Date |
Sgt David S. Gray's Notes, September 1943 |
| Sep 1 |
 We aren't going to Sicily. stalling to see if Italy give in. We'll go to Italy. 3 new ships in new to us. tooth bothering
|
| Sep 2 |
air echelon going to Sicily + planes rest staying here. may go to Italy. |
| Sep 3 |
Italy Invaded |
| Sep 4 |
(Frances Hardy went to 14th) |
| Sep 5 |
Got a new ship from 14th bellied in 130 hrs on it. getting it in shape guys left for Sicily |
| Sep 6 |
Lee gone to Sicily. plane + Lt.Dart [probably Lt. Raymond Dart] gone on mission and stay in Sicily. fixing up another new ship to send over. |
| Sep 7 |
got plane off to Sicily OK. another one came in some of other guys fixing it up. |
| Sep 8 |
Went Tunis. good show - 15 letters Italy officially gave in. another ship to work on. Dist. roto burned off |
| Sep 9 |
worked on ship. got load of water in truck. saw "Pittsburg" (propaganda) {ans.} letters. |
| Sep 10 |
worked a bit on ship. Heavy fighting in Naples. lost 3 ships out of Sicily. |
| Sep 11 |
worked on throttle linkage. wrote letters. Andy Hardy movie - 4 more guys going to Sicily. Fitz came in fighting drunk. |
| Sep 12 |
V crashed near Mt. Etna. Fisher [probably Lt Harrison Fisher] got 3 victories on his 50th mission Got another ship here for me 345 hrs on it. plenty of work. |
| Sep 13 |
Worked all day on ship. bad shape |
| Sep 14 |
Ship ready for test hop. boys having it rough in Sicily poor food. Lot of guys sick. early + late missions pilots sick. hard fighting at Salerno. |
| Sep 15 |
Ship flew OK Lt. Boyd [Lt Joseph Boyd] back from LM-4 OK he was in water 18 hrs with Mae West. got out of plane 45 {degree} below water. |
| Sep 16 |
3 flights on my ship. OK. 65" M. Pressure. smoking engine 345 hrs on em Ruff fighting in Italy. LMK back for engine change |
| Sep 17 |
pkg. from Jim. killed two big scorpions in the tent. Italian situation much better. |
| Sep 18 |
planes + boys back from Sicily. transferred my plane to 27th engine change due anyway 5th and 8th army doing great. we are to rest now |
| Sep 19 |
Looked over our next ship. an old converted piggyback |
| Sep 20 |
Lee went Tunis with Mouse. Pilots were given awards by Spaatz + Doolittle. 3 or 4 passed out in the hot sun. I went out on the line to skip it. Why should I watch pilots get decorated for 50% of our work. |
| Sep 21 |
Lee went Tunis with Mouse. Pilots were given awards by Spaatz + Doolittle. 3 or 4 passed out in the hot sun. I went out on the line to skip it. Why should I watch pilots get decorated for 50% of our work. |
| Sep 22 |
Hanging around as usual. not much flying. 8 scorpions + 2 centipedes. |
| Sep 23 |
Not on combat status. waiting for new planes + equipment. movie "Golden Boy' |
| Sep 24 |
waiting for an accum. for the ship before she can fly. French stage show. |
| Sep 25 |
Went up to the hospital with Stud. |
| Sep 26 |
Still waiting for an accum. for ship. |
| Sep 27 |
Ship OK now. rained hard last nite spoiled my movie date with nurse. first rain for long time |
| Sep 28 |
still raining hard in spells. terrible mud. cold wind. very disagreeable. only "c"rations no coffee. no mail for days. |
| Sep 29 |
{shot} a big pig up on the engine hoist. a talk by our new C.O. going to kick in {moreg} for food but no slush fund like Moore had. 1 {%} replacement deal going thru. |
| Sep 30 |
pay day. no mail. Moore is done here Capt Peterson [probably Capt Lawrence Peterson] new adj. maj. Haynes new C.O. Col Roberts new Grp. C.O. Moore up for court martial |
WWII Notebook Journal of Sgt. David S. Gray 