.
4 June 1944 Very quiet day in town because many of the boys had learned of the chance to go swimming near Taranto. Most of them regretted the swim because they had their Sunday concert in the town Square. The Italian people here in town seem to enjoy these concerts very much.
5 June 1944 Major Downes left the organization today for England and has overcome many of his physical shortcomings. The men had a farewell party at the Special Service Theater tonight and they put on an excellent show. The Italian students celebrated the fall of Rome by not attending school. The directors of schools in town lead the parade to Group Headquarters and later stood on the balcony with Colonel Jones while the students sang and cheered.
6 June 1944 Captain Tournan assumed command of the organization today. The G.I.s were notified at 0720 to cut material and cope to prepare vehicles. The men patiently waited till 0200 hours when it was announced "to file". Have taken over the editing of the daily news bulletin now. Everyone was excited upon hearing the news of the invasion starting.
7 June 1944 Captain Tournan held the first meeting of male officers and Group Captains and discussed the future policies of the organization and also gave instructions to all Staff. Captain Sherrod left for the 15th Air Force Rest Camp.
8 June 1944 Another festive day for the Italian people. Parades were held all day long which served to tie up traffic and gave the Military Police a hard day's work. They really go in for processions in a big way. Our ball team beat the 324th 3 to 2 in a practice game. Received four candy bars and a full carton of cigarettes in the PX. The "Tempos" came back for a visit today but had to return to the 95th General Hospital for three more days observation.
9 June 1944 Requisition was made today for an ice cream parlor in town and sent to Cairo. It will be very nice if we can obtain the establishment which would insure plenty of ice cream for this summer. General Beverly inspected the depot and found everything in tip top shape.
10 June 1944 Received letter from Air Force Service Command today notifying us to be under our new A/C by the 15th of this month. The Red Cross for the first time selection of records now. We can now hear the songs our friends have been writing about from home.
11 June 1944 Another quiet Sunday in town with everyone either swimming or attending to their letter writing. The trucks left in the morning and afternoon for the beach. Two "Teen Club Follies" teen dance was held tonight but there were not many women there.
12 June 1944 S/S Jones returned from the 95th General Hospital ready and willing for work. Another meeting was held for the 1st Sergeants and Room Captains. The Italian band played in front of the "N" Cross Club this evening.
13 June 1944 T/Sgt White and Cpl Tarloy left for the rest camp at San Spirito. Another rest day for the people in town. The Italian band marched all day long playing their limited selection of music. The ball game was very light today and many men did not receive any. Our ball team won the game with Unit G 3 to 0.
14 June 1944 Sgt Richards and Cpl Dyerson have returned to the lowest fed and are known in the town "infirmary". Captain Sherrod returned from the rest camp looking hale and hearty. Captain Connard left for the Rest Camp at Villagio Mancusa today. Squadron rating was held to discuss the War for the enlisted men.
15 June 1944 Was shocked because of the bulletin read at the theater tonight. The ball team from 85th Depot Repair Squadron 7 to 5. This news of Japan being bombed brought many heated arguments on how long Japan could hold out if we concentrated our full strength of bombers on the island.
16 June 1944 The 41st band played at the E.M.'s Club in Bari. Dancing was enjoyed by the members and their guests.
17 June 1944 Our ball team again was victorious by winning over the 14th Radar 7 to 4. There was a French "Ariosa" troupe at the Special Service Theater and they were very good.
18 June 1944 Our picnic did not materialize because of bad weather. Town was very dirty with high winds blowing all the accumulation in the streets around. It rained in the afternoon and cleared the town a little. Enlisted Men's Dance at the Red Cross Club with music furnished by the 41st band.
19 June 1944 American Pre-Fab delivered was at the Supply Service Shelter area. The Theater received repairs to enjoy it. Had our G.I. show tonight with hamburgers, potato salad, ice cream and fruit cake, french fried potatoes. "Vee" was also ice cream at noon today. All in all today's fare was very good contrasted with our rations at C Rations. Lt Beale was assigned to the unit and is now be our Squadron Adjutant. The officers and enlisted men of this squadron have gone to Section for a week to salvage Ordnance equipment.
20 June 1944 The movie this evening was very poor. Had love, laugh and music which all of the men like rather than see some sobs of war. Captain Clements, our Squadron Commander, has been to the 95th General Hospital for an examination. Lt Ernest R. Beale, Jr., was formally appointed Squadron Adjutant today in addition to his other duties.
21 June 1944 The entire building was opened up with U.S Special Liberty entertainers today. Had real Ham and french fries for chow this evening. Our ball team seems to be going very good now winning game from the 55th until 11 to 3. Captain Schmidt returned from Rest Camp with a good tan.
22 June 1944 The slot and played at General Beverly's party this evening for the members of Service and Depot Commanders. Pocket called "Patrick" with ballast shot yard as a player at Division Center in Detroit went to the states.
23 June 1944 It rained this afternoon and settled some of the dust in town and also cooled the atmosphere. All the boys are preparing for inspection tomorrow. Ball team played practice game with Liters losing the Red X to 4.
24 June 1944 Ball team plays "Red Devils" and weather forecast was lost 3 to 3. Your good record of this month is lost now with this game. All of our food tickets are called to show up for the game.
25 June 1944 A very nice day and again almost all of the men went swimming. The men are really swimming very good now and make up for the days lost during the weeks in the sun. Weekly enlisted men's dance was held in the Red Cross Club with music furnished by our band.
26 June 1944 Beat the 807th Engineers tonight by the total of 15 to 3 which caps up a little for our lost game. Many of the men are going around with greased backs suffering from too much sun yesterday. The pool tournament held at Red Cross Club and nearly all of the boys were very good. Many of our men were represented in the tournament.
27 June 1944 Jascha Heifetz the world famous violinist was at the Special Service Theater and rendered some excellent music. Chow this evening featured fish but it was not so good. His style of music was not appreciated by the men who want all kinds of jazz. Ice cream for chow tonight.
28 June 1944 The heat really came out today and we all suffered. It has been some time since we left Africa and we are not used to the hot climate in Italy and not sympathetic when an effort is extended exceeding on course martial. Organization went through the gas chamber at the airport to test out our gas gas masks.
29 June 1944 Our Volley Ball team goes to Naples for to play and returned victorious. We owe our wonderful win to the fact that we received four cans of wet American beer. "Pine to Life" was shown tonight and it brought many laughs. Good show this evening with fresh meat and potatoes and this for desert.
30 June 1944 End of another month was a day which we all welcome. Our crews with the 41st Depot Repair Squadron was called up because they had to go through the gas chamber. Myers a wounded returned for a visit today. We hoped to be discharged from the hospital tomorrow. The War Committee was on hand at pay time selling the bonds but lacked.
[Signature: Frederick K. Toulon] FREDERICK K. TOULON,
Captain, Air Corps, Unit Historian.
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