Date |
Sgt David S. Gray's Notes, December 1943 |
| Dec 1 |
 14TH SHIP CRASHED ON FIELD LANDED DOWNWIND 1 ENGINE NO FLAPS MIDDLE WAY DOWN RUNWAY RAN OFF STRIP AND HIT DITCH. TOTAL WASHOUT PARKER + TANNER [ Lt George Parker and Lt Edward Tanner] MID-AIR COLLISION {40} - 109 + 190 ON THE MISSIONS
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| Dec 2 |
Parker + Tanner collided when jumped by 50 109's + 205's Northern Italy. 3 packages came in for me Jini Folks. Polly. |
| Dec 3 |
Missions over Rome. no opposition. B-26's |
| Dec 4 |
two practice missions for new pilots. stayed camp P.M. wrote letters |
| Dec 5 |
Hi alt. practice mission of new pilots. |
| Dec 6 |
Fascits + anti F are fighting in northern part of this island for a new form gov't. |
| Dec 7 |
The anti Fascist leader in Italy captured by Germans. people here are very excited. Putting signs all over the towns. gathering in little groups |
| Dec 8 |
air echelon left for Italy. I think they'll be flying hi altitude |
| Dec 9 |
Maj. Hannes going to Grp. Capt. Wiseman our new C.O. He is the guy who made the dirty cracks about enlisted men Remainder of planes to Italy. |
| Dec 10 |
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| Dec 11 |
TURNED IN HOSPITAL NICE SETUP MET NURSE FROM SPRINFIELD |
| Dec 12 |
HOSPITAL SUN LAMP TREATMENTS GOOD FOOD + REST. |
| Dec 13 |
HOSPITAL |
| Dec 14 |
HOSPITAL IN CAGLIARI |
| Dec 15 |
HOSPITAL - OUTFIT IS MOVING MY BAGS + EVERYTHING SENT TO ITALY |
| Dec 16 |
HOSPITAL |
| Dec 17 |
OUT OF HOSPITAL WITH FIELD BAG AND ONTO U.S.S. WILLIAM S. BRYAN |
| Dec 18 |
LOADING THE 1ST FIGHTER AND UNLOADING BOMBS MAJOR IN CHARGE OF ARMY STEVEDORES MESSING THINGS UP IN GENERAL |
| Dec 19 |
WENT IN TOWN WITH 3RD MATE |
| Dec 20 |
MEN LOADING LAST WAITED 8 HRS IN RAIN |
| Dec 21 |
SLEEPING IN 3RD MATES ROOM OTHER GUYS IN HOLDS 28 HOURS OF SAILING |
| Dec 22 |
ANCHORED IN OUTER HARBOR NAPLES VERY SMOOTH TRIP |
| Dec 23 |
HARBOR PILOT CAME OUT WE DOCKED BESIDE BURNED PLEASURE SHIP. TROUBLE = BECAUSE SHIPS CAPTAIN DIDN'T KICK E.M. OUT OF STATEROOMS |
| Dec 24 |
MOVED TO OTHER PORTABLE PIER TO UNLOAD. GERMAN TANKER + 2 {DAGGO} SUBS. NEVER SAW SUCH A MESS OF EQUIPMENT IN ONE PLACE. |
| Dec 25 |
DROVE TRUCK OFF AT 4:00 am. SHIP UNLOADED I DIDN'T DO LICK OF WORK BOUGHT PRESENTS + CARDS IN NAPLES. PRICES HI STAGING AREA AT UNFINISHED COLLEGE |
| Dec 26 |
SKIPPED OFF INTO NAPLES TO CADET BOARD FOR APPLICATION BLANK. |
| Dec 27 |
CONVOY CLEARED NAPLES BY 8:30 A.M. VESUVIUS BELCHING SMOKE + CINDERS GOOD ROADS BEAUTIFUL HILLY COUNTRY 1 + 5 GEAR ON GOOD ONES ON JERRY ENG. TRUCK = {BOOGH} |
| Dec 28 |
FOGGIA BY 4:00 P.M. WAITED TILL DARK TO GO TO FIELD NO WGHTS 10 MILES TO FOGGIA #3 |
| Dec 29 |
COLD HARD WIND BLOWING SLEPT IN TRUCK CAB. VERY COLD. JUST JACKET. STILL "C" RATIONS |
| Dec 30 |
ON WIND SWEPT PLATEAU XMAS CARDS GOT 20 LETTERS IN MAIL |
| Dec 31 |
TIED TENT DOWN TO STAY. PUT ROCK ON FLOOR B-25'S MOVING TO NAPLES. BAD FIELD - STEEL MATS + H2O [Cont'd in Memoranda] |
| Memoranda |
[Cont'd from December 31, 1943] [Page 1] 11 FIELDS IN ALL HERE. MOSTLY LIMEY STUFF ROADSFULL ALL DAY AND NITE. LIMEY DRIVERS ARE BAD. [Page 2] FRENCH RUNNING AROUND IN AMER. CLOTHES ALL VERY CONFUSING. SAW 1ST WAC IN NAPLES GOT A TIN CAN STOVE BUT COLD. ELMER GONE BACK NAPLES HOSPITAL BAD BACK -COULDN'T WALK AND BAD COLD. |
WWII Notebook Journal of Sgt. David S. Gray 