Overseas
Ted was assigned to the 348 fighter group.
The following history of the 348th fighter group was written by Lt. Col. William M. Banks from his headquarters in IE Shima, Ryurkyu Retto, Japan in August of 1945. By way of introduction he writes:
Dear fellow Minutemen,
Now that the war has ended and most of us are looking forward to either to an early return to the states or to a new way of living as part of the army of occupation, it seems a good time to look back and review the achievements of the 348 group.
We have written a short summary of the group’s accomplishments, in order that the members may have some record of the successes they have helped to gain. The best thing about this summary is its inadequacy; it touches only the high points of a story that could fill volumes
It is, even in its bare outline, a history of which every member of the group can be proud, because every man contributed to accomplish it. We help everyone of you will feel that it is, in a very personal sense, your story..
William M. Banks
Lt. Colonel, Air Corps
Commanding
The 348th fighter group was formed October 1, 1942. The group was one of the first to be equipped with the P47 Thunderbolt and under the command of Col. Neil Kirby, received intensive training at Westover Field, Springfield, Mass. , and Green Field, Providence, Rhode Island. In May of 1943 the outfit left the states of the Southwest Pacific, and in July it was flying combat missions from Port Moresby.
The arrival of the 348 as the first P- 47 outfit in the Southwest Pacific area coincided with the opening of the Allied offensive in New Guinea. During the summer of 1943 the P-47 missions were chiefly as cover for bombers in the Lae-Salamaua area, and for transports carrying supplies to the new mountain locked airstrip at Tsili Tsili, only a few miles from the Japanese held Markham Valley. The group met its first air combat over Tsili on August 16, 1943, when two squadrons tangled with the fighter cover of an enemy bomber formation, and shot down three Nips.
In September the 348th’s planes provided cover for the paratroop landing at Nadzab in the Markham valley, and with the capture of Nadzab and Lae the group entered into one of the most spectacular phases of its overseas career, in a series of fighter sweeps, generally by flights of four planes, over the Nip stronghold of Wewak. Colonel Neel Kearby first planned and instituted the sweeps, and won fame when, leading one of the first four plane missions, he attached a formation of more than 40 Japanese planes, shooting down six enemy fighters while the rest of his flight shot down three more. For this achievement Colonel Kearby received the Medal of Honor.
Although the 348th’s Wewak sweeps won notice in the U.S. press and in Australia where the P47’s became known as “the Wewak Scourges”, perhaps the most heart-felt tribute was in a captured article by a high ranking Japanese officer. Entitling his study “Battle Lessons Learned”, he explained the demoralization and losses that resulted at Wewak from the frequent presence high over the airfields, of “pilots of superior skill in P-47’s”.
In December of ’43 the group moved to Finchhaven, and in the following month, covering the U.S. landings at Arawe, Cape Gloucestar, and Saidor, its pilots shot down 100 Japanese planes without the loss of a single pilot in aerial combat. The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its work during this period. From Finchhaven the group flew its first fighter-bomber missions. In the early spring of 1944, while the group was at Saidor, fighter-bomber work began in earnest with attacks on the Jap concentrations in the Hansa Bay region just ahead of the advancing Australian troops.
With the U.S. landing in Dutch New Guinea the 348th advanced to tiny Wakde Island, whence its planes covered the landing on Biak Island, and flew bombing and strafing missions in support of U.S. forces at Sarmi on the New Guinea mainland only a few miles from Wakde. At this time the group’s score for air combat stood: 231 enemy planes definitely destroyed; our losses one pilot shot down, four missing in action.
Next moving to Noemfoor Island, the group bombed enemy air fields over a wide area from Halmaheras to Ceram to the Kai Islands. Then after 18 months in New Guinea the 348th boarded ship and plane for the Philippines. One squadron, the 460the arrived several weeks before the other three, and proceeded to roll up an imposing score of enemy planes, shipping, and personnel destroyed. During a three week period it sank 50,000 tons of enemy shipping, which was slightly more than one-tenth of all the shipping sunk by the entire Fifth Air Force during the year 1944. On one mission seven planes of the 460th squadron wiped out a convoy loaded with an estimated 10,000 enemy troops en route to reinforce the Jap army on Leyte. The squadron’s planes were the first of the Army Air Force to fly over Manila after the Jap capture of the Philippines. A flight led by Colonel Dunham, the squadron C.O. and the group’s leading ace, made the first return flight on 17 November 1944.
The group’s greatest day, in point of total of enemy planes destroyed, was December 14, 1944 when, in protection of the invasion fleet heading to Mindoro, 5 planes were shot down, an estimated 75 were destroyed and 20 more damaged, on the airfields of Negros Island only a few minutes flight from our invasion force, which landed on Mindoro the following morning.
In aerial combat at the 348th’s best day came on December 24 when its planes escorting B-24’s in one of the first heavy bomber strikes on Clark field, met an attempted interception by an estimated 100 Japanese fighters. 32 of the Nips were definitely destroyed, 7 probably destroyed, the remainder were driven off, and the bombers proceeded undamaged to carry out their mission.
Early in December, while the group’s planes were operating from Taoloban strip, the majority of our personnel were camped inland near Burauen when the Japs landed several hundred paratroops on a uncompleted airstrip less that a quarter of a mile from the group’s camp, cutting the only road leading from the camp. For several days the camp was isolated between the paratroops on the East and the Jap patrols on the West. Two men on guard post were surprised and killed by an enemy patrol, but the camp defense’s prevented any breakthrough and the paratroops were finally wiped out by infantry and tanks.
When U.S. troops landed on Luzon the 348th, now in process of conversion from P-47’s to P-51 Mustangs, began operation from San Marcelino airstrip a few days after the landing at San Marcelino and Subic Bay. From this location the unit entered upon what many of its members consider its most outstanding work of the war, bombing and strafing in close support of ground troops. This work lacks the excitement and glamour of serial combat, or even of bombing and strafing of seen targets. Bombs and bullets are poured into areas where the enemy is reported to be, and day after day the mission reports repeat “Results unobserved due to foliage”. Only rarely are advancing ground troops able to tell what part of the damage found was done by a particular air strike.
At the time the 348th began ground support operations from San Marcelino, the infantry had taken Subic Bay and Olongapo and had started East with the objective of sealing off Bataan so that the Japanese, retreating southward from Lingayen, could not use the Bataan Peninsula’s defensive strength as did the U.S. forces in 1942. However, a few miles East of Olongapo stubborn Jap resistance suddenly had been met in Zigzag Pass, where the road climbed in a series of hairpin turns overlooked by the enemy’s positions. Our ground forces had suffered some casualties, had dug in, and in four days had been unable to make any appreciable gain.
On Leyte the 348th had done experimental bombing with a new and highly effective firebomb, and it was proposed that it be used to break the deadlock in Zigzag Pass. However the infantry division occupying the west end of the pass was uncertain about the use of the bomb in close support of their troops, for fear of inaccurate bombing. So a Jap supply area, well back of their front line, was bombed as a demonstration of accuracy, and was left neatly blanked with flame. There was no further lack of confidence; the infantry proceeded to direct our pilots bombing and strafing just ahead of their front line, and for seven days advanced steadily until their mission of scaling off the Bataan peninsula had been accomplished.
Occasionally the curtain of “unobserved results” would lift. One strike, directed by Filipino guerillas who set off smoke pots to mark tan enemy bivouac area, was later found to have caused 700 Jap casualties.
After another strike west of Fort Stotsenburg, ground troops were able to move in quickly and found 574 Japs, all killed by the single air attack. Neigher of those missions involved more than 32 sorties and 30 missions a day. It would be impossible to estimate how many other thousands of enemy dead are covered with the phrase “results unobserved”.
During the month of April ’45 the 348th net a record for tonnage of bombs dropped on the enemy, with a total of 2091.5 tons. Total ammunition expended was just under two million rounds. So far as is known, this bomb tonnage is the greatest every dropped in one month by any group, either fighter or bomber, and the accuracy of the bombing attested repeatedly by reports from ground observers. Most of the record tonnage was dropped in the IPO DAM area Northeast of Manila, and helped pave the way for the infantry’s capture of that vital control-point of Manila’s water supply. From San Marcelino the 348th also flew missions over French Indo-China, Hainan, China, and Formosa.
In May ’45 the group moved to Floridablanca airfield, west of Ft. Stotsenburg, and from there continued attacks on Jap ground troops, chiefly in the Cagayan Valley in northern Luzon. By the middle of June the enemy forces had disintegrated and scattered so that profitable targets were hard to find – – – so the 348th embarked for the Ryukyus, and began operations from IE SHIMA in mid-July.
Contrary to expectations the Japanese air forces did not choose to fight, and in the following month only 15 enemy planes were shot down – – without loss to the 348th in air combat. However there was an abundance of ground and shipping targets in Kyushu and North China, and the group’s P-51’s took a constant toll of enemy transportation on water and land before the afternoon of August 14 when the planes of the 348th delivered the last bombs dropped on Japan before the order was given to “cease firing”.
No account of the 348th Group would give proper perspective without mention of its members- – particularly its enlisted personnel – -and the life they have led between Australia and Japan. The majority of its members came overseas with the unit 28 months ago. Most of these spent an unbroken 18 months in New Guinea without so much as the opportunity to speak to a white woman; endured, without the loss of a man, uncounted scores of enemy air raids; moved and built a new camp on an average of once every two months; repeatedly lived for weeks on end on a diet of “C” rations varied with “bully beef”;- and in their 24 month overseas showed their undiminished vigor and skill by breaking all Air Force bombing records. The pilots of the group shot down 361 enemy planes and received, in medals and clusters, Medal of Honor -1, Distinguished Service Crosses – 4, Legion of Merit – 2, Silver Stars – 13, Distinguished Flying Crosses – 123, Air Medals – 819, and Purple Heats – 12. It is not a cheapening of their successes to point out that the achievements of the group’s enlisted men must pass without equal individual recognition only because their work is less spectacular, and not because their accomplishments and merits have been less worthy of high praise.
The Group leaders of enemy aircraft destroyed are: Colonel N. E. Kearby – 22, Lt. Colonel W.D. Dunham – 16, Lt. Colonel William M. Banks -9, Colonel R.R. Rowland – 8,Major W.G. Benz – 8, Lt. colonel E.F. Roddy – 8, Major S.V. Blair – 7, Captain G.A. Davis Jr. – 7, Captain M.E. Grant – 7, Major J.T. Moore – 7, Major E.S. Popek – 7, Major N.M. Brown – 6, Captain R.H. Fleischer – 6, and Captain W.B. Foulis – 6.
“Westover to New Guinea”
Ted kept a daily diary while he was on the Henry Gibbins traveling from New York to Port Moresby
Sunday May 9 1943
Left Westover 6AM Sun 9.
Arrived Camp Shanks 3PM
Left Camp Shanks 7PM
Friday May 14, 1943
Arrived at Dock 42nd St. Pier 15 at approx. 11 o’clock. Boarded USA T Henry Gibbins immediately
Shoved off at 5AM
Sat May 15, 1943
Nothing unusual Boat Drill etc. Some of the boys got sick right away
Sunday May 16
Nothing unusual. All guns were fired for practice causing some excitement. Found out where we were going and two descriptive pamphlets passed out
Monday May 17
Water pretty rough. Waves break over bow occasionally. More sick than ever. Don’t feel so hot myself The water is as blue as the skies. Imagine we must be off the Fla. Coast. Rough seas continued thru night. So hot in the hold no one slept much.
Tue May 18, 1943
Feel better today. Water is still pretty choppy but am more used to it now. Been married 1 year and 1 month today. Never thought I’d be here some where off the east coast of US possibly near Cuba, a year ago
Wed May 19, 1943
Slept on deck last night; real hot below. Feel fine today and ate 3 good meals. It has been real hot so kept out of the sun. Went to a movie this aft. Wm Powell in Varity Show. Old but a change. Planes circled over head most of last night so we were running close to land perhaps. Took a shower this aft in salt water. Shed my socks and am making use of the slippers my honey gave me for Xmas. Flying fish spotted off port bow to-day. Also saw some on Monday. Have my spot all picked out to bunk on deck to-night. Have seen nothing but water since we left New York. Hope to see Panama tomorrow. Passed Haiti during last night. I was asleep so didn’t see it.
Thur May 20, 1943
Nothing unusual to-day. Slept most of the afternoon. Its awfully hot in the sun so kept pretty much in the shade. Its pretty hard to find a spot to sit down as most everyone is on deck these days. No Land to- day possibly tomorrow.
Friday May 21
Spotted land at 7:30 this AM. It sure looked good. Wonderful scenery much like you read about. As we ran thru Gatun Lake took a shower in fresh water ? wonderful feel clean once more. Spent all day going thru the Canal and tied up at Balboa for the night. Watched the scenery from the rail. Very interesting.
In the evening a bunch of boys got an orchestra together and they played and everyone sang. Went to bed on deck about 10 o’clock. The rain drove me below at 4:30 AM.
Sat May 22
Still tied up at Balboa- played cards all morning. After chow went to Confession and Mass at 5 o’clock. Talked to a welder who was working on the boat. Asked him about Panama etc. He gave me a Panamanian 5 cent piece for a souvenir. Some natives brought some bananas aboard so managed to get one after a struggle. Turned in early. I slept below decks as it rained quite hard all afternoon and evening.
Terribly hot.
Sunday May 23
Pulled out of Balboa about 7:30 AM
Went to church at 11 AM
The weather is cloudy and cool so spent the day sitting on deck. Was in sort of funk all day. The land that can be seen looks like mountain Range that runs right down to the waters edge. Evidently Central America. Had chicken for lunch (Turkey was last Sunday) Ice cream for dessert. Raining now so will sleep below again tonight. A feeling of lonesomeness sort of creeps over as we leave the last bit of land that seemed more or less like home.
Monday May 24
Weather cloudy and cool. Spend all day on deck reading or playing cards. Went to the movies From one till 3. An antiquated cowboy in Indian show. Even though it was old it was a change. Slept on deck but had to go below at 1:00 AM as it rained. Life aboard is pretty much routine sweating out chow lines washing etc.
Tuesday May 25
Had my hair cut short yesterday. Much more comfortable as conditions are. Slept on deck. Was really quite cool.
Wednesday May 26
Sun is out bright today. We just sat on deck and got a little sunburn. Crossed the equator today. A pool was set up and practically everyone was initiated. I was properly dunked. It was rather unpleasant but wouldn’t have missed it for anything. Am now a Shell Back Jumped in the shower with all my clothes on to rinse off some of The Dirty water from the dunking large, layered clouds in the evening. Quiet. Turned in about 9:30 below decks
Thursday May 27th
KP today not bad at all much easier than ashore and you really get treated well finished about 7:15 and turned in early. The clocks are being set back 20 minutes or 1/2 hour every day.
Friday May 28
Quite warm today played cards or read all morning there were boxing matches in the afternoon didn’t watch them as there was such a crowd couldn’t see much. Oiled my gun in the evening and turned in early.
Saturday May 29th
Spent all day on deck either reading or playing cards also played cards in the evening.
Sunday May 30th.
Memorial Day. Went to church at 11:00 AM then to chow. Had Turkey again with ice cream for dessert. There were memorial services on the aft deck but didn’t attend. Took calisthenics this AM and Intend to continue. Most of us need exercise badly. Spent the afternoon on deck reading and dozing In the sun.
Notice today that my shoulders were peeling a bit from having been without a shirt for a couple of days.
Sure would like to be back home today.
Monday May 31
Spend all morning on deck either dodging the sun or rain. First it rained like the deuce then the sun came out real hot and then more rain etc. After a while decided to go to the movie but it was too crowded. Spent part of the afternoon on deck then went below and took a shower and wash some clothes. Watched some boxing matches before I went down. In the evening they had some singing on deck. Not much of a songbird so went Below and laid on my bunk. Intended to read but thinking of home and my honey seemed to give me more pleasure. Just before I went below, I notice the sunset. It is always beautiful but tonight the dark clouds came right down and met the water, and the sun shows through in just one spot. It looked like a jagged hole burnt in a pile of cloth.
Tuesday June 1st
Spent all morning on deck talking to some of the fellows. The sun was real hot so kept in the shade. After noon went to the movies. Bob Burns in “Alias the Deacon.” Good entertainment for a change. For the rest of the afternoon I rested and talked. Went on deck after supper for a smoke. Then below early to lie on the bunk and look at a magazine.
Wednesday June 2nd
Rifle inspection this am. Took up a good part of the morning. Spotted some boats off the port side evidently refueling port for Subs. Laid around on deck all afternoon. Got a little more sunburn.
Thursday June 3rd
Sat on deck all day with my feet hanging off the side. They got a little tan. Which is good for them. Turn down early.
Friday June 4th
Spotted land around 7:00 AM. The society islands. They look like icebergs rising out of the water from the distance. As we drew closer palm trees and other trees could be seen. We dropped anchor at Bora Bora about 11:00 AM. Natives came out in their boats and sold beads beautiful grass skirts coconuts oranges and bananas to the boys. Spent all day on deck watching the sights some of the boys went swimming. It is really beautiful here. Bora Bora rises right out of the water and runs to a high mountain which looks like solid rock. Clouds hang around that tops all day. There are palm trees all along the beach. Natives look like Filipinos and speak French and Tahitian.
Saturday June 5th
Pull out of Bora Bora about 7:30 AM natives were still around the boats selling their wares. Read until 10:30 on Dec until the rain drove me below. I read there until chow time. Spent the afternoon reading two. Turned in early.
Sunday June 6th
A beautiful day but quite cool. Spent all am on deck talking and all afternoon reading or sleeping. Had something something for lunch. After supper went up for a smoke. Listen to the orchestra for a while then below and reading in my bunk.
Monday June 7th
Cool again today so cool I need a jacket to be comfortable. The sun is hot, but it is quite windy. (Yesterday afternoon we passed Qouqi island. Evidently quite large although we didn’t come very close to it. Spent most of the day on deck reading.
Tuesday June 8th
Cool again today and windy it is more comfortable below decks the sun isn’t shining spent most of the morning reading. Haven’t spent so much time reading in a long while. If I had something to read that was educational in some way, I think I would know that I have gotten in The habit of reading again.
Wednesday June 9th
Cool again today. Spent all morning reading. In the afternoon went to the show. Life of Louis Pasteur. Although I’d seen it some time ago, I enjoyed it a lot like the book I’d just finished Arrow Smith by Sinclair Lewis. After the show read some more. Chow and then on decked till dark. A bird landed on the foredeck. Supposedly an albatross. Crawled in my bunk with my clothes on and slept that way a good part of the night. I sleep below deck every night now as it is cold and more comfortable.
Wednesday June 9th
Dropped this day as we crossed the international dateline.
Thursday June 10th
cool today and sort of cloudy not very comfortable on deck. Read awhile this am. Read all afternoon also.
Friday June 11th
I spent most of the morning below decks. It was cold and windy. Red all afternoon on deck. Went below early read and talked. Slept well – about the best since I have been on board.
Saturday June 12
Read all AM spent the afternoon on deck. Went below early took a shower and to bed
Sunday June 13th
Worked a while this am. Weather sort of bad. Windy and rainy. Had Turkey for dinner. I enjoyed this meal far more than some I’ve had since I left. In the afternoon we gave out ammunition and rations. Later we got our packs ready as tomorrow is the day. OK
Monday June 14th
After breakfast went on deck land inside real plane looks more like some parts of the US. Hilly country and beaches along the water edge. This country seems to be more hilly at home where is sand dunes running along the water’s edge behind the beaches. Here we have real high Hills. We ran along the coast for some time then into the mouth of a River. We went up the River to Brisbane and docked about 2:00 PM we were all ready to go ashore our boys asked and we found out we were going to stay aboard
Tuesday June 15
Still at Brisbane spent all AN at the rail watching the shore. In the afternoon was put on a detail to carry some supplies aboard touched land for the first time in a month. Roamed around a bit but didn’t get outside the dark area. Bought some ice cream and had some cake. Also bought a newspaper. Have some Australian money for a souvenir. From what we can see of Brisbane that looks like a nice city. very nice homes traffic truck to the left. Quite a few horses and Huggies. We left Brisbane about 8:00 PM.
Wednesday June 16th
Out on the open water again. We can see land though most of the time off the port side. The later part of the afternoon we went out of sight of land altogether. Slept until about 3:00 o’clock then hung around on deck and talked until chow time. Saw the sunset about as beautiful as anything I’ve seen. Different than looked in the states. Went to the show in the evening Edward G Robinson in learning ink.
Went to bed early.
Thursday June 17th
On deck about 7:00 AM. Plenty of land insight. Evidently The Great Barrier reef. There are little islands sticking out of the water all along on both sides. Father back on the port side the mainland can be seen. Just a mass of Hills. Reached Townsville about 5:00 PM we anchored quite a distance offshore. There are quite a few boats in the Bay in which we anchored but it looks like a desolate place. Perhaps there is more to it further inland.
Friday June 18th
Still at Townsville. It is getting more and more monotonous every day. There isn’t much of anything to do. Just walk around sit or sleep and read if you can find anything to read. Stayed on deck calling and talking and looking over the scenery. In the afternoon hung around on deck and talked and went to a medical lecture at 4:00 PM yesterday also after chow up on deck and talk with some of the fellows until 8:00 o’clock. Saw the moon come up from behind the Hills. Really beautiful enormous and bright and shown on the water. A pretty sight. Went below and turned in.
Saturday June 19th
Still at Townsville. Spent the morning on deck reading talking or daydreaming of home. A great pastime on this trip. So glad I have a lot of pleasant memories of the past two or three years to think about. Spent the afternoon on deck and after I had seen the show (Male Animal) really good. In the evening went on deck again saw the moon come up. Just amazing, the way it comes up. Just as if someone were hauling it up with a rope.
Sunday June 20th
Went to church at 7:00 AM a chaplain came aboard from something. I had a good dinner and spent a good part of the afternoon reading and catching some sunshine. Left Townsville at 4:30. As we pulled out so the sunset. It was really beautiful where on our way. Let’s hope we reach the destination soon.
Monday June 21st
My birthday whoever thought I’d be out here on my 31st. Spent all day reading on deck. Went below early in the evening then fell asleep on my bunk.
Tuesday June 22nd
The sun is bright as usual and it will be quite warm during the middle of the day played cards awhile this AM then sat in the sun and dozed until chow time. After chow we had a rifle inspection then went to the movies. Charlie McCarthy in here we go again. After supper went on deck again and stayed until almost seven then hit the bunk.
Wednesday June 23rd
KP today also it’s the day we reached land. Came up on deck about 9:00 AM when I was through for the morning and could see land vaguely off the portside. It looks good and yet it may not be so good. I guess most everyone don’t just know whether they should be sorry or glad. I finished KP about 12:30 and finished my pack to go ashore. We went ashore about 3:30. Down the gangplank from the Henry Gibbins onto a smaller boat and from that and two get smaller. Some job with a full pack and a rifle gas mask and Merrick bag jumping from one boat to another they were both bobbing around in the water which was kind of choppy and nonetheless easy to manipulate as we got away from the Henry Gibbins.
It looked big and graceful sitting there at anchor. The boys feelings were mixed as it sailed away. That is, they were glad to get ashore and yet still hated to leave the last connection with home behind. It was really rough getting off the boat up the gangplank and down the wharf to the trucks. It’s just about Florida everyone. We rode for about 20 or 30 minutes in a truck to our campsite. It looked rough and not very inviting. We pitched our tents and then to chow. We had meatballs spinach something in mashed potatoes and Apple pie. Everyone was hungry and really enjoyed it After chow we bedded down on the ground that was covered in clumps of grass, sticks and stones. We didn’t think much about birds termites and mosquitoes. We finally did arrange are mosquito netting and most of us I guess had a fairly good night.
Thursday June 24th
Went to chow immediately after getting up. About 6:00 AM. Spent the morning clearing up our campsite and digging foxholes.
Moved to our own Camp July 11, 1943
First Air Raid Sept 20, 4:30AM No Damage
348th locations in the South Pacific, June 1943 through Victory August 1945
Overseas
| Location | From | To |
|---|---|---|
New Guinea | ||
| Port Moresby | 23 June 1943 | 20 December 1943 |
| Finschhafen | 20 December 1943 | 14 March 1944 |
| Saidor | 14 March 1944 | 9 May 1944 |
| Hollandia | 12 May 1944 | 21 May 1944 |
| Wakde Island | 21 May 1944 | 24 August 1944 |
| Noemfoor Island | 24 August 1944 | 8 November 1944 |
Phillipines | ||
| San Pablo | 15 November 1944 | 14 December 1944 |
| Tanauan | 14 December 1944 | 23 January 1945 |
| San Marcelino | 3 February 1945 | 14 May 1945 |
| Floridablanca | 14 May 1945 | 27 June 1945 |
IE Shima | 9 July 1945 | Victory |
Click on the markers on the map below for identification. Work North from Port Moresby in the southern most marker.
Ted sent the following letter from Finschhafen, New Guinea:
Feb 24, 1944
Dearest Honey – I’m really peeved tonite. Went to the show and the doggone machine broke down. Wouldn’t that kill you? it’s the first time I’ve been to the show in two months too. The show was going to be “Dubarry was a lady” The other nite they had “Madam Curie” here but I was too tired to go. Wish I had gone now as everyone says it was a wonderful show. Had Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon in it. Remember how good he was in “How Green was my Valley” when we saw it in Providence?
I have your picture out here before me tonite honey and you sure look swell. I’m afraid the picture we had taken in Prov. is fading a bit. Your hair is getting lighter honey. I do like that latest snapshot you sent, love, so I have put it in the other side of the folder. You look so nice and fresh and healthy. Guess you could “lick yourself in wild oats” as you said the other day in one of your letters.
Here are a few more snapshots. You already have one of these of the mail man and myself s o you can give this one to Kay, Carrie, Anne or Bud if you really don’t want it since you already have one. The picture of the airplane is Col. Kearby’s ship.
As you can see, to date, he has 21 planes to his credit. The other snap is of the guys from my tent (all except Joe on the right and the fellow in from of him) except Walt is missing. We are sitting on the edge of the fox hole we had before we built our “deluxe” job. If you will notice the truck in the background you can see it has chains on the wheels and plenty of mud also. This will give you some idea of what it’s like over here when it rains.
I was talking to one of the fellows who just came back from McKay and he told me that when you go down there now they allow you 5 coupons to buy clothes. Now I’m wondering if 5 coupons will buy a sweater for my honey. If not there should surely be something for you. Sure wish I could get down there in time to get you something for our anniversary present.
It’s quite hot and muggy here tonite and the bugs drive you cuckoo. The light brings them in I suppose. You should see the things that fly around here. They are all sizes from so small you can hardly see them up to an inch or and inch and a half long.
No mail tonite honey but now I suppose I may as well settle down to another siege of letter less days till my ship comes in again.
By the time you get this it will be the early part of March. You will be able to go swimming and biking again soon and have picnics and hot dog roasts galore. Sure wish I could plan on being there with you to share the fun.
Wll honey there is no new news to tell you from here so I’d better sign off as it’s nearly time for the lights to go out. I’ll go to bed and fall asleep thing of you . Perhaps it’s just as well I didn’t see the show tonite as every time I used to go and see all the beautiful it just made me all the more lonesome fo you . So long fr tonite my honey and all my love and loads of kisses
Ted
Ted made several diary entries between November 1943 through May 1944
November 1943
First advanced detail left Monday Nov 14 arrived Finschhafen area Nov 17. (Dredges Harbor) Travelled by L.S.T. boat\I left Moresby Dec 20 6:25AM arrived Finschhafen area 9:25 Dec 20 assigned Intelligence Department December 24.
A few days after I arrived, we had air raids. Sure was scared. Bombs dropped a mile or so away. We could hear them whistle as they came down and that my name must be on one of them.
Moved to Saidor March 14. (1944)
Boarded L.S.T. 470 about 1:30 May 9, 1944. Put equipment in quarters but didn’t have a bunk in which to sleep. Ate supper about 4:30. Chow was good. After chow tried to rig up a bed in a Jeep on deck with Chuck and Campbell. About dark it started to pour, and I got soaked. Got disgusted went below and put on dry clothes and decided to sleep there. Laid down on the floor on a couple of life jackets in front of McGee’s bunk. Had about an hour’s sleep and we pushed off at 1:00 AM. Sea was rough so rolled around all night with no sleep. Got stepped on a couple of times by fellows walking through the aisles. Glad to see the A.M. come.
10th May 1944
Spent the day looking around at the sea and convoy or reading. Never saw such a large convoy. About 49 votes all together one of which was ours. Rained hard in P.M. so went below and read. Had 3 good meals but the chow line and line to wash mess kits was terribly long. At night slept in the front seat of a Jeep George which had a large tarp over it so didn’t get wet. Had a good night’s rest.
May 11
Spent the day on deck. Convoy practiced firing so watched them awhile. Quite entertaining. Things went along as usual. Slept in the Jeep again quite comfortable.
May 12
Up about six. Land right off starboard side. After eating watched as we pulled in towards shore. Beached about 9 and got off about 9:30. Worked all day unpacking equipment on beach with just enough time out for lunch – a pretty rough day. At night found some rations and ate a little and topped it off with a cup of coffee from the chuck wagon. Made up our bunks with a tarp attached to the barrack bags ammunition and barrels of gas. Didn’t sleep well at all.
May 13
Got up early – had a little to eat and a cup of lousy coffee at the wagon. Helped to pile up a few drums of gas then went swimming in the ocean for about an hour. After a little while hopped on a Jeep that was going to the new area? Was on the road till about 9 P.M. and finally was guided into our area where our convoy was to be reorganized. Tried to sleep on the front seat of the Jeep. Mosquitoes just about ate me up and was generally uncomfortable. Enemy planes came over 3 times. Dropped bombs on the first run a long way from us. No bombs were dropped on the second run. The third time the plane came up the valley where we were camped which made us quite nervous since we were camped in a Jap ammo and gas dump. Also, a lot of Jap equipment around.
May 14th
When daylight came tried to scare up something to eat. Didn’t get much but didn’t really feel hungry. Spent the day until about 4 o’clock hanging around the area. In the meantime, all vehicles returned that had gone on ahead. Had noon chow there made up of rations by a few of the cooks. Pushed off about 4 o’clock for the new area. Arrived in time to get tents up before dark. 8 men in a tent. Had a good night’s rest. Two red alerts but no planes came over.
May 15
Got up about 7. Had practically nothing for breakfast. Hopped a truck to go down to try to find my A. Bag. Had good luck – found it at Paueghe Hill. Came back, had chow, and then went down to the creek to take a bath, shave and wash some clothes. Felt pretty good after finishing.
May 16
Spent the day laying around camp. Took a couple of walks to the creek where it was cool and plenty of water to wash and take a bath.
May 17
Spent the A.M. around camp and in the P.M. John and I went down to the beach and prowled around the Jap supplies on the beach. Picked up a few things and took a couple of snapshots.
May 18
Went down to the P. O. in the A.M. and sent out the mail. After lunch laid around the tent. About 3:30 P.M. the Jap supplies on the beach started to burn and the bombs and ammo started to explode. The explosions and fire was terrific. Billows of smoke and flames and debris flew into the air and could be seen for miles. It was a hectic night what with those bombs exploding and 3 or 4 red alerts we had. We didn’t hear any planes over however.
May 19
Spent the A.M. laying around camp except for the time spent at the creek washing and bathing. The P.M. was as usual. Red alerts at night but heard no planes.
May 20
Loaded our equipment on L.S.T. No. 6 which took most of the day. Went back to camp ate washed and rested awhile.
May 21
Packed up our personal equipment broke camp and boarded the boat around noon. Had quite a time getting off the beach. Finally pulled out and worked our way into the bay and dropped anchor until about sundown then took off.
May 22
Reached Wakde about 8 A.M. Unloaded the boat right after chow which took until about 4 o’clock. Set up camp in a make shift area in the woods. Slept under a poncho. Didn’t get much sleep as everyone was talking about Japs here and there. One of our boys who was on guard shot another of our boys who was also on guard accidentally. Didn’t have much to eat for supper.
May 23
Worked clearing a camp area all day. It’s terribly hot here. We are only 2 degrees from the equator. Finally got a tent up just before dark and was fairly comfortable for the night. One red alert but guess it was a false alarm.
May 24th
Worked on the camp area all day again. At night all through the night one can hear the artillery fire on the mainland. The enemy is really not far away. Have really seen for the first time the grim horrors of war. Enemy dead lying everywhere where they had made their last struggle for life. The place is strewn with wrecked equipment mostly aero planes. This place must have been a veritable paradise at one time but now it is just a mess of debris. Practically every coconut tree on the island, and it evidently at one time was one large plantation, have been shot up.
May 25th
Went to the Head Quarters today to set up our department. Spent the day there except for time out for chow at noon.
More snapshots were included in Ted’s March 11, 1944 letter from Finschhafen, New Guinea:
March 11th 1944
Dearest honey. Let’s start off with an apology I didn’t write last night. There was a show up here so I decided to go and right when I came back. The show was a bit longer than usual Pho and we just about got home before the lights went out at 10:30.
There was no mail yesterday except for a couple of Narragansett times. One of them was in October number. Then today I received two short letters from you, one from Cary, one from Bobby and two more Narragansett times. Your letters today we’re dated February 13th and 16th. Nearly a month old
Evidently around the time you had plenty of snow back home since you said you had been sledding with Bill at Ridge and Caroline. Does Bill work in the store now? I remember that time we went sliding over at the Country Club. Guess that was the time I tip the sled over,? I’ve decided since that you are much better at staring than I am anyway. What do you think?
I’m glad that you have Caroline and Betty and the other girls to Chum around with since you seem to get along so well with them. They have a lot in common with you two since their husbands are in the Army too. You should try to include Fran in some of your parties. I imagine she must get pretty Lonesome down there alone.
Glad to hear that you are feeling fine again. Perhaps you will be fortunate enough to stay well for the rest of the winter now. I hope so anyway. I am still fine and have no complaint as far as health is concerned.
Miss Conley sound good. I hope she knows what she is talking guess I’ll have to change my opinion of fortune tellers if what she says comes true. Why are you so sure that Ruth will have a girl and Bud will have a boy? Do you think babies follow the sex of their parents.
I took the afternoon off today and did some laundry and boy wasn’t it hot. My clothes were terribly dirty since it’s been so muddy around here.
I had a couple of more prints made of those pictures I sent you of me sitting on the wing of a plane and also on a truck with an aussie and another fellow so I think I will send them along to an. Kay said that she seemed to think I neglected her. Perhaps that will make her feel better.
I’m still waiting for those snapshots of you honey. Are you making any Headway on those? This is a shipping ticket off a JAP ammunition box I mean closing. Not much of a souvenir but nevertheless it’s something that belong to them when they were in New Guinea.
Well honey I better stop here. Let’s hope I hear from you again tomorrow. They surely must be some mail along the way somewhere. So long for tonight sweet and all my love and kisses
Ted
PS the pilots from our Squadron bagged another 12 today and probably for more. This brings us up to about 46 or 47 now. Pretty good hey?
More love
Ted
18 months later, on August 15, 1945, he wrote the following from IE Shima, an island in the Pacific just south of Japan:
[vc_row][vc_column][vcex_custom_field name=”sender_location” before=”Sent From:”][vcex_custom_field name=”recipient_location” before=”Sent To:”][vc_column_text]0712
Wednesday, August 15, 1945
Dearest Honey,
Didn’t get to write to you last nite my love, Was in so much suspense I just couldn’t set my mind to do anything. Was about as nervous, I guess, as the day I got hooked.
We heard of Pres. Truman’s announcement this A.M. about 0800 (7 P.M. Tues. your time) stating that the war was over. This is one of the happiest days of my life. I know now honey I’ll get back to you. There have been plenty of time when I was sort of skeptical about it, you know.
Everyone here took it pretty calmly as most of us felt that it was just a matter of time anyway. Never the less waiting was quite a “sweat job”.
I can imagine that everyone back home is having quite a time and are pretty happy about the whole thing. It seems almost impossible that it’s true. I have to keep repeating it over to my self and still can’t believe it.
I haven’t the slightest idea as to what to say about getting home. I don’t think anyone knows just yet how things will go. For all I know I may yet be stationed in Japan. In any event I shall be home sooner than I would have been if the war hadn’t ended right now.
We have had the day off. Under ordinary ??? circumstances I perhaps would have caught up on my sleep this afternoon but just couldn’t do it today. All I can do is think about getting back to you and home. Oh honey, it sure is going to be wonderful. How nice it will be to have you right with me all the time to live with, eat with sleep with and to play with. All these months I have been making plans for the future as to how much fun we will have. Now I’m anxious to see if I can live up to them.
I’ve decided the best thing to do now is just settle down, not get all excited and the time will come for me to be on my way.
I hope you will do the same but I just know we are both going to be excited as the devil from now on ???. I’ll bet a nickel those kids at S.K. (in your classes) will be neglected this year if they never were before! Do you resent that honey? I’m only kidding. I know you wouldn’t do a thing like that.
Perhaps now I can go to the movies occasionally and really enjoy it. That is, as much as one can over here. Up until now, since coming up here, I’ve stayed away from the show as I can’t enjoy them when you have to sweat out red alerts.
Your letter of July 26 arrived yesterday. This one must have been delayed somewhere as I’ve had several newer ones that that a few days ago. Thanks for setting me straight on who Moi is. As I remember now, I wasn’t quite sure that was the name you wrote. I just knew it was “M O ” something.
I’m not sure about how long your hair was when you graduated from college, honey. That’s a long time ago. I still insist that I like it the way you used to wear it when I left. Think you can make it grow quick now to get that long again in a few months? Any way you have it though will suit me fine sweet heart.
The only thing we can think of that may have to happen to this Dick is that he was grounded for physical reasons (which doesn’t necessarily mean a medical discharge) or he may have had a run in with someone and was grounded and discharged on account of that. It may have been something else but that’s about the only thing we can think of.
I shan’t worry honey, about you becoming involved in any more match making as I’m sure, from now on, you will be pretty much occupied with making our own plans. as soon as things begin to pop over here we will start making heap big plans huh.
Well my love, think I’ll have to end here for now. There’s a big discussion going on about post war plans here so have had quite a time trying to write. Hope you are well sugar, and I know you are happy over the latest news. I know I am. Not completely happy though, and won’t be until I can hold you tight again. ???? now honey. All my love and kisses (with squeezes) Always
Ted[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]