Tues., Sept. 19, 1944—Flew in B-25 from LaJasse, France, to Fallonica, Italy, our new base. Poured down rain all night & there were strong winds . . . Some new guys from the States coming into the Group as replacements.
Wed., Sept. 20, 1944—Yesterday after I had taken off, an 84th plane crashed and killed the pilot & bombardier. The pilot (Ankrom) was a friend of C.B.’s.
Thurs., Sept. 21, 1944—Ops. & Intelligence moved into a house for the first time since England.
Fri., Sept. 22, 1944—Lots of rain practically every day.
Sat., Sept. 23, 1944—(No diary entry.)
Sun., Sept. 24, 1944—(No diary entry.)
Mon., Sept. 25, 1944—(No diary entry.)
Tues., Sept. 26, 1944—(No diary entry.)
Wed., Sept. 27, 1944—(No diary entry.)
Thurs., Sept. 28, 1944—Cold weather coming.
Fri., Sept. 29, 1944—(No diary entry.)
Sat., Sept. 30, 1944—Went to show in Fallonica.
Sun., Oct. 1, 1944—Sqdn. ran two day missions & one night mission. Lt. Surber was wounded in shoulder by flak.
Mon., Oct. 2, 1944—Put up stove in tent tonight. It really helps. Lots of rain today; no flying.
Tues., Oct. 3, 1944—Worked all day and night.
Wed., Oct. 4, 1944—Group started moving to Rosignano today.
Thurs., Oct. 5, 1944—Jr. left for Rosignano today. I leave tomorrow. Ate supper with the Grossis & Bulleris tonight.
Fri., Oct. 6, 1944—Rain is holding up the move.
Sat., Oct. 7, 1944—More rain; no move. Got a pretty good ration today.
Sun., Oct. 8, 1944—Poured down last night. Moved to Rosignano today in a truck. Molta rain. On the way here today we almost had a serious accident. Swollen torrents washed out the base of a road connected to a bridge we crossed. We got across just before the road gave way. A horse fell in the gap between the road & the bridge; there was no way of getting it out; its hind legs were probably broken; and only its head was above water. I asked the old Italian who owned the horse if he wanted me to shoot the horse. He finally decided that it was the only thing to do; so I shot it, although I hated to do it and was shaking pretty badly.
Mon., Oct. 9, 1944—Rain & mud. Went over to see Jr. today.
Tues., Oct. 10, 1944—Rain & mud. Opns. is set up in a building about three blocks from the camp.
Wed., Oct. 11, 1944—Took much needed bath out of my helmet.
Thurs., Oct. 12, 1944—(No diary entry.)
Fri., Oct. 13, 1944—Jr. & I went on two-day pass to Fallonica to visit the Bulleris, Grossis, & Contis.
Sat., Oct. 14, 1944—Went into town to eat dinner with Caesarina & her two kids, and Giusipine, Angela, & Juliano (in Scarlino).
Sun., Oct. 15, 1944—Got a ride back to Sqdn. today in 86th truck.
Mon., Oct. 16, 1944 (Vada/Rosignano)—Picked up the two drunkest men I’ve ever seen & brought them to camp to sleep it off. They were both passed out on the street across from Ops., and Sennette & I bundled them into a Jeep and brought them back to camp.
| Donald J. Tolle, 1988: I’m happy to report that these were not members of the 47th. As I recall, they were in the infantry. They were absolutely unconscious, and we were afraid they might roll into the road at some point and be hit by a truck. We put them in cots in a pyramidal tent which was a “ready” tent for those scheduled for guard duty and left them alone. The next morning they had disappeared, leaving nothing behind but urine-soaked cots and blankets. (Thanks a lot, fellows, wherever you are!) |
Tues., Oct. 17, 1944—Worked till 0330 this Wed. morning.
Wed., Oct. 18, 1944—Wrote several letters today.
Thurs., Oct. 19, 1944—A truck backed into a bomb on the field today. It exploded & wounded four men—Waits, Abrahams, Fantaccione, & a boy from the Service Group who was driving the truck. Abrahams was hurt the worst, but all of them will recover. Brown, a gunner, was standing between two of the ones who were hit. He was knocked down but not hit.
Fri., Oct. 20,1944—Went to show tonight, “Broadway Rhythm.” It was good.
Sat., Oct. 21, 1944—On duty in Opns. tonight.
Sun., Oct. 22, 1944—Didn’t work today. Straightened up my barracks bags, etc. Took a bath.
Mon., Oct. 23, 1944—Col. Willard sent Jr. to Grosseto today to do some special photography of some kind.
Tues., Oct. 24, 1944—Rained most of the day. Probably no flying possible for two or three days. Slept in Ops. tonight.
Wed., Oct. 25, 1944—Rained most of the day.
Thurs., Oct. 26, 1944—Have a bad head cold.
Fri., Oct. 27, 1944—Inspection this morning. Cold is worse. Collins got back from Foggia. Went to show tonight. Pouring down rain tonight.
Sat., Oct. 28, 1944—Slept in Opns. tonight but couldn’t sleep much because of my cold.
Sun., Oct. 29, 1944—Got stuck in mud in jeep over at Gp. Hq. this morning, & when I got out of the jeep I stepped in mud up over my overshoes. More rain today & tonight.
Mon., Oct. 30, 1944—Poured down rain today; the mud is terrible. Went to show tonight, “Guadalcanal Diary.”
Tues., Oct. 31, 1944—(No diary entry.)
Wed., November 1, 1944—Last night was Halloween, & I didn’t even think of it. All days look alike these times. On duty in Ops. tonight.
Thurs., Nov. 2, 1944—Gp. Hq. was flooded again last night. A dam broke & water covered their area up to three & four feet. Went to show tonight.
Fri., Nov. 3, 1944—Went to good show tonight—”As Thousands Cheer.”
Sat., Nov. 4, 1944—We got candy ration today.
Sun., Nov. 5, 1944—(No diary entry.)
Mon., Nov. 6, 1944—Went to show tonight—”Till We Meet Again.”
Tues., Nov. 7, 1944—We’ve been stood down now for about 2 weeks (except for 4 or 5 strafing sorties). I’ve done less work in that time than in any other similar period since I’ve been in the Army. Weather is getting very cold now.
Wed., Nov. 8, 1944—David Schofield dropped in on me this afternoon. He used to be one of my little Boy Scouts several years ago in Lakeland. He’s a 2nd Lt., has been wounded twice (got Purple Heart & cluster), was reclassified & put in Air Corps from the Infantry. He’s in a C.M. Trucking Co. now. It was nice seeing him. I am on C.Q. in Opns. tonight.
Thurs., Nov. 9, 1944—Went to show tonight.
Fri., Nov. 10, 1944 (Vada/Rosignano)—We moved upstairs above Operations on Nov. 8th—that is, all of us except Mac and C.B. It’s much nicer living in a building (for the first time in a couple of years).
| Donald J. Tolle, 1988: W.D. (“Mac”) McLaughlin has reminded me that in this building at Vada I did one of the dumbest things anyone could possibly do. The second floor of the building had restroom facilities of a sort—”squat toilets” which were really just round openings in the concrete floor, part of a system of ceramic or concrete pipes about 8″ in diameter, leading downward (I know not to what final resting place). Apparently, the user of the facility was expected to pour water down the hole after using it, but there was no water available in the room. The stench was as bad as from an outdoor privy, and I had the impression that the pipes were impacted with human waste. So I thought I would clear up the problem by pouring gasoline down the hole and lighting it. When I threw the lighted match in after the gasoline, there was a heavy explosion, the building shuddered, and I thought it was coming down on our heads. Fortunately, it didn’t collapse, and I didn’t even get busted (perhaps because no one else knew what had happened). But what I did is known as dumb. |
Sat., Nov. 11, 1944—Had a busy day in Ops. for first time since our long stand-down. Stayed in and wrote to Mary Alice tonight instead of going to the show.
Sun., Nov. 12, 1944—Last night an 84th ship crashed offshore from here when both engines cut out. Nobody got out. An 86th plane failed to come back from the mission last night.
Mon., Nov. 13, 1944—I was on duty in Ops. last night till 0520 this morning due to a mission.
Tues., Nov. 14, 1944—Has turned really cold. Junior came back from Grosseto.
Wed., Nov. 15, 1944—Terrific wind all day. Cold as all get out.
Thurs., Nov. 16, 1944—(No diary entry.)
Fri., Nov. 17, 1944—I think my nerves are getting the better of me.
Sat., Nov. 18, 1944—Tonight Lt. Surber, Lt, Snyder, Grissom, & Albrecht are missing in action. Albrecht’s first mission. I worked tonight; got in bed at 0400 a.m.
Sun., Nov. 19, 1944—Went to show tonight.
Mon., Nov. 20, 1944—(No diary entry.)
Tues., Nov. 21, 1944—Missed chance today of going home soon on 30-day furlough.
Wed., Nov. 22, 1944—On duty tonight until 0445 in the morning.
Thurs., Nov. 23, 1944—Sqdn. C.Q. tonight. O.D. nearly burned down the Colonel’s trailer. I had to bring a drunk back to camp who was disturbing an Italian family. We had a good dinner for Thanksgiving today.
Fri., Nov. 24, 1944—(No diary entry.)
Sat., Nov. 25, 1944—Went to a party tonight at a villa Gen. [Mark] Clark uses when he’s around here.
Sun., Nov. 26, 1944—(No diary entry.)
Mon., Nov. 27, 1944—C.Q. in Ops. tonight. No flying.
Tues., Nov. 28, 1944—Went to Leghorn & Pisa today in jeep with Collins, Chester, & McLaughlin. Climbed the Leaning Tower. Went to a good show tonight—”Gaslight.”
Wed., Nov. 29, 1944—We’re going to move to Grosseto for the winter, I guess. “A” echelon moves out in the morning.
Thurs., Nov. 30, 1944—(No diary entry.)
Fri., December 1, 1944—Worked all night.
Sat., Dec. 2, 1944—Got to bed at 0900 a.m. after working all night.
Sun., Dec. 3, 1944—Saw show tonight—”Impatient Years” with Jean Arthur.
Mon., Dec. 4, 1944—Hardly slept at all last night due to terrific head cold which came on suddenly.
Tues., Dec. 5, 1944—(No diary entry.)
Wed., Dec. 6, 1944—Moved from Vada to Grosseto. Had flat tire on the way. We had to change it in the rain without a jack.
Thurs., Dec. 7, 1944—This is the worst set-up we’ve ever had for efficient operating—officers’ quarters & Ops. in one place, the Sqdn. area 6½ miles away, and the airfield 9 miles away.
Fri., Dec. 8, 1944—Living in a tent with no floor but mud & grass. My cold never will get well.
Sat., Dec. 9, 1944—Worked tonight.
Sun., Dec. 10, 1944—Took sulphur bath today.
Mon., Dec. 11, 1944—Molta rain.
Tues., Dec. 12, 1944—Worked all day & am on duty tonight.
Wed., Dec. 13, 1944—Built floors for the two tents today.
Thurs., Dec. 14, 1944—Lost plane tonight—Lt. MacMullin, Lt. Christian, S/Sgt. Johnson, & Cpl. Mastroleo. We don’t know what happened . . . Went to “Rhapsody in Blue” tonight. Was really good.
Fri., Dec. 15, 1944—I’m going nuts. I’m not meant for this kind of “details” work.
Sat., Dec. 16, 1944—(No diary entry.)
Sun., Dec. 17, 1944—C.Q. in Ops. tonight.
Mon., Dec. 18, 1944—Saw U.S.O. show tonight. Was really funny.
Tues., Dec. 19, 1944—Took another sulphur bath today. Rations today.
Wed., Dec. 20, 1944—Another hectic day in Ops . . . Clare Booth Luce is in the vicinity. One of our planes spent almost a day flying around looking for her baggage. Some stuff.
Thurs., Dec. 21, 1944—Worked tonight.
Fri., Dec. 22, 1944—Took sulphur bath today. It’s getting really cold now. Got package from Mary Alice. Had fried chicken for supper.
Sat., Dec. 23, 1944—Bitterly cold all day.
Sun., Dec. 24, 1944—On C.Q. in Ops. tonight. Much Xmas cheer floating around all night.
Mon., Dec. 25, 1944—Good turkey dinner today. Officers had party for Italian kids this afternoon.
Tues., Dec. 26, 1944—Amick had to go to hospital tonight with a bad throat. Extra guards on planes due to rumored civilian uprising.
Wed., Dec. 27, 1944—Sgt. of Guard at Sqdn. tonight. Had to post guards on airfield & over some bombs which were expected to blow up. Cold tonight. Didn’t get much sleep.
Thurs., Dec. 28, 1944—On duty in Ops. all night. Didn’t get to bed till 0600 a.m. Got mail today for a change.
Fri., Dec. 29, 1944—A windy, cold day, as usual.
Sat., Dec. 30, 1944—Photo boys told me Junior went to Rome on pass.
Sun., Dec. 31, 1944—On duty all day & night in Ops. Got to bed at 0400 a.m. in the morning of Jan. 1, 1945.
Monday, January 1, 1945—Took bath today. Saw U.S.O. production of “Panama Hattie” tonight.
Tues., Jan. 2, 1945—Amick came back from hospital today. Maybe I’ll be able to take a pass now.
Wed., Jan. 3, 1945—More delayed-action bombs accidentally dropped on field last night, but they didn’t go off.
Thurs., Jan. 4, 1945—Rain tonight. Only 3 planes flew.
Fri., Jan. 5, 1945—I’m going nuts in Operations.
Sat., Jan. 6, 1945—(No diary entry.)
Sun., Jan. 7, 1945—(No diary entry.)
Mon., Jan. 8, 1945—Left on 5-day pass. Hitch-hiked to the Bulleri’s at Fallonica (Casone). Everyone seemed glad to see me.
Tues., Jan. 9, 1945—The Italians have a clever arrangement for warming a bed with a bucket of coals.
Wed., Jan. 10, 1945—Hitch-hiked from Fallonica to Livorno (Leghorn) after telling all my Italian friends at the Casone goodbye. (One of them drove me in a horse & buggy to the main highway.) . . . Bad icing conditions on road to Leghorn. Saw four or five trucks go over in ditch, & my truck just missed a time or two . . . Found room in civilian home—-no lights; only one quilt as cover. Spent cold night.
Thurs., Jan. 11, 1945—Walked down to the port (about 2 miles or more). It is about decimated. I have no place to eat except Red Cross & can get only coffee & cookies there. I’m really hungry. Spent another cold night.
Fri., Jan. 12, 1945—Hitch-hiked back to outfit & arrived half-frozen, half-starved.
Sat., Jan. 13, 1945—Worked in Ops. all day. Lot of rain today.
Sun., Jan. 14, 1945—Worked all day & all night in Ops. Got off duty at 0330 on Jan. 15th.
Mon., Jan. 15, 1945—Couldn’t sleep more than 2 or 3 hours today. Dead tired tonight.
Tues., Jan. 16, 1945—Went to show tonight, “Animal Kingdom” with Ann Sheridan.
Wed., Jan. 17, 1945—Had bad day in the office—difference of opinion with adjutant.
Thurs., Jan. 18, 1945—Capt. Neuer told me tonight that Junior would start work with me tomorrow.
Fri., Jan. 19, 1945—Junior came over to work in Sqdn. Ops. Moved into my tent. We went to show tonight.
Sat., Jan. 20, 1945—(No diary entry.)
Sun., Jan. 21, 1945—0n duty in Sqdn. Ops. tonight. Sqdn. stood down. Snow & hail today & tonight.
Mon., Jan. 22, 1945—Ice all over ground today. Jr. on duty in Ops. tonight.
Tues., Jan. 23, 1945—I was cold in bed last night. Rain today. Stand down.
Wed., Jan. 24, 1945—Have bad cough; don’t feel good.
Thurs., Jan. 25, 1945—Bad cold & cough.
Fri., Jan. 26, 1945—(No diary entry—i.e., for general distribution.)
Sat., Jan. 27, 1945—Can’t seem to get over this cold.
Sun., Jan. 28, 1945—Ice all over the ground again.
Mon., Jan. 29, 1945—Worked half the day & all night in Ops. Got to bed at 0630 a.m. for 2 hours . . . Maj. Tilton MIA tonight from 84th Sq. Used to be in 97th.
Tues., Jan. 30, 1945—Ice all over the ground. Could sleep only about 2 hours this afternoon. Got a sweet letter from Mary Alice. 86th lost another plane tonight.
Wed., Jan. 31, 1945—I guess we’re going to move closer to the Sqdn. area soon.
Thursday, February 1, 1945—Junior will go back to Gp. Photo soon because they’re getting night photo equipment.
Fri., Feb. 2, 1945—Went to show tonight.
Sat., Feb. 3, 1945—Mac & I went to Siena today. Had a very nice sightseeing trip.
Sun., Feb. 4, 1945—Saw Juliano Bulleri this morning. He’s going to school in Grosseto. Jr. & I are going in to see him & Signora Grossi one of these nights.
Mon., Feb. 5, 1945—Worked all day & till three o’clock in the morning (Tuesday). Lt. Ritchie, Lt. Hackett, Mull, & Hancock missing from mission tonight. Ritchie was heard telling them to bail out.
Tues., Feb. 6, 1945—Worked all morning & part of the afternoon. Then had to go to bed for awhile as I was dead tired. We’ve got to have some help in Operations soon.
Wed., Feb. 7, 1945—Worked all day. Went into Grosseto tonight & visited Signora Grossi & Juliano Bulleri.
Thurs., Feb. 8, 1945—Worked all day & night. Got to bed at 4:30 a.m., Friday morning.
Fri., Feb. 9, 1945—Worked till about 1400 hrs. after getting up at 0300. Took helmet bath tonight.
Sat., Feb. 10, 1945—Worked all day in Ops.
Sun., Feb. 11, 1945—On duty today & tonight in Ops. We’re moving tomorrow.
Mon., Feb. 12, 1945—Moved to new place about 3/4 mile from the Squadron. Pitched tent and put floor in. Went to “Cover Girl” tonight.
Tues., Feb. 13, 1945—Straightened up office in new building. Got new pair of shoes from salvage.
Wed., Feb. 14, 1945—Took bath. Stood down again today. Brought Collins back from hospital this morning.
Thurs., Feb. 15, 1945—Sergeant of the Guard in Sqdn. tonight. Somebody fired across the area, but I couldn’t find who it was.
Fri., Feb. 16, 1945—Got bad head cold. Took bath this morning.
Sat., Feb. 17, 1945—Worked all day in Ops. Went over to Junior’s place tonight & took some pictures & printed some. Jr. moved back to his photo work today.
Sun., Feb. 18, 1945—Rations today. Stood down tonight.
Mon., Feb. 19, 1945—Mac left for 30-day furlough in the States.
Tues., Feb. 20, 1945—Worked all day in Ops.
Wed., Feb. 21, 1945—Message came in today that Hancock is in “proper hands”—probably Partisans behind German lines . . . I worked all night in Ops. . . . 84th Sqdn. lost a plane; at least some of crew bailed out.
Thurs., Feb. 22, 1945—Took bath today. Went to poor show tonight.
Fri., Feb. 23, 1945—F/O Naylor, F/O Johns, Taylor, & Welker crashed into sea last night when an engine caught fire just after take-off.
Sat., Feb. 24, 1945—Hancock got back today . . . I worked tonight. Got to bed at 0245.
Sun., Feb. 25, 1945—Spent day with Junior.
Mon., Feb. 26, 1945—Worked today. Went to U.S.O. show tonight. Very good.
Tues., Feb. 27, 1945—Worked till 1600 hrs. Went to bed for an hour or so; then on duty all night. (Got to bed at 0200 a.m.)
Wed., Feb. 28, 1945—Took sulphur bath today.
Thursday, March 1, 1945—Worked all day. Went over to see Jr. tonight with Collins & Lt. Wagenhals. Developed & printed some film.
Fri., Mar. 2, 1945—On duty in Ops. tonight. 85th lost plane & crew tonight; crashed just after take-off. (Probably carburetor ice.)
Sat., Mar. 3, 1945—Have another bad cold. Worked in Ops. all day. 85th lost another plane & crew on mission tonight.
Sun., Mar. 4, 1945—Coughed all night last night. Went to see doctor this a.m. Jr. & I ate with Giuliano & Signora Grossi tonight.
Mon., Mar. 5, 1945—Worked all day & night. Have been overseas 2½ years today.
Tues., Mar. 6, 1945—I feel terrible.
Wed., Mar. 7, 1945—Have abscessed tooth that’s driving me crazy—along with my cold.
Thurs., Mar. 8, 1945—Had tooth pulled this morning by Gp. dentist. I fainted. On duty in Ops. all night. Feel terrible.
Fri., Mar. 9, 1945—Feel much better this morning. Took bath. Went to see Jr. Went into Grosseto & got haircut & shave.
Sat., Mar. 10, 1945—Tooth (or rather lack of it) hurt me worse than ever today. Worked all day in Ops. Capt. Klauber & Lt. Wagenhals went home today.
Sun., Mar. 11, 1945—Started new system in Ops. whereby each man works at night for 4 nights in a row. Went to U.S.O. show in Grosseto tonight. D’Artega’s All-Girl Band. Was really good.
Mon., Mar. 12, 1945—Steve (Collins’ friend) came up today . . . My gum where the tooth was pulled is giving me fits.
Tues., Mar. 13, 1945—Jaw is killing me. Went to have gums packed again.
Wed., Mar. 14, 1945—Had dentist pack gum again. It’s about to drive me crazy. On duty in Ops. tonight.
Thurs., Mar. 15, 1945—Went to dentist again. On duty tonight.
Fri., Mar. 16, 1945—Jr. flew to Cairo, Egypt, this a.m. I’m on duty tonight. Kendall’s birthday & I forgot it.
Standing: ?; ?; Willard; ?.
Kneeling: E. Tolle (Junior); Hank Pollock; ?; Dunphy.
Sat., Mar. 17, 1945—Went to dentist again. On duty in Ops. tonight.
Sun., Mar. 18, 1945—Took bath. Went to dentist again. Am having terrible pains & headaches every day.
Mon., Mar. 19, 1945—Went to dentist; got X-ray. No infection. Dentist thinks I have sinusitis, & I believe he’s right.
Tues., Mar. 20, 1945—Schnathorst bailed out over target tonight when plane went into spin. Plane came back safely.
Wed., Mar. 21, 1945—(No diary entry.)
Thurs., Mar. 22, 1945—The work in Opns. these days is driving me crazy.
Fri., Mar. 23, 1945—(No. diary entry.)
Sat., Mar. 24, 1945—(No diary entry.)
Sun., Mar. 25, 1945—Went to show tonight. Someone mentioned that this is Palm Sunday. I didn’t even know it was Sunday.
Mon., Mar. 26, 1945—On duty tonight. Stood down. Rain.
Tues., Mar. 27, 1945—(No diary entry.)
Wed., Mar. 28, 1945—(No diary entry.)
Thurs., Mar. 29, 1945—(No diary entry.)