War Diary April 1944

DATE

EVENTS

1

This was Defense Day for personnel, both officers and enlisted men, of the 47th Bomb Wing. Arms, gas masks, cartridge belts and canteens were worn from 0900 hours to 1400 hours. Shortly after 1200 hours a practice alarm was held with a gas attack condition simulated by use of smoke pots through-out the area. Gas masks were tested in a gas chamber during the morning. These activities were under the direction of Capt. Lyle W. Houghton, Wing Gas Officer, and 1st Lt. Wilhelm Davis, squadron gas adjutant. A decided morale boost was the announcement of passes caused by the institution of 3-day passes on this date. Men availing themselves of this privilege will have both billeting and messing facilities provided them in the city of Lecce. The excellent Red Cross Club there is another attraction. Facilities of the Wing Rest Camp at Santa Cesaria are also open to the men on these passes.

2

Col. Benjamin "Benn, communications officer at 15th Air Force Headquarters, was a visitor at the headquarters on this date. His purpose was to discuss communications problems with the Signals section. On this date the Wing lost one of its most popular officers to MAAF Headquarters. Maj. G. Gies R. Burton, Assistant A-1, one of the original staff officers in the Wing, was ordered to report to MAAF Headquarters, Caserta, Italy. Capt. Alfred E. Forrest was transferred from A-1 to A-1 to fill the vacancy, and Capt. George W. Heffinger was assigned from 15th AAF as Assistant Staff Officer. Capt. Heffinger comes from the Zone of Interior and an extensive tour of duty as a flying instructor. A luncheon visitor at this date was Col. F. H. Taylor, Chief of Staff, 5 th Air Force. During the afternoon he attended an interrogation of air crews from the 450th. Also down from the 15th was Col. John S. Hardy, operations and engineering officer, to discuss B-24 modifications. It was announced today that the enlisted men of the headquarters squadron are to move into pyramidal tents in the olive groves behind the present barracks area. Work is being started on foundations and concrete floors for the tents. The feeling is that the men will be far more comfortable in small units in the open air during the coming hot weather, than in the close and stuffy confines of the barracks.

3

A shift in assignments on the Staff moved Major Ernest L. Walters to Wing Adjutant and Major Edward B. S. Sullivan to Assistant Chief of Staff, A-1. Maj. Walters had previously held the Adjutant's job before being assigned A-1 duties. Smoke generators were used for the first time to screen aircraft from view. The screen was held over the base by dissemination from tanks of mining thru-out the camera hatch of a B-24. The experiment was pronounced a success.

5

On this date Col. A. H. Maxwell from 15th AAF visited Col. Rush to discuss the tactical background of the Cassino mission of 15 March 1944. 1st Lt. Lloyd A.Workman was assigned from the 734th M.P. Battalion to duty with this headquarters as Assistant Tech Inspector. This was a historic day for the 99th Bomb Group, which flew its 200th combat mission. Col. Reuben Kyle, Chief of Staff, and Col. Sam Gurney, S-3, flew down to be present at the reception for the mission and congratulate the operators, Lt. Col. Marshall R. Gray. The significance of the operating was enhanced by the presence of Brig. Gen. Cyril A. Anderson, A-3 of the 15th Air Force, who spoke absorbingly of recent developments in bombing tactics from the other side of the Pentagon. With him was Brig. Gen. Montison Gardner, commanding general of Night Piping Fields, proving grounds, who also spoke briefly on the development and use of new AAF equipment. Col. Towrey, A-2 of the 15th AAF, visited Lt. Col. Jack E. Thomas, Wing A-2, and both attended the interrogation at the 450th Group.

7

Brig. Gen. Joseph H. Atkinson, Deputy Commanding General of the 15th AAF, and for a short period CO of the 47th Wing, visited his headquarters. He went to three of the four groups. The main topic of discussion was maintenance procedure, flying and remedies. The command post (rear) of the 451st Bomb Group was closed and work begun transferring men and equipment to the Group's new location, under another wing headquarters.

8

The enlisted men's new tent area had a first inspection on this date. The area is one of the most complete by the squadron overseas. The pyramidal tents harmonize with the native Italian "trulli" stone walls and concrete floors have been laid in most cases. The tents are well dispersed throughout a large olive grove. The atmosphere is most pleasant and all agree that living conditions have been improved. The squadron has its own services right in the area, with cleaning and tailor shop and barber shop operated by Italian civilians.

10

Capt. Bryan A. Moseley, formerly with the 376th Group, was this date assigned to 47th Wing Headquarters as weather officer.

11

Lt. Col. V. L. Zoller, gunnery officer of the 15th AAF, visited the base on this date. Plans were discussed for enlarging the gunnery range installations used by Wing gunners for training.

12

On this date Col. Kyle inaugurated the first of a series of meetings to be held at the groups with personnel from the 62nd Service Group, the combat units and the Staff. The first discussion was held at the 98th Group area at Lecce, Italy. The meeting was opened by Col. Kyle and then turned over to Col. Frank A. Hills, commanding officer of the 62nd Service Group. Col. Hills emphasized the desire of his Command to work more closely with the combat units in facilitating the procurement of supplies and equipment. The meeting was then thrown into open discussion and every department in the 98th Group called upon to offer suggestions and complaints.

12

It was felt that this type of "get-together" will do much towards a smoother coordination between the supply and tactical units. 1st Lt. William W. Murray, Wing Technical Inspector, was promoted to the rank of Lt. Col. on this date. Col. Murray came to this headquarters from the veteran 62nd Fighter Group which he served as S-4.

13

Maj. Norman C. Appold, outstanding pilot and operations officer of the 376th Group reported to this headquarters for duty as Assistant A-3. Maj. Appold is a veteran of the most of the outstanding attacks from bases in Africa, and led one wave over Ploesti, Roumania, on the famous low-level attack on August 1st, 1943.

15

The Wing lost a popular officer as Maj. John T.Allan received orders to the Zone of Interior. Maj. Allan has served as Assistant A-3 Xomsay months, having come to Wing from one of the original medium bomb groups that formed the nucleus of the 12th Air Force. The enlisted men's day-room, "The 47 Club", was opened following alterations, which included adding space and renovating. The popular spot becomes available to the men of the Headquarters Squadron, providing them with a place for free hours, which is a little more than a "day-room" in the strictest sense of the word.

16

Orders were received assigning the 1052 M.P. Co. to this command. Brig. Gen. Born, A-3 of the 15th AAF, called Col. Rush to congratulate him on the success of the day's mission. The B-24's of the 47th Wing were the only bombers able to get through heavy weather to the assigned target.

17

A Red Letter Day at this Headquarters. Two officers and two enlisted men received orders for transfer to the U.S. on the rotation policy. They were Majors Bercovitz and Gruenfelder, Operations and Technical Officers, and Squadron Sgt. Maj. George Stahl and Pvt. Charles H. Warner. The second General Staff meeting was held at the 449th Group following the outline of that of the 12th, inst., at the 98th Group.

19

Work whistles at 1031S and 1245 were inaugurated in the squadron to maintain regular duty hours in the headquarters offices.

20

An Italian Variety Show with native talent drew a large attendance at the Oria Theater. Transportation was arranged.

21

Lt. Col. William C. Brush, former executive officer of the 98th Group, arrived for a short visit of duty with the headquarters before leaving for the U.S. on the rotation plan. While here, Col. Brash will supervise some of the installations in the new headquarters area, which is rapidly nearing completion. In the squadron area, much interest is centered around a tent in which a pool table had just been installed.

24

Capt. Haymon C. Bodee, personal equipment officer, left for the United Kingdom to attend a parachute school. His leaving drew murmurs of envy from Wing officers who have spent time in the U.K. A-1 offices reopened for duty assistant A-1. The first of a series of boxing matches in a full-sized regulation ring was held at the 450th Group area, with a large attendance of both officers and men from the headquarters.

27

A new medical officer reported for duty with the Squadron. He is 1st Lt. August Geldrich who takes the place of Major Schmising, home on rotation.

29

Brig. Gen. Atkinson was a luncheon visitor of Col. Rush's and remained for a short conference in the early afternoon.