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 Events And Happenings That Are Worth Repeating

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REDDY, Kenneth Eugene, 2nd Lt., 0-421131, Southern Presbyterian, born June 29, 1920, Color-Ruddy Brown hair, 5’7 1/2”, Brown eyes, father John W. Reddy, Box 135, Bowie, Texas.

11-23-40

Left Fort Worth for San Diego. Just took the oath.

11-26-40

Reached San Diego, Ca., Ryan School of Aero. Cadet.

MY BUDDIES:

Billy H. Gaddy - Bowie. He is a true friend, always willing to help you. I have lost contact with him due to my neglect to write.

Joseph Greenwood - I consider him perhaps my oldest and closest buddy. He always had a big shot air, but a heart of gold. He was quick tempered, but I would kid him to the limit-and-and- he would boil but never out of the pan. His wife seems to be just as likable, and I wish very much to be around the both of them sometimes as I have seen so little of them since marriage.

W.C. Stagg - Bowie. Never a more loyal friend. If at any time I wanted some help that took some effort, he was the one I invariably called on. He and Laura seemed to be happy. I’ve never visited the two of them since their marriage.

Dean Sanders - Bowie. Dean’s emotions run the scale. He was nearly always happy, but when worried he would become very grave. However, as a whole he is my most jubilant friend. I rushed him to the Betas and he made it, and he made a very good frat brother.

Thomas Evans - Bowie. My oldest young friend. He seemed to settle down and live in his own world with Rowena (now his wife) long before we finished high school. He is very friendly now, but my time spent with him has been little since we have grown up.

Hamel Sanders - Bowie. He never did take things as serious as Dean. After he married Mary Beth he began to be more serious. Neither was he as light-hearted as Dean, just in between. He would do anything in the world for anybody, in fact he was so free with everything he had that he did expect you to ask him to borrow anything from him.

Leon Shipman (no entry)

(Officers I have met). “The Pleasure is all mine. Hope we meet again for more good times and to know a swell guy. Were I smart, I would write a pretty little rhyme, but until later, Yours truly, Jack R. Klein. 

Preface

It has long been my desire to start a diary, but procrastination has postponed it until today, March 18, 1942. However, there are many things in the past that I like to reminisce about, and for fear that I forget some more of these pleasant happenings, I’m going to jot a few of them down.

I graduated from High School (Bowie) in May 1937 with medium grades. The ensuing summer was one of my most eventful, as it was one of the first that I had not worried since I was about 13 years old. School had only been out a short time when I went to a Church summer camp at Cota Canyon - near Canyon, Texas. Mama went also. I worked in the mess hall for my tuition. The highlight being the Vespers Service, by Dr. Gutskiz. This lasted a week. Then I went to Plainview with Ma Parker. From there I hitch-hiked to Portales, N.M. I caught Uncle Herbert and all as they were leaving for the mountains. 17 of us spent the night at Uncle Herbert’s. We all went to the Mts. the next day. Six of us stayed in a miners cabin above Bonita Dam, in Kraut Gulch. This was in the White Mountains. Here I met the Russells and I went with Bonnie. She, Arvil and I went to Ruidosa to a dance-hillbilly style. Herbert and I went down to the Kelt ranch to a round-up. He returned to Mts. and I stayed with the Kelts on the ranch for a week. I returned to the camp in the Mts. Herbert and I prospected a little, sometimes Delbert went along. One day the three of us and Dora hiked up Monjoue (?) Mt. Nearly a wk. after my return from the Kelts, I was worrying about hitch-hiking home, my shoes were worn out and my $7.00 was about gone. Unexpectedly Robert Donald, James Anderson, and Edison drove up- we were all very glad to see them. The three of us went to the Malpais, White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, El Paso, Juarez, Austin and home. I only stayed home a week or so when I went to a Scout Camp for over a week. I was the Senior Patrol Leader.

After this a week passed by when Henry Moore asked me to go with him on his vacation. We went to Galveston to the beach. At the Martins in Beaumont, saw all of New Orleans, then to Baton Rouge. I had only returned about a week when I pushed off to college against my folks better judgment. They could promise no aid. I stayed with James and I got a job for half my tuition. Dad came through with the other half and more.

I lived at a ratty old house on Bolivar a good ways from the college. Later James, Mary Jo, and I moved to Bernard St. nearer the college.

I lived with Graham King here-he wasn’t much. Rouse Rushing and Woodrow Garret were across the hall-both good boys. I then moved to the Band Hall and roomed with Jimmy Stephen’s-a sissy and over-religious. I got a part-time job at Evers Hdw. from 3:30 to 6:30 every day. After I had been in college a month or so, Bob Spain started sending me $10.00 a month (this quit the first summer). Dad was sending me $5.00 a month for room, and I was making $2.50 a day. Joseph Greenwood came up in about December, we lived together after I got rid of Jimmie. Dale Brown and Dean Sanders started college the next semester.

It was this semester that I pledged the Beta Alpha Rho Beta Frat. This year I went with Martha Perriar (?) (married now) and Sylvia Barnes (my more or less secret love). That summer I got to work a half a day at a buck per. I helped the plumber (Worth Bargoon) who I liked very much until 5:00 every day and then worked in the store until closing time.

My Frosh year was my most luxurious. The summer after it I was all on my own financially, and from then on it was a grind. Dad, Herman and B.B. Brittenhurt all came to the rescue on different occasions.

I started out on a pre-ministerial course, but I gave it up my Sophomore year. I hadn’t given up the idea of preaching, but I wanted to make some money after my first degree to try to get a PhD later. It was at this time I began to contemplate joining the Air Corps. Here I thought I could save some money for future education.

I took Latin to listen to Mr. Browns philosophy–I like his ideas on life. I took some courses to hear the profs, and I believe this may have been wise, because I have forgotten most of my courses, but I remember what Dr. McAllister, Compton, Brown all stood for. Oh yes, and Dr. Jack Johnson. Also, I know Dr. Silvey and liked him very much.

My last eight months of college life was spent on borrowed money,

supplemented by my working (hashing) for Mrs. Honeycutt–very good to work for, and sweeping the halls at the Beta house.

My chief college interest was my fraternity. My junior year, and my last as going in the summer cheated me out of my senior Yr. I was elected vice-president.

The next semester I was corresponding sec. and the files were so run down that there were no addresses. I tried to get the names on all the old members from the old minutes, and I personally bought a lot of filing equipment.

The summer of 1940 I graduated. I would liked to have taught school, but I realized my youthful face was a handicap and I didn’t try very hard to find one. I had passed my physical for the A.C. some three wks. before graduation.

While waiting for my appointment I spent some pleasant weeks in Coleman, Denton and at home. As I had worked steady after terms this was my first real stay at home since high school.

It was my first visit with Herman and Melba, and I’ll never forget their hospitality.

During the above visits to Denton I met Mickye. As usual I was broke, so one time to stay down there I got a job with a carnival. I met her about September 21, 1940. Sam Hart introduced me. She has been my main girl interest ever since, which is an all time record.

Nov. 23, 1940

I bade my Mother and Dad farewell in Ft. Worth. I was off to my long awaited appointment in the Air Corps. Of the many friends I made on the train, Klein and Hackney are all that are with me now (3-8-42). My flight log book has complete records of my army flights, but it doesn’t give the details. Primary was a day by day grind, I was in holy terror of washing out–even though I never actually got in the “washing machine”. I thought there would be nothing worse than to face my friends back home as a failure. However, I had to make it to make some money. In my eleven weeks in San Diego I had a total of three dates with a Navy Captain’s daughter.

Moffett was the next stop. It was pretty hard to get used to our new planes. I had practically no dates here until I met Helen Belli in Santa Cruz. I spent my best times there and at Yosemite, where I met Betty Tende, who lived in Sacramento.

It was here that Riley and I bought his car. We had many good times. My next 10 weeks was spent in Stockton–my jinx city. Here I had no dates, except one or two in Sacramento with Betty. I also met Virginia Weiderrick, a young girl, but pretty, at Lodi. The jinx was with cars. I wrecked Rileys once; smashed a fender on McCarty’s; got the fender pants knocked off of McCarty’s.

Here I started my debts to growing by buying a summer suit, and everything to go with it; my uniform; tux; and sport clothes. I graduated July 11, 1941, from Stockton advanced flying school. I was put in medium bombardment at Pendleton Air Base. I joined the 17th Group, 34th Squadron. This was one of the best in the nation. They were just getting the B-25s then, and they were the first outfit to get them. We were immediately sent to Spokane, Wash., to join the Group. There I spent a little over a month in tents, and it was my first taste of the army as an officer. Here I bought my set of books.

Then I returned to Pendleton for nearly two months. I saw the Round Up. Then I bought a saddle, and two horses. I joined the Mustangers, a riding club. I can truthfully say that I derived some of my greatest pleasure with my horses. I rode one of them the first time it was ridden–quite a thrill.

I had been waiting some time on a ferry trip that finally came through. W.W. Wilson and I left on the train for Los Angeles.

In Portland I bumped into Attollia Vause (now Mrs. Gordon Berg) and I met Louise Fletchner who was with her. Later she became quite important. We got our new planes at LA and went to Fresno (2 days) then to Spokane (4 days) here I saw Bittie Lewis, but I went with Betty Chappel.

From Spokane to Billings, Montana; then to St. Louis; then to Dayton, Ohio (4 days). Here I flew a primary trainer and had lots of fun dog fighting with Bob Fain in another primary trainer. We went through Wright Field.

From Dayton we went to Augusta where we joined the group. The second day I was there I went on a cross-country with Stintzi to San Antonio–my first trip back to Texas. I saw the Millers and Herman and Melba–and really this was a treat. This was the 1st of any of my relatives since Nov. 25, 1940; this was on Nov. 1, 1941. We returned to Augusta.

Nov. 4, ‘41

I went to the hospital to have a cyst removed. I was there 12 days.

11-17-41

I started on my convalescence leave. I went by way of San Antonio. I arrived home unexpectedly on the night of the 18th. It was one of the happiest moments of my life.

On this, my last visit home I spent one night in Coleman, one in Denton; two in Denison, and the rest in Bowie.

In Coleman, Mama and I spent a much too short time visiting Melba and Herman. Going and coming we had a lengthy chat with each other–perhaps the longest alone while I was home.

In Denton, I spent the night with Dean Sanders at the Beta House, after visiting James and Mary Jo all evening. The next day I looked up many old friends on the campus and downtown. Prof. Brown, as forgetful as he was, called me by name when I came in his room (he introduced me by my full name. It was a surprise as he had always called me Son.) Dean Harris was friendly as ever. After going to Frat. meeting and a stag party I set out for Bowie about 2:30 with Sig Dixon following to Decatur.

In Denison I brought up marriage again to Mickye, but I didn’t push the point, due to lack of the proper response. We went to the Denison vs. Sherman football game on Thanksgiving. I visited the Lindsay’s in Gainesville. Also bumped into an old Frat. brother, Pat Patterson.

When I left on the train at the end of Nov. I was never more depressed .The other times I had left it had been to do something to better my education. 20 years had passed and no tragedies had befallen my family. And now I had been gone a whole year, always praying that my green valley would last for my return, but this time, when I looked out the window I shuddered at the thought that went through my mind. I wondered was it my last look at some of them as they were. How much I have to be thankful for - I pray that it lasts for another return and another. I returned to Augusta on Dec. 1, ‘41. The group was all upset as some of the high-ups had been put in jail for a small fight downtown.

A six day train trip all across the US found me back in Pendleton on Dec. 6th ‘41. As soon as I unpacked I went to see Traveler, my horse. It was a cold day but I had a good ride. So good that I got up early Sunday (7th) morning and rode again. When I returned to the stables, someone had heard something about a war. When I got to the post it was not only verified, but I was sent to packing again.

Even though I, as others, had sensed war, I didn’t look for it so soon. In fact, I had recently bought two new suits.

A few days after the war started I was sent to Spokane to gunnery school. I was still off of flight pay due to my operation. This lasted about a month. I went with Billie Lewis while I was there.

Here I spent my second consecutive Christmas away from home, and a dreary one - confined to camp. Fain, Blanton, Allens, Greening, Henry, Mooney and I made the best of it and got well oiled.

When I returned to Pendleton I was sent to join the 34th  in Portland. I did coast patrol duty while there. One day Watson and I saw the “Star of Scotland” a 5 mast schooner. It was beautiful listing way over.

I began to go with Louise Fletcher. With her I had some of the most wonderful times I had since my first loves in grade school. It wasn’t what we did or where we went - it was just her presence. In my 24 day stay there, and my many dates, filled with many attempts, I never once kissed Louise on the lips. I did not mind this but after once having analyzed her I decided that if she loved you she would kiss you - this always compelled me to try it occasionally. Another compelling factor was that her head never turned until the last half inch and then it wasn’t far-nor repulsive-just a look of “No, I’m saving ‘em for someone else”.

After leaving Portland I knew how Napoleon felt at Waterloo, how Landon, Wilkie and others felt when they have hit their real defeat. And even though I haven’t forgotten yet, my comeback is about as potent as Landons.

Portland back to Pendleton for about three more weeks. I found that one horse (Blitz) was dead, this saved getting rid of at least one. The Troxels had taken the other out to their farm.

This time we moved it was a permanent change of station to Columbia, S.C. I spent less than three weeks there, in tents, when I came home, to Valpariso, Florida.

Back to Pendleton just as though, not actually, I was best man at Gordon’s and Attellia’s wedding in that last three weeks I was there. Also, I ate several meals with the Troxels. On the way down we spent several days in Salt Lake City, seeing the Mormon Temple. From there to El Paso, we flew over the Grand Canyon.

This was the biggest scene from the air since I had flown formation over Lake Tahoe in California.

3-18-42

Today marked the end of my procrastination. A diary, having been a desire of my own, and a wish of my Mother is now an actuality. In writing the foregoing pages a multitude of incidents ran through my mind that I did not record, but had I started this then they would have been recorded, and I’m sure that I would have derived much pleasure in reading them. For that reason in my day-to-day recordings I’ll probably write many unimportant things which may someday be a source of joyful reminiscence.

My job as head of the armored section keeps me busy most of the day. I detail stripped my .45 cal. pistol and put it back together. I saw “Lady for Tonight” which wasn’t any good. (Expostulate-pos’tu-lat-v.i. to remonstrate).

3-19-42

Today I received 4 letters; one from Mama and Edison, another from Mickye; and two from Betty Troxel. Mama explained Mizpah-Genesis 31-49, “The Lord watch between thee and me, when we are absent one from the other.” This afternoon Greening made me happy by telling me that we would go to Dallas if our ship is made ready in time. After working all evening in the armament sec. I flew with McElroy as his copilot was gone. At least we started to fly. Our right engine was cutting up on the warm-up (I would have gone in then) but “Mack” decided to try it. We got up to 100 mph before he cut the power due to the spitting engines and then nearly burned the brakes out stopping. Thanks to this decision or my diary might have been very short. (immune-mune-v.t to enclose within walls, confine)

3-20-42

A funny incident happened today, however it came close to being a tragedy. The cover plate that covers the hole for a lower turret is held in by screws on the inside of the ship about a foot above. This plate got to jumping up and down during some fairly violent maneuvers. The engineer, Gardner, put two tool boxes full of tools and a parachute on it to hold it down. This did not do the trick, so he sat on the tool boxes. Greening called him to give Kappeler a head set and it was while he was doing this that both the plate and tool boxes dropped out of the ship. They are all in Davey Jones’ Locker. Gardner was wearing no chute so he was lucky. (impermeable-meibl - not permitting passage; impenetrable).

3-21-42

I wrote Louise and Mickye, and I sent them both a small pair of wings. I don’t see how a person could love two girls as I do if they were in the same place. Like it is I associate one with one circle and the other with another, and I would marry either one if I was in a position to and one was willing.

The brakes went out on a B-25 here that didn’t belong to our outfit and it chewed two P-40s pretty bad, but it wasn’t damaged much. Fog and rain keep us from flying (somnambulistic - sleepish).

3-22-42

I went on a practice bombing mission with Lt. Greening and Col. Doolittle. Some promotions came in and some of my classmates in other squadrons were made 1st Lts. One boy in the photographic section that only got his 2nd Lt. commission last Dec. was promoted. The promotion neither came by rank within the class or ability. I don’t know what grounds they were promoted on. My sqdn. gave none to my class. (ingratiating - to bring in someone else prior).

3-23-42

This morning I worked as usual, but this afternoon I went deep sea fishing with Maj. Hilger, Capt. York, Lt. Greening and Lt. Herndon. We caught a good mess of fish. I caught about six; one was a trigger fish. Most of them were red and white snappers. (apocryphal - a writing of doubtful inspiration).

3-24-42

Operations was like a mad house, everyone trying to get off on a very short notice. Lt. Greening and I led a flight of six ships. Weather forced us down at San Antonio. I phoned Herman and Mickye. Mickye called me back and told me that her Grandpa would not let her come. She was crying as she had already made plans to come. Herman came in about 11:00, and we went to see the Millers. We visited with them until after three. The kids were in bed. Then H. and I went back to the Hotel and spent another hour talking. (contumacious, adj., too perverse.)

3-25-42

Herman and I arose about 7:00 and fooled around until Chas. called then the three of us went to breakfast. We spent the entire morning together, while I “sweated” out the weather. The indefinite takeoff time made it impossible to see Lucille again. H. and Chas. seemed to like Greening very much.

We got off at 13:00 and came back over the field in a 3 ship formation. We flew to Sacramento non-stop in the longest flight I have made, being nine hrs. and 25 minutes. It was the first time I had used the automatic pilot it worked most of the trip. Greening merely made the take-off and landing. This left me free to go all over the ship. I rode most of the way in the nose and I really got a good look at the country. I saw the White Sands again. We hit a little weather around Mt. Whitney and had to go past 15,000 ft. to get over. (contumely, tu-mi-li, haughty rudeness; scornful and insolent abuse).

3-26-97

Lt. Greening and I went to Benicia Arsenal in a staff car to see about some supplies for an X mission. This took most of the morning. Upon return I took the car and went by Betty Tevede’s house, but she was not at home. I found that she was playing for the U.S.O. so I called her there. She had a date, but she took him home at eleven and met me at the main gate in his car. (dote-dot, vi. to exhibit the weakness of age; bestow excessive love).

3-27-42

I went to several people about our supplies coming from Benicia. Klein and I met Betty at the California Theater, where she plays the piano on Fridays. She got Jack a date with Naida. We danced at the Breakers. Klein and I stayed at the Hotel Sacramento. (inanimate - in-an-i-mat; dead, spiritless - adj.).

3-28-42

Betty did not work today and I could not phone her. I went out to her house in Kappelers' car, and her Mother said that she had gone to take her boy friends car home. We had used it the night before all evening - with his permission. I supposed she had a date with him for the night. Upon returning to the Hotel I met a sheep ranchers daughter and we accompanied her friends to some honky-tonk. She was really very nice. (gibber, gib-ir, to speak incoherently).

3-29-42

After work I went to Betty’s in Kappeler’s car and she and her folks had gone to a concert that Helen was playing in. I then caught the car into Sacramento and took a taxi to the concert. I got there just as it was over and missed her again. I returned to the Hotel and put up for the night. (gimcrack-krak-n, a pretty useless thing).

3-30-42

I got Betty at the Kraft Cheese Co and made arrangements to meet her at the Hotel; she was to bring a date for Jack. Helen, her sister, was the date, and we had to wait until she finished playing for something at the Senator Hotel. Then we went bowling. Betty and I won both games. Jack was high the 1st, I was high the second by a good margin, but all of us were lousy.

We returned to the Sacramento Hotel and to my surprise the girls went up to our room. Everything was in nice order, we had sandwiches and two rounds of beer brought up. No one even finished a second bottle. Helen is the prettiest but to tell for sure. She is only 17, and in Hi-School so we had to break our party up early. They went home in the family car. Jack and I stayed at the Hotel.

3-31-42

I spent most of the day getting my personnel papers in order so my pay voucher would be valid. Then I took them over to Mathes Field to get paid. We had been warned not to go too far as we might leave. About 20 of us were there at the time. When we got to the field only a few of us got off as some of our planes were not ready to go. I was getting worried as Jack and I had accepted an invitation to the Tevede’s for dinner. However, neither of us got off, so we met Betty at the gate on time.

The dinner was very nice. It was followed by some lovely music by both the girls, sometimes one at a time, and sometime both at the same time on two different pianos. Then Betty playing the piano accompanied Helen on the accordion.

Helen had to stay in so Betty and I took Jack by the Post, in their car, and then went into Sacramento for awhile, and promised to write. (achromatic-ak-ro-mat-ik, adj. free from color).

4-1-42

We planned to get off early but fog kept us all down until about 10:30. Then our magnetos were bad so we had to change plugs. Capt. Greening (he had become a Capt. on the 1st of Feb. but didn’t know it until the 28th) and I got off about 13:30. When we arrived at the point of embarkation we could see the other planes already aboard. Upon taxiing up to the line we found the Col. and Capt. York waiting on us. They directed us over to the Navy line. A tug hooked on and carried us out on a dock. While we were still sitting in the plane alongside of a huge aircraft carrier a large crane swung out over us and dropped down and hoisted us aboard. We were the only ones to come aboard in this manner. Less than five minutes after we climbed out of the plane onto the flight deck the ship was moving. We felt important to think that they were all waiting on us.

Before we left Sacramento a wire came in saying Greening was promoted to a Major. He could not get confirmation before we left so he didn’t tell anyone.

The ship dropped anchor in the bay and we all got our first shore leave. Motor launches took us in to shore. While waiting to come back on the 23:00 o’clock launch, the ships Captain invited Klein, McElroy and I to go out with him and the Commander. They were both very friendly and pleasant. Mitscher is the Captain’s name. When he asked us where we were living, I told him right outside his door. He apologized for the inadequate quarters. They suited me fine, however.

Officers live two in a room, but as our forces were carried in addition to the ship’s forces, there are not enough rooms to go around. Consequently, most of us 2nd Lts. live in four rather large rooms. Three of these are the Admiral’s suite-he is not on board, so his country is full of cots. The other one is part of the Capt.’s country, being right outside of his suite, and in the center of the ship, but it is to his suite what the porch is to a house. It has practically nothing in it except an altar, which folds up  and hangs on the wall.

The boys in the other three rooms are crowded, but Jack and I are the only ones who live in this 20 ft. sq. room. Four exits and an orderly (the Captain’s) who is stationed outside the Captain suite, make it impractical for more to live here. One white light burns in here all night-this doesn’t help either. (conterminus--con-ter-mi-nus--contiguous).

4-2-42

I found that we were on the carrier, Hornet, christened last Oct. I got up too late for breakfast so I hurried on up to topside to watch the activity. We hoisted anchor about 10:30. Passed under the magnificent Bay Bridge about 11:00, and the famed Golden Gate Bridge about 11:40. In the meantime we passed very near Alcatraz (Island). The outskirts of the harbor was surrounded by beautiful cliffs and mountains. Our send off was the weary howling of light house warning horns.

When we reached the open sea I found that Greening and I were not only holding 1800 men on a carrier, but two cruisers, 4 destroyers and the Navy’s fastest tanker.

Soon after we got out to sea a prevalent question in my mind was answered, as massive as this ship is, it still is capable of being rocked by the sea.

At noon I found that the meals in the Navy were not good, but excellent. The most elaborate meals to be consistent I have ever seen. Fresh fruit, vegetables and milk. I spent all evening gapping around. With dusk came a general alarm and the ship was darkened. My room, being in the middle of the ship is one of the very few that is not darkened, so Klein and I get to read after the rest have gone to bed.

About thirty minutes after general alarm was sounded about six commanders and three Lt. Commanders came in and lined up and reported to the executive commander (whom we had the lunch with) while Klein and I look on from our cots. I spent two hours or more reading some confidential material in the Col.’s. cabin or office. It pertained to our objective. (convivial--kon-viv-i-al, adj., festive, jovial).

4-3-42

Col. Doolittle told all of us more details of our mission. At 13:00 we went on tours, with guides, all over the ship. At 15:00 the Col. met with the pilots and co-pilots and discussed all of the probabilities and hazards of our mission.

The Captain’s orderly proves of more value to Klein and I than to the Captain. He does not need him, but we ask him a dozen questions every day, all three of them. All of them are studying to take a test for the Academy. (philter, philtre - love, charm, n.)

4-4-42

Now at last I can mention in my diary what our target is without fear. No one can find it now. If it ever does fall in enemy hands they will have already learned of our mission. Col. Doolittle told us more about our fuel transfer system and stressed the importance of utilizing every drop of fuel. Our target is Tokyo and surrounding military objectives. This afternoon Capt. Greening, Bower and McElroy and their co-pilots discussed our flight targets. Capt. Greening and I take the docks and refineries with incendiary bombs at Kawasaki, McElroy a Naval base; and Bower the Docks at Yokohama. (sedentary--sed-en-ter-i--adj. -much given to sitting; remaining in one place).

4-5-42  - Easter Sunday

I wonder what the folks at home are doing. I know that they must have mentioned me in their prayers. I wish I could send them an Easter Greeting, but that is impossible. Perhaps they realize I’m there in spirit anyhow. I attended Chapel services aboard ship for the first time. The service was nice, but my mind was wandering over the benches in the Church at Bowie. Mr. Bellah on the front row; Mrs. Heard doing her best on the piano; Bob Spain leading the singing, Dad standing respectfully while Mama did her bit to help the dragging music. Edison and Margaret coming in late to sit on a back seat. Yes, its Easter and Herman and Melba have turned out. James has managed to get a day off and is sitting with Mama and Dad. Rev. Brittenhunt explaining the resurrection of Christ in his logical manner, while Mrs. Hunt listens attentively and J.B. reads his papers. Mrs. Donald is winding one finger around in Paul Jr.’s hair, while Mr. Donald is at least 4 benches away with Robert. at his side. Mrs. Ward and Mrs. Sigmond right behind the Hunts, and the Phillies scattered throughout the Church. There are others here and there, bound to be if all the Reddys are there, because they all only come on special occasions.

The whole Church was glad to see Chas. and Lucille take up their home in Bowie, as they always come to church. All marveled at little Chas. good behavior. Easter is never complete without Uncle Ed, Son and Aunt Ruth over for the services.

Today, however, when the services were over, there was no argument as to where I would eat dinner. There was no after Church parley with Dorothy and Geo., Son, or Ed and Margaret. I just made my way to the wardroom and ate.

This afternoon I supervised the firing of several of the airplane turrets at some kites. One gunner broke up school after about five had shot. He was so good that he brought down both kites. (reverberate, re-ver-ber-at, re-echo).

4-6-42

It was rather cold on the topside today so I have spent most of my time inside playing cards. I have played hearts, Ernest and Spat, until my back aches. I also spent some time studying maps on the target. An authority on Japan gave us a talk about Japanese flyers and their training. According to him they are pretty hot pilots.

Tonight has been our roughest sea. It doesn’t seem strange to have four stationary walls and a floor moving about all the time. (magnanimity--mag-na-nim-i-ti-n. greatness of mind; nobility).

4-7-42 - 4-15-42

The days have been practically the same. Study of our mission. My special job of firing the turrets. Playing cards, checkers and reading. I haven’t gambled since Pendleton, where I lost about $40.00. That was my lesson from then until now. Since I’ve been aboard I have gone back on my better judgment. I took a $5.00 bill earned in a crap game and ran it up to $104.00 playing poker for 4 days. One day I fell off $19.00 but out of the four I earned $104.00. I haven’t played for the last two days, and I don’t intend to play. With this and the $79.00 I brought aboard I have paid (sic) my mess bill, sent $54.00 to Max Baer at Pendleton to finish paying my bill. Also I have loaned Birch, Parker and Watson each $10.00

Monday, the 13th, we were met by another outfit of the same number of ships as this outfit. Also a sister ship to this one. The same day we crossed the date line jumping from the 13th to the 15th (sic). This makes me a member of the Golden Dragon.

4-16-42

Today I sent my watch home. I insured it for $50.00. I also mailed Max Baer Store $54.00.

4-17-42

Most of the day was spent in making final preparations for the “Tokyo Cruise”. They made pictures of the entire group that was going. Col. Doolittle and the Captain posed in front of the 1st bomb that was to fall on Tokyo. They tied some tokens of friendship that had been presented to representatives of the US by the Japanese, to be retained by the US until there be a serious break of our good relations. We think the friendship has been broken so we are taking this means to return their worthless tokens.

4-18-42

Today may be my last day to write in this diary as I am not supposed to carry it with me. However, I have been careful not to write anything of military importance. Final preparations are being made to take off today or tomorrow-I hope it is today. If it is today I will miss one of my very best friends-Joseph. I hope he joins us again wherever I might go I look forward to tonight as the biggest event in my life. It would take more than money could buy to secure my place on this trip.

April 19, 1942 to Kenneth by J.R. Klein. Arise at 4:30 and everyone is alert. At about 8:00 the planes are manned and certain fireworks start. The first plane takes off at 8:20 AM. The last at 9:00 AM. At my position where I stayed behind there is lots of excitement and at 1:00 PM word is received of the Bombing. There is no definite word as yet and everyone hopes for the best. So until come what may, best wishes, and Mr. Monte Carlo--Happy Hunting.

4-18-42 - Saturday

We planned to take off in the late afternoon of today or late the following day. These plans were abandoned when the ship’s loudspeakers barked, “All army pilots & crews man your planes immediately.” While making an effort to carry out the above order came “Prepare planes for immediate takeoff.”

The ship was making 20 knots into a wind of 37 knots, which made a total of 57 knots across the deck. The sea was rough and the airplanes were pulling against their ropes like circus elephants against their chains. When I was climbing into the pilot compartment I heard some terrific banging and jarring noises. My heart leaped up because I thought sure some of the planes had broken loose. It was a relief to see that it was the ship’s 5” guns firing at an enemy vessel. The supporting cruisers were all throwing shells at the same spot, all hitting alarmingly close together. Once the spray settled enough I could see some object; however, I could not make out what it was with my naked eye. Some of the planes were not fully gassed, and they were topping them off. Three mechanics worked frantically on the plane in front of us trying to get it together before time to take off. If it was not ready to fly on time, they would have just pushed it overboard. Sailors were clinging on to ropes trying to get the ground work done in the midst of planes warming up on the already windy deck.

In all this fury the first ship, Col. Doolittle’s, thundered down the rolling deck. He made it off with everybody’s shouts of praise.

We were still short our reserve cans of gasoline in our ship as we had given ours to Davey Jones who had a leaky tank and was due to take off in front of us. As we were putting the gas in his plane, he made a gesture of “it’s no use”. Everybody was anxious to get off when his turn came, but perhaps we all felt the same - that was that our chances of meeting again were very few. We all realized that our job was necessary for both military and psychological reasons. We were all proud to have the opportunity to strike the first blow at Japan. We also knew why we were being pushed off ahead of schedule, the Navy wished to get their own planes on deck. They were afraid they would lose one of their carriers. Later we could see no reason for their fear, because whatever they sunk did not return fire, we met no enemy vessels en route to Japan, and they had 4 cruisers and another carrier and all of its planes for protection.

However, our time had come under very adverse conditions and none of us stopped to question our already slim chances of coming through. For a month or more we had worked on our planes, studied our mission, and examined all possible plans of attack. Col. Doolittle brought up each plan and discussed at length its advantages & disadvantages. Finally the following method was evolved as the most practical. The Navy was to take us within 700 miles (statute) of our target, at the most; this was just in case they met opposition. If little or no opposition was met they were to take us within 500 miles, and maybe 400 if they hadn’t been spotted. They were to give us the latest weather data. We were to take off at dusk, therefore having a daylight takeoff on the carrier, and the darkness to shield us over our target. This would also allow us to come into Chuchsien in the early morning, thus making landing a simple matter as compared to a night landing on such a poor field. We were to have two radio stations to home on. We were to fly at our best setting to conserve fuel, and to use our throttles as little as possible, so we would have gas enough for the trip.

As it were we were shoved off 808 miles from our target, at such an hour that we would arrive in Japan in the middle of the day, and if we had gas enough to get to our field in China, it would be pitch dark. We had no weather reports. Our refueling field in China had been bombed, and we were not certain who controlled it. Nothing was in our favor.

The above was not given much thought as we were too busy preparing to take off. No one had to stop and think of this as we had considered all possibilities so long that everyone was aware of our increased hazards. All this while planes were taking off as quickly as the ropes could be loosened and the plane pulled into place. One ship took off from the carrier and then rapidly sunk out of sight below the deck. All of us held our breath until it finally came back up. Everyone cheered. Our position was number eleven. The crew was all set and our gas cans had been replaced. Finally our time came. We pulled into place. I saw Hackney standing at the side waving good-bye - I returned his farewell. By this time we were running our engines up to 44 inches of mercury, and as soon as I locked the throttles, Greening released the brakes and we lunged toward the port side of the deck. Greening kicked the right brake

and she straightened out. As soon as we were half-way down the deck, I had nothing to do but watch the wheels to see when they left the deck. Once they cleared it 3 or 4 inches; but I did not jerk them up for fear of settling. Sure enough, just as the very end of the deck came along, it flew up and hit the wheels. At the same instant I jerked the hy-lever to pull them up. We were off.

My first carrier take-off was over. We were all proud of the smooth take-off Capt. Greening had made. Next we circled to the right and came across the ship to check our compass.

On the way to Tokyo none of us appeared a bit different than we did on our earlier routine flights. We were much heavier loaded than we had ever been before, as we were carrying a load which, in peace time, would have been a feat within itself. The ship was filled with extra tanks, and our original trip was to tax them to the limit. The additional weight was not only a hazard due to its weight, but to provide room for some of the flimsy tanks we had to give up our lower turret, much of our radio equipment, and many other smaller items.

Lt. Kappeler, the navigator, was the key man in the crew. He had to guide us over 808 miles instead of the proposed 500 miles of water to our target; then guide us over at least 1,140 more miles of water and hit a ten mile wide strait, Strait of Formosa, at the end of Japan; and then over land for 160 more miles to a small field where we were supposed to have some gasoline spotted for refueling. We were to go into this field with much caution as it might be occupied by Japanese. Furthermore, we were to get off as rapidly as possible for fear of being bombed on the ground by nearby Japanese bombers.

All of these disadvantages mentioned and others, on top of making a daylight raid on the most closely guarded part of enemy territory, made my longest flight (14:30) seem comparatively short.

For some reason I was not scared nor was I even frightened during the oncoming events; however, there were some very tense moments.

Some distance out of Tokyo we got peculiar Japanese music on the radio compass set. Finally about 1:30 P.M. (12:30 their time) we sighted land. Before we reached it we had to go around several ships skimming right along the surface of the water with two wing men (McElroy & Bower) close behind us. Upon reaching the coastline we split up as we all had different objectives. This was another disadvantage, giving us no supporting fire against pursuit.

We skimmed over the coastline, up some mountains, and down into some valleys. All the while I was taking in the scenery just as on a

cross-country over new country. People in the fields never even raised up from their work. Others just looked up out of curiosity. The country was very pretty and not as crowded as I had expected.

We had increased our throttle and R.P.M. setting therefore burning up more of our already scarce gasoline. In our search for our objective we flew over several places that we could have bombed, such as training camps, industries, and air bases. All seemed to be unaware that we were enemy bombers. We saw several other planes, but they were too slow to bother us. We could have knocked them down but we did not wish to give away our presence any sooner than necessary.

After we had been inland about 30 minutes or more, four pursuit planes (zero fighters, I think) attacked us. They were very trim, silver planes. Gardner was shooting at them before we knew they were on us. Our long range cruise is at 160 m.p.h., we had boosted our speed to 180 m.p.h. when they came in on us. As soon as the guns started we opened up to 2200 R.P.M. & 38 inches which is a good way from the maximum, but is fast enough to drink the gas. We were afraid to use more power for fear of burning too much fuel. Two soon dropped out. Not long after that another dropped out, we think that it might have been hit. The fourth just keeps hanging on. It was always visible to me as it would always come in from my side and pull-out on the same side. It would never get over 200 feet higher than  us as it couldn't keep up. When it would come

in I would push the R.P.M. up to 2200. Greening was working the throttles. When it would pull out to climb I would retard the R.P.M. slowing us down. I wasn’t trying to coax him on, but conserve on fuel. Perhaps, if I had seen the 8 to 15 small caliber bullet holes that had crept up the trailing edge of the wing on my side along the engine nacelle toward the propellers, I would not have teased our antagonist so much.

One time the zero came in and in and no fire barked from our fifties; all the way in and then the pull out (his most vulnerable moment) and still no fire. We were so low that the pursuit always had to pull out still within my sight. Greening, Birch, and myself, all called Gardner, as we all thought he had been hit. When he finally answered it was such a jumble of words we still couldn’t tell if he was all right. Then his guns answered our questions. Later we found out that he had been standing up in the turret cleaning a jam during the closest pass that was ever made at us. In so doing his throat mike was pulled down on his neck, and this accounted for all the burbling over the interphone. In the midst of all this we picked an alternate target, only a short distance ahead of the plane. On a moment’s notice Birch did an excellent job of getting the bomb bay doors open and laying the eggs (incendiary) right on the button. The explosion was so great that it bumped my head on the top of the plane even though I had my safety belt fastened. This was due from the target (an oil refinery we think) exploding rather than our bombs. This lessened the pursuit’s attacks as he had so much trouble catching us. However, he held on out to sea a short way, until Gardner set his engine on fire. We don’t know whether he went down or not. When we turned and looked back we could see huge billows of smoke towering at least 1/2 a mile high. We passed a little to the left of Tokyo proper.

After we got about 30 miles out to sea we turned and paralleled the coastline of Japan to the southern tip. Once we had to go around some naval vessels to avoid their fire.

Soon after we left the Tokyo region we saw a small vessel. Birch gave them a long burst from the 30 cal. in the nose, and men scrambled all directions for cover. Not long after that we found another and incendiary bullets set it afire.

The weather had been clear as a bell over Japan - just what we didn’t want. However, soon after we left we ran into a little weather; this forced us to climb up to 3,000 ft. and go on instruments. The clouds made good concealment for the Hari-Kari-er in her voyage to China. There was one more strongly fortified area that we had to pass in the daylight; the area on the tip of Japan and the islands across from it. As fate would have it, our protective cover played out a relatively short distance from the ten-mile wide Strait of Formosa and we had to drop back down to the top of the waves to shoot the Strait out to the China Sea. A couple of small boats were in the narrowest part, but we left them alone as we didn’t wish to be seen. Shortly after passing this point, however, and still within reach of the several surrounding islands, we sighted a warning boat. Here I got what was perhaps my greatest scare.

Just as Birch cut loose on it with his machine gun, our right engine began to cough & sputter, throwing flames clear out the front of the

nacelle. Greening and I both hit the mixture control at the same time, and shoved it into automatic rich. It soon stopped but none too soon to suit any of us. I’m sure that they would have had no mercy on us if we had gone down there.

It was practically dark when bad weather again confronted us. This time it was about two or three hundred miles off the coast of China - we never ran out of this weather. By 10 (P.M.) o’clock we had called on every means of navigation possible to contact the ground, which was impossible to see for the fog.

The two station frequencies that we had been given were not on. No one answered on 4495. There are not many more things we could call on to get out of the fog in mountainous country, which had absolutely no night navigation aids. We climbed to past 10,000 ft., using our precious gasoline, in an effort to break through to get some celestial shots, but this failed as our gasoline was too scarce to go on up.

If we had have broken through in another thousand or so feet we would not have had gas enough to work a problem and make an almost impossible let-down. One minute error would be a mile error on the ground. Our E.T.A. at Chusein was 10:15. All our reserve tanks were drained to the last drop, and the main tanks were reading much lower than I had ever seen them before, or hope to see them again. We started making preparations for what seemed inevitable. We had passed our arrival time. In a last attempt to get through the soup we dropped down to 6,500. This was rather desperate as some of the peaks in that area were practically that high. Thank goodness we pulled back, and the Hari-Kari-er started on her last climb.

We had decided to stay with her as long as possible, hoping to break through, and in the event that we jumped we would be further inland. When we reached 10,000 ft. again, we had from five to 15 minutes of fuel left, no more. Then automatic pilot was set to work, and Gardner had been called up front. Everything was arranged to expedite our evacuation, thus bettering our chances of getting together on the ground.

The door to the navigator’s compartment was dropped off. Kappeler, Birch & Gardner stood around it, awaiting the word from Capt. Greening. I was squatting behind his seat, and he was in the same position behind mine. We were very cramped, but this would enable us to drop down into the other compartment quickly.

It was 10:30 (we had been up 14 hrs. & 30 min.). I could not get my gun belt under my parachute so I held it in my mouth in order to have my hands free. The belt had my .45, a small first aid kit, a canteen of water, and two sets of clips.

I crawled down through the hole dropping my legs out first, then I turned loose. I was out in the darkness; the plane roared away before you could say scat. I changed the belt to my left hand from my mouth, and pulled my rip cord. Nothing happened. I pulled it harder and damn near blacked out. The impact was so hard that it pulled the clip holders off my belt. I had my flashlight inside my clothes. I was afraid that it had been jerked out, so immediately I began to scratch for it. Luckily it was still there. The breast straps were loose enough that they caught me under the chin; the bruise was not bad. This could have been when I chipped a small piece off of my teeth.

I shined my flashlight upon the chute, it really looked tiny oscillating back and forth in the wind. All was very quiet. Through the drizzle I could see another light bobbing around. I had time on my hands. I thought how a parachute jumper at Ryan had told us to put our feet together to land. About that time I saw a black space in the fog. Just as I was trying to ascertain whether it was an opening or a mountain one hell of a big jar answered my question.

China - good earth at last. It was the first land that I had touched since I left San Francisco on April the 2nd. I was so miserable that I didn’t worry much about whether I was in occupied China or not. I was hanging on a very steep mountain. My first thought was to just

hang there in the rain all night, I was so stunned. Then I said, you’ve got to get out of this, or you may lay here forever.” I got my canteen out and took a substantial drink of water. This stopped my head from swimming so bad. I became conscious that my left knee wasn’t just right.

I could hardly move it at all. I started pulling myself up my shroud lines, it was then that I found that the Mt. was really steep. I gathered my chute in, pulling it free from the brush and cutting the lines. My life vest was of no value to me so I took it off and dropped it. With my chute rolled up I started making my way down the mountain. Probably this was when I discovered that my throbbing head was bleeding. I remember wiping blood away with my chute.

“Doc” White had told us that scalp wounds would do a lot of bleeding, but they were not serious, therefore I didn’t stop to dress my wound at that time.

As I made my way on down the Mt. through the high wet weeds and small trees, I found myself frequently falling and sliding even though I took each step with caution. I hadn’t gone far until I came to a spring which I followed; it became progressively larger due to the many other small streams. Once I fell through a clump of grass into the stream, hurling my chute into the very middle of it. I grabbed it out as quickly as possible, but it still got fairly wet.

A small level place was a welcomed sight. As I drew closer I saw my first marks of civilization, a tiny stack of wood. I took my hunting knife and a stick of wood and drove it through piece after piece of the wood until I had a nice stack of kindling.

Then I whittled off a number of shavings from the driest piece I could find, and it seemed to be wet all the way through. I pulled my pocket book out and went through it, taking the bills of sales on two horses, blank checks, fishing license, receipts and courtesy cards, and adding them to my fire building elements.

While working feverishly I would have to stop occasionally to wipe the blood from my face. I struck match after match, I huffed & I puffed, I taxed all my scout training, and still my wet wood would not burn. My fire was a failure.

The work seemed to have increased the bleeding, so I ripped open my first aid kit and took the bandage pack from it and dressed my head. Spreading my already wet ’chute out on the wet ground against a small embankment I coiled up and attempted to sleep. The rain would not allow any sleeping. I got up and bent down from 10 to 15 bamboo trees over my little nook. It looked like a good make shift shelter, but the rain dripped right on through. After about 30 min. of tossing I decided to gather up my bed and go on down the hill, having no idea how high I was. Shortly, I came to an impossible barrier between two ridges, that is without going down some treacherously slick rapids. I gave up descending at night, and started climbing.

Finally, I found what I thought was a comparatively dry place, throwing my ‘chute down I made another bed. After getting all set, my gun at my side, my flashlight handy, I closed my eyes to try sleeping again, only to find this location was less desirable than the last, it had just stopped raining while I selected it as a dry spot. However, by this time I was wet to the core so I decided to make the best of it. I couldn’t sleep. No one had answered any of my calls, which weren’t many as I had felt them futile. I fired one shot with the same results. I had many things to thank God for at the end of that day, and during my sleepless night I had the opportunities.

4-19-42

There was no end of one day and beginning of the next, it was all just one miserable night. My knee hurt and I was stiff, but the rain made me forget these as I rolled up into a knot and shivered the long countless minutes away until day break. The fog and drizzle continued. I arose and rolled my parachute up twice, working it into a bundle to wear on my shoulders in order to have my hands free to catch with as I made my descent. I could see no signs of civilization, which made it important that I pack my bed with me.

My stiffness & soreness had been intensified during the night. I made a cane from a dried bamboo stalk to aid me in walking. I planned to follow the streams until they led me to someone, friendly or otherwise. I answered a number of bird calls thinking they were someone whistling. After walking about 30 minutes I was surprised by what I thought was a human voice - but I wasn’t going to be optimistic. However, I answered it. “Is that you, Reddy?” was the reply.

I guess everyone is proud of their name, but mine never struck me as being beautiful before then. We yelled back and forth until he came into view on the right of my general line of descent. Was I ever glad to see anybody? I had given up finding any of the crew because the terrain and underbrush were so thick and the airplane would disperse us fairly far apart. He came down to me as I could not climb up. I was so happy that when he tumbled about 20 feet at once, I broke out laughing. There never was a more sincere hand shake than the one we greeted each other with. Just before I had jumped from the plane I said, “I’ll see you on the ground,” as I left Greening alone in the plane. He inquired about the extent of my head injury first, for I had dried blood all over my face. I told him that it was just a scalp wound. As we made our way down the Mt. (we still could not see any houses, but some cultivated land came into view) we both had countless little incidents to tell about since we had wished each other good luck the foregoing night. Naturally we wondered about the safety & whereabouts of the rest of the crew, but that was all we could do - wonder. There was an old man and a girl at the first house we came to. They seemed frightened, but finally they became friendly. After drawing pictures & everything we finally gave up, as we could not get any directions out of them.

Leaving them staring at us, we started following trails through the winding canyons, asking questions, in sign languages, of everyone we met always with the same results. Finally we quit stopping people as it was just a waste of time. It was about 6 A.M. when we had met, and we walked until about 8:30 A.M. before we finally found a village.

Apparently no one had paid us any attention during that time, yet this village was either aware of our coming or some 15 people had just gathered at its entrance for some unknown reason. The most intelligent looking member of the crowd interviewed us, in sign language, and indicated for us to follow him.

He lead us through the village with a large crowd following us, and growing bigger with every step we took. Eventually he lead us into what seemed to be the city hall and spoke his first English, “Settee down.” We obeyed. There were old pictures on the walls of obsolete guns, tanks, and airplanes. We found the magic word when we pointed to a picture of the Generalissimo and said Chaing Kai Sheck. From then on they were at our service.

Everyone seemed to be eating a large mealy fried pie, about twice as big as a good sized pancake. No sooner than we had stared at it had they brought us one each, and a pot of hot water with a pinch of tea leaves in it. The pie looked to have turnip greens in it, but upon biting into it we found that the filling was some kind of green weeds. There was absolutely no seasoning; it was the most horrible combination to ever be called food. I nearly gagged.

They  bathed our feet and tried to dry our socks over little baskets of coals that all the children carry. While waiting on our socks, we were given a new pair of socks to put on.

One soldier boy in a crude uniform made signs to us and blabbed to the crowd for some time, with a letter resulting from his efforts. We had little idea what it was about but we hoped it would bring a car. We had by signs gotten this idea of travel to them.

I realized that a wheelbarrow couldn’t even get over the trails we had just come across, but we hoped that a road might be beyond the village. The dried blood on my face caused them to bring me the filthiest wet rag I have ever seen to wipe it off with.

After a long hour or more of being stared at, like monkeys in a cage, our standby (the seeming leader of the town) motioned us to follow him, an older man, and a boy. When it was noticed that the boy was packing our ‘chutes on a bamboo pole, and that the old man was carrying 4 umbrellas, we decided that it might be three or four miles to motor car. Instead of following the streams as we had done, they led us toward the mountains. The first mountain was between 6 & 8 thousand feet high. Most of the trail we had rock or shale steps to walk on. Capt. Greening and I had to call for a rest period several times. We passed coolies carrying unbelievable loads right on up the mountain.

Soon the older man took my gun belt for me. Later I thought he had skipped the country with it, only to find that he had dropped behind to cut us a couple of walking sticks.

My bum knee caused me much pain, especially descending steps. We passed the cultivation line, and that is plenty high in China.

In the undisturbed forests there were untold numbers of beautiful wild flowers and ferns. The bottoms of the mountains could not be seen for fog below us. Over most of this region, one slip from the trail would spell your end. After climbing up & down many peaks we again came to cultivated land. Cultivation as they do it is a marvelous sight. Some of the slopes must be at least 60 degrees or more. The crops are all clean from weeds, and the ground around the plants is all broken. I don’t see what holds the land on the mountains. Of course, they have terraces, but not as we know them. Another surprising thing was that in many places, far from any houses, the trail was lined with hand planted flowers, such as flags.

After several hours of this we sighted a large river and a good sized town below us. This surely must be the place that we catch the car, I thought. To my dismay we never even slowed down.

The main passage through the town wasn’t over 5 or 6 feet wide. Here I got my first real glimpse of filth that I never knew existed. Men & women both would urinate in the small streets in front of everyone. They store all excretory wastes in 5 gal. wooden buckets, that they use if convenient. When this begins to run over, it is carried a very short distance and dumped into a shallow cistern, made for preserving the stuff. From this storage the filth is dipped up in buckets and carried to their crops for fertilizer.

A little after 12:00 o’clock we came to a fairly large village with narrow muddy passageways going through its buildings. Our little party of five stopped at the center of town, where there were a number of places cooking in the already crowded streets. Greening and I both were hungry but nothing struck my nostrils that would make my saliva glands work.

Our guide shouted orders to several people that came up. Soon we were taken through a dark passageway into a small room. By this time the crowd had closed the passage and filled the room about us until the light from the one window seemed to leak through to the table. They breathed & talked down the back of your neck, and the garlic was strong. Neither of us liked the food, but both admitted it to be an improvement over our breakfast. Then they brought us some sort of strong drink. No one could get in with it so it was passed from hand to hand over the crowd, each holding it by the bottom of the cup and the lip. It was as clear as water and strong as straight alcohol, I could not get mine down.

I only ate two of the rice puffs, and this was with effort. Next came some noodles, handing them across just as they did the drink, except the latter was not in any kind of container. They came to rest on the table in front of Greening, he refused them and I did the same.

After dinner we crossed the street and stood outside of some heavy doors that remained locked until our guide gave the password. Everyone crowded around but no one was admitted but our party. We stepped into a pitch dark room and we were led through it and up some stairs. Here light shone across a table in the center of a large room in much the same manner light filters through ventilators in a dusty barn loft. We met our first English speaking Chinese. He asked us a bunch of questions, took our names and ages, and told us that we would have to walk four more hours to reach a highway where a car would be waiting. This nearly killed Greening & I, as we thought that we had already walked past the limit of our endurance.

Neither of us wanted to stay in this filthy town. All along we had suspicioned our guide a little, but the seemingly systematic way they went about evacuating us from the mountains convinced us that we were in the hands of some friendly Chinese organization. Our guide paid for everything (he would absolutely refuse all offers of money that we advanced) and we were on our weary way.

All afternoon we trudged along. Both of us were so tired that we could hardly walk. Our rest periods were few, and they were never over 5 minutes, due to our guide. His English vocabulary consisted of “set down” and “go”. We called him “slave driver”, but when he finally got us to the highway where we were picked up we were both grateful for his eagerness.

>From here it was a very short drive into ...The driver stopped in front of the best looking building in town, and we were escorted in. Upstairs we were shown to a room which, much to our surprise, was Americanized. It was neatly arranged and surpassed all of our expectations with twin beds. We were given hot foot baths while we sipped boiled water. Our most luxurious accommodation was an interpreter furnished us.

At last I had someone that I could tell just what we would like to have to eat if he could get it. Greening lay on his bed, dead to the world, so I ordered the food. I explained that I wanted milk, and sugar with my tea (they drink it straight).

They brought in some canned milk and I nodded “yes”. Soon the “bell hop” was back with two glasses of milk, sugar, and a faint bit of tea already mixed. It may have been my hunger,  but I was amazed at how good the drink tasted. Not caring to waken Greening, I drank both glasses of the mixture. I never saw the food that I ordered, for I too, upon relaxing, was fast asleep.

4-20-42

Greening and I both awoke about 5:30 A.M. A candle was burning beside two more glasses of milk-tea. We began to talk about how good the hard beds felt, which have only a very thin layer of straw for both springs and mattress. The pillows are like a very tight bean bag. Scarcely before we had said a dozen words our guide popped into the room fully dressed and offering his services.

All morning the room was as busy as a 5 & 10 cent store with all the local big shots talking to each other and to us. Before we had done anything else the preceding night, we had told the interpreter about the other three members of our crew. He assured us that they were coming in some time during the night.

After we had been up some time they brought in Lt. Kappeler. We were certainly glad to see him. Soon Birch came up and put in his cheerful greeting. Gardner was late coming up as he had slept in another room and we had to send someone to wake him. All of us were happy to hear how the others had made out.

Of the five of us, Greening had spent the most comfortable night on the 18th. He had taken his ‘chute and made a serviceable hammock between two trees. However, he too was cold.

The remainder of the crew spent a night something like my own, except they all seemed to have had better luck sleeping.

Gardner and Birch had gotten together soon after sunrise. After having no luck talking to some villagers they tried to leave, but the people insisted that they follow them.

Kappeler had not seen any of us until nearly ten o’clock. He was held by a crowd of natives for over an hour, while they apparently just stared at him. The latter had not known where they were being taken nor the former why he was being held. After that they all followed without question, until we were all brought together. All of us marveled at the Chinese communications system. One is not aware of anything but its results.

We were led across a 300 year old bridge, and posed for some  pictures at the end of it. We did not know our addresses to be, so we asked that they be sent home. Greening had wished a hundred times that he had thought to pick up his movie camera as he jumped. I forgot my camera also. Invaluable shots could have been taken, had we brought our cameras.

For breakfast we had only eaten lightly, having some cookies, tea and cake. Our first real feed came about 10:30 a.m. We even had silverware. I thought it was just breakfast, but it proved to be dinner as well. A toast started the meal; it was of the best beer I have tasted, being exceptionally mellow. A bowl of chicken noodle soup followed; it was very good. Then came what I thought was the last course. It consisted of two fried eggs and small pieces of ham. The eggs were not done as I like them, and the ham had an old taste, but I welcomed them as my first American dish in China. Next came a dish of fried pork strips-they were delicious. To my astonishment another course followed-it was some kind of eel, as best I could ascertain from their descriptions. All of this was topped off with a small piece of cake.

One or one-thirty in the afternoon we loaded into the back of a G.M.C. truck. There were about six Chinese soldiers in there with us, besides some supplies. We rode all afternoon and that night until about 11:00 o’clock. All the while we were going in a southeasterly direction. We wondered if all the kindness we had received was a trap, because we were going toward what our map showed to be occupied China. It was a relief to see an American ambulance at the end of our day’s journey. We were escorted into a large building, where we received a most hearty welcome from Capt. Jones, Lt. Wilder, Lt. McGurl, Lt. Truelove, Sgt. Manake and Lt. Bower, Lt. Blanton, Lt. Pound, Sgt. Bether and Sgt. Duguetter. That made 3 complete crews safe & sound in Chu Chow (Chusien).

I was taken upstairs and a Chinese doctor went to work on my head. This was when I learned the extent of my damaged head wound. The “Doc” took rock out of the cut for at least 15 minutes. Then through the interpreter he said he would take the rest out in the daylight. The biggest chip was a piece of shale about as big as my thumbnail and fully a 1/16 of an inch thick, or perhaps a full 1/8 of an inch. The pain was fairly bad, but the grating noise of the tweezers against the rocks was nearly as bad to take as the pain itself.

My knee still hurt but I decided it was just bruised, and so let it go at that. Capt. Jones’ crew had been there one night already-they had all landed close to civilization. Lt. Bowers crew had arrived about an hour and a half before ours. Our stories were very similar, all of us landing on a mountain of some sort with one exception. Lt. McGurl landed in a rice paddy on his head. His story was the most humorous. For an unknown reason he had, upon freeing himself, started running as fast as he could. Anyone who knows China, knows you can’t run far in a rice paddy without hitting a terrace. He did. But one didn’t stop him, it took several to bring him to his senses.

Soon after we retired, Maj. Hilger and his full crew, Lt. Sims, Lt. Macia, Sgt. Eiberman, and Sgt. Bain came in. However, I didn’t know this until the next morning.

4-21-42

I arose early in order to eat before the air raid sounded. I had just started eating when the alarm sounded. Yoa (the interpreter) told us there was time to finish eating but to hurry. After breakfast all of us piled into some station wagons and were rushed through Chu Chow with horns blasting all the way. People on all sides of us were rushing to the outskirts of the city. We drove on through the city and across a pontoon bridge to some hills in the country. Here we took refuge in a handmade cave in a sandstone cliff. After the all clear sounded we were shown to our new home, which was part of an army post within walking distance of the cave.

Two more air raids sounded during the afternoon. The Japanese bombers were old. They took their time in bombing the airport as they had no opposition whatsoever. We called our home the Chu Chow bombing range, for that is all it amounted to - practice for the Japanese. When we returned to the dugout we thought we had missed dinner, but a 4 course dinner was served us in the cave. All of our meals were prepared in the city at least three miles from our quarters and then brought out and heated again before serving.

Several reports from other crews came, but no names. No one reported in today.

4-22-42

Today we had two long air raids. The first one was the longer lasting until about 2:00 pm. The car that brings our food from town cannot travel during an air raid so we have not eaten. Scarcely had we gotten to the barracks when we had to return; this postponed lunch until nearly 4:00 pm. Then we had tea. Dinner was started about 8:00 pm and lasted until after ten.

Today Lt. Holstrom came in alone without any knowledge of the whereabouts of his crew. He has insect bites all over his body. Otherwise he was all right.

Later Lt. Stork, Lt. Crouch, Sgt. Horton, and Sgt. Larkin came in. They had no word from their pilot - Lt. Joyce. All were O.K. except Stork, who had a slight fever.

4-23-42

The air raid was one continuous one, lasting several hours. We all became very weary of just sitting and watching the Japs come over unmolested. We were all ready to help the Chinese in their seemingly hopeless struggle against the Japs. I believe one good pursuit plane could have easily knocked down a formation of three Jap bombers of the type we saw.

Naturally the foregoing pages of this diary, starting with April the 18th were not written up from day to day. Upon request the Chinese gave us these little books and I caught up on mine sitting in the air raid shelter.

Today Lt. Grey, Lt. March and Sgt. Jones came in. Lt. Ozuk of that crew was missing. Cpl. Faktor was dead. This marked our first known tragedy. He had been thoroughly instructed to jump, but when the wreckage of the plane was found he was still in the rear compartment. About 30 minutes later the same evening Lt. McElroy and his complete crew, Lt. Knoblock, Lt. Cassabel, Sgt. Bourgious and Sgt. Williams came in. While en route by rail they had to leave the train once, when it was machine-gunned. One woman was killed and a child was wounded. They brought in a slug

with them and it was a very small caliber, being about the size of a .25 caliber, but longer.

4-24-42

The Chinese have given us about all of their long saved luxuries. Today we ate the last of some 2 yrs. old canned butter. As usual the biggest part of our day was spent in the air raid shelter. Only one person came in today. That was Lt. Ozuk. He had had perhaps the roughest time of any of us present. He hung in his ‘chute on a cliff all night with a very deep gash in his leg. He had made a tourniquet out of his scarf. The next morning he had just enough strength to pull himself up his chute to the top of the cliff.

The knee of his other leg was also hurt. For two days, without food or water, he pulled himself through brush. His hands were one solid scratch. Then he was found by the natives and brought in as soon as possible.

The cut on his leg was at least 1/2 in. deep and 3 1/2” to 4” inches long. The bone was scraped also. It did not have as nasty a color as my head had had, but was a much bigger wound.

4-25-42

Today, our last on Chu Chow, was our first without an air raid. The rain prevented the Japs from coming over.

This afternoon Gen. T. T. Tong entertained us with an elaborate feed. He drove many miles to be present for the affair. A band opened the occasion with the Chinese national anthem, and they played what they thought was ours. They had signs up about the Americans, Roosevelt, and made many speeches to the same effect. They told us that we were the first foreign power to strike a blow at Japan proper in its 2,600 years of existence. They told of the panic we caused, the greatest since the big earthquake of 1922. The Gen. also brought us some gifts of rice wine, cookies, canned milk and canned beef - all of which are very scarce.

Lt. Youngblood came in the morning and he was the only one that came before we left that night on the train at 9:00 o’clock. The train had been held up for two hours just for us. To my surprise we had a Pullman, such as it was. The bunks were very hard and narrow; they run across the car instead of parallel, and there were 6 in a compartment - three on each side. However we only slept 4 to a compartment.

4-26-42

The train only travels at night due to enemy bombers, so we got up

early.

At Yington, Kiangai, we had a very enjoyable breakfast at the Catholic Mission. There were two priests there, Father Tunnison, an old Dutchman with a slow accent, and Father Glynn, a Yank from Chicago. Here our party of 20 - Capt. Greenings complete crew, Lt. Bowers complete crew, Lt. Youngblood, Lt. Wilder, Lt. Gray, Lt. Manch, Lt. McGurl, Lt. Truelove, Sgt. Manuske, Sgt. Jones, Sgt. Larkin, and Sgt. Horton, our interpreter, and the old Father - boarded ____ a bus. We were very crowded, and the seats didn’t know what cushions were. After a weary drive we put up in a very nice hotel in Mingtu. I got my first Chinese shave here. After they have given you a close shave they go back over your face and dig the whiskers out. Then if you don’t stop them they shave your ears, nose, forehead, and between your eyes.

The rest of our party had stayed in Chu Chow to help gather up the stragglers.

4-27-42

Another long tiresome ride today. I saw more uncultivated land than anytime before. I was surprised that it did not have many cattle or sheep on it, in fact I saw none.

Tonight we came to a very good hotel. Hot showers were a welcomed sight. The furniture was very modern, in fact extra super streamline - all hand made. Yet the electric lights were very dim, no running water, nor restrooms with a sewer system. This did not mix with the furniture. This was in Kian. A Gen. gave us a very good feed. And we spent a pleasant night. 4-28-42

Today we were slated for a fairly short ride, but we would have had to spend the night in a small town so we doubled up and drove all the way into Heugyang. This took from about 7:30 AM until about 12:00 PM to travel only 390 kilometers or 243 miles. One ferry had been washed downstream so we crossed on a small boat leaving our bus and catching another (this happened on the 27th). That same day, the 27th, the Governor of the Kiangei province entertained us. In many places en route we found signs praising us.

In Hengyoag the hotel was excellent. The food was the best we had had, perhaps because the chef had spent 9 yrs. running a Chop Suey Joint in N. York. The dinner lasted until about 1:00 am in the morning, so we were all very tired and ready for bed.

4-29-42

Our plan was again changed, as we were going to drive to Kwaline today and catch a plane tomorrow or the next day. Instead a C-47 picked us up at Hengyoag about 3:00 pm. When it flew over with our insignia on the side we all shouted with joy. It was the most beautiful sight we had witnessed in China.

The plane was due to come at nine that morning but a Jap scouting plane had prevented it. While waiting, I rode a Japanese horse, bareback, as the saddle had not been captured, just to say I had been on one. The Chinese horses are very small but do not look like ponies, but look like miniature horses. I saw one beautiful palomino stud of this type. We were picked up by Gen. Bissel, Capt. Richardson and 2nd Lt. Conway. The Gen. was in a hurry to get off of the field for fear of being bombed on the ground. The Japs could fly from a nearby field in a short time. On the way to Chungking he told us that the Japs were completely in the dark as to where we came from, and the number of our planes. Henceforth we were to deny all knowledge of our mission and that that was the orders from the US and from the General - issued to the Chinese. We landed at a small field near Chungking and hid the airplane. We were driven to the American post, which is a very small affair high on a rock terraced hill. The personnel consists of a few Lts., a few Capts., several Majs., many Cols. and a few Generals, as well as enlisted secretarial help. The guard and drivers are all Chinese. We were introduced to all of the big shots, and dined with General McGruger, who was very pleasant.

4-30-42

Most of the day was spent in making individual reports of our missions, hardships, and making recommendations for additions or changes in equipment.

We were all called together about 9 o’clock in the morning to receive from Gen. Bissel what was the biggest shock of my life. The President, General Marshall, and Gen. Arnold all sent their personal congratulations along with an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for each of the 20 of us present. None of us had expected such honor, so we were all astounded. Then all of the high-ups of the Post came by and gave us their own congratulations. The Crosses were not available, of course.

Most of the officers live in a big house on the river, about a mile from here. Tonight we were invited over to celebrate at their house. Scotch is $75 a qt. (our money) here so they use a bathtub gin made by the only ice company here. It served its purpose well.

They all said that when they found out we hadn’t made our field that they were really worried about us. They had been unable to tell the Chinese people that there would be some American flyers coming over. They could not let it be known even after we had bombed Tokyo. Some Russians who landed in China had been shot. Many Chinese pilots had been shot when forced down, because the people of that locality could not understand their dialect.

These officers had mixed opinions of China and the war, but I do not wish to express any of them as that is their business. Yesterday I failed to mention that while we were eating with the Gen., the Doc. came in and called for the boy with the cut head. I did not realize that I still limped, but when I got out in the hall, he said, “What’s the matter with your leg.”

I thought he had come to see my head, so I asked him to repeat it. Then I replied that it had been bruised, but that the swelling was practically gone, and only a small sore spot remained. He told me to come down and see him after I finished eating.

When I went to the infirmary my head was again my chief concern, but he asked to see my knee. After feeling both of them he told me that I probably had a broken palate [patella]. He taped it up tight.

Then he took one stitch in my head, this was to make my scar smaller (it could not be sewed up as it was still discharging). What I mean, this hurt, but I did not even moan. The “Doc” is an old Maj., he said “My lad, you are a real soldier.” My head was really swelling by this time, D.F.C., personal congratulations, etc. He gave me one of his cigars when he finished work.

5-1-42

At nine o’clock I drove over to a Chinese hospital to have my knee X-rayed. The building where the X-ray had been originally was under construction, as it had been practically destroyed by a bomb. The X-ray table had gone with the building, but the main elements had been carried to a shelter. The remainders were in a partially destroyed building. The setup was crude, but there is only one more in Chungking and it has no films.

When I returned to our quarters I found that we all had been invited to dine with the Generalissimo. His home was very lovely inside, having indirect lighting of a Chinese design, soft modernistic chairs, and heavy padded cushions without backs to sit on, individual silver ashtrays, herring bone hardwood floors, and a soft glowing fireplace. When we arrived, Dr. Wung (the Gen’s interpreter) greeted us. Generals Shung and Chow were also present. Later the Madame came in. That was when the party picked up. Until she arrived our silence had alarmed Gen. Bissel, who made apologies for us, but she got things to going surprisingly quick.

The Madame is the most impressive character I have ever had the privilege to meet. She speaks excellent English, and better still she has control of the American slang; she’s brilliant, witty and beautiful. The lunch was informal. The Madame asked many of us about different phases of our experiences since the bombing of Tokyo. It was our best meal in China. First we had some very tasty onion soup. Potatoes and cold ham and beef were the next course. The next dish was chicken rolled in noodles with green peas and some other vegetables. Next we had lemon pie (she was sorry that she had no apples for pie a la mode) followed by our first and last i