War Diary | August 1945 | 885th Bomb Squadron

Prepared by T/Sgt. Robert S. Levittan, 32297038

1 August — The new month started off quieted. A half dozen men departed for rest camp this morning on five day passes.

2 August — Squadron business still at a standstill. At night we had the usual dance at the Playhouse. Seems that the dances are not as much a success as heretofore and the rumor is that in the very near future dances will be held at the "Hangar Club" which, managed by the Red Cross, is due to open shortly.

3 August — The ping-pong experts of the organization participated in a tournament and except in one case were pretty badly beaten. Our 1st Sergeant and his partner were the only ones that held up the honor of the squadron and they beat their opponents two games out of three. The tournament was held in the Red Cross "Hangar Club" mentioned in yesterdays "communique".

4 August — Squadron personnel is shifting around. The constant transferring of personnel in and out of the organization requires the constant shifting of men for different jobs. For instance, in the personnel office, within the past two weeks there have been three different file clerks. No sooner is one trained to do a certain job when orders come through for his transfer to another unit and the Adjutant has to start shopping around for a new man to take over the slot.

5 August — Around the middle of June the organization was requested by MTO to submit a roster of personnel with over 100 points. At that time, those who were on it expected to take off for the "Promised Land" within a week or so. Well, the week stretched into almost two months and finally today another request for a similar roster was received by the squadron. Those on it, are hesitant to build up their hopes as strongly as they did in June. However, they were waiting and hoping.

6 August — The dance tonight was held at the "Hangar Club" and proved to be a lot better than those held at the "Playhouse". Certain policies are being observed which without a doubt are sound and enhance the quality of the people attending. No children or mothers are admitted. What the boys want are good-lookin' gals and that is what the Red Cross is making a determined effort to get for them. Naturally girls want to go where there are fellows or men that interest them, and what makes you. Naturally these extra people only tended to crowd the dance hall and eat most of what had been prepared. A number of the girls were not permitted to stay and had to leave with the mothers, children, etcetera. As the weeks go by these undesirables will be weeded out and those who are admitted will at least be clean and are deemed suitable for the amusement of the boys. Today Special passes which will admit them to the dances to be held in the future, Monday and Thursday are dance nights.

7 August — Nothing new today. Conversation centered mainly around the successful dance of last night.

8 August — Another list of men with under 85 points to be transferred arrived and those left in the squadron now with less than the critical score now number less than 40. Rumor is strong that the long delayed "100 point" order for shipment to the States will reach us in a matter of days.

9 August — The "Andrews Sisters" gave a wonderful performance at the "Playhouse" tonight. The expression "hanging from the rafters" turned out to be actually true. By looking up you could see the men sitting on the steel girders that support the building. And the Andrew sisters really know how to entertain. They put in a real live show in addition, with boys of the various services. Their singing leaves nothing to be desired. If possible the mob that attended would have kept them there for hours demanding encores. After the show quite a number of the boys went to the dance at the "Hangar Club" and the weeding out policy is beginning to show good results.

10 August — Flash!!! Japan asks for surrender terms. The Atomic bomb and Russia's entry into the war seem to have been too much for the Japs to take. At first the impression was that the war was over and celebrations were in order. Then the news came through that these were only preliminaries and the men quieted down somewhat. Also, to make it a double celebration for some of the boys, the orders for those men, 35 of them, with over 104 points, came through and tomorrow they leave for the repple depple for trans-shipment to the - yep, you guessed it, to the Zone of the Interior, fondly known to all and sundry as the good old USA.

11 August — Half of the 35 men with over 104 points left for the replacement depot today and a few men with under 85 points left for units located elsewhere in the Naples area. Our strength is down to slightly over 200 as compared to 250 at the beginning of the month. Rumor, rumor, rumor, about the war being over and ears are glued to the radio for final confirmation.

12 August — With the other half of the replacement depot today and in all, 70 men left for the depot. Our strength, at times is lower in strength at any time since it's activation in June of 1944. Still waiting for the United Nations declaration that the war is officially over.

13 August — Things are moving fast now and today orders arrived today to ship 16 enlisted men with from 100 to 104 points to the depot. Japan has received our terms of surrender and a radio announcement intercepted from Tokyo says that the people of Japan should prepare for a very great shock in the very near future.

14 August — A few more men were recruited to work in the personnel section. This constant shipping and receiving of men requires an awful lot of work on records, reports, etc. and the Adjutant and his staff is overloaded with work. Still waiting on the final and formal announcement of the war's end.

15 August — Today is the day. The Stars and Stripes blazoned out with the headlines "Pacific War Over" and much rejoicing went on in the squadron and all over the world. I guess "everyone" must have had whiskey. Everyone else seemed to be drinking all day and it didn't seem to die down for quite a while. Didn't even have one case of a man being brought in drunk, disorderly, or otherwise. Those persons with less than 85 points were hoping it would mean that they wouldn't get to make that "tour" of the orient. Rumors about the ultimate destination of the squadron were many but none seemed authentic. However, 22 EM with less than 85 points were transferred to other organizations so evidently business will continue at the usual rate for a time. The strength is down to under 175 and the way it looks it will go lower.

16 August — Quiet today with conversation and activity limited to war discussion, or rather end of the war discussion. At night there was the usual dance at the "Hangar Club". It is amazing how much more enjoyable the dances are now that a sort of restriction has been placed on the type of girls wanted at the dance. We have the Red Cross girls to thank for our bi-weekly dances being so much more successful of late.

17 August — We had to submit a roster today with those names of men that had over 95 points and indications are that they will depart shortly. The personnel of the organization now consists of solely those that have between 85 and 95 points. When this next group leaves those remaining with from 85 to 95 points will number less than 150.

18 August — No news yet when those with 95 points and over will leave but we are going to transfer about 50 men, formerly on duty with our armament and motor pool sections to ordnance units located in the Naples vicinity. It seems that at present there is much work to be done by ordnance units and the navy is shy figures, these men although having over 85 points, can be useful for the remainder of their stay overseas. As far as is known the transfer of these men will not interfere with the date of their going back to the states.

19 August — Sunday, and a day of relaxation since the expected orders on the ordnance men and the order on those men having over 95 points did not come through. At the "Playhouse" tonight the feature was "A Bell for Adano" a picture about a small town in Italy which was doubly appreciated by everyone since it sort of struck responsive chords.

20 August — The expected order on ordnance men came through and in all, 40 of our men were shipped out. Age points had no bearing on the personnel chosen. We were also informed that those with 99 points would be leaving shortly. The dance at the "Hangar Club" was really a small affair. About 15 Red Cross girls, who had just arrived from the USA, graced us with their presence and there were no wallflowers among them. The fellows were only too glad to have the opportunity to speak with, let alone dance with, an American girl.

21 August — The 99 pointers left today - all four of them --. The orders for those men from 95 to 98 (not in years) is expected shortly.

22 August — Strength reached a new low of 135 today. A few more men left for rest camp. The boys that have taken that 7 day tour of Switzerland return raving about the wonders and beauties of the Alp country. Must really be something and I've got my application in for a tour.

23 August — Today looked like the beginning of the end for the 885th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (Special). Verbal orders were received from the CO of the 515th Air Service Group to the effect that all officers and enlisted men with the exception of a holding cadre would be transferred to the 515th ASG and shortly afterward the unit would be disbanded. The "Hangar Club" had its usual dance and as usual it was successful. At the "Playhouse" Allen Jones, Irene Hervey, and company performed nobly for the GIs.

24 August — The expected order on those men with from 95 to 98 points was received today and 24 men were eligible. The entire enlisted personnel of the 885th moved to the 515th area which is only across the street and the morning report shows only 4 men present for duty. The mess hall served its last meal at breakfast, the motor pool turned in most of its vehicles, squadron supply is getting ready all equipment to turn over to the quartermaster, and the CO is on his last legs.

25 August — Although the men have all moved to the 515th the order is not effective until the last day of this month. A new outfit moved into the barracks originally occupied by our men. The only piece of property we are still maintaining for our use is the Adjutants office, the rooms formerly occupied by the medics, and the officers quarters.

26 August — When the army starts moving they don't fool around. A roster was submitted today with the names of those having from 90 to 95 points as they should be leaving sometime around the 1st of September.

27 August — The personnel section started to close out all records today. They, and squadron supply is all that is left of the unit and supply is practically finished. Again the dance at the "Hangar Club" and again a very good time was had by those who attended.

28 August — Not much news about the squadron. Records still being worked on by personnel. The reason the effective date of the order was made the 31st was so that the 885th could pay the men who had signable payroll over a week previously.

29 August — Another dance at the Hangar Club tonight and it was a special. Only American girls and not an Itye gal could be spotted in the entire crowd. The ratio was about 20 GIs to each girl but all those that wanted to dance or talk for awhile had the opportunity. Plenty of cutting in on the dance floor. The Red Cross girls, 65 strong, put on a show before the dance which amateurish was very entertaining.

30 August — As usual the personnel section was working on records. There are about 75 records that have to be closed as far as this organization is concerned. Reason for personnel getting such a big write-up lately in these daily bulletins is that all other sections are "finite".

31 August — All service records were finished today and forwarded to the 515th Base Services Squadron. We paid all enlisted men and that was the last official "large scale" operation of the 885th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (Special). Practically everyone expressed regrets at leaving the squadron. The boys would have very much liked to go home with the squadron as a unit. In over a year of operations many close friendships had ripened and although no tears were shed the "lumps in throats" were abundant in many a throat.

War Diary August 1945

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