3 Dec 09
On 28 Feb 1944, Paul wrote to his wife that he’d received a package from his sister Lorrayne that, among other items, included some unpopped corn, popcorn being on of his favorite snacks. He told Bunny, “I’m waiting for just the right evening when I can get all cozy and just settle down and read and eat warm pop-corn.”
A week later, he and some of his squadron mates decided to pop some corn:
The only way we could manage it was with a blow torch and mess kit, but we finally did get it popped — and it tasted really ‘stateside.’ The mosquitoes descend upon us in clouds after dark, but we hardly bother to shoo them away now, for there are so damn many and we have resigned our fate to them — malaria or not. I got clumsy during the popping process, and burned hell out of my fingers, so this writing is rather slow and painful. I have two lovely large blisters to show for my efforts, and they just clear my pen, so guess I will manage OK.
Well, as Paul wrote often in both his diary and his letters home, it was a Rough War!
Posted in Burma, daily life | Tagged Burma, letter home, WW II | Leave a Comment »
28 Nov 09
On 21 Mar, a flight of 10th AF P-40s dive-bombed targets around Mogaung using the 1,000-lb “blockbusters” for only the second time. Damage over a two-block area of the town was extensive, and the bridge south of town is damaged. On that same day, Paul launched in a 90th FS four-ship from Moran with belly fuel tanks and a pair of 250-lb under-wing bombs. Paul described the next two days in his diary:
We flew over and landed in the Upper Moguang Valley in Burma, at Maigwaing. General Stilwell’s forces are advancing beyond this point now, and this airstrip was built under fire by our Engineers in just nine hours, during which one artillery lieutenant was killed. We moved in today, establishing the most forward Allied airfield in Burma. In the distance, I can still hear the sound of guns, occasionally booming out and echoing back and forth between the mountains on either side of the valley.
Signs of war are everywhere! Former Jap foxholes, gun emplacements, pill boxes, shell holes, and a multitude of unused 105mm shells are everywhere. The terrible stench of rotting dead is still lingering around this jungle spot.
Later that morning, they flew a close air support mission just beyond the airfield itself:
At 10 a.m., we took off on a mission in support of the infantry. They have a radio with which they contact us and tell us where they want us to dive-bomb and strafe. His code name is Gallahad,and the operator is quite a character. When we put our bombs where he wants them, he usually comes back with some quip like That’s it fellows – that’s putting ‘em on the bastard’s head or That’ll show the bastards. He always has some remark, and we wait for it, for they sure pep us up.
Following a second mission in the afternoon, Paul reported:
After a supper of C rations, we walked over to Combat Headquarters where Col Stilwell – son of the General – has his HQ, and where he compiles all reports on ground and air fighting and coordinates attacks. He was having a staff meeting and invited us four pilots to sit in. It sure was interesting to hear firsthand about the day’s advances and setbacks, and especially interesting to hear of what we four actually had done ourselves during our mission.
Posted in 90th fs, Burma, combat mission, p-40 | Tagged 90th fs, Burma, combat mission, p-40, WW II | Leave a Comment »
27 Nov 09
I completed another 2,000 words this morning on the book. Here’s an interesting section drawn from Paul’s diary and logbook, after over a month of no combat (on 10 Jan 44, Paul was sent over to 80th FG HQ at Nagaghuli in hopes of building some combat time, following his fourth combat sortie on 21 Dec 43):
The next day, Paul flew his fifth combat mission, this time from Nagaghuli over to Miyaing, dropping three bombs and firing 500 rounds of ammo. Paul wrote: “Bombed and strafed the town and road. I set two huts on fire and destroyed a truck. Didn’t see any personnel.” However, the official report said the P-40s, P-51s, and A-36s involved in the attacks hit an “encampment containing about 4,900 troops and a large quantity of supplies, causing considerable damage by accurate bombing and strafing.”
On 12 Jan, he flew two combat air patrols, one at dawn and the other at sunset, for a total of six hours. On the 13th, Paul was one of 12 P-40s that bombed and strafed a communication center and ammo dumps along the Kamaing-Mogaung road, where he again dropped three bombs and expended 400 rounds of .50 caliber.
His ninth combat mission on 15 Jan put Paul in a 12-fighter contingent providing escort for a B-25 raid in the Nara-Brama-Katha area. One B-25 was credited with destroying a Japanese supply train.
Posted in 80th fg, Burma, combat mission, p-40 | Tagged 80th fg, Burma, combat mission, p-40, WW II | Leave a Comment »
