Thurs., July 22, 1943—Flew to Malta this morning by C-47. Spent night on hill just off Takali Airdrome. Spent a couple of hours talking to Maltese nurses.
Fri., July 23, 1943—Moved into tin hut (British) on Takali Airdrome right in among the planes. I’m sleeping on a cot for the first time in months.
Sat., July 24, 1943—The planes send dust howling through this hut. Malta has had 3000 air raids. There are old bomb craters all around the hut.
Sun., July 25, 1943—Raid tonight. Heavy ack-ack barrage. 5 Jerries shot down. I had to run for a bomb crater, in my underwear & bare feet.
Mon., July 26, 1943—Two missions today,
Tues., July 27, 1943—97th bombed Agira & Milazzo [Sicily] today. Went up hill last night to see the nurses.
Wed., July 28, 1943—Got two sweet letters from Mary Alice today . . . Malta is a tremendously rocky, terrifically windy, terribly dusty little island.
Thurs., July 29, 1943—Malta has more flies, ants, and mosquitoes than Africa—and that’s something!!
Fri., July 30, 1943—Air raid tonight. Lots of flak from ack-ack fell around me. Foxholes are no good for that, I see.
Sat., July 31, 1943—On duty in Operations tonight.
Sun., Aug. 1, 1943—Went to Rabat tonight with Dave [Frieze].
Mon., August 2, 1943—A hectic day in Operations.
Tues., Aug. 3, 1943—Went to Rabat this evening. Saw Burns Yates & walked part way home with him.
Wed., Aug. 4, 1943—I went on mission over Sicily this morning as bombardier (“toggleer”). (Lt. Grant, pilot; Stallings and Argentine, gunners.)
Thurs., Aug. 5, 1943—Went to Rabat with Mac [McLaughlin]. Got doughnuts & cocoa, went to show (“A Night at Earl Carroll’s”), stopped to hear Louie play piano, then walked home.
Fri., Aug. 6, 1943—No mission today for 97th. 86th & 85th each had two planes shot down. There were 10 or more besides hit by flak.
Sat., Aug. 7, 1943—I went on mission as bombardier over Randazzo, Sicily. I dropped 4 300-lb. bombs. There were about 75 bursts of flak, but we weren’t hit. (Capt. Carlson, plt.; Vincent & Youmans, gunners.)
Briefing on Malta (by Major Harry Willard, Sqdn Operations Officer — my “boss.”) Aug., 1943. (D.J. Tolle)
Sun., Aug. 8, 1943—Loaded bombs last night. Moving to Sicily tomorrow or next day. Maj. Akers to Group Ops.; Capt. Willard to Sq. C.O.
Mon., Aug. 9, 1943—Our move to Sicily is cancelled for 2 or 3 days. We’ll probably have another mission tomorrow. Air raid alert tonight but nothing happened.
Tues., Aug 10, 1943 (Malta)—I went on mission as bombardier over Randazzo, Sicily. Flak hit close all around us and one piece went through the pilot’s cockpit and peppered Lt. Smith’s arm with glass. Close enough for me! (Lt. Smith, pilot; Anderson & Thurman, gunners.)
Wed., Aug. 11, 1943—No mission today. We’ll move soon. Went to Valletta with Mac. Noel Coward appeared in person at theater. We had to walk all the way back—6 miles.