Sardinia, Corsica and Southern France

(1944)


 

NOTE: The following are excerpts from one of my father's personal diaries during the WWII years. This is purposely not a carbon copy of the original. My intention here is to provide an insight for readers into the life of an Army Air Force soldier, his work with B26 Martin Marauder light bombers (with specific aircraft identified, which may be of interest to some), and his comments about buddies and acquaintances in the service (which may be of interest to those named who are still with us, and their descendents). Whenever one encounters brackets, "[" and "]", around text, that text was added by myself, either for clarification, or to omit text not pertinent to the purposes listed above. -Joseph B. Sheppard




1-1-44: Went to Mass and Holy Communion. Did not work on the ship today. Read Quo Vadis and Following of Christ. Wrote letters and had discussions with the fellows in the tent.


1-2-44: Finished 50 hr. inspection and putting on nose tire. Read Quo Vadis and The Following of Christ. Wrote letters and took a bath out of a steel helmet.


1-3-44: Worked on #890. We had our New Year’s turkey for supper today. It sure was good! Received and wrote letters. Read “F.O.C.” and Quo Vadis. Went to meeting Col. Fletcher had. Saw movie “International Squadron” with Ronald Reagan and Joan Perry.


[page ends in original diary]


1-4-44: Worked on #890. Read Quo Vadis and “F.O.C.”. Wrote letters to Dud, Frank and Alan [brothers]. Got shot for Typhoid, Tetanus & Typhus the last few days.


1-5-44: Worked on #890. It flew 1hr., 15mins. Finished reading Quo Vadis. It was one of the best stories I’ve ever read. It would make a swell technicolor movie [and did!]. Read “F.O.C.”. Too tired and sleepy to write letters tonight.


1-6-44: #890 went on a mission over Italy. “Frency” Borgeselt [?] finished his tour of duty in my ship today. Lt. Marsh [Richard R. Marsch?] was pilot. Wrote 3 letters.


1-7-44: #41-34890 went on its 26th mission. Lt. Turner was pilot. S/Sgt. Breeding [Cecil] finished his tour of duty in it today. Saw movie and read “F.O.C.”. Wrote three letters home.


[page ends in original diary]


1-8-44: 890 went on its 27th mission today. F.O. Hicks was pilot. He and Hedgepeth [J.C.] finshed their tour of duty (40 missions). Studied Technical Orders and read “F.O.C.”. Wrote two letters.


1-9-44: #890 flew transistion today. I went to Villasor and drank Vino. Went to Benedition at church in Villasor.


1-10-44: Worked on #890. Mission called off. Read Technical Orders and Hydraulic book. Talked to Capt. Morris [John Morris, 443rd ?] about hydraulic system.


1-11-44: Read T.O. and Hyd. System. Took a bath. Talked to Kelly. Went to mail call. Read “F.O.C.”. Wrote letters.


[page ends in original diary]


1-12-44: Mission called off. On “C.Q. tonight. Read book by Irvin Treseler: How to Loose Friends & Alienate People.


1-13-44: #890 went on the 28th mission today and got back OK. Lt. Gasser [William V.] was pilot. I took day off to sleep. Read Life magazine.


1-14-44: Went to Oristano with Harvey C. Harris on a train with a load of Italian soldiers. Met train engineer and operator at Oristano. Talked to an Italian sergeant on train about the book Quo Vadis (he had read it). Met an Italian-speaking Chinaman on train. He gave me some Vino.


ticket.jpg















Above is a round-trip ticket from Decimomannu to Oristano, Sardinia that was being used as a bookmark in my Dad’s diary.



1-15-44: #890 went on its 29th mission. Lt. Johnson [Johnston?] was pilot. I got letters and Christmas cards from Mom & Dad and Uncle O.A. [Oscar Albert Gonzalez, from whom my Dad got his first name]. Wrote letters, read “F.O.C.”.


[page ends in original diary]


1-16-44: #890 was sent on it’s 30th mission today and got 50 flak holes in it, but got back OK. The tail gunner’s flak vest got hit, but he did not. Our squadron was leading today. #890 was on the lead ship’s right wing and the Germans were very accurate today and shot down the lead ship. The eight men on board bailed out. Then the ship blew up in mid-air. F/O Peters [Ralph L.] then jumped up and took the lead. The lead ships bombadier dropped his bombs before he bailed out and hit the target (Bombadier Banicki [Jerome]). Our C.O., Major McCrory [James L.], was on board on his last mission. [On board the ship that went down - Battle # 93, (S/N: 41-18292 ?)][More details of this mission can be found at: http://320thbg.org/mission_pdfs/mission_131.pdf . Please note that some of the crews and corresponding battle nos. are mixed up in this mission report. For example, the crew for my Dad’s ship, battle #84 is listed as being on #96, and the crew on the aircraft that blew up in midair, battle #93, is listed as being on #87. One wonders how often such errors occurred. -JBS]


Could not get to Mass today because of work. Read “F.O.C.” and wrote letters.


1-17-44: Went hunting with Wymer [Harold J.} and got a duck. Gave it to the wash woman in Villasor. Got card.


[page ends in original diary]


1-18-44: Slept until 12 noon. Thomas cooked me some eggs. Ate breakfast in bed. Went to Service Squadron to see what work was being done on #890. She will need a new engine. Flak got down in the impeller and chewed it up. Got letters. Read The Following of Christ and wrote letters.


1-19-44: Wrote 6 letters. We bought a radio for the tent today for $70. It sure sounds good. Went to a movie.


1-20-44: Went to Service Squadron to see how they are making out on #890. They are going to install a used engine. Studied Tech. Orders, read “F.O.C.”. Got letter from Dad. Wrote letter to Dad.


[page ends in original diary]


1-21-44: Reimiller and I had a day off, so we decided to go along on a mission to see how it is over the target. We did not get to see the operations officer in time so we did not get to go. We went to Cagliari instead, to visit the sick boys and Col. Fletcher (our Group C.O.). We heard at the hospital that they had a hot raid [this day’s mission]. In fact, our new C.O., Lt. Edwards, the man I planed to fly with, was shot down. Six chutes were seen. We also saw several injured brought into the hospital. Read “F.O.C.”.


1-22-44: The Allies invaded 20 miles south of Rome at 2am. At 5pm one German prisoner was taken and there has been no resistance yet. Swung engine on right side of #890 today. Read “F.O.C.” and wrote to Mother.


[page ends in original diary]


1-23-44: I went to Confession, Mass and Holy Communion. Worked on #890. Read “F.O.C.” and about hydraulic system.


1-24-44: Worked on #890. It should be ready to fly tomorrow. Read “F.O.C.” and hydraulic system. Got letter written Dec. 5th. Went to movie.


1-25-44: Worked on #890. Started the used engine that the 304th Service Squadrons installed. It sounded good.


1-26-44: Got #890 out of Service Squadron. Saw movie starring Alice Faye: “The Gangs All Here” in technicolor.


[page ends in original diary]


1-27-44: Synchronized throttles on #890. Lt. R.G. Weinberge tested. Hoped it checked out OK. Read and article in Coronet magazine on memory. Read “F.O.C.”. Listened to Bing Crosby and Alan Jones on radio. Wrote letters. New A.P.O. No. 650 -


1-28-44: #890 went on her first mission since engine change (31st). Read “F.O.C.” and Coronet. Saw movie. Wrote birthday letters to [relatives].


1-29-43: #890 went on her 32nd mission. Lt. McBride [John A.] was pilot (from Wyoming). Read “F.O.C.”. Wrote letter. Drank Vino and ate “K” rations.


[page ends in original diary]


1-30-44: Worked on #890. Read “F.O.C.”. Went to Confession, Mass and Holy Communion. Listened to radio. Studied Math.


1-31-44: Washed #890 down. Got Christmas card from cousin, Valentine and letter. Read “F.O.C.” and Reader’s Digest. Wrote letters. Worked square root and cube root problems.


2-1-44: Worked on #890. Studied math and wrote letters.


2-2-44: #890 went on practice mission. On landing, the left main tire blew out. Put new tire on. Let Hoover paint a picture on the ship and name it after his wife Barbara “Sis”. [This aircraft, Battle # 84, S/N: 41-34890, was previously named Jeanie by my father -JBS]


2-3-44: Studied “Hydraulic System”, Read “F.O.C.”,


[page ends in original diary]


Stars and Stripes, and Life. Worked math problems. Had “C.Q.”


2-4-44: Slept all day. Got letters from [relatives] and Mother & Dad. Also got Christmas cards from [relatives]. Finally, I received a photograph of Mother & Dad. It is a fine picture and a picture that I have wanted for a long time. I’ll cherish it all my life. It makes me very homesick, more than anything since I’ve been overseas.


2-5-44: Worked on #890. Went to Villasor with laundry. Drank “Vino”, bought eggs and gave some horns and games to the wash woman’s children and showed them how to play “tic-tac-toe”.


[page ends in original diary]





[END OF FIRST WAR DIARY]












   


War Diaries of Oscar Nixon Sheppard, Jr.

Vol. II (2-6-44 to 7-5-44)





2-6-44: Worked on #890.


2-7-44: Got a new aeroplane today, A.C. # 42-107532, a B26C- 46 with 63:00 hrs. time on it [NOTE: A “Marauder Production List” on p. 48 of “B-26 - Marauder In Action” by Squadron/Signal Publications (Aircraft # 50), list this serial no. as being a B26C-45-MO]. I now have two ships, #41-34890, a B26C-16 is the other one. [NOTE: Same publication lists this serial no. as a B26C-10-MO]. This new one sure is a “honey”. Started acceptance check on it.


2-8-44: Finished acceptance check on new ship.


2-9-44: #42-107532 went on its test hop today. Lt. Buckout [Egbert, KIA] flew it. He said he flew it with one engine cut off for 20 mins. at 10,000 ft.


2-10-44: T/Sgt. A. C. Hoover, Sgt. W. J. Kelly, Sgt. V. Nussbaum and PFC C. E. Ware are on the crew and we are proud of our new ship.


2-11-44: Tried teaching “Vic” Nussbaum how to preflight and taxi a B26. The rest of the crew know how.


2-12-44: Preflighted #42-107532. Read “F.O.C.” and Time.


2-13-44: #42-107532 went on its first mission today over Italy to help Gen. Mark W. Clark at Anzio beachhead. Went to - Mass, Confession and Communion. Also took C. E. Ware to Mass with me.


I sure am proud of my crew. They are all good men and hard to beat, and I’m sure pray for the safety of the crews that fly in our ships as much as I do.


Read “F.O.C.” and Time. Wrote to Dud [brother Dudley].


2-14-44: #532 went on transition flight this afternoon. I got haircut, read “F.O.C.” and “T.O.”. Wrote letters. Saw movie and studied Arithmetic.


2-15-44: Worked on down lock on #532. Had appointment with dentist (Capt. Rivers), but he is not back from Naples yet. Flew with Lt. Sinn [Willie R.] in #532 this afternoon. Wrote letters. Read “F.O.C.”, Time, and Colliers.


2-16-44: Went to Cagliari and drank wine. Got rations from P.X. Saw Mayer [Albert J.] and - McCaffrey [in hospital. Came back to camp and heard the 42nd Wing Band play in our mess hall.


2-17-44: My aeroplane flew yesterday (#532). Lt. Weinberg [Bill Weyenberg?] was pilot. The left engine was backfiring. We changed plugs in both engines and she ran up OK. Listened to Sally and George on the radio. They are Germans and play popular music and tell jokes to us Americans. It is a propaganda program. Read “F.O.C.”. Wrote letters. Two planes in our squadron got shot down today. Lt. Brown [Dennis?], Sgt. Noe, , Freidman, an McCutchen [Virgil McClutcheon?] were in one of them that got a direct hit and blew up. The other one, we believe, made it to the beachhead landing strip at Anzio. F.O. Peters [Ralph L.] was pilot, McGugan [Charlie T.] co-pilot, Capt. Brewer [Edwin H.](our C.O.) flight commander, T/Sgt. H.J. Wymer [Harold] engineer.


2-18-44: Worked on #532. Went to movie. Saw Lt. R.B. Polk. He flew here from Telergma in a B-25. Went to bed early. Read “F.O.C.” and talked to Italian soldier Bruno.


2-19-44: Worked on #532 and #890. #532 flew transistion. Lt. William R. Sinn was pilot and marked it OK. . Took a bath and ate Italian salami and eggs.


2-20-44: Got two packages.

-

2-21-44: Worked on #532. F/O Peters, Capt. Brown and Sgt. Wymer came back today. My ship picked them up at Naples.


2-22-44: Worked on #532. Pulled C.Q. all night.


2-23-44: Slept all morning. Went to Villisor with Italian Bruno and visited Italian family.


2-24-44: Laid on bed all day. My ship #532 did not fly today. Read “F.O.C.”.

-

2-25-44: Rain today. Mission cancelled. I wrote 6 letters. Made an electric motor by use of safety wire, thumb tacks, paper clips and a dry cell battery. Read “F.O.C.” and the New Testament. Listened to radio. Talked with T/Sgt. John R. Thomas, Harvey C. Harris, H.J. Wymer and M/Sgt. Byron C. Reimiller in our tent. Listened to German propaganda station on radio. They played a lot of popular American music.


2-26-44: 532 flew today. Lt. Matterson was pilot. Got two letters from Mother, one from Dad..


2-27-44: Went to Mass, Confession and Holy Communion. Got rations, candy, cigarettes and fountain pen. Ate lamb at a Italian’s house in Villisor and drank vino, but this time I drank temperately and did not get tight. Went to bed at camp at 11:30 pm. Enjoyed talking Italian at “Casa” in Villisor. My Italian soldier friend (Bruno) introduced me to their family.


2-28-44: Capt. Morris (our Engineering officer) put - Nussbaum on Rossen’s crew and gave me Raymond Wall. Now Rossen has an all Jewish crew. Wall is a good man. Ship did not fly today. Cpl. Hubert Wilson called me on the telephone today and said his wife knows Rachel. Read “F.O.C.”.

-

2-29-44: Got a pass and went to Cagliari to visit Cpl. Hubert Wilson (310th Service Group Finance Dept.). He got overseas last September. His wife works in the same office with Lucy (sister) at Gulf Power Co. Met John R. Thomas and Harvey C. Harris. We hitched-hiked to Iglesias, drank some vino, but not too much. We were standing in the entrance to a - restaurant with some girls to get out of the rain and invited the girls to come in the restaurant and eat with us. The boss of the restauant closed up after we got in and we were the only ones in the restaurant. One girl would not come in, so there were two girls and three boys. The girl I was sitting by said to me in English: “I love you very good sweety pie, kiss me.” I did, then she said, “Take it easy baby.” Boy, you could have knocked me over with a feather when she said all that in English. She said she took English and French in school. She is 16 years old and wants to go to New York after the war. I tried to escort her home, but she would not let me. Caught ride back to camp.

-


3-1-44: Preflighted #532 (Jeanie III). Read “F.O.C.” Wrote Mother a letter. Sent Lucy a card. Mailed a picture to Dad of Capt. Eddie K. Harris, M.Sgt. Byron C. Reimiller and others at te Sphinx in Cairo, Egypt.


3-2-44: [Same story recorded here as on 2-29-44]

-

3-3-44: Both of my ships, #890 and #532, went on mission today and came back OK. Ate supper at an Italian’s house in Villasor with my soldier friend, Bruno. We ate, talked, joked, drank vino and sang songs they knew (“Beer Barrel Polka”).

-

3-4-44: Worked on #890 (300 hr. insp.) Read “F.O.C.”, took bath, smoked cigar and went to bed. Radio music was good tonight.


3-5-44: Went to Mass and Communion today. Mission called off - bad weather.

-

3-6-44: 300 hr. inspection on #890. #532 went on a mission. Wrote home.


3-7-44: Went to Iglesias with “Tom”. Rasmussen, Reimiller, Mayer and Davison passed cadet board.


3-8-44: Worked 890 and 532.


3-9-44: Worked on 890 (300hr. inspection). Got letter from Dad.


3-10-44: Worked on #890 and #532 (C-46). Installed T.O. compliance on #890.

-

3-11-44: Ship #42-107532 (Jeanie II) went on her 5th mission today.  Started 100 hr. inspection on #532. I am going to try to get one of the vacancies in the Flight Chief job. Since Reimiller and Rasmussen passed cadet board there will be two openings when they leave.

-

3-12-44: Worked on #890 (34 missions) and #532 (7 missions).


3-13-44: Worked on #890 & #532. Got letter from Dad.


3-14-44: Went to Iglesias.


3-15-44: Got cigar and Rachel’s picture from home.


3-16-44: Club opened tonight. I got tight on whiskey.


3-17-44: Jeanie flew transition today.


3-18-44: Went to Iglesias with Joseph Lamari. Went to his girl friend’s house and danced with her twin sister by the radio. Ate K-rations for dinner and drank wine. Returned to camp. Bought German camera [it was a Leica camera and was at our house when we were growing up. -JBS].


3-19-44: 42-107532 (Jeanie) went on her 8th mission and got back OK. Lt. Delling was pilot. Went to Mass. Received and sent letters.


3-20-44: Received letter.


3-21-44: Worked on #890 and #532.


3-22-44: Received letters.


3-23-44: Went to Iglesias. Received letter.


3-24-44: Jeanie went on weather mission. Received letters.


3-25-44: “Jeanie” (42-107532) went on another mission. Received letters. Went to bed early.


3-26-44: “Jeanie” went today. Gen. Webster was scheduled to fly with Lt. Johnson in her but took another ship at the last minute. She got back OK. S/Sgt. P. Collins has been assigned to # 4 - 890 today so now I don’t have two ships to take care - of. Sgt. Wall was taken off the crew and put with Collins. He sure is a good man (Wall). T/Sgt. A.C. Hoover has been taken off the crew too. Got letter from Rachel and Hely. Wrote letters.


3-27-44: Jeanie II (#42-107532) went on her 10th mission today. Lt. Johnson was pilot and Sgt. Johnson engineer. She got back OK. Wrote letters.


3-28-44: Ship did not fly today. Drew bombs on side of #532. Wrote letters. Read F.O.C. and “Wake Up and Live”.


3-29-44: Jeanie II went on her 12th mission today. I finished reading - “Wake Up and Live”. Capt. R. G. Weinberg of Chicago was pilot today. An English liason officer flew as observer with him. Sgt. Tunis was aerial engineer. Read “F.O.C.” and wrote out a set of plans to follow to attain my desires in life. Wrote letters.


3-30-44: Rain today, no mission. I stayed in the tent and straightened things in their proper order. Wrote up three of my main desires in life and rules to follow in order to accomplish them.


3-31-44: Went to Corsica today with Capt. Weinberg. Cooked steak, eggs and toast in the tent.


4-1-44: Jeanie went on her 13th mission today. Capt. Weinberg was pilot, Matterson co-pilot and C/P. Tunis aerial engineer. Came back OK. Drank whiskey at the club (service club), but did not get tight.


4-2-44: Went to Mass and Communion. Jeanie did not go on mission today. Read F.O.C. and wrote letter.


4-3-44: #532 went on mission today. Lt. A. H. Johnson was pilot. Got back OK. “Cindy”, ship #41-17853 (battle # 81) crashed today. The crew was headed for Naples and pulled it off the ground too soon. She mushed back and hit the left prop blade, then took off again, but left prop being out of balance soon played out. She slipped off to - left and crashed ½ mile from the runway. Italian soldiers pulled all the crew out, then she burned. The crew was pretty well shaken up and injured but no one dead. “Cindy” was assigned to this outfit in Ft. Wayne, IN to Major McCrory, who is now a prisoner of war in Germany. Byron C. Reimiller was crew chief on her when she was flown to Africa. - Laurence C. Aldridge was made crew chief. She went on 12 sub patrols and 70 missions over enemy territory. She had three engine changes and parts replaced from nose to tail (parts that were shot up by enemy flak). She was converted into a cargo ship and placed back into M/Sgt. Byron C. Reimiller’s hands. She made trips to Cairo and all over Italy and Africa.


4-4-44: #532 went today. Got letters. Visited an Italian family in Villasor.


4-5-44: No mission today due to bad weather. Started 50 hrs. inspection. Went to dentist (Capt. Rivera). Had nice talk with him. He was born in Pensacola and knew a lot of people I knew. Had “C.Q.” tonight. Got two cards (St. Pat’s and Easter cards).


4-6-44: Slept all day. Listened to chemical warfare lecture. “Jeanie” (#532) went on mission today. Got Easter card and letter. Wrote letters.


4-7-44: Finished 50 hrs. inspection on #532 today. She was not scheduled for a mission. Got Easter card. Went to confession and heard the chaplain read the passion of Christ. Saw movie.


4-8-44: “Jeanie” was scheduled today. Major Brewer [soon Capt. Edwin Herky Brewer] was to be the pilot but mission was called off. Took a shower and saw U.S.O. show at Red Cross on our base. Pretty Evelyn Hamilton was here with her accordion for the second time overseas. The show was by Johnny Page. Wrote letter.


4-9-44: No mission today. Took a shower today. Ate supper with an Italian family in Villasor.


4-10-44: Major Brewer flew “Jeanie” on her 16th mission. They hit the target and got back OK. Saw movie with Judy Garland.


4-11-44: Painted a shark on “Jeanie” and changed one main tire. Made appointment with dentist. Got the words to a song over the radio. Went to the club and drank liquor. Met a new man in our outfit. - who was transferred from Coast Artillery - Stanley Kolodzinski. [Ted Kolonsinski - 443?]. Went to bed after I toasted a piece of bread. Had a tussle with Thomas.


4-12-44: Changed right tire on Jeanie. Went to movie. Listened to radio.


4-13-44: Rain today. Straightened my things, got words to three new songs and drank some whiskey at the club.


4-14-44: Changed left strut on “Jeanie” today. Wrote letters.


4-15-44: Worked on aeroplane. Studied plans after war.


4-16-44: Worked on aeroplane. Got letters. Saw stage show put on by the special service division of the Army 12th Air Force - “It’s A Date” - with G.I. and Italian girls from Naples, at Cagliari.


4-17-44: Changed left landing gear on #42-107532 for the second time. We changed it in 2hrs. 30mins. Wrote letters.


4-18-44: Mission called off because of bad weather. Listened to news forum and followed it on maps I was given by Lt. Durham. Tried my hand at violin and guitar, listened to radio and wrote down some songs. Re-read my diaries and plans to accomplish them. Wrote letter.


4-19-44: Painted a shark mouth on “Jeanie”. She flew this P.M. Lt. J.D. Towns was pilot. Wrote letters.


4-20-44: A mission today. The 18th for “Jeanie” II at 176:00 hrs time on this ship. Went to line after supper and helped T/Sgt. John R. Thomas get a broken off spark plug out of his engine. Had coffee and doughnuts with S/Sgt. Dick Kelderhouse. Went to bed.


4-21-44: Painted some bombs on “Jeanie”. My morale is very low today. Last night I got the idea to learn mining engineering in South America. I should study music, mining, Spanish and Russian. Saw movie Jack London. Wrote letters.


4-22-44: #532 on 19th mission. Stopped at Corsica.


4-23-44: #532 returned to Decimo shot up. Put her in service squadron.


4-24-44: #532 in service squadron. Spent afternoon with Italian family an ate supper with them. Got ride back to camp with Bob Monteruli on German motorcycle. Boy leaves for rest camp tomorrow at Capri (Island) near Naples, Italy.


4-25-44: Checked up on #532. Talked to Capt. Morris, our engineering officer, Lt. Olson (assistant) and the line chief, A.J. Meyer. Cleaned tent. Got letters. When to club. Drank whiskey and gin from Cairo, Egypt and Coca-Cola. Went to bed.


4-26-44: Rain today. No misson. #532 still in service squadron. I did not eat breakfast or dinner. Stayed in bed all day. Studied map of South America and made plans for work in South America to build airfields in Bolivia. Ate supper and wrote letters.


4-27-44: #532 went on its 19th [mission - on 22nd or 27th?].


4-28-44: Worked on #532 - 20th.


4-29-44: Worked all night. “C.Q.”


4-30-44: Went to Mass and to Cagliari with Thomas. Met skipper of liberty ship (Kalhoun).


5-1-44: #532 went on its 21st mission. Capt. Dilling was pilot.


5-2-44: #532 went on its 22nd mission today. Lt. Wier was pilot. Got back OK. Got letters from C.O. Reimiller and Rachel. Rachel sent two snap shots taken on Easter with a corsage that I sent her. Wrote letters. Practiced violin.


5-3-44: 200 hour inspection on #532. Saw movie with Fred McMurray and Claudette Colbert, “Time Out For Love”. Got box of candy from Mrs. C. O. Reimiller (Mike’s mom).


5-4-44: Worked on #532, took a shower, and studied slide rule.


5-5-44: Worked on #532. Turned down a date with some Italian girls in town. Saw movie: “A Guy named Joe” with Spencer Tracey and Irene Dunn.


5-6-44: Worked on #532. Went to brick yard, past Iglesias and got 2,000 tile bricks for a house we are going to build. On the way we saw coal mines, rock quarries, cars moving on suspended cables across the mountains and railway tunnels thru the mountains.


5-7-44 to 5-12-44 [no entries]


5-13-44: Reimiller, Thomas, Harris and myself are having a brick house built by some Italians.


5-14-44: Reimiller, Thomas, Harris and myself are having a brick house built by some Italians.


5-15-44: We finished everything on the house and most of the work too!


5-16-44: “Jeanie” flew 25th mission today.


5-17-44: “Jeanie”went on her 26th mission today. Pilot was Lt. Burk, Co-pilot Jones. Saw movie. Wrote letter to Dad. Paid off the men for our house ($30.00) The house cost us $940 to build.


5-18-44: We installed the screens in the windows and built a screen door for our Casa (house) today. The house is now finished. We move in tomorrow (Byron C. Reimiller, John R. Thomas, Harvey C. Harris and Oscar Nixon Sheppard (myself). Worked on aeroplane. Wrote letters Went to Mass and Communion. Took a shower at Base.


5-19-44: “Jeanie” went on her 27th mission. Lt. Birmingham was pilot. Saw movie - Joan Davis.


5-20-44: Got letter and snap shot of Dudley;[brother], now Captain.


5-21-44: “Jeanie” went on her 28th mission. Got back at 9:00. Lt. Reeder was pilot. I was on C.Q. last night. Went to Mass and Communion.


5-22-44: Slept all day. No mission today. Got letters from Dad and Aunt Cecily. Wrote down words to songs and listened to radio. Wrote letters to Dad, Dudley and others.


5-23-44: Wrote letter to Mother. “Jeanie” went on mission over the “Anzio beachead”. Got letter from Dad and others.


5-24-44: Changed spark plugs in 42-107532 (“Jeanie”) and broke off a plug in the cylinder (first time in my life, but I got it out by sawing it into quarters with a hack saw blade. Run up OK. Received and wrote letters


5-25-44: “Jeanie” went on two missions today and hit the target on both. Got letter from Rachel.


5-26-44: “Jeanie” went on mission today. Spoke to Capt. Andrews and Capt. George about getting a commission. They looked up my papers in 201 file and in T.O. to see if we have any vacancies and are going to see if I can’t be put thru. Got letter from Mother from Cleveland.


5-27-44: Jeanie went on mission again today and got back OK. I put tar on our roof and sprinkled sand on it. I hope it will stop our roof from leaking. Wrote letters.


5-28-44: Completed 50 hr. inspection on “Jeanie”.


5-29-44: Jeanie went on her 34th mission. I went to Cagliari with M.Sgt. Byron C. Reimiller. A Capt. in the “A.A” picked us up and invited us to eat at the “A.A” rest camp across the road from the Red Cross Beach on the Mediterranean. After chow we went swimming, had ice cream, coffee, cookies and sandwiches. Then we walked around town and caught Fredimeyer and road back to camp with him in ambulance. Had pork chops for supper. Got letter from Rachel. Saw movie: “The Lodger” and went to bed.


5-30-44: Memorial Day. Jeanie went on 35th mission. Got back OK. Lt. W. Demitree was pilot, Sgt. Barrett engineer. Cleaned my rifle.


5-31-44: “Jeanie” went on her 36th mission today. She carried “frags” and hit the target. She bombed German troops on or near highway #6 in Italy near Rome. Lt. Dickerson was pilot and the crew saw our tanks move against the enemy right after the bombing. “Jeanie” got back without a scratch. I made a desk and went to movie with George Sanders and Virginia Bruce in “Action in Arabia”.


6-1-44: “Jeanie” went on 37th mission. Lt. Demitree was pilot. She picked up one piece of flak in the wing. It cut five pipe lines but she got back safe and will be ready to go tomorrow. Wrote letters to Mary[sister] for her birthday and to Mother. Ate a piece of candy and went to bed.


6-2-44: Worked on “Jeanie” and got her back in commission. Went to movie “Sahara”. Wrote to Rachel.


6-3-44: “Jeanie” went on her 38th mission. Got back OK. Lt. H.D. Turner was pilot. Bob Montanelli was engineer. Got 5 letters. Wrote birthday letter to Laurie[youngest brother]. Sent for five gallons of vino for about $8.00.


6-4-44: Jeanie went on her 39th mission. Was spare. Did not get in [combat]. Got letter from Mother telling me that Evelyn[sister] had her first baby, born May 18th at 7:30 am. Big vino party tonight.


6-5-44: Jeanie completed 39th mission today. Rome fell to the Allies today. Americans first in Rome.


6-6-44: Jeanie completed 40th mission. Invasion from England started today. Forces landed in ?, Le Havre, and Cherbonne.


6-7-44: Jeanie completed her 41st mission. The Allies are succeeding in their invasion and have silenced German guns on the coast. Saw movie with with Mickey Rooney called “Blond Trouble”.


6-8-44: Pulled inspection on “Jeanie” (42-107532). Wrote words to songs, listened to war news. The Allies have completed the first phase of the “invasion” and have captured Caen, a city in France. The airborne troops have got an airfield and two bridges, a canal, and joined up with the beach forces which now have a landing strip. German resistance in still increasing but they still advance. There were 4000 ships that crossed the channel and several thousand smaller craft. 20,000 airborne troops dropped behind the German lines. They now have tanks ashore. The ships hurled 16" to 4" gun shells at the enemy’s fortifications. Losses are very slight in equipment, men and ships [actually, losses were high, particularly in men]. Wrote Lucy[sister].


6-9-44: Jeanie completed 42 missions. Pilot was Reeder (1st Lt.). Engineer was Sgt. Geoffrey. Major McCrory, Capt. Green, and Lt. Steward arrived at camp after having been hiding in the hills in Italy since they got shot down by flak in B-26 bomber in January. I understand Bill Harrison is OK, but had two ribs fractured. DeLile [DeLisle?] and Gardner were last seen in Rome.


6-10-44: Jeanie did not go today. Major McCrory told us all about his experiences since he parachuted out. He waw the bomb bay full of flames after they were hit by flak. One engine quit. Capt. Green held the ship together while they bailed out. All got out. When Maj. McCrory landed an Italian met him and hid him in a cave. Finally, Lt. Steward and Capt. Green met up. They had to drink and eat a lot to please the Italian farmers. Lt. Banaki was taken prisoner but escaped. They got to Rome with aid of underground and met about 50 airmen they kept and fed by underground in a cave. They also saw DeLile and Gardner when Rome was liberated by the Allies. They reported to 12 A.A. Force HQ. Bill Harrison is still in enemy territory, but close to Allies’ line. He was moved to a rich man’s house to have his injuries taken care of. He is an American-Italian that has been in Rome since 1939 (he went there to become a doctor and is married to Italian and has a baby) and the Rome police helped the airmen and warned them when the Germans were coming to search the hide outs.


6-11-44: Jeanie completed her 43rd mission.


6-12-44: Got letter from Rachel.


6-13-44: Went to Cagliari. Met my two English merchant marine friends (16 and 18 years old). Went aboard their Dutch freighter. She was unloading a cargo of coal. The crew was a mixture of Greek, Dutch, American, South African and English seamen. We drank American beer (Trommers) and looked the ship over and listened to stories about Bombay, Sidi-Bu-Said [?](Egypt), England and New York.


6-14-44: Jeanie went on her 44th mission.


6-15-44: No mission for Jeanie today. Saw movie with Red Skelton and Ann Ruthford.


6-16-44: Jeanie went on mission at 3:30 this morning. Lt. Fowler was pilot, Lt. Wilson Co-pilot. Got back without a scratch and hit the target (Pisa, Italy). Had a date with Italian girl. B-29s bombed Japan yesterday.


6-17-44: Mission incomplete. A B-26 crashed in the sea about 40 miles south of Cagliari, Sardinia. My ship went out to hunt for the survivors and dropped life rafts to them. An Italian seaplane got to the scene but would not land because of rough seas. The boat that went after them could not find them, so “Jeanie” went out again to spot them. They found them on the life raft, but the boat never showed up. There were lots of other seaplanes hunting. Bill Harrison returned from Italy after bailing out over Orte behind enemy lines. He had three broken ribs and flak in his leg when he started his escape thru the German’s lines. He had a tough time and many a close call. One day four or five Germans chased him all day with machine guns. He finally hid from them in a cave. Got letter from Walter Ankerson in England.


6-18-44: “Jeanie” went out in search of the crew that crashed but could not find them. I was on “C.O.” tonight and met Capt. Nunnally, our C.O. He and I fried eggs in his room and talked. He is a twin. His brother is married and has a child and is a Lt. Senior grade in the Navy in the Pacific. He is from Texas and knows people in Pensacola and likes the town. The boys gave Bill Harrison a going away vino party in our house. I went to Confession, Mass and Holy Communion. Got letter from Lucy.


6-19-44: No mission. I slept most of the day and went to a movie at night. Talked to Bill and gave him my home address. He stayed with us while he was here. Letter from Laurie.


6-20-44: “Jeanie” went on her 47th mission today and hit the target. Pilot was Nowak[?]. Engineer was Montorulli [Montarelli?]. Got letters including one from Miss Clara E. Kirkland of 514 N. Gilmore Ave., Lakeland, FL, asking me to get in touch with Capt. Darby in the 444th Bomb Squadron. She used to go with him and hasn’t heard from him in quite a while, and is worried about him. She worked in the “Darling Shop” with a friend who gave her my name.. Wrote letters to Rachel and Mother. The Americans have cut across the Cherbourg peninsula and have 30,000 Germans trappped.


6-21-44: Pulled 300 hr. inspection on “Jeanie” (86) today. Wrote letters. The “Japs” are massing their whole fleet. We may attack it.


6-22-44: Worked on 86 all day. Had hamburgers and pie for supper. I looked at the war maps and our war ships. Our Navy has sunk one Jap aircraft carrier and damaged several other ships. We had one carrier and a destroyer damaged. Wrote letters to Laurie and Miss Clara E. Kirkland of Lakeland, Florida. Listened to music and war news over our Italian radio and wrote words to songs. Bed at 23:00 hours.


6-23-44: Mission canceled. Went to a movie - “Inside Germany”. Their plans of world conquest and what we are doing and should do to stop it. Got letters from Rachel and Aunt Margeret.


6-24-44: I find myself siding more and more towards Rachel. She is older, more settled and knows her own mind. Mission cancelled. Wrote letters to Rachel, Mother, Lucy and Jean. Got a very sweet letter from Jean today.


6-25-44: Went to Mass and Holy Communion. Mission canceled. Read, studied and wrote letters.


6-26-44: Mission canceled due to bad weather. Received and wrote letters. Read “In Step With Christ”.


6-27-44: Had blood test taken today. Mission canceled. Got letter from Dad and Mrs. Wrote to Dad.


6-28-44: Mission cancelled. I went to the beach (Red Cross). Ate ice cream, cookies and sandwiches. Went to an excellent movie - “In Our Time”, with Ida Lupino. It was about the time prior to Germany’s invasion of Poland and thru the fall of Warsaw. A young English girl without any folks is in Poland and meets a Polish Count. They marry in spite of the Count’s family’s disapproval. They are very courageous and start modernizing farming. Her husband has to go into the Army to defend Warsaw.


6-29-44: “Jeanie” went on her 48th mission. Lt. Marsel was pilot and Jerrel K. Williams was engineer. Saw Army movie “What We Are Fighting For”. Went to Mass and Communion this afternoon in honor of St. Peter and prayed for peace.


6-30-44: Got letters. Mission cancelled.


7-1-44: Jeanie completed her 49th mission. Lt. Hisey[?] was pilot. Wrote and received letters


7-2-44: Jeanie was ground spare, but did not have to go. I went to Mass and Communion. Got letter from Ginger [sister]. Had beer at our new $4000 club. Also had club special, composed of Anacet, Gin, some sweet alcohol, Rum and a couple of other things. The drink knocked me on my can.


7-3-44: Jeanie flew to North end of the island to baseball game “Algaro”. The Italian bomb dump in back of our area blew up, wounding several of our men and threw bomb fragments all over our area. A big hunk of steel came thru our cement roof, and the concussion knocked Reimiller and Harris out of their cots. Thomas and I were down on the line working, so we were not damaged. Got letter from Rachel.


7-4-44: Pulled 25 hr. inspection on #86 (Jeanie). Let V. Prince [Sgt. Vernon Prince] have day off go to Red Cross beach club. Listened to war news. The Russians have taken Minsk and the English and Americans having taken Cherbourg have turned south and all our guns fired one round on the Germans for the Fourth of July. Mother’s birthday today. Wrote letters to Mother, Ginger and Rachel.


7-5-44: Jeanie went on mission and got back OK. Took a shower at base. Read “Claudia”








War Diaries of Oscar Nixon Sheppard, Jr.

Vol. III (7-5-44 to 12-17-44)



7-6-44: Got letters. Saw movie “Battle For Britain”. Worked on aeroplane.


7-7-44: “Jeanie”(86) went on two missions today and got back OK. Had a drink at our new brick $1000 club. Swam in the Mediterranean at Red Cross beach club. Ate ice cream and cookies. Saw darn good movie - “Destination Tokyo”. Cary Grant was star.


7-8-44: The Group has day off today. Read, studied, wrote and got PX rations. Got letter from Aunt Cecily and change of address card from Alan. Read a few chapters of “Claudia”.


7-9-44: Mission cancelled. Read some chapters of “Claudia”, “Stars and Stripes” and “Yank”. Went to Confession, Mass and Holy Communion. Drank coffee and had doughnuts with Jackson. Spent a little time at engineering. Got letters from Dad and Evelyn. Wrote letters to Alan, Mary and Rachel.


7-10-44: [no entry]

7-11-44: [no entry]

7-12-44: [no entry]


7-13-44: Went to Naples on C-47 transport. Went from Rest Camp Hotel, and from there took boat with John R. Thomas and Eddie Arons to the Isle of Capri. The boat is a small steamer. It has two 3-cylinder steam engines (twin screw). Each cylinder is operated by the same steam... Arrived at Capri at 17:00 hours. Drank at Luigi’s. We danced, drank and had a good time and made plans for the nex day. We signed in at the Ercalona Hotel.


7-14-44: Moved to the Windsor Hotel which is nicer. Went sailing in a Marconi-rigged boat of the Star Class. We also went swimming and ate supper, and danced and drank at all the different places.


7-15-44: Went to see the Blue Grotto in Luigi’s boat. Luigi was in New Haven, Conn. 14 years ago and was in sailing races. The Grotto was a beautiful pale blue. We had to lay on the bottom of the boat for our heads to clear the small entrance. We all went dancing again and had lots of competition from officers and enlisted men, but the girls stuck right with us. There were about 24 WACs, 1000 enlisted men, 500 officers, 50 nurses and 30 Red Cross girls on the Isle. The officers would take their bars off as they entered the doors if they saw WACs inside and pose as privates. In this way they would try to beat our time with the WACs, but we told them what we thought of such a trick and ran them out.


7-16-44: Went to Mass. The church is beautiful inside. Went to Anti-Capri by horse and buggy carriage and saw a beautiful old church with paintings in it and on the floor by Michelangelo. Sailed and swam in the afternoon. Also had swim at 2:30 in the morning. Danced that night.


7-17-44: I went sailing with Luigi. He let me do all the sailing. We went about 10 miles out to sea. Drank some anicet.


7-18-44: We had Italian waiters and swell violin music at all our meals. Bought souvenirs. Went swimming.


7-19-44: Tom and I saw Mussolini’s castle and Count Ciano’s (also Williams Shave Cream) estate. Went swimming and sailing.


7-20-44: Left Capri and arrived in Naples at 12:00. Rented a motel room with John R. Thomas. Went out and had some drinks. Ate supper at the WAC barracks with about 100 girls around us. I never had so many girls around me at one time. Went back and ate steak at the hotel.


7-21-44: Could not catch a plane back to Sardinia. Moved near Red Cross up town in Naples. Saw the post office that the Germans left a time bomb in when they were chased out of Naples. Met an Italian girl and danced with her. She had never danced before but did very well. She is the daughter of the woman we rented our room from. She is studying to be a school teacher.


7-22-44: Tried to catch a plane to Sardinia, but no room for us (Tom and I).

 

7-23-44: Told the people goodbye at the place where we had the room. I met an Italian man that lived in New York for 24 yrs. He spoke good English and came back to Italy 10 years ago. His family (no wife) is still in New York. Caught C-47 to Elenas Airport and then rode jeep to camp.

 

7-24-44: Started work changing strut on ship #86. Read more in Stars and Stripes about the attempt on Hitler’s life by Col. Shurberge. The Colonel was shot and all ?, most of which were generals were fired and Himmler was put in charge of the Army.

 

7-25-44: Finished installing strut on #86. She is once again ready to fly. She did not fly the whole time I was gone. T/Sgt. John R. Thomas and I spoke to operations officer Capt. Dilling about going on combat. We have to get relieved from the line by the Engineering officer Capt. Olson first. Wrote letters to Dad and Rachel.

 

7-26-44: I flew in “Jeanie”. #86 (42-107532) B26C with Lt. Burke and Lt. Sherman. We tested for how fast she would fly on one engine (first left and then right) at 40 in. manifold pressure and 2400 rpm.. She flew to 160mph and climbed. I was engineer. The struts we changed were OK. I went to Wednesday novena, Confession, Mass and Holy Communion. Took a shower. Asked Capt. Olson about getting released from line to go on combat. He would have to think about it because he is awfully short-handed on the line. He said he thought we would make a mistake to go on this late in the game and that he feels we are doing just as much for the war effort [as ground techs]. Besides, he said it would not be long before all the old outfit would be sent home together. Got letters from Dad and Hely. Dad’s letter brought back old memories and made me feel that it would not be fair to he and mother for me to go on combat. Saw movie.

 

7-27-44: Worked on #86 and read tech.orders. Wrote letters to Dad and Alan. Went to Red Cross club. Read some of Dickens’ books, played ping-pong and listened to George play piano.

 

7-28-44: Mission canceled. Went to Red Cross club. Drank coffee, ate cookie, played ping-pong, pool and listened to piano. Talked to Red Cross girl.

 

7-29-44: [no entry]

 

7-30-44: [no entry]

 

7-30-44: Went to movie “Tampico”.

 

8-1-44: “Jeanie” flew practice today. I went to Villasor and drank wine. Went to dance at our club. There were a lot of Italian girls there furnished by the Red Cross.

 

8-2-44: “Jeanie” finished her 55th mission. Lt. Placter the pilot. A French captain was observer and speaks as good English as I do. His name was Holbltonn (not spelled right). Got letters.

 

8-3-44: I went to town (Cagliari) with B.C. Reimiller. We talked Syvia, Ida and Marie at the PX gift shop (Italian girls). Went to Red Cross beach club. After that, drank cognac and came back to camp.

 

8-5-44: Changed plugs in left engine on “Jeanie”. The old plugs have 135 hrs. time on them. Got letter from Mary[sister] today. She sent picture of her in graduation cap & gown (high school). She works at Pensacola Naval Air Station now. I volunteered to go to B-29 school today, but several other did too, so we drew for it. I lost out.

 

8-6-44: Pulled daily and preflight inspecton on “Jeanie” (ship #42-107532 Sqd. #86). She went to southern France and dropped her bombs on the target. She stopped off in north Sardinia to refuel before returning to her base. In landing, she cracked up with 366:45 hrs. flying on her original engines and 56 missions. No one was hurt in the crack up. She landed on one engine in soft sand and the nose strut broke off. Wrote letters to Hely[Aunt], Ginger[sister], and Aunt Margaret.

 

8-7-44: I took Hitson’s plane on the line today as squadron inspector while he is on a pass. I inspected the airplanes and grounded one because of a cut in the main tire I do not think it is safe to take off on. Got letter from George M. Weigil of Long Isle saying he wanted my address so he could come to Florida in his yacht and see me. I think “Jeanie” can be fixed up to fly again. She’s the first airplane I’ve had to crack up since we have been in combat.

 

8-8-44 through 8-10-44: [no entries]

 

8-11-44: Reimiller and several other boys left for B-29 school.

 

8-12-44 through 8-14-44: [no entries]

 

8-15-44: Invasion of S. France. Number 85 went on mission over Toulon.

 

8-16-44: Worked on # 85. She went on mission over gun positions in S. France.

 

8-17-44: #85's right engine cuts out, so did not go on mission. I fell out of cockpit about 5 ft. and landed on my back and sprained it. Was taken to hospital. Exam show no bones broken, but they kept me in the hospital.

 

8-18-44: Got letter from Alan. He is in India now. Still a corporal, but has good job working for a Lt. Col. (Typewriter, shorthand).


8-19-44: [no entry]

 

8-20-44: Had my back rubbed down with alcohol by a nurse from South Carolina (Miss Cammeron).

 

8-21-44: Listened to war news. Got letter from Reimiller. He is now on his way to the States for B-29 school.

 

8-22-44: Drew a sketch of the Mediterranean from hospital window. Started reading “From Many Lands” by Louis Adamis. Wrote letters to mother and Rachel.

 

8-23-44: War news spoke a third invasion near Bordeaux, but not confirmed. Started walking again.

 

8-24-44: Paris and Marseilles are liberated by French and American forces. I moved to hospital annex. Capt. Olsen paid me a visit and said we lost 3 ships- two over target and one on landing. Romania quit war and Bulgaria is talking peace. A.A. Guiffrey and Joe Bautenjany were on one ship that went down. The other crew is OK. Saw movie “Knickerbocker Holiday” starring Nelson Eddy.

 

8-25-44: Got PX (candy, cokes, cigarettes, etc.). Visited other boys in hospital. Thomas and Harris paid me a visit and brought me letters from Mary and Aunt Margaret. Finished “From Many Lands”. Started reading “Point, Counter-Point” by Aldous Huxley. Its too descriptive to suit me.

 

8-26-44: Talked to Tex Harmon in hospital. Finished reading “Point Counter-Point”. Studied war maps in “Red Cross Room”. Listened to the war news. Stanley Kalozinski paid me a visit. Our squadron lost another ship over target when #91 and #87 collided. 87 went down - one man got out. Started reading “Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”.

 

8-27-44: Stanley brought us some beer today. Chet Huseori moved to annex today. Went to Confession, Mass and Communion today in chapel in hospital.

 

8-28-44: Capt. Olson, Capt. Andrews and Slipkuvitch paid us a visit today. They said 85 had a run-away-prop trying to take off. This burnt both brakes by stopping and ruined both main struts. Finished “Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin” and copied down his 13 virtues that he tried to follow and made a chart for weekly practice.

 

8-29-44: Started reading “Disraeli” by Andre Maurois. Got out of hospital and returned to camp. Got letters from Rachel, Dad and Angie[nephew]. Also got a snapshot of Rachel. Wrote letters to Dad and Rachel.

 

8-30-44: Pulled 600 hr. inspection on #85. Went to Red Cross and had coffee and cookies and talked to Red Cross girl “Dot”. Bought a bicycle from T/Sgt. Harvey Harris for $35.00 (an American “G.I.” bike). Wrote letters. Read “Disraeli”. Drank American Pilsner beer.

 

8-31-44: #85 went on a mission and got back OK. Got letters from Aunt Susan and Rachel. Rachel said she has mailed the two silver “wings” bracelets for Charlie Ware and Vernon Prince for me. We practiced drill for the pass in review for French citation for 2 hrs. this evening. Wrote letters to Aunt Susan and Cecily and Aunt Margaret.

 

9-1-44: Did not go to work this morning. Straightened out bags and boxes. Went to work on #85. It flew local for 2 hrs. today. Went to Red Cross and talked to R.C. girls about half-hour, then listened to Peck teach Italian to -----------. Came back to house. Drilled hour and a half. Read “Benjamin Franklin 13 Virtues” and wrote up schedule for a week. Bed at 11:00.

 

9-2-44: Worked on #85. Mission called off. Saw #83 crack up when the left axle broke on landing. Drilled two hours for French Citation. Went to club. Hsd one drink and smoked 4 cigarettes. Bed at 11:00 pm.


9-3-44: Went to Mass & Communion. Drank coffee at base and talked to Romelo Cervantes. Mission called off. Sent Capri souvenirs to friends and family. Sent money order ($25.00) to thank Sheppard [?]. Drilled with Group at 4443 [?] area. Wrote letters. Just heard a song dedicated to the “Marine Air Corps” boys that just graduated from Pensacola.


9-4-44: #85 went on Mission and hit the target. Got back OK. Lt. Birmingham pilot, and Lt. Wells co-pilot. Got letter from Rachel with the two bracelets for Charles Edward Ware of Pennsylvania (silver wings) and Vernon Vincent Prince of Ohio that work on #85 with me. The boys do a swell job of maintaining the ships, and they were glad to receive the bracelets which made me even more happy than it did them. Drilled for French citation with Group. Saw movie “Song of Bernadette”. Wrote wedding anniversary letter to Mother and Dad. Go to Oran tomorrow.


9-5-44: Flew to Oran, passed over Algiers, and landed at La Senia airport. At dinner, saw Harvey Harris and Lt. Peters. I flew with Capt. Matterson and got back for supper in Sardinia and in time to drill.


9-6-44: 3 months today since invasion of France and it is almost finished. They are now in Belgium and Holland. Passed in review before a French and American generals (General Webster) for a French citation awarded the Group for distinguished work and fine bombing in Italy and South France. Started long letter to Rachel. #85 flew this afternoon. Saw movie “Ghost of Canterville” with Charles Laughton, Robert Young and Margaret O’Brien.


9-7-44: Mission cancelled. Worked on #85's propellers. Finished long letter to Rachel. Got letter from Alan (brother), 10th A.A.F., India. Rode to village and back on bicycle. Drank some Ruperts beer.


9-8-44: Mission cancelled. Put corrugated metal on roof of house and stopped rain from coming in. Went to Caglieri. Had date with Italian girl. Got letter from “Bobbie” Lewis. Understand we are to move to Italy soon, near Rome. Wrote letter to Dad and Frank.


9-9-44: #85 went on its 89th mission today and they hit the target and got back OK. Lt. Birmingham was pilot, Lt. Heller bombadier. Our C.O. Capt. Berge was flight commander. She [#85] led the group. Got letters from Laurie and Mother. Read Disraeli. Studied language (Italian).


9-10-44 to 9-12-44: [no entries]


9-13-44: Our Group is moving from Sardinia to Corsica.


9-14-44: #85 on 91st mission. Did not return. Left engine ran out of oil, landed in Grosseto[?], Italy.


9-15-44: #85 still in Grosseto, Italy. Will go to Grosseto tomorrow on 5 days D.S. (5 of us).


9-16-44: Arrived at Grosseto, Italy by B-26 aircraft at noon to fix #85 & #98 so we can get them back to base. Got rooms in a bombed hotel in town.


9-17-44: Have to install new engine on left [wing of] #85; awaiting parts for #98. Spent night in town. Walked through town and looked at the beautiful Italian girls. The people do not seem to be so poor, the further one goes north in Italy. Went to Mass at the Italian Cathedral in Grosseto. C.E. Ware went with me. M/Sgt. D.M. Rasmussen, S/Sgt. Johnson, Sgt. Leo Simpson. Cpl. C.E. Ware and I are on D.S. over here.


9-18-44: Got new rooms at civilian hotel for a dollar apiece. Engine and parts did not arrive today.


9-19-44: Parts did not arrive today. Sent night in same room.


9-20-44: Engine for #85 arrived today. Removed old engine, but had no sling for new engine. Spent night in hospital which is the same design as the one in Cagliari, Sardina. We went to hospital after walking around town in the rain hunting for a vacant room , but couldn’t find one.


9-21-44: Awaiting sling for new engine- it did not arrive. Slept at airplane.


9-22-44: Installed new engine. Drank at 316th Service Squadron bar and met T/Sgt. McAlister from New Orleans and their line chief M/Sgt. Cisco. Slept at plane.


9-23-44: Finished installing engine on #85 and saw it up. Everything checks out OK. Sent teletype yesterday for them to come get us. Slept in airplane.


9-24-44: Went to Confession, Mass and Communion at Grosseto Cathedral. Have felt wonderful all day ever since Mass and feel as though (if anything should happen) I am ready to meet my Maker. No one came for us today. One of our ships, #90, just landed. Johnson, Simpson and Ware went back on it. Slept in airplane.


9-25-44: No one came for #85. Finished reading “Disraeli”. Started reading “Mission to Moscow” by Joseph E. Davis (ambassador to Russia from 1936 to 1938). Got teletype from our C.O., Capt. Berge from Verterbos for us to bring tire and jack. He has a flat on plane. Ras [Rasmussen] and I drove down with McAllister of Service Squadron (68th) in truck. We left Grosseto at 4:30pm and arrived at Veterbos at 10:30pm. I went to Capt. Berge’s hotel and notified him that we had arrived. Got hotel room and went to bed.


9-26-44: Changed tire on plane and helped load wash basins on plane from bombed airfield building. Saw lots of new mouser ammunition and German .......... grenades ........... out window, but they did not go off. Went back with McAllister on truck to Grosetto. Ras flew back. Arrived at 4:30pm. A P-47 pilot test hopped #85. I went with him. We gave the field a good buzz job. Our pilot got in plan to leave for Corsica (our Group has moved from Sardinia to Corsica since I left). Saw the new engine cut out on left mag. I checked both mag points and high tension leads... they were OK. To late to leave. I lent my shirt to Lt. Kamanik and he and I went to town as sergeants. Had a few drinks and got hotel room.


9-27-44: Cleaned bottom 10 spark plugs on #85. Run up OK. Left for Corsica in airplane #85. Flew from Corsica to Sardinia and back this afternoon. Plane checked out OK. I gave the airplane a good check over for leaks and made out the forms. Moved in tent at new base with M/Sgt. A. J. Mayer, T/Sgt. John R. Thomas, T/Sgt H.C. Harris and Cpl. Dennis. Got two letters.


9-28-44: #85 flew to Sardinia today and back. Got a letter from Lucy [sister], straightened out my bags and made a mattress for cot. Went to bed.


9-29-44: Rain today. Mission cancelled. When to French village and drank some wine. Cut wood for stove. Looks like it will be cold here this winter. Wrote letters. Went through my files and put things in order and refreshed my mind on some plans.


9-30-44: No mission. Flew as Co-pilot with our C.O. Capt. Berge today on a practice bombing mission. Got war ballot and letters.


10-1-44: #85 had electrical trouble. Got off for mission but was too late to catch formation. Had to work and missed Mass. Read “Mission to Moscow” and saw movie.


10-2-44: Mission called off. #85 flew transition and single engine practice. I got a card from George Weigl (17th B.G.). Went to village with A.J. Mayer (line chief) and drank some wine. Then took a six mile ride on our bicycles down highway. Wrote letters to Ginger, Dudley, Uncle O.A.. Mrs. Chandler and Alan. Went to bed.


10-3-44: #85 went on her 95th mission. Pilot said engine ran rough. I caught a cold. Read “Mission to Moscow” by Joseph E. Davies.


10-4-44: #85 did not fly today. Mission called off due to bad weather. Pulled 50 hr. inspection on #85. Cold and cough getting worse, got some pills from dispensary.


10-5-44: Changed plugs in right engine on #85. My cold is still worse. Ship runs up OK, and 50 hr. inspection completed.. One of our pilots flew to Cannes, France today. Some of the boys went to rest camp in Rome today. I saw a USO show at headquarters. Five girls were in the show (no men, American girls). Peggy Sullivan sang. She was in a movie with Sonja Hense.


10-6-44: No mission because of weather. Wrote letters. Took ride in mountains. Ate French fried potatoes.


10-7-44: Mission cancelled. Swung compass on airplane. Went to movie: Ginger Rodgers in “Lady In the Dark”. Wrote letter to Alan.


10-8-44: Mission called off... weather. Wrote letters to Frank and Laurie [brothers].


10-9-44: Went to Bastia with Thomas. Talked with British naval officers.


10-10-44: [no entry]


10-11-44: Got packages from home.


10-12-44: Got sheet music from home.


10-13-44: #85 finished its 97th mission. Got letters. C.


10-14-44: Mission called off - bad weather. Considered buying a English motorcycle, rode it around the camp this day.


10-15-44: #85 finished its 98th mission. I intend to go on its 100th. Went to Confession, Mass and Communion. Had drill for Presidential Citation parade. Saw movie “Step Lively” with Frank Sinatra. Read “Mission to Moscow”. Went to bed at 10:00.


10-16-44: Mission cancelled. Drilled for 2 hrs. for Presidential Citation parade. Got letters. Mrs. Reimiller said that M/Sgt. Byron C. Reimiller is home now on furlough before going to B-29 school. Mother said “Dud” [brother Dudley] was on the way home from Saipan. Got letter from “Dud” (Capt. Sheppard) at home. He said he flew in Navy R5D (C-54) to Hamilton Field (near Frisco), then to Ft. McPherson via Chicago. Then he took a train home. I understand that there will be no more commissions given out until end of war in this theater. Looks like it will be next to impossible to catch up with Dud now. My cold is not much better.


10-17-44: Mission cancelled. #85 went on practice mission. Wrote letters. Got box from Mrs. Reimiller. Saw movie with Deanna Durbin. She sang a Russian song. Studied French and read “Mission to Moscow’.


10-18-44: #85 went on practice bombing, Lt. Ramage pilot. Came back OK. Put waterproofing on tent. Took a hot shower, put on clean clothes, had a steak for supper and drank two jiggers of Italian gin (its awful). Saw funny movie with Joan Davis. Sewed clothes. Read “Mission to Moscow”. Bed at 9:30.


10-19-44: #85 completed its 99th mission today. Lt. Plackter was pilot and got back OK. I understand one of the bomb groups had 3 ships shot down by fighters. I have obtained permission to go on the 199th mission in #85. I do not feel that anything will happen, but if it does I am ready. I must do this to prove to myself that I am not afraid of action or death. If anything should happen I hope my family will understand that I was performing part of my plans in life and that I am happy. I know that is what they want (my happiness). Wo they should have nothing to feel sad about. One must plan his life and act and not let all the various distractions in life hold him in their clutch. Most people do not succeed in life because they worry about what people will think. I must not let this stop me. If death should stop me from completing my plans - will then, there is nothing left to worry about. When I look back I’ve had a very happy life, thanks to very dear parents who taught me a faith I will never give up and two wonderful sisters and brothers and the acquaintance of quite a few swell girls. Also my buddies in the service from whom I’ve learned (in each one) things in their character that would make a better man of me. My desire, if anything should happen, is for all my personal belongings to be sent to my father.


Practiced drill for Presidential Citation which will be given to our group tomorrow. Studied French, read “Mission to Moscow” and saw movie. Bed at 9:30 pm. Nick.


10-20-44: I was in #85, all ready to go on its 100th mission, flak suit, parachute, “May West” and all with permission from squadron operations, and they sent word that I could not go. So I went to group operations and spoke to operations officer Major Hugh E. Nunnalee and group C.O. Col. Fletcher about going. But I could not talk them into it. I talked them out of three reasons [for not going] but could not talk them out of the fourth reason, so as usual my plans failed again. I did not go on the 100th mission. I went to briefing this morning. There are 27 AA guns at target northeast of Bologna, near the Adriatic Sea. #85 completed mission without a scratch. Capt . Birmingham was pilot, Capt. Peters Copilot, Capt. Heller Bombardier, Lt. DeToiser Navigator and Sgt. Takala Engineer. We passed in review before General Cannon today, dressed in “O.D.s” [olive drabs?] and received a Presidential Citation for distinguished service and expert bombing. Went down highway about five miles to a “bar” with Thomas and Harris and drank anicet and wine. A cute little French girl served us. Got letter from Dorothy Bailey. Col. Fletcher shook hands with me and said he admired my spirit for wanting to go on missions and that I was a good crew chief and he was sorry he could not let me go. Bed.


10-21-44: Got PX rations today (6 bottles beer, two Coca-Colas, candy, cigars and cigarettes, gum(fruit) juice. Mission called off because of weather. Went up in mountains with Mayer in jeep for fire wood. Simpson and I climbed down steep bank of river, crossed river by jumping from one rock to another, then went up the other rocky bank and to some apple and nut trees (walnut and chesnut). Got a barracks bag full of apples and nuts, firewood and returned to camp. Went to movie. Received letters; one from Alan [brother].


10-22-44: Had to work. Missed Mass. Mission canceled because of weather. Wrote letters. Went to movie with George Sanders.


10-23-44: Mission canceled. #85 went on practice navigation for 3 hrs. I went with Holden of 443rd up to mountain village in a jeep and saw Nana. We ate fried eggs and french fried potatoes at a café and drank wine. Got back to camp at 9:30 pm.


10-24-44: Mission called off. Took bath in tent. Wrote letters. Listened to radio. Public relations took pictures of #85 and got the ship and ship’s crew history for the home town paper for her 100th mission. Bed at 11:30. Got two letters.


10-25-44: Mission called off. Wrote letters. Harvey Harris has a pig for his mascot on ship named Porky. The little rascal is about three weeks and sure can squeal. Studied French. Rained all day.


10-26-44: Mission canceled. Rained all day. Went ot Bastia with M/Sgt. A.J. Mayer and T/Sgt. John R. Thomas looking for lumber for tent. Did not find any. Ran across an Italian man (old) that has a sister in Berkeley, CA. He spoke fair English and lived in US for about 15 years. He seemed to enjoy talking to us. He said he sure liked the “states” and wished he were back there.


10-27-44: Mission cancelled. Rained all day. Cut firewood, cooked bacon and popcorn and read “Mission to Moscow”. Capt. Olson asked me to go as engineer on B26 to Naples tomorrow. I agreed.


10-28-44: War news sounds good. We sure won the naval battle with Japan. Japan: 27 naval vessels damaged or sunk; USA: 5. Read “Mission to Moscow”. Bought ticket for dance I Bastia for 444th Sunday night. Pulled C.Q. all night. Got letters.


10-29-44: Mission cancelled (weather). Slept until 12 noon. Went to dance in Bastia, drank a few anicets and met several nice looking French girls. Caught truck back to camp.


10-30-44: Mission called off (weather). Sawed and cut wood. Got letters.


10-31-44: #85 went on practice bombing . Capts. Birmingham, Peters and Heller. Mission cancelled (same reason). Worked on #85. Got letter from Dad. Saw movie with Pat O’Brien, Carol Landis, and Chester Morris in “Secret Command”.


11-1-44: Mission cancelled (same). #85 went practice bombing. Capt. Hammond, our operations officer was pilot and said when he got back that #85 is the best ship in the squadron for bombing. Sawed and cut stove wood, listened to radio, worked on #85. Was going to write letters but light is too poor. Sure have a strong longing to see my family and home. Have thought of another plan to try to get a commission. Bed at 9:30pm. My cold is gone, but I still have a lung cough.left.


11-2-44: Mission cancelled (same). Went to dispensary to have an infected burn doctored. Cut fire wood. Wrote letter.


11-3-44: Dudley and Angus [brother and brother-in-law] bought a sailboat. Laurie [kid brother] sailed it.


11-4-44: #85 went on mission. Got letter from Dad.


11-5-44: #85 went on mission. Got letter from Mother.


11-6-44: #85 went on mission. Got letter from M/Sgt. Byron C. Reimiller. He is now in Hazleton, PA on furlough before going to B29 school at Lincoln, Nebraska. Also got letters from Aunt Margaret, Ginger, Dudley (one he mailed to me last January, I just got it, it had been sent back to him).


11-7-44: #85 went on mission . Took “frags”. Got letters. Brother Dudley is going back to Saipan after 30 days furlough home. Went to a movie. Wrote letters.


11-8-44: #85 went on 105th mission. Met Lt. Henderson Traylor, a friend of Rachel Sorrow. He seems like a fine fellow. Went to Bastia. Bed at 11 pm.


11-9-44: Mission canceled. Worked on #85. The wind blew so hard it almost blew our tent down.


11-10-44: #85 went on mission. The target was clouded over so they did not drop their bombs. Capt. Plackter was pilot, Lt. Smith was co-pilot. Sgt. Takala was engineer. Wrote letter. Bed at 8:30 pm.


11-11-44: Worked on #85 all day. Got letters including a strategy game from Dud. Wrote 8 page letter to Lucy [sister] to arrange for Christmas presents for me. Bed at 10 pm.


11-12-44: Mission canceled (weather). Worked on #85 all day. Plug change on right engine. Wrote letters. Movie broke down. Lights too dim to write. Bed at 8 pm.


11-13-44: #85 went on mission. Capt. Birmingham was pilot. Right cylinder head temp. out, but he took it anyway and had no trouble. Mission was not completed because when they got to the coast of Italy at 15,500 ft. the weather was too bad. Got picture of Reimiller, his wife and another couple in the states seated at table drinking whisky and beer. Wrote letter to Byron C. Reimiller. (Mike). Bed at 9 pm.


11-14-44: No mission. Worked on 85 and changed hydraulic pump on right engine. Wrote letter. Saw movie. Heard on radio that the German battleship (16" gun) Tirpitz was sunk by British Lancaster with 12,000 ton bombs. One Lancaster was lost - sunk at N. Norway. Bed at 10 pm.


11-15- 44: #85 went on practice mission. I went to visit all the B25 outfits today (340th, 310th, 321st). I visited Daley Gross at 428th Bomb Squadron of 310 BG and asked him about Col. Steve McCrae who is missing in action. He said he saw four chutes open and that there was a crew of six. The ship got shot down over target on last Germany raid. That’s all they know about him. [NOTE: I don’t know how Dad knew Mr. McCrae, but he was one of the four chutes. He was a prisoner of war until Allied troops freed him much later. He tried to escape once and was recaptured. He suffered a lot from his POW time. He recuperated in a hospital in Paris before coming back to the states. After the war, he went back to college and continued a successful career as an accomplished artist and beloved patron of the arts. He received several art awards for his work and founded the LeRoy Watercolor Group. He died on April 29, 2003 at 81.]


11-16-44: #85 went on mission. Capt. Birmingham was pilot, Capt. Heller bombardier, Sgt. Takala aerial engineer. It got eight flak holes in it. The co-pilot’s parachute stopped a big hunk of it hitting him in the crotch. Got letters from Dad and Jean, and picture of Frank Sheppard (Fr. Vincent Sheppard, OSB). Wrote letters.


11-17-44: #85 went on mission. Lt. Ramage R.A. pilot, Sgt. Leassod [?] aerial engineer.


11-18-44: #85 went on mission. Capt. R.A. Ramage pilot. Sgt. Greer is back in outfit again. He came in today. Listened to music and news on radio. M/Sgt. Mayer has gone to new field in France. New APO today 374. Got book from A. J. Mayer: “The United States Army In War and In Peace” by Oliver L. Spaulding, Col. U.S. Army. Bed 11:00 pm.


11-19-44: #85 went on its 111th mission. Capt. Plackter pilot, Lt. Johnson C.P., Major Berge flight Commander. She picked up 8 flak holes, one piece about 2" wide and 4" long cameall the way through fuselage behind pilot and c. pilot and went out other side. Wrote letters. Discussed Army prolems and drank American beer. Bed 11:00 pm.


11-20-44: Mission canceled. Major Berge pilot.


11-21-44: #85 went to France.


11-22-44: #85 did not return today.


11-23-44: Ships did not return today to pick us up because of bad weather. Moved out of area, down to engineering shack.


11-24-44: Still waiting for ships to return from France. Most of squadron has already gone. Got letter from M/Sgt. Reimiller from El Paso, Texas. Wrote Christmas letters.


11-25-44: Wrote Christmas letters.


11-26-44: Cleaned up area today. #77 [“Porky”?] and 95 [“The Marlin”] left for Dijon. #97 [“Susan”, crashlanded 12-23-44], 90 [“Ann”?] and 81 came in from Marseilles today. Went to Confession, Mass and Communion at 319th field, Chaplain Ponds (I think) from Omaha, Neb. stationed at 40th St. Hospital asked Capt. “Doc” Conrad how Lee’s getting along. Mailed letters at 319th on detail this afternoon.


11-27-44: Rain today. Don’t look like we will leave today.


11-28-44: Left Corsica, arrived in Marseilles, France.


11-29-44: Weather bad, did not leave Marseilles. Went to town and met a fellow in a bar (a Frenchman) named Joe who has been to America, England and China. He could talk English. Drank beer.


11-30-44: Took off for Dijon. Field closed in, came back to Lyon. Circled Lyon Field, closed in. Had to return and land at Marseilles. Went to town. Air Transport Command has a nice place at Meriam airport.


12-1-44: Took off from Marseilles and landed at Dijon at 1500 hrs. Got back mail at “Orderly Room”. Got letters.


12-2-44: Cold and muddy here. The squadron lives in a village.


12-3-44: Went to Mass in the village at a French church celebrated by a French priest. There were quite a few women and girls in church but not a male there outside of the two altar boys. There was nice singing in Latin. Got letters.


12-4-44: #85 flew today. The line chief said some of us will have to move from the village down to the line and live in tents. Now I live in a chateau, the room I live in has beautiful tapestries and carvings in the woodwork.


12-5-44: Mission cancelled. Started building tent on line.


12-6-44: Got letters.


12-7-44: Worked on tent. Built floor and walls.


12-8-44: Finished tent and moved to line. Received and sent Christmas letters.


12-9-44: Got letters. Went to stage show in Dijon - all American cast that had played on Broadway for two years. Named Junior Miss.


12-10-44: Woke up this morning. Went out of tent and saw snow all over the ground. #85 did not make the mission this morning. Did not get full power on preflight. Got letters wishing me a happy birthday. I am 29 years old today. Got a Christmas box of soap, hankies, snap shot book, canned chicken and chocolate. Had coffee and fruit cake tonight in the tent with Bill Foit, Harvey Harris, C.C. Battershell, Leo Simpson and John R. Thomas. Heard Nelson Eddy sing on radio tonight. Also Charles Thomas. Missed Mass, had to work.


12-11-44: No mission today, rain and mud and cold all day. We in the Air Force have a lot to be thankful for. I pity the boys at the front and pray for them. They do not stop even though the weather is bad. Learned that Capt. “Pops” Gonzalez (my first cousin) is building bridges for Gen. Patton. Wrote letters.


12-12-44: Mission cancelled. #85 flew this afternoon.


12-13-44: Got letters and Christmas card. Mission cancelled because of bad weather. A B-26 cracked up on take off today, burned, and blew up. I understand all got out. [320th Bomb Group site shows that #38, “Suzy Mae” crashed on take off on 12-14-44]


12-14-44: Got letters. Got a Miraculous Medal from Mother.


12-15-44: Started eating down at the line.


12-16-44: #85 flew today, Lt. Kamanski pilot. Got magazines and book in mail: “I Never Left Home” by Bob Hope. Took a bath and shaved in the tent. Wrote letters to Alan and Evelyn.


12-17-44: #85 bombed Germany today. First invasion over German soil. Bombed Siegfried Line. Got back with only 1 flak hole. Lt. Kamanski was pilot, Sgt. Greco was engineer. I went to an operetta in Dijon, France: “Un Bon Garcon”. Met Capt. Randolph at the operetta. He is a 441st doctor. Got home at 2400 hrs. Got packages from family at home.


12-18-44: Got letters from Rachel saying Lt. Henderson Traylor was on his way home. Mission cancelled, bad weather. Met a family in village from Alsac[?]. The father spoke Alsac[e?] or German, French and a little English. There was a mother, three girls and a boy. The boy speaks a little English, French and German. The father carried on conversation with history book and German and English bibles. He is a Protestant. We talked about Daniel the prophet. Got letter and snapshots from Laurie and Christmas card from Mother and Dad. Also got a fruit cake and Christmas package from Aunt Cecily and Susan. Wrote letters.


[END OF VOL. III, labeled book # 4]







War Diaries of Oscar Nixon Sheppard, Jr.

Vol. IV (7-6-44 to 12-17-44)

Book # 5




12-19-44: #85 went on its 2nd mission over German soil. Capt. Ramage was pilot, Lt. Delosier Bombardier, Sgt. Leonard aerial engineer. It got back OK. Wrote letter to Mother.


12-20-44: Saw “The Barretts of Wimpole Street” with Katherine Cornell and Brian Aherne in person. Saw last act of “Don Pasquale” at the Dijon opera.


12-21-44: Mission cancelled because of bad weather. I heard over the radio that the Germans offensive in Belgium and Luxembourg has gained 35 miles. Went to Dijon and saw movie “Saratoga Trunk” with Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman. Saw last act of “La Tosca” at opera house. Visited my Alsace laundry friends. They showed me a picture of their 25-year-old daughter (pretty) Susan. They saw the Gestapo has taken her to Germany. The other daughters are named Martha, 20, and ?, 18. And Daniel the boy.


12-22-44: Mission cancelled. Freezing today. Got P.X. and French beer. Got letters. Wrote letters. Got magazine and song sheet. Bed at 11pm.


12-23-44: Frost on the wings of #85 this morning. It is below freezing today. Capt. R.A. Ramage flew #85 on its 114th mission. It flew over German soil and got back OK. Wrote letters.


12-24-44: Got letters. #85 did not go today. Right enginge frozen up. Got my laundry back from the Alsace family. Wrote letters. Went to midnight Mass in the village. Got back to bed at 1am.


12-25-44: Christmas Day, my third one overseas. Worked on #85 all day. First Christmas I did not have any alcoholic drink. Had turkey, fruit cake, cranberry sauce and coffee for supper.


12-26-44: #85 went on her 115th mission today. Capt. Ramage pilot, Sgt. Takala aerial engineer. Wrote letter to Mother and Dad.


12-27-44: Got letters and Christmas cards. Our Engineering Shack burned down tonight due to the guard being careless with the gas fed fire in stove. I’m afraid they will make us stop using gas in our tent stoves. Wrote letters and worked on #85.


12-28-44: Got Christmas cards. Major George was out to airfield today, inspecting tents and put out order to stop using gas. I don’t know how we will find enough wood. Changed oil cooler on #85.


12-29-44: #85 went on its 116th mission. Lt. Salmanson was pilot. I had my first day off since I got here. Went to Dijon with Thomas and Harris. Met Sgt. Clark in town with two gals. We ate at a French café .... steak and French fries and white wine. The meal cost $8.00. After that we went to a French movie “Spawn of the North” with Henry Fonda, George Raft, Dorothy Lamour, John Berry and Akim Tamiroff. Then I left and caught a truck back to the airfield. We bought a buck saw and an axe handle in town.


12-30-44: Major R.I. Berge, our C.O., flew #85 today over German soil. #85 lead the Group and they hit the target. Made out aeroplane forms. Bed at 2200 hrs.


12-31-44: #85 went on its 118th mission. Went to town to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Got home at 3:30am.