Medical History | July | September

885th BOMB. SQDN. (H) (SP) Office of the Surgeon APO 520 10 November 1944

SUBJECT: Medical History, 885th Bombardment Squadron (H) (Special), APO 520, U. S. Army.

TO : Surgeon, AAFSC/MTO, APO 528, U. S. Army.

Medical History of this unit covering period from 1 July 1944 to 30 September 1944 inclusive.
Narrative Historical Account for Period Covered.

On the 1st of July 1944 the Squadron was operating out of Blida, Algeria, flying supplies to Southern France which were dropped by parachute to the French Forces of the Interior. Both specially modified B-17 and B-24 types of aircraft were being used and all missions were flown at night. All this time most of the combat personnel joining the organization were men who had met the Medical Disposition Board and were limited to low altitude flying because of ear or sinus trouble, severe frost bite cases, and in one instance because of dental pain. Since 1 August 1944 personnel are being assigned as complete crews and only occasional Medical Disposition Board cases are assigned.

The 25th of August 1944 the Squadron moved from Blida to Maison Blanche, Algeria. All medical equipment was moved by ambulance. The airfield at Maison Blanche has many British Officers and some French base. The Squadron was housed in former French barracks except for a few tents which some of the men used as quarters. The Dispensary was also in a former French Barrack and Enlisted Men of the Medical Section slept in the same building in a room adjoining the Dispensary.

A Sick Quarters was maintained by the ATC Base Sqdn. to which we could send our patients who needed bed rest but were not ill enough to warrant sending to a hospital. The ATC also did bacteriological laboratory work and blood counts. In return for these services one Enlisted Man worked at the Sick Quarters till ATC received Medical Personnel to fill there T/O and also made all hospital runs evacuating patients, picked up laboratory reports and medications.

At the time that we were stationed in the Algiers Area the only American Medical Installation was the Central District Dispensary, MBS. Inasmuch as this was only a small Dispensary with a few beds, most of our seriously ill patients were sent to the 43rd British General Hospital (British) which was only a few kilometers away. For a time patients were sent to the 94th General Hospital (British) until arrangements were made to send all patients to the nearby RAF Hospital.

Sick call has been held in the morning from 0800 hours until all patients have been seen but patients are seen all day long and in the evening because of the irregular hours of the combat crews, armament, communication and engineering sections. No major administrative problems were encountered but there was considerable fly control necessary in the area because of many flies and open latrines used by the French Colonial Troops in the immediate vicinity. DDT spray was obtained thru Lt. Col. Pearson, MC, Assistant Surgeon of the Fifteenth Air Force, and all latrines, mess halls and the Dispensary were sprayed with excellent results. The Squadron was visited by the Base Surgeon of the Supply Division at few days previous to his visit, eight combat crews, aircraft and maintenance crews departed from Maison Blanche, Algeria for Brindisi, Italy to assist in operations in the Balkans with the general plan being that the remainder of the Squadron would follow in a few weeks. No battle casualties occurred during this period which required medical attention. Some crew members reported as missing in action during this period; two crews, twenty men lost in September 1944 but no information was obtainable as to how they went down or where. One aircraft crashed into a mountainside near the airport at Maison Blanche, Algeria while on a training flight, the cause of which was reported as pilot error. No medical reasons were found to have had any influence in causing this mishap which resulted in the loss of three men had occurred during the day.

There have been few medical problems arising among the combat crews, principally because the missions are flown at low altitude which obviates difficulties arising from the extreme cold encountered at high altitude and pressure effects of low air intake, etc., since ear troubles are minimal. Another very important aspect of this type of mission is the relative scarcity of flak as compared to the principal targets in this area which are bombed. Although missions flown are principally at night, frequently in mountainous areas where low flying is essential to secure accuracy and the often hostile lack over areas where flares, searchlights, tracer ment flying, these are at least factors which can be overcome by skill and attention whereas flying on ATA through a fiery curtain of flak leaves little but prayer to rely on to get through. Thus a man knows that by application he stands an excellent chance of finishing his tour of operations and this element of hope is an important factor in the prevention of so-called combat fatigue.

Administrative History.

On September 18, 1944, Captain William F. Meeks, M.C. reported for duty as Flight Surgeon vice Captain Philip W. Dorsey, M.C. Inasmuch as the incumbent was present for only twelve days during the period covered by this report, much of the information is second hand.

The Medical T/O is the same as reported in the previous history. The following named Enlisted Men have been promoted during this period:

William J. Fischer, ASN 36235238, to Sgt., 1 August 1944. Joseph F. Kumala, ASN 36326485, to S/Sgt., 1 September 1944. Leonard Friedlander, ASN 32685390 to Sgt., 1 September 1944.

There are still one Officer and five Enlisted Men in the Section. No special citations or awards have been received.

Environmental History.

During the last week of September reports were received that there were many cases of Bubonic Plague in the city of Algiers, Algeria. Inasmuch as the health facilities and medical care in Algiers was not well organized, it is difficult to say how many cases there were at this time but twenty six cases had definitely been discovered and four deaths from Bubonic Plague were positively confirmed in the last week of September. Algiers was placed off limits and Bubonic Plague vaccine was given at once to all members of this unit. No Cases were reported by this unit nor were there any reports of from units at Maison Blanche.

There were a great many French prostitutes in Algiers and also a large number of attractive women operating clandestinely. Naturally the venereal disease rate among these women was high.

Operational History.

Personnel cared for during period: 885th Bomb. Sqdn. (H) (SP) Det. 2677th QSS (Prov) Det. 780th M.P. Bn. (Colored)

Summary of cases requiring hospitalization or placement in quarters: For all causes the rate per 1,000 per annum for July was 795, August 518, and for September 646. Disease accounted for most of the cases and intestinal was the largest single offender. A memorandum was posted in July warning personnel of buying fresh fruits and eating them before proper washing.

Statistical Data of Historical Interest.

There are no unusual conditions nor specially interesting trends within the unit which we believe could be presented to advantage statistically.

Special Items of Historical Value.

None with this report.

WILLIAM F. MEEKS, Captain, M.C., Flight Surgeon.

Medical History July-Septmeber 1944

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