491stBo491st Bombardment Group (H) Ground Support Units This chapter gives a closer look at the support people who kept our planes flying under very adverse conditions. The air echelon could not have done it without them. OUR GROUND SUPPORT UNITS: The 491st Bombardment Group (H) had many supporting units which performed the great many tasks required to keep our planes in the air, flying combat missions. Fuel, bombs, ammunition, oxygen, food, etc. to name only a very few of the needs caused us to have several ground support people backing up each combat crewman. Here is a list of some of the units who supported our Group and Squadrons in England on our home base: 476th Sub Depot (Metfield) 479th Sub Depot (North Pickenham) 983rd Military Police Company (Metfield) 1261st Military Police Company (North Pickenham) 327th Station Complement (Metfield) 326th Station Complement (North Pickenham) 1802nd Ordnance S&M Company (Metfield) 1450th Ordnance S&M Company (North Pickenham) 1236th Quartermaster Company Service Group (AVN) (Metfield) 1234th Quartermaster Company Service Group (AVN) (North Pickenham) 2107th Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon (AVN) Metfield) 2108th Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon (AVN) (North Pickenham) 266th Medical Dispensary (AVN) 2973rd Finance Section (AVN) Metfield 208th Finance Section (AVN) Detachment B (North Pickenham) YOUR BOOK COMMITTEE found it difficult to obtain many experiences from these units so the following are Unit Histories from the Air Force archives at Maxwell AFB for short periods of time to give the reader some idea of the tremendous impact these people had on our ultimate successes. Most of our support units operated 24 hours a day and in troubled times, which was often in those early days, many individuals worked 24 to 72 hours without rest to make sure we could continue flying. Many of our support units had people assigned who had been in the ETO since mid-1942 and when they came home on the Queen Mary in July 1945, they had been overseas 3 years. BASE DEFENSE AT METFIELD: from Elmore “Ed” Loranger. The defense group was living in tents in the middle of the airport near an abandoned barn and in what had once been a pasture. We were there in order to prevent German paratroopers from blowing up our bombers when the invasion came. We were told that the Germans had crack paratroopers in France and Belgium just waiting for D-Day and intending to drop on airbases in England to disrupt the Allied invasion and to provide them the break they would need to counter the invasion. The objective was to disable airbases by blowing up bombers and fighters. They were well-trained and expected minimum difficulty with untrained defense personnel. In fact, they expected to do their work within 10 minutes of landing and surrender later when they had done as much damage as they could hope for. Meanwhile, we were told, base defense personnel, us, would be dead. As near as I can remember, we were put on temporary duty immediately after joining the 491st in April or early May 1944 and assigned to tents in the middle of the airport and would spend our time charging around the airbase in full battle gear learning how to jump out of a moving truck at 15 mph without breaking any bones. Naturally we expected the Germans to come at night when it would be most difficult for us to see what was going on. So whenever the air raid siren sounded, we geared up and sat in trucks waiting for crack paratroopers to drop out of the night. Along about three or so in the morning, when it became obvious that they weren’t coming that night at least, we could hit the sack. Dawn would bring the sound of mechanics warming up the aircraft and shortly the roar of the planes taking off on the nearby runways. However, it was not long before we adjusted to the noise and slept right through it all. Page 2 When I woke up to the explosion of Bad Penny crashing, I jumped out of bed to the sound of ammunition exploding and ran to the door of my tent and THERE IT WAS, a ball of flame appearing to be about ten feet away! So, like a good soldier, I put on my steel helmet and prepared to help. In my bare feet, undershorts and undershirt. We immediately went to the scene to see if there was anything we could do. (Now I was dressed properly.) Not a thing. We were standing on the burning aircraft trying to help firefighters when MPs came roaring up telling us to get the hell out of there. It seems that a similar accident a few days before at another base, had blown up while firefighting crews were doing their thing. We returned to our tents just before another thousand-pound bomb went off. Our tents were damaged and some of the landing gear of the aircraft were found even further away. In the early evening of 7/15/44, I was reading on my cot when I found myself floating through the air and suddenly dumped on the floor a couple of feet away. As I hit the ground I heard something sizzling hit about a foot from my head. It was a piece of white hot shrapnel. The bomb dump had blown up! Naturally we had to sight-see so we went over. It was just across the perimeter strip. It was rather interesting. Small bombs and ammunition here and there, were burning and exploding. We were impressed by the size of the hole where a large store of bombs had once been and then returned to our tents. In a few minutes we were ordered to help clean up the place. Smaller bombs had been broken open and lay scattered about. Two-man teams were to stack the bombs in some order. However, very quickly it became clear the fire was out of control and personnel were leaving. We regrouped in our tent area and in short order were ordered to evacuate to the barracks area at the far end of the airport. As I was leaving on my bicycle I once again started floating through the air, landing in a heap with shrapnel flying all over the place. The bomb dump had blown up again! Our tents were once more toppled and riddled. And this time, the differential of a truck landed further from the scene than was our tent. I learned then that I could run faster than I could ride a bicycle! I picked up my bike and, while running full tilt, threw it into the abandoned barn nearby. By the time the group was transferred to North Pickenham, our services were no longer needed as base defensemen and we returned to our original squadrons. But, for a while, we learned that there is nothing like being in the middle of things! I still have that piece of shrapnel that landed by my bed. Bernard Dringer writes that he was with the 326th Station Complement Squadron and worked as a Postal Clerk in the Base Post Office. He says he has more good memories of North Pickenham than bad. He still meets yearly with some of his friends from those years. 854th BS, ORDNANCE SECTION: at a pick up basketball game. Rear: L to R, Marion Kujawski, Harry Tenhundfeld, Alfred Hodges, Maclellan, George H Brown, front, L to R, Mike Samaradzia, “Rabbits” Rybinski, John Chaberek, Charles Bowen. Part of the 28-man ordnance section of the 854th Squadron. INTERESTING DUTIES from John Figal, Group Communications Officer. Our duties included many interesting things including the telephone system for the base. When secret messages were received, it was my job as decoding officer to interpret them and inform the CO. The one message that overshadows the others was the one that read: “We are now being bombarded by pilotless aircraft.” The CO told me that he knew it was coming but did not know when. One major project was the installation of the PFF Radar. Another project was the installation of the Page 3 RBR for the planes so the bombs would be released by a signal from the lead ship. I was ordered to report to Wing Headquarters with a top sergeant, a jeep and radio marker equipment. I was told that the sergeant and myself were to report to General Patton’s Headquarters in France. We were to set up a radio marker ahead of his troops! When General Johnson questioned my presence with Major Wade at the Officers’ mess table I showed him my orders. He became quite upset and called General Kepner at Division Headquarters. He was annoyed because they had bypassed wing with this order. After his conversation with General Kepner, he ordered me back to my base and to forget that Division order. I was very grateful. Another memory I have is of Col. Goff pulling a crew member out of a plane that crashed upon returning from a mission. He and one other man were able to get out before the plane exploded. Goff received a medal for his actions. 326th Station Compliments: L to R, Lloyd Shoemaker, Robert Champagne, Rex Redd, Jack Crediford, Edward Niles, not identified. Page 4 852nd ARMORERS The Training Room Bomb Sight and Auto Pilot Shop: rear L to R, Dinsmore, P Miller, Hood, Karczewski, Gerstung, Parker, Phillip AUTO PILOT SHOP-Not all identified but some are in picture above. Page 5 Turret Specialists: Oscar Gerstung, and 855th Bomb Squadron (CC) F Parkey, (AE) Jack Shall J Skorupski, (CC) W Koon Repairing A Damaged Engine: This job never ended 853rd Crew Chiefs: Rear L to R, B Bost, E Jones, with engine changes and repairs a constant necessity. H Nichols, B Hellweg, Center L to R, A Goad, A Most of our maintenance men worked very long hours Frantz, R Carr, Front L to R, C Wehunt, R Shull. keeping our planes flying. Page 6 Unloading 1,000 Pounders: Morgan, Moore, McDonnell, Wilkins, Sevilla Laverne Sevilla, Armorer CREW CHIEF: From Bill Koon, Crew Chief, 854th Squadron Looking back on my over 40 years in aircraft maintenance, I consider my most memorable experience was from March 1944 through June 1945 while serving as Crew Chief with the 491st Bomb Group. I was a 22-year old crew chief. Maintaining the aircraft required many hours, day and night, by all maintenance personnel and very frequently under very adverse conditions. We did not have shelter for our aircraft. After our Group’s first mission while performing a post-flight inspection, it was discovered that the #2 engine required replacement. My Crew and I worked all night and most of the next day removing and replacing the engine and preparing the aircraft for a test flight. The aircraft was test flown that afternoon and ready for flight the next day. On a typical mission day, the CQ would come to the hut where all the Crew Chiefs were housed and alert us several hours prior to the mission. We in turn would wake our assistants and bike to the mess hall for a very special breakfast, usually powered eggs and spam or SOS, etc. From the mess hall, we biked to the Squadron Maintenance area, performed pre-flight and ground run-up inspection, top off fuel tank and check the oil levels. The Engineer/Gunner was usually the first Crew Member to arrive and the condition of the aircraft was discussed with him. He in turn performed his inspection of the aircraft. By then the other Crew Members would start arriving, William C Koon, Crew Chief, 854th Squadron performed their required inspections, load equipment and standby for take-off instructions. Normally you could detect from their actions the type of mission being flown, by their kidding, joking or being quiet and serious. Once the aircraft were in flight, normally we would return to Squadron area until informed by the CQ that our aircraft were returning from the mission. We immediately returned to the flight line anxiously awaiting the aircraft to appear over the field, checking the markings on each aircraft for missing aircraft. I can still recall the empty feeling I had when my aircraft was not among those returning. Page 7 After the aircraft returned to the hardstand and the flight crew departed, the aircraft was thoroughly inspected for battle damage and evidence of maintenance problems. We then began the maintenance necessary to restore the aircraft to a flight safe condition. On many occasions this required working continuously, until the aircraft was ready for flight. Sometimes 24 to 36 hours at a stretch. slamming on the brakes to let the bombs slide off. Unfortunately, they were unloading the double yellow striped 500 lb. bombs and they could detonate on impact. I saw trucks, truck parts, bodies, bombs, ground, bricks, etc. all being blown skyward. I quickly shut down all 4 engines and got out of the area fast. I ran towards our hut where we had a bomb shelter. I never made the shelter before all the big explosions took place. In December 1944, during an engine replacement at night a freezing rain developed and coated both the old and new engine. We had to melt and chip the ice from the engines in order to complete the installation. I still remember some of the Flight Crews who flew missions on aircraft I crewed: Woodward, Wyatt, Diefenderfer, and Southwell. My job was made easier with a very able assistant Crew Chief, Daniel Lampros. * * * * * * IT TAKES A LOT OF TRAINING TO SERVICE A B-24: From Clarence J Leleux I enlisted in the Army Air Corps on 12/1/42 and was sent at once to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio for indoctrination. After a brief stay, I was sent to Sheppard AAB for basic training followed by aircraft engine and mechanic school. Then to Lincoln AAB for advanced training with B-24s. From San Diego it was to Karnes City, Utah for 1st phase overseas training and training in “Kill or be Killed”. Then to Wendover AAB where I joined the 448thBomb Group and was assigned to the 715th Squadron. After flight training at Wendover, we were transferred to Sioux City, Iowa for additional training. From there the flight crews were sent to Orlando and the ground crews to Fort Dix, New Jersey. As part of the ground crews, I was sent to England on the Queen Elizabeth, landing in Liverpool, England. From there we were taken by rail to our destination, Seething Air Base near Norwich, England where we joined our flight crews and aircraft when they arrived. We arrived on 12/1/43. Later I was transferred from the 448th Bomb Group to the newly arrived 491st Bomb Group at Metfield. I was assigned to the 855th Squadron. On 7/15/44, I witnessed the bomb dump explosion. I was pre- flighting my aircraft for routine maintenance when suddenly the dump began blowing up right in front of me. I had seen the armament crews emptying the bombs by backing up their trucks quickly and Ground Support: (ACC Robert Little, (CC) Dale Montross, and not identified. All with the 853rd . Joe Flagler and Joe Phillips by the War Weary P-47 that was Ken Strauss’ pride and joy to work off frustrations. 852nd Squadron: Rear L to R, Bork, Julien, Frederick, Smith, Morgan, Remiscewicz Front L to R Matus, Klimek, Berg, Burdick. Page 8 Shortly after the explosions at Metfield, we were transferred to our new base at North Pickenham. I had an eventful day, in that I was in London when VE Day was declared. What a joyous occasion for everyone. We came back to the USA on the Queen Mary, landed at New York and were given a 30-day delay en route with our next base to be McChord Field near Tacoma, Washington. The 491st was scheduled to go into B-29s and join the war in the Pacific. While there, the war with Japan ended and we were given the opportunity to be discharged. I elected to rejoin civilian life. HISTORICAL RECORD – 1450th ORDNANCE SUPPLY AND MAINTENANCE COMPANY (AVN), from archives at Maxwell AFB. 1/1/45 The beginning of another year, the 1450th is still at North Pickenham, Norfolk, England. We are still attached to the 491st Bomb Group (H). At the present time they have completed 122 missions over enemy territory. The percentage of aircraft lost by the group has been very low. Today, 40 of our planes loaded with 2,000 lb bombs left on a mission. All returned at approximately 1630. 1/2/45 This morning 50 of our planes took off long before daybreak. The mission consisted of 2,000 lb bombs. At 0930 we received a call from Downham Market stating a B-17 exploded in midair. Poriss, our CO and Kellum left on a bomb reconnaissance trip to investigate the crash. An area of several miles was scattered with pieces of the human body and parts of the airplane plus several bombs that did not explode. At 1000 our plane began to return to base. The weather was impossible to fly in. One of the planes dropped a 2,000 lb bomb on the runway due to some mechanical failure. Cawthon immediately was at the scene, defused and removed the bomb from the runway. 1/3/45 The first thing this morning, Cawthon, Jones and several of the Ammunition boys left to pick up the bombs that did not explode in the accident at Downham Market. The bombs were brought back to the base. Again we loaded our planes for a mission which consisted of 47 planes loaded with 250 lb bombs. 1/4/45 No Mission today for some unknown reason. The weather was very nice. One of our Pvts was court martialed today for being AWOL for 24 hours. He got a 30-day restriction and a $40.00 fine. AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE, ESSENTIAL TO AIR OPERATIONS. Here are the 954th Squadron Aircraft Maintenance Support personnel. The maintenance support people did a great job keeping us flying. Page 9 Historical Record 1450th Ordnance (Continued) 1/5/45 The alert crew is taking it easy again today as there is no mission. It gives them a chance to catch up on making arming wires and linking ammunition. The weather has turned very cold and damp. A number of men are bothered with colds. 1/6/45 As yet the field has not been alerted to fly. At the present time it is snowing and reminds me of Christmas back home. Today’s inspection was very good. The boys make it a habit of cleaning the barracks every Friday night. Then on Saturday morning all we have to do is dry mop the floor. 1/7/45 We have finally been alerted at 0100. 31 of our planes have been loaded with 500 lb. and 1,000 lb. bombs. At the time of the take-off one of our planes was forced down in a field between our base and Swaffham. The plane hit the ground and blew up completely destroying everything. Seconds later one of the planes was about 10 feet off the ground, just then caught the glimpse of the other plane exploding. The pilot’s mind left the controls for that second and the plane plunged to the ground. Strange as it sounds none of the Crew was even injured, the plane however is beyond use. Poriss and Skuggs removed the fuses from the bombs, a very dangerous job. A slight disturbance can very easily set the bomb off. 1/8/45 We have been alerted at 2330. Today’s mission consists of 500 lb bombs, 21 planes took off. The Automotive Section is really getting their share of the work. Due to the bad weather many of our vehicles are being wrecked. At all hours of the day and night M/Sgt Parker and T/Sgt Kolkhorst are called out to pick up some vehicles that have been run off the road or met with some other accident. 1/9/45 The entire UK has been restricted for a period of 2 days. No American is to leave his restrictive camp. The reason is to check up on the men that are AWOL. There are German spies in England wearing American Army uniforms. Within the past month there have been a number of mysterious aircraft explosions. This check up may show that they are being sabotaged by the enemy. 1/10/45 Today 53 of our planes took off loaded with 1,000 lb. bombs. We are using RDX bombs, a very sensitive explosive. There have been many accidents due to rough handling of this type of bomb. The RDX bomb is distinguished by 2 yellow stripes painted around the bomb. The weather has turned very cold and there is over an inch of snow on the ground. Very unusual weather for England. The Base CO ordered that during the night there will be a man in the top and tail turret of all our planes. This is due to concern over infiltrators in the area. 1/11/45 The snow is still falling, no mission today. T/5 Fletcher asked to be transferred from the Supply Section to the Armament Section which was done. Unfortunately, his first day was a catastrophe. He and Barnett were checking some 45 Cal revolvers turned in by the Squadrons to be cleaned. In one of the guns a shell was left in the chamber which accidentally went off. The bullet went through Fletcher’s palm and buried itself in the wall inches above Barnett’s head. Empty guns can kill people. 1/13/45 We have finally been alerted to load 19 planes with 500 lb bombs. At noon a fighter plane exploded in mid air just outside our base. Cawthon, our Ammunitions Officer and Kellum immediately checked the crash. The plane was from Botany. 1/14/45 Today we were alerted at 2330. A call came in to change the type of fuse already in the bomb and on the planes. It means unloading the planes, changing the fuse, and reloading the planes. Finally at 0730 our 33 planes took off loaded with 500 RDX bombs. A very busy day at the bomb dump today, convoy after convoy loaded with bombs, ammunition, and fins kept coming all day. The Armament Section is also on the go. They have to salvage the guns from the crashed planes. Some have to be burned off, they are twisted and torn. Our basketball team played the 854th Bomb Squadron Officers. It was a very good game, we won 42 to 28. Our highest scorers are Gentry, Sanders and Messing. 1/15/45 This morning the entire group took off on a practice mission. The ammunition boys spent the day cleaning the dump. Fin crates and the bands taken from the bombs are salvaged and reused. 1/16/45 Today we received secret orders reorganizing the 1450th Ordnance Company. The new T/O calls for 4 Officers and 74 Enlisted Men. It also calls for several more promotions which are highly deserved. As a rule there is very little rank in an Ordnance Company. All of our planes returned from today’s mission. 1/17/45 Again this morning we left on a mission. 13 of our planes loaded with 500 lb RDX high explosives took off. All returned in early part of afternoon. Page10 Historical Record 1450th Ordnance (Continued) 1/18/45 This morning the Group CO called and asked for Sgt. George Rovins. He won 2nd place in a letter writing contest on “How to Conserve Tires” conducted throughout the United Kingdom. He received a $50.00 War Bond as a prize from Major General Vaugan, Commanding General, UK base. The event took place in London. Sgt. Rovins’ picture appeared in the following day’s “Stars and Stripes”. 1/19/45 This morning our planes took off on another practice mission. At noon the weather turned very cold and windy. The planes began returning at 1400, just at that time a blinding blizzard began. One of the planes was flying too low. Evidently before he realized it the plane hit the ground, bursting into flames. The accident took place about a half a mile from the Bomb Dump. We all ran to the scene but it was impossible to save any of the Crew. In a very short time there was nothing left but the charred remains of a B-24 and its gallant Crew. In the evening we played the 852nd Squadron Enlisted men. It was a very close game with a score of 28 to 24 in our favor. 1/20/45 The mission today has been scrubbed. Weather conditions have finally cleared up rain has melted the snow only to freeze again making travel conditions almost impossible. The men up at Armament Section are out making an inspection of all firearms. Several of the organizations had their guns condemned. James Arrowood was on his way to the bomb dump driving a bomb service truck and while rounding the perimeter the truck went into a spin and turned over. Arrowood managed to stay in the cab while the truck went sliding about 30 feet along the perimeter on its side. It was fortunate that he didn’t get hurt. The vehicle was sent over to Courey’s Automotive shop. Arrowood’s driver license was taken away for a month. 1/21/45 The day dawned bright and a perfect day for a mission. Nine of our planes were loaded with 500 lb bombs and began taking off at 0800. One of the planes failed to leave the runway and came to a grinding stop over the main highway. Traffic was tied up for several hours. None of the crew were injured. Our boys returned from furlough to Ireland. According to their report it is so different than England. They actually had fresh milk and delicious steaks. Our 1st Sgt Harkins brought back quite a bit of fresh linen. We picked up a loud speaker in Kings Lynn for our day room and connected it with Messing’s radio. We now have music in the day room. 1/22/45 The weather is still very cold. At noon the boys picked up their Stars and Stripes and ventured into the day room. We are allowed to have a fire all day in the day room. The stoves in the barracks can not be started until 1730. The system works very well for the conservation of fuel. Maintenance Hangar 1/23/45 Today is Courey’s birthday. Our Automotive, Mess and Supply Officer. Ephland, our Mess Sergeant and Kontos made a lovely birthday cake. We took some pictures and after years of feuding Lee and Ephland had a picture taken together. 1/24/45 We woke up this morning to find the ground covered with snow. The mission is a “stand down” due to the sudden change in the weather. Our base was called upon to fill a certain quota of men. The infantry is very short of men. According to the order we first ask for volunteers. If we can’t get enough, the CO of the organization must do the unpleasant task of picking the number of men called for from his command. The 1450th was called upon to supply one man and PFC Arrowood signed up. That same night he had a physical and a complete show down inspection. Our basketball team played and beat the 852nd BS Officers by a score of 42 to 28. 1/25/45 Fresh eggs this morning. The entire organization was up at the mess hall at 0630. Fresh eggs in England are very few and far between and no one intends to miss them. Arrowood’s orders haven’t come through yet, but he was taken out of the organization at 0830 and sent to another site. The Army actually does things in a hurry at times. 1/26/45 On the 24th, Adams and McConnell left in a command car to Sudbury Park to pick up a Bomb Page11 Service Truck with some sort of special boom attached to the rear of the vehicle. They both returned this afternoon minus the command car. The roads were a solid glare of ice and according to their report, McConnell was rounding a bend when the vehicle went into a spin. McConnell was thrown clear and the command car came to a stop against a telephone pole. The pole was broken in two. The vehicle was somewhat banged up and had to be left at Sudbury Park. 1/27/45 Still no mission. Kolkhorst, Bevilaqua, and Chmura left on a 7-day furlough and are going to Ireland. Poriss inspected the barracks at 0930 and he approved and complimented. We played the Station Hospital basketball winning with a score of 48 to 24. At the present time our team is in 3rd place. 1/28/45 At 0230 we receive a call to load our planes. It was about 0600 when 8 planes took off on a mission. Today the 8th Air Force has a parade on schedule, celebrating 3 years in the United Kingdom. It is raining something awful therefore the parade was called off. All planes returned in late afternoon. 1/29/45 Another mission today, 32 of our planes loaded with 500 and 1,000 lb bombs took off at 0630. The entire organization had to report to the base dispensary to take a physical. If called upon again for men for the Infantry, which we undoubtedly will, we will have men ready at a moment’s notice. 1/30/45 No mission today. All our sections are caught up with their work so we were given a little time to ourselves. Our basketball team had their picture taken by the base camera man. 1/31/45 Payday once again. In the evening the day room was a very busy place. Jimmie Myers took all the gamblers. He is now prepared for his furlough which is due next week. HISTORICAL RECORD – 1261ST MILITARY POLICE COMPANY January, 1945 from Archives at Maxwell AFB. January was to prove to be one of the quietest months experienced by this organization. Company strength stood at 86 Enlisted men and 3 Officers. Vance B Dryden was promoted to Master Sergeant on 1/1/45. Darrow promoted 11 Privates to PFC taking advantage of the new rules allowing such promotions after 1 year of satisfactory service. They include: Edward W Cabener, Marvin L Kidder, Masario E Menreal, Walter A Ortiz, James E Snow, Robert J Goins, Albert W Long, James L Odom, John Reilly, Charles Wasko, and Melvin K Zimmer. On 1//25/45 our organization was called upon to furnish some men to transfer to the infantry. The following volunteered: James J Barco, Otha E Bollard, and Manuel Valdez. Barco requested a reduction in grade so he could volunteer. Illness was not great but what there was necessitated hospitalization. McLain, Warren, Long, Odom and Klemmensen were all back to duty by the end of the month. Our strength dropped to 82 men and 2 Officers by the end of the month. Donald W O'Reilly, Military Policeman, 491st BG HISTORICAL RECORD – 2107TH ENGINEER AVIATION FIRE FIGHTING PLATOON: May, 1944 The nucleus of the 2107th is around 5 men who were schooled in the US Army school for Fire-Fighters and who, at present, hold the positions of Fire Chief and Section Leaders. They are responsible for the teaching of the other 16 men in fire-fighting here in England. The Officer is the Base Fire Marshall and directs all fire operations. The amount of work required from this important unit during the month can best be covered by a slight change in an old saying, “a fireman’s work is never done”. What with inspections of all fire equipment, pumping, fire and air raid, base precautionary measures and works, were constantly “alerted”. Saving life is our primary purpose in this field of endeavor. Though there is a constant danger of exploding bombs, ammunition, gasoline or oxygen tanks, every member of this platoon knows his responsibility to the air crews and to the entire base personnel. The life risk is the highest of all ground personnel at the air base. Fire Fighting school is a most rigorous program. The handling of large oil and gasoline fires was emphasized. We were taught to enter burning aircraft and to remove “dummies” which represented unconscious crew members. Incendiary bombs were tackled under varying conditions. Ladder and Page12 Historical Record-2107th Engineer Aviation Fire Fighting Platoon: May, 1944 (Continued) hose work on a 4-floor fire tower had all accustomed to working at heights. In schooling, our new members to the “Firemen Association of the ETO”, we tried to coincide our program with the one used in the Army School. We met with great success and were able to produce a full strength platoon equal in knowledge and practice to any produced in the United States. This new unit, represented at this field, has attended 4 aircraft fires off the base since its activation, and was responsible for the complete extinguishing of a fire on a British aircraft that crashed near the field. Our fire prevention, first aid, and fire extinguisher courses have made everyone “fire conscious”. We have everything ready for the 491st first mission to the continent. Let every crew return with a feeling of complete confidence and safety for the aircraft and crew. The 217th EAFFP is on the flying line. HISTORICAL RECORD–2108th ENGINEER AVIATION FIRE FIGHT PLATOON: Dec-Jan, 45. On the 9th of December, Arnett and his crew were called to a hay-stack fire near the Base Defense Site at 2045. They extinguished the fire and then returned to the Fire Station at 2105. This was the first fire for the month of December. On the 17th of December, Edwards and Stehouwer attended the Cardox Airport Fire Fighting School to learn about the operation of the Airport Fire Truck. The 20th of December, Edwards and Brown picked up the Cardox Airport Fire Truck. The men cleaned the truck and then it was taken to 3rd Echelon for a complete check-up. Later on, the men started building a hard stand for the truck. On the 21st, the men received instructions on how to combat fires in planes with poison gas on board. Just after Christmas, during a cold spell, we had trouble with our British Crash Tenders. The men worked day and night so the equipment would not freeze. On the 26th we received a call at 1210 and advised that a plane had crashed at Shipdham. The Crash Crews arrived at the scene but were not permitted near as bombs were scattered around and the plane was a total wreck. Upon coming back from the crash, the Decontamination truck driven by Stehouwer slid on some ice and turned over. Benjamin J Morales was injured and was taken to the base hospital and then to the 281st General Hospital. The hardstand for the Cardox truck was ready on the 31st. FIRE FIGHTERS AND CRASH CREWS, ready to go when needed. Page13 HISTORICAL RECORD–2108th ENGINEER AVIATION FIRE FIGHT. PLATOON: Dec-Jan, 45. (Continued) On the first of January, the following men were promoted: Stehouwer, Spers, Brooks, Parker, MacArthur, Ray, Carlucci, Dockery, and Wallace. January was a busy month. On the 1st, one of our planes went off the runway and the nose was damaged, but no fire. Rains and his crew stood by in case there should be a fire. Later the Control Tower reported that a Mosquito Bomber had crashed near Marborough. Arnett and his crew went to the crash. Upon arriving at the scene, the National Fire Service Brigade already had the fire under control, our men stayed and helped extinguish what was left. The next morning at 0930 a B-17 crashed at Beechemwell and Rains and his crew went to the site. There was no need to use any fire- fighting equipment as the plane was scattered about and all the crew members were dead. The crash crew returned to the fire station at 1100. At 1530 there was a fire on dispersal #37 but the fire was out before the crash crew arrived. On 1/4/45, a straw stack caught fire. The men from the flare path accidently set the straw on fire with flares which they were shooting to guide our planes to the field. The fire had been going for quite some time before anyone noticed it. By the time we arrived, the fire was in full swing, and as a result the men worked in shifts all night combatting it. The next morning as the Crash Crews stood by at the Control Tower and at the end of the runway, our lead ship took off and crashed off the end of the runway near Swaffham. All crew members on the plane were killed and the plane was scattered in a thousand pieces. Day and his crew stood by the crash and used about 300 gallons of water on the scattered fires. Minutes after the first crash another plane crashed just off the end of the runway landing in a field. There was no fire but the plane was badly damaged. Rains and his crew stood by the plane for a few hours in case there should be an outbreak of fire. Later in the afternoon, members of the Platoon tore up the hay stack and extinguished the fire. Benjamin J Morales returned from the 231st General Hospital on the 7th with his arm in a sling and unable to do hard work for a few weeks. On the 9th, a call was received on a fire near the 855th Tech Supply. The fire was extinguished before the Crash Crew arrived. On the 15th a P-51 crashed 2 miles southeast of the field. Crash Crews went to the site and the Cardox Truck got stuck in the mud. Another Fire-Fighting Platoon came to the crash and put the fire out. Later in the day we were called again to the site to extinguish another fire. Up until the 19th, the men checked all equipment and made various inspections on the fire hazards on the entire base. Another plane crashed just 3⁄4 mile from the base to the west. Finn and his crew arrived at the site and extinguished the small, scattered fires. All members of the air crew were killed. On the 23rd a shack by dispersal #7 caught fire. The Fire Platoon went to the fire with the Crash Tender and the 1010 trailer Pump. They extinguished the fire. The end of January we lost 3 of our men to the infantry. They were Darrell D Gitchell, who took a voluntary reduction to Sergeant in order to go to the infantry, Andrew J Finn, another one of the original members of the Platoon, and Louis C Rains who was the first Clerk of the Platoon. They were transferred to the 12th Reinforcement Depot. In the future we are making plans with the NFS Brigade in Swaffham to demonstrate the operation and advantage of the Cardox Fire Truck. Our fire school is held every Monday and Friday for men with various organizations on the base. Extinguishers are being checked every month, and buildings and ground installations are checked frequently for fire hazards. The men in the Platoon have been building the fences and making the appearance of our area look better than ever before. Stehouwer has devised a rack for drying out our hoses which is a lot easier and quicker than our old method of hanging the hoses from the water tower to dry. The men have almost got the rack built, it is in back of our garage, it looks like a long ladder and is about 100 feet long, one end is about 1 foot off the ground and the other is 4 feet high. We can now dry, scrub, and roll our hose in a fraction of the time it took before. Page14 852nd Bomb Squadron Armament Section, Group Autopilot Shop REMEMBERING: From Marion Kujawski, 854th BS. I was originally with the 446th Bomb Group and when the 491st came over I was chosen to transfer to give the group some experienced people to start. We started in Metfield. The runways had to have the turns widened so that bombers could make the corners. It had been a fighter base. The squadrons were in a cluster except for the 853rd, I think, which was reached by actually passing through the town. There was a pub in town and obviously we went there often. The owner got to the point where he had to ration his ale so he could service the townsfolk well. When our bomb dump blew up, our hut’s floor suddenly had a crack running the length of the hut. I remember “D-DAY” as we hit the line the night before and except for meal breaks, worked for 72 hours. We often slept whenever and wherever we could while our planes were on a mission. The 100 mission party was really something. We had a blast! The beer was stored in the gym and we “found” a barrel and rolled it down to our hut. We had no spigots, so it was a non-stop flow and you had to be fast so as not to get the floor wet. I was fortunate to be in London on VE-DAY and witnessed the great celebration that day. Movement on the streets was strictly pedestrian and it could take an hour to move a block. FROM CREW CHIEF ABE KRULEWITZ: I was maintenance Crew Chief on the “Bronx Express”, the best ship in the 491st with 65 missions and 5 ME 109’s to her credit. One day the plane came back with a damaged wing tank. It was very necessary that someone get inside the wing to remove some bolts. The opening was very small and I couldn’t find a midget, so I ended up doing it myself. Everything went fine, the tank was changed and I started to come out backward. Then a problem developed. I got stuck. It was dark and cold and I was stripped to the waist. Bill O’Shaughnessy shoved some grease inside and he and I together managed to cover me pretty good. It took about an hour before I got out. This just left enough time to button the tank up and be ready for a mission. HISTORICAL RECORD – FEBRUARY 1945 – 1450TH ORDNANCE SUPPLY AND MAINTENANCE COMPANY (AVN), USA APO 558: 2/1/45: The weather here in England at the present time is very cold and damp. Each man is given a “Sulfa” pill just before eating chow in the evening. It is remarkable the way it remedied the cold situation. In fact, there hasn’t been anyone in the organization laid up with a cold. Today’s mission was scrubbed due to unfavorable weather conditions. All our sections are caught up with their work for a change. 2//1/45: Still no mission today. At noon time the boys made a dash to the bulletin board to see the changes our new T/O made. T/5 Barnett and T/5 Kellum working at the base Ordnance have been promoted to T/4. The following Automotive Repairmen have been promoted to T/5: Cavallo, Stewart, Steinke, Kottman, Broadbent, and Van Why. PFC Gentry and Loftus, Ammunition workers, have been promoted to T/5. Pvt’s Deal, Doney, Gradowski, Daszkiewicz, and Messing are now PFC. Pfc Jenkins has returned from the 231st General Hospital, and has reported back to duty at the Ammunition Dump. Page15 2/3/45: This morning at about 0130 alert crew was alerted. At 0730 our planes were taking off. The mission consists of 36 planes loaded with 500 lb bombs. T/Sgt Kalkhorst, T/5 Bevilaqua and T/5 Chmura returned after spending 7-day furlough in Ireland. Incidentally they had their first glass of fresh milk in Ireland since being overseas. T/5 Bevilaqua took along a camera and 7 rolls of film. He managed to take 3 snaps so you can imagine what kind of weather they had to put up with. Rather surprising two countries so close together, like Ireland and England and yet so different. Five more boys left on furlough headed for Scotland. Our planes returned about 1600. Men from the 479th Sub-Depot at North Pic. 2/4/45: The promotions have built the morale of the boys considerably within the past week. They now go to work with a new interest in things. It is gradually getting warmer however the ground is still covered with snow. Today, being Sunday, and all the sections are caught up with their work we were given the afternoon off. 2/5/45: Monday morning and already at 0830 a convoy of 22 trucks loaded with 500 lb bombs arrived. Due to the fact that there was no mission and the convoy was in a hurry, the bombs are being tacked in the revetments, directly off the trucks. This method of unloading bombs saves handling the same bomb over again. Our job is to see that the squadron Ordnance is well supplied with bombs, fuses, flares and ammunition. 2/6/45: The weather has finally cleared up, making it possible for our planes to take off. Today, 42 of our planes took off loaded with 1,000 lb bombs. In the afternoon our 1st Sgt left on a 48-hour pass. T/5 Chmura and PFC Deal now have charge of the Orderly Room. All of our planes returned in the early part of the afternoon. 2/7/45: No mission today. Today being Wednesday, we turn in our laundry and dry cleaning. We are permitted to send in 9 pieces of laundry each week. Payment is deducted from payroll. Sometimes we get someone else’s clothes back. S/SGT Lee has charge of the set up. 2/8/45: The weather is still preventing our planes from taking off on a mission. It, however, does not stop the endless convoys that keep coming in. The ammunition section is busy day and night. T/Sgt Skaggs or Sgt Jones, his assistant, are out at the bomb dump all hours of the night. 479th Sub-Depot at RAF North Pickenham. 2/9/45: Our base has finally broken the ice. We were alerted at 2400. AT 0630, 32 of our planes loaded with 500 lb bombs were taking off. Lt. Cawthon assumes command in the temporary absence of Capt. Poriss who is leaving for 7 days. 2/10/45: Our furlough boys have returned from Scotland, having had a wonderful time. Capt. Poriss left and he expects to go to Ireland. He also expects to spend some time with his brother who has returned from France with a bad case of “Trench Foot”. S/Sgts Lee, Marshall, Sooll, Sgt Jones and PFC Deal left for Edinburgh, Scotland. The 4 Sgts left with the intention to look after PFC Deal, nick- named “Jane” due to his being the youngest member in our organization. He’s 20. Every time he goes on a pass or furlough, he falls in love with some girl. 2/11/45: Today, Sgt Rovins, our supply clerk at Base Ordnance has been transferred in grade to HQ, 2nd Air Division. He will be working with Major Oeok, our former CO. It is surprising that our organization is merely one big happy family. Of course, there always are gripes and at times hard feelings, but when one of us gets shipped out, we always miss him. Page16 479th Sub-Depot Zagorsky 2/12/45: One of these quiet days when there isn’t very much to do. The planes have taken off on a practice mission. 1st Sgt Harkins picked up another pipe while on a pass in London. He has a special rack built next to his desk with every one of 30 pipes. He smokes them all. 2/13/45: The weather finally cleared up today, our planes took off on a practice mission. Our boys at the Armament Shop are inspecting the squadron’s guns. PFC Gradowski left on an evening pass to a nearby village called Watton. He had a rather rough time at things. Upon returning to the base the light on his bicycle went out and he left the road. He tangled with several trees and a stone fence. According to his report, after returning from the Hospital minus 3 teeth and with two black eyes, he blamed it all on the bicycle. Between you and me, it was that last beer. 2/14/45: This morning 32 of our planes took off on a mission, loaded with 1,000 lb bombs. The planes left long before sunrise. Undoubtedly today’s mission is deep into Germany. They returned late in the afternoon. Two of our planes were forced to land at an emergency strip somewhere in France. Since we have taken France and repaired the airfields used by the Germans, many of our aircraft have been saved by landing on the continent. 2/15/45: Again this morning 32 of our planes left on a mission. T/Sgt Kolkhorst left on TD for a period of one day at High Wycombe which is near London. He had to deliver a command car to some Headquarters Squadron. At 1630 all of the planes returned to camp. T/5 Estes, while working at the bomb dump removing the shipping bands from the bombs, got a nasty slash across his palm. Sgt Jones took him to the station hospital where it took 4 stitches to close the wound. 2/16/45: Today 24 of our planes took off loaded with 500 lb bombs. We have finally got around to the job of painting the orderly room. 1st Sgt Harkins and T/5 Van Why are doing the job over night. The top half is to be white and the furniture and bottom part is to be blue. PFC Walter Sooll, a brother of S/Sgt Paul Sooll, one of our best Automotive repairmen, has been assigned to our organization. PFC Sooll is an ex-infantry man carried on our morning report as limited assignment. He fought in North Africa, in the invasion of Italy, and then in France. Due to a bad case of malaria, he was evacuated from the front lines. He was awarded 3 Bronze Stars. 2/17/45: Again this morning our planes took off on a mission. Nine of the planes took off loaded with 500 lb and 1,000 lb bombs. Being Saturday, the scheduled inspection was carried out. The barracks and area was very good. The Orderly Room is new and very nice, strictly business. Our motto is “A place for everything and everything in its place”. Our Boys returned from furlough. The 4-bay MT Shed Bldg 53, to AM Dwg 12775-41 at North Pickenham Page17 Yes, just as I had predicted 7 days ago, PFC Deal (Jane) is in love again. The reunion of the Sooll brothers took place. Must be nice being in the same organization with your brother. Especially after not seeing each other for 3 years. They are to work together up at the Automotive Section. PFC Gibbs having a bad cold went on sick call and was kept in quarters. 2/18/45: One of those unpredictable days we have been alerted and the planes have been loaded, however the mission was scrubbed. Once again, we have been called upon to fill a quota of 3 men, for the Infantry Reinforcement Plan. It is a very difficult task to perform after having the men in the organization for some time. However, this is the army and there is a war going on. The 3 men are PFCs Carbone, Gradowski and Byrem. All good boys and needed at their respective section but someone had to go. It has stopped raining and the weather is trying to clear up. 2/19/45: This morning 9 of our planes took off loaded with chemical bombs. All the sections are taking things easy. After noon formation, several of the boys were down at the site to more or less police the area. 2/20/45: No mission today, although the weather is not bad. PFC Sooll has adapted himself very nicely with the Automotive Section. If he is like his brother, we have a very good man in the organization. 2/21/45 One of those damp, cloudy days. PFC Gibbs returned from the station hospital. 2/22/45: This morning 32 of our planes took off on a mission over Germany. They were loaded with 500 lb RDX bombs. The boys waiting to leave for the Infantry are still here. Of course, they have been relieved of duty and allowed to be on pass until further notice. The planes began returning at 1600, their mission completed. 2/23/45: We have been alerted to load at 0100. At 0530, 35 of our planes were loaded with 1,000 lb bombs and waiting to take off. The boys going to the Infantry are leaving tomorrow. Several of the boys came to the Orderly Room and suggested a farewell party. T/5 Chmura collected a half crown from each of the boys in the organization, went over to Station Compliment and got a keg of ale. T/5 Kontos, one of our cooks, arranged to have sandwiches for the boys. Our planes returned late in the afternoon. Unfortunately, we lost a ship on today’s mission. Our party got underway at 1900, there was plenty of beer and sandwiches for everyone. 2/24/45: The Alert Crew has been alerted once again. Today, 11 of our planes took off. The Ammunition Section has a big job on hand to perform. All bombs must be removed from the revetments. A company of Engineers are cementing the base revetments. After one year of rough wear and tear, the original layer of cement has been pretty well broken up. Capt. Poriss made a close inspection this morning. PFC Messing was restricted for 2 days for having a dirty area. PVT Kraus also signed the 104th for having dirty shoes displayed under his bunk. He has been restricted for 3 days. All our planes returned. Our 4 men have returned from furlough. 2/25/45: Once again 32 of our planes left on a mission. This morning 15 extra men from either sections were sent to the bomb dump, to help remove the bombs. Dinner is served at 1100 and today being Sunday, we got a treat. The KPs made it known that roast turkey is being served for dinner. At 1030 there was a chow line started. In the evening Sgt Jones and several of the boys had to go out to the bomb dump and unload a convoy of 500 lb bombs. 2/26/45: Today, 30 of our planes took off at 0630 loaded with 1,000 lb bombs. The boys scheduled to go to the Infantry have left the base this morning, they have been shipped to the 12th Reinforcement Depot. T/4 Manwell has left to attend a 2-week course on Bomb Reconnaissance School. T/5 Broadbent broke out with a bad case of hives or something very similar to that. Again today one of our planes was shot down over enemy territory, that makes 2 this month. 2/27/45: We have been having lovely weather the past 2 weeks and our planes have been out on missions every day. This morning 28 of our planes took off at 0630. Today’s load was 1,000 lb bombs. At noon, T/5 Savale asked Capt. Poriss for permission to marry an English girl. The girl is from Wiebech, a small town about 30 miles away. Our CO has given his consent allowing the marriage to take place. All the planes returned from today’s mission. 2/28/45: This morning again our planes took off loaded with 1,000 lb bombs, headed for Germany. How a country can hold up under such a terrific pounding is beyond my comprehension. In the day time the American planes from England and Italy pound them. At night, the RAF bombs them. Today is the day Uncle Sam pays off. The boys are being paid by Poriss. Each man has contributed 5 shillings to help finance putting seats in the post theater. Page18 Personnel of the 491st Bomb Group with ground support vehicles, including trucks, ambulances and a Celtrac wait in front of the control tower at Metfield 236th QUARERMASTER COMPANY SERVICE GROUP (AVN): The following information and history contains facts from 1st May, 1944 to 31st May, 1944: 1. Total strength on 1st May 1944 was 3 Officers and 47 Enlisted men. 2. On the 9th we lost Glen O Hansen, 37141074, to the 1st Photo Lab, Sec AAF 465. 3. Wayne S Foster and Thomas F Drost were put on temporary duty to the MP Alert Detachment for the purpose of station defense. This special work began 22 May, 1944 and will continue until further notice. 4. The following promotions came out on SO #14, 491st Bomb Group dated 8 May: Allan F Bloxsom, John A Denza, and Ted L Ford promoted to T/5. Howard R Blight, Clifton C Brown, Richard E Cook, Harold D Corbett, Charles A Gaudet, Clarance A Glas, Bob A Morris, Douglas C Pece, and LaPone W Schoeppe promoted to PFC. 5. Two ME were transferred on the 12th. Clayton E Powers and Walter A Johnson. 6. Our Company softball team won 2 games and lost 2. 7. Due to the ingenuity of Harry M Smith, he procured a radio and speaker which has been installed in the 2 QM barracks. 8. Stoaks our Company Commander has installed an interoffice buzzer system. Durkin did the wiring. 9. To bring our company up to full strength we received 12 EM. The total strength is 3 Officers and 54 Enlisted Men. 1234th QUARTERMASTER COMPANY SERVICE GROUP (AVN): It took many different support groups to keep our bombers in the air. Quartermasters were a big part of that effort. This is the actual written history from the period of 1/15/45 through 2/15/45. Some of the writing was difficult to decipher so you may detect some errors. This was an unprecedented month in variation and multiplicity of Quartermaster Activities. Nearly every department shared in these additional tasks. One job none of us liked was the work connected with the original transfer of personnel from the air to the ground forces. QM was required to equip the infantry bound men in accordance with the provisions of TM 21 and with only 12 hours notice at that. This required dispatching several vehicles to a similar number of Depots late one afternoon, sorting the equipment that night and making the actual issue very early the next morning. It was a typical English fogbound night and for the life of us we can’t understand how little Wily Williams found his way home from C-2. Under the supervision of Mason, both the Property Office and Property Warehouse worked without respite ‘till 0200 the next morning. The work of both Larry Carwile and Clifton Smith was so efficient as to deserve special mention here. In compliance with a TWX from 2nd Air Division all excess stoves, oil, heating, domestic type, were picked up and returned to an RAF Maintenance Unit for shipment to the Continent where they were sorely needed. From a total of 7 on the station, 4 were returned. This job was under the supervision of Okie Harness, Property Warehouse Foreman. It’s a real pleasure to pass these along to the boys over there. Page19 CHECKING OUT THE CHUTE: One of our parachute riggers had to prove that he did good work. He jumped from over North Pickenham and had a good landing. Acting under orders from 2nd Air Division Quartermaster, Mathis, a number of Officer’s beds, mattresses, and other property were secured from a nearby recently abandoned Army Air Forces Gunnery School. Mason, Sutter, Jim Harssema, Bud Davison and Frenchy Peugeot made the trip and brought home the bacon. The on again off again sale of clothing to Officers, a subject of much discussion and many editorials in Stars and Stripes has had its face lifted again. All Officers in the UK will receive a ration card similar to the PX ration card, but “King Size”. Ground Officers formerly barred from the purchase of clothing due to short supplies being available to combat officers only (and rightly so) can once again blossom forth in the regalia of the best dressed officers of this or any other way. Naturally, the ration cards are issued by the Quartermaster Corps, the world’s largest “dealer in clothing”, who then delegates the individual issue to the Station Quartermaster. Officers are cautioned to be sure their clothing ration cards are for male officers, as Nurses and WAC officers receive a similar ration card but some of the items might be peculiar to male officers. This was handled directly by Sells with the assistance of the two lesser members of the HQ Office Larry Freshwater and Walt Graulich. Under Jim Brislin the Fuel Depot had its busiest month yet. Along with frigid weather which upped consumption of coal and coke considerably, 150 tons of coal and 175 tons of coke were received and dispatched respectively. The coal was loaded, transported and dumped under the watchful eye of Ed Sutter and was received from the aforementioned defunct AAF Gunnery School. Incidentally, this was accomplished with the aid of a courts martial, to wit: One of the drivers inadvertently drove off the hard stand and was fined a trifling sum of money. The coke was distributed, 100 tons to AAF 145, 50 tons to AAF 1436 and 25 tons to AAF 147. It would seem the 1234th has the additional job of keeping every other Heavy Bomber Base in the Division “warm and comfy”. The high degree of efficiency exhibited by our coal detail is the result of close cooperation between the “Regulars”: Jim Brislin, Fred Baca, Cury Alters, and Red Hankey and the “Yannigans” attached for Special Duty from the various squadrons. Our laundry contractors, “The Little Laundries” (a misnomer) of Harrow, Middlesex sent their Messers George and Loper to the station during late January. The primary purpose of this visit was to study problems concerning improvement of laundry service, the rectifying of shortages, etc., from the viewpoint of an operational AAFB. The results thus far have proved mutually beneficial. Of late, numerous mechanical breakdowns have marred the competent operation of the QM Petrol Pump. Our heartfelt sympathies to Tony Leketa and Blue Barron. At first several leaks near the joint of the hose and pump curtailed its efficiency and now woe unto them the gauge that records the number of gallons issued has ceased to function. This necessitates a system of guess work aptly named “You name it and it’s yours.” Page20 Staff-Sergeant Lawrence Smith of the 491st Bomb Group works on a B-17. It was 0430 and the phone was hardly audible against the background of B-24s warming up for a mission to Germany. The message was terse: “Sells we want XXX cases of K rations loaded on XXX planes prior to 0600. Shawn wakes Mike Lamastro, Howie Pretzer, Wiley Williams, Bill Setterbo and Boyd Peugeot and it’s as good as done. The loading of precious food for our fliers is probably the most glamorous, if not important Quartermaster task. How we did it is amazing. Yes that’s right – Howie did it. Howard Pretzer and the amazing part being the salvage and reclamation of 130 # of film, 6,328 # of cardboard, 560 # of dry batteries, 2,700 # of rubber, 1,904 tons of ferrous metal and 266 gallons of MT Lubrication oil. No matter how you add it up, It spells “victory through conservation.” Bama Lynn, “Lover” Sands and Ripper Roseman and Chuck Norton complete the Salvage Dept’s roster. Keep up the splendid work boys! Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Take note of the following promotions, collect your seegar, mug of bitters and start sweating out the T.O. again, (or yet), Al (Portland kid) Cromwell, 2nd Lt to 1st Lt, Skin Roseman-Pvt to PFC and Jim (Hog Gut) Smith-Pvt to PFC. Congrats and may you all be Colonels and T/Sgts. Come on Joe Fabian. The first call for Infantry Reinforcements saw four 1234th volunteers for transfer to the ground forces. Joe Jackson, Georgia Smith, Ripper Rossman and Limey Porter. Of those, only Jackson and Porter were selected to go. It was hard to say goodbye and we’ll never forget either of you. Good luck and – good hunting fellows. During early February a call for transfer of Officers from the Air to Ground Forces for Infantry training saw Ray Mason, likeable Property Officer volunteering his services. The qualification stipulated 1st or 2nd Lts physically fit and otherwise qualified. We feel his loss will be irreplaceable and should he leave we know the company joins with us in wishing him all the best. We are proud to know that our CO, Albert Sells has been elected President of the Board of Governors or AAF Station 143. It is a signal honor for all of us and surely demonstrates the confidence of the Group in both the Captain and the company. Without danger of being called an “apple polisher” we think it apt to approve the splendid choice of the 491st Bombardment Group (H). Page21 Johnny Slivka has been transferred out of the 1234th again. He is however, still on DS at AAF 147. It’s always good to have Johnny in the outfit and we’ll sure miss him. Best of Luck. Well we did it again! How our little undermanned company continues to turn out superb championship teams against such competition as Bomber Squadrons ten times its size is a mystery to all of us. In the Station Basketball League, the 1234th finished up gloriously in first place with 10 wins against 2 losses. Much of the credit for the team’s success must go to our playing manager, Slim Manis. His outstanding generalship was always evident while his slick one-handed shot from way back proved a bane to the opposition all season long. In Curly Akers we have the best player on this or any other station. For sheer stamina, fancy ball handling, and a deadly side shot he is unparalleled. Many times he carried us through to a last minute victory on “heart” alone. Norm Jennings and Ed Duggan were the other standouts while Tony Leketa, Jack Massie, ******************************** COMMUNICATIONS, ESSENTIAL TO AIR OPERATIONS: It took a lot of good men to keep the group in the air. The pictures below show you the Squadron Communications Section, 852nd, 853rd, 854th and 855th. Blue Barron, Howie Pretzer, Chuck Oster and Tex Sullivan rounded out a really great Team. Our sincere congratulations to the whole squad. Next week’s Post Season elimination Tournament is composed of the teams who finished in the first 8 slots. We’ll be out there pulling for you. COME ON YOU QUARTERMASTERS! Remember our 1st Anniversary Party! Saturday night, 24 Feb. Page22 Page23 855th SQUADRON: Radar Section MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE 491st BOMBARDMENT GROUP: from Archie “Mike” Dougan, Group Flight Surgeon I. ORGANIZATION OF THE 491ST BOMB GROUP The 491st started as a provisional group, some of the key personnel derived from the Anti-Sub Squadron which at one time was located at Alamogordo, NM. These key individuals at someplace, I do not remember, were formed into the 491st Bomb Group, it consisted of an air echelon and finally came to Pueblo, Colorado for the first phase training. It consisted of flying personnel and non-flying personnel such as S-1 S-2, S-3, S-4 armament, communications and medical department. Both Officers and Enlisted men were a skeleton staff in most sections. The Ground Echelon was organized from (4) groups of this division, each adding men and officers to form a Fifth Squadron. This Ground Echelon was assembled at Metfield. The Medical Department in the States originally consisted of Captain William M Haller, Group Surgeon; Captain Ernest T Smith, Surgeon of the 852nd Bombardment Squadron; Captain Sidney S Grant, Surgeon of the 853rd Bombardment Squadron; Lt Earl L Malone (since promoted to Captain) Surgeon of the 854th Bombardment Squadron; Lt Salvadore J Russo (since promoted to Captain) Surgeon of the 855th Bombardment and (8) Enlisted Men. On 11 March, 1944, Captain Haller, while on leave, was killed in an automobile accident. Captain Grant was appointed acting Group Surgeon. On 17 March, 1944, Captain Archie F Dougan reported to the group and assumed the duties of Group Surgeon. On 27 March Captain Malone departed from Pueblo, Colorado with (?) Gunners for the staging area at Topeka, Kansas. On April 11, 1944 Captain Grant, Captain Russo and (7) Medical Enlisted Men departed from Pueblo, Colorado for the POE with that portion of the Air Echelon that came by boat. Here Captain Malone and the (?) gunners were met. The remaining portion of the Air Echelon flew across in B-24J Airplanes carrying (?) men per crew, leaving Pueblo, Colorado between 21 and 27 April 1944, for the staging area at Herrington, Kansas. II. ARRIVAL OF AIR ECHELON IN ETO The advanced party that came by boat arrived at AAF Station 366 on 28 April 1944. They found the ground echelon already on the field. That portion that came by air arrived at AAF station 366 on and within 2 weeks after 8 May 1944. All aircraft flew the southern route without loss of life or plane. No cases of malaria or other serious illness were encountered. The Medical Department Personnel traveling by air were Captain Smith, Corporal Oetman and Archie F Dougan, the Group Surgeon. III. MEDICAL FACILITIES AT STATION 366 On arrival we found a standard type RAF Sick Quarters with Captain Robert G Slusher, 327 Station Complement Squadron, in charge. In addition there were two (2) Dental Officers and thirty (30) Medical Enlisted Men. Captain Slusher had accomplished a great deal in regards to obtaining equipment and supplies and getting the unit ready to function. The Sick Quarters consisted of two (2) twelve (12) bed wards and one (1) four (4) bed ward; a wing containing the treatment room, dental and administrative departments. One emergency surgery room was set up, and the decontamination annex was being used to quarter Medical Enlisted Men. In another part of the Field in the WAAF Site Area was located the WAAF Sick Quarters, this being used to quarter Combat Crew Officers. Page24 The Medical Department has since acquired the WAAF Site Sick Quarters and it is being used as an Officers’ Ward. The decontamination unit now has improved lighting fixtures installed and contains the treatment or sick call rooms and clerical department. The wing formerly used for this purpose now contains an additional emergency surgery, the dental clinic, laboratory, physical examination and physio-therapy room and a room used by the Officer of the Day and the Briefing Officer as a library. The four (4) bed ward is used as a shock ward. The medical equipment used on this station is both British and American. The American equipment consists of TBA and other equipment received by automatic issue and requisitions. A litter carrier functions as an operation table in the crash room. A portable oxygen table had been improvised from two low pressure tanks, a demand regulator and four (4) bomb fin crates for the surgeries. Small high pressure oxygen bottles are in about one half of the ambulances. One ambulance has a two way radio set installed. We had eleven (11) ambulances in all. Battle casualties have been rather low, two deaths, four or five wounded seriously enough to be evacuated to the 65th General Hospital and a number of minor injuries. In addition, several men were killed in action due to ditching and crash landings, but our losses have been lower than some of the other groups. All wounds have been due to flak. One instance where three pieces of flak struck and dented a helmet leaves little doubt but that the protected equipment saved a life. Another case occurred where a man was struck in the chest by flak and knocked off his feet, but no damage was done to the individual or the flak suit. Our greatest problem has been cold injury at altitudes. Practically all cases have been of the face, fingers and toes. The cause in the majority of instances has been the inability to impress on the crews, the value and necessity of the equipment. This difficulty seems to be gradually being overcome. All crews upon arrival at this station are indoctrinated in Combat First Aid and in Care and Use of Protective equipment, with short talks given subsequently at briefings. All seriously ill or injured personnel requiring hospitalization beyond that authorized at this station are evacuated to the 65th General Hospital or the 235th Station Hospital. The venereal rate has been pleasingly low to date but as the individuals obtain more liberty and become acquainted, the rate is expected to increase. There have been no unusual diseases or problems of Medical or of War time Aviation Medical interest prior to this time. As the crews were coming in to land from a mission all available ambulances were at the tower and the Medical Officer on duty had a clipboard with the names of the crew and Tail markings of the airplane and what hardstand they were to return to, that way if flares were shot asking for priority landing the pilot was instructed to go directly to his hardstand and we would have an ambulance here waiting. IV. MEDICAL PERSONNEL Captain Hubert J Maxwell reported to this station on 23 June 1944 and immediately established a third dental office. Medical officer personnel at present assigned to this station as follows: ARCHIE F DOUGAN, Major, MC Hq 491st Bomb Group; ERNEST T SMITH, Captain, MC 852nd Bomb Squadron; SIDNEY S GRANT, Captain, MC 853rd Bomb Squadron; EARL L MALONE, Captain, MC 854th Bomb Squadron; SALVADORE J RUSSO, Captain, MC 855TH Bomb Squadron; SAMUEL E RAIN, Captain DC Hq 491st Bomb Group; HUBERT J MAXWELL, Captain, DC DS from 8 AF Dental Det.; JAMES S ROLLO, 1ST Lt DC, DS form 8 AF Dental Det. When we left Metfield moving to North Pickenham, Captain Robert G Slusher of 327 Station Complement was removed and replaced by Captain Schneep, he didn’t stay with us long and then Captain Barnes was transferred to the 327th. 1st Lt James Rollo was promoted to Captain. Later, I don’t remember when, Lt Sam Pearlstein, a Medical Administration Officer was assigned to our group. In addition the station has thirty six (36) Enlisted men assigned to the 491st Bombardment Group, six (6) Enlisted men assigned to the station complement and three (3) dental technicians on DS from Eighth Air Force Dental Detachment at large. V. MEDICAL FACILITIES AT NORTH PICKENHAM The above was larger and better equipped and in one area which made it much more convenient for us. Page25 The only disadvantage was it was like the rest of North Pickenham, it was scattered out and our sick quarters was off by itself and separated quite a ways from the rest of the Squadrons and Headquarters that made up the Base. THE MEDICS: from Gordon Oetman I was fortunate in that I flew over with the original Group of the “House of Rumor”. I was in charge of the Medical Supply Room. One of my pleasant memories was the “Trolley” missions to give the ground support personnel a chance to see the results of their contribution in the air war against Germany. Leaving our base at North BLOOD DRIVE: Doc Russo taking blood from Martha Bunch, Red Cross Director. Pickenham, we flew to Southwald, Ostend, Mannheim, Aschaffenburg, Frankfurt, Bingen, Koblenz, Bonn, Koln, Dusseldorf, Brussels, Ostend and return. The results of all the bombing missions were not so pleasant. The destruction was unbelievable. I along with all the other medical personnel did our job when the planes returned taking care of the dead and wounded. We did not expect any recognition for what we did because we were there to help our buddies. We were recognized for our performance of duty during the explosion of the Bomb Dump at Metfield on 7/15/44. Note: Our Medics along with our Military Police had the job (unpleasant) of handling all aircraft crashes in the vicinity of Metfield and then at North Pickenham. This involved not only our group but aircraft of any other unit that happened to crash in our area. BLOOD DRIVE: Doc Mike Dougan giving up a little blood to unidentified person. SALUTE TO THE GROUND MAN: Week of April 8- 14, 1945 by the 2AD. “As the final victory, which must be ours, draws near, we have thought it befitting to designate a week to recognize and commend the personnel of the ground echelon of the 2nd Air Division for their tremendous efforts in creating this great team. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, as I know every man who has had the opportunity to fly with the 2nd Air Division planes, would thank you if possible. The flying personnel know what your efforts have been to supply them with the means to perform their part of the team’s work, the long hours with little glory, and they are grateful. As your commanding General, I wish to offer you my sincere congratulations and to commend you on a job well done.” (From an address, 4/8/45 by Major General WE Kepner.) Page26 44-40204 RAGGED BUT RIGHTmbGroup

491st

Bomb Group

'tHE RINGMASTERS'

The following units comprised the 491st BG (H) at Metfield, Suffolk and North Pickenham, Norfolk:

491st Bombardment Group (H) Headquarters
852nd Bombardment Squadron
853rd Bombardment Squadron
854th Bombardment Squadron
855th Bombardment Squadron
479th Sub Depot
1261st Military Police Company
326th Station Complement
1450th Ordnance S&M Company
1234th Quartermaster Company Service Group (Avn)
2108th Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon (Avn)
266th Medical Dispensary (Avn)
208th Finance Section (Avn) Detachment B

Battle Credits

Air Offensive Europe

Normandy

Northern France

Central Europe

Rhineland

Ardennes

Time Limitation

4 July 1942-5 July 1944

6 June 1944-24 July 1944

25 July 1944-14 Sep. 1944

22 Mar. 1945-11 May 1945

15 Sep. 1944-21 Mar. 1945

16 Dec. 1944-25 Jan. 1945

War Dept. Gen.Orders

85, 1945

102, 1945

103, 1945

116, 1945

118, 1945

114, 1945

The 491st Bomb Group was cited for outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy for the Misburg Mission on November 26, 1944, and awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.

Bomb Group Staff

Bomb Group Commanders:
- Col Dwight O. Morteith (Oct 10, 1943)
- Maj Jack G. Merrell (Dec 20, 1943; later Lt Col on Jan 29, 1944)
- Col Wilson H. Banks (Jan 5, 1944)
- Maj Alex E. Burleigh (Jan 19, 1944)
- Lt Col Jack G. Merrell (Jan 29, 1944)
- Lt Col Carl T. Goldenburg (Feb 12, 1944)
- Col F. H. Miller (Jun 26, 1944)
- Col. Allen W. Reed: (October 20, 1944)

Deputy Group Commander: Lt. Colonel Jack G. Merrell and Lt. Colonel Lyman H. Goff
Group Executive Officer: Lt. Colonel Charles J. Halbert
Group Personnel Officer ( S-1 ) : Captain Nicholas Jabbour
Group Intelligence Officer (S-2): Major Herbert Bronnor and Major Verle Pope
Group Operations Officer (S-3): Lt. Colonel Lyman H. Goff, Major Alfred G. Hayduk and Major William Shy
Group Supply Officer (S-4): Captain Neville H. Gibson
CO, Air Service Group: Lt. Colonel Leroy Everett
CO, Air Materiel Squadron: Captain Albert Sells
CO, Air Engineering Squadron: Major William Neff

852nd Bomb Squadron

Commanding Officer 852nd Bomb Squadron

Lt. Colonel Kenneth R. Strauss

853rd Bomb Squadron

Commanding Officer 853rd Bomb Squadron

Lt. Colonel Harry M. Stephey

854th Bomb Squadron

Commanding Officer 854th Bomb Squadron

Lt. Colonel Charles C. Parmele

855th Bomb Squadron

Commanding Officer 855th Bomb Squadron

Lt. Colonel Escar Watts, Jr.

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