Ang did a pretty good job with his letter writing throughout August. During this first eight days he wrote several V-Mails and a letter. on the 8th. He flew 3 missions and one "Administrative" flight. He reports on letters received and from whom -- an old friend and Betty's Uncle Frank, both of whom are serving in the military. He may have his dates mislabeled or confused on his letters. Or perhaps he finished writing the August 8th letter on the 9th. He mentions ham and potatoes for dinner but the 57th diaries include this note for the 9th. Those diaries also say August 5th was a stand down due to weather but Ang's Form 5 and his log list a mission on the 5th. He describes it as a "paper" mission which usually means they were dropping propaganda leaflets or pamphlets. His letter dated 8-6 mentions rain, and perhaps there was rain, but there was a mission. I don't have crew sheets for all these dates to use as additional sources. I know from the group and squadron diaries, that there were plenty of rumors flying about the coming Invasion of Southern France. He doesn't mention that yet, but does mention that he's "sweating out" his promotion which he's expecting at any moment. Betty packs and sends packages to Ang; notes more visiting with friends and relatives; and notes that Mrs. A (Ang's mother) might be very ill. She doesn't mention that again, so I guess she was OK. Tuesday August 1. Shopped after work for Ang’s box -- odds and ends. Nothing happens in office so no news. Wrote some letters—bed about 11:30. August 2. Warmish. Flo and Marge up for dinner. Packed box for Ang in evening. He got the first package—finally. Bed 11:00. Tired. [V-Mail. 8-14 postmark] 8-2-44 Corsica Hi Hon: Guess what—I got a letter from Wally—and a nice long four page letter it was. I guess this overseas business cures all the boys of not answering letters. He has a new address for awhile. W. Reardon RDM 2/c Radar Operators-SCA. Air Center—Box #1 Navy 140—c/o FPO San Francisco, CAL I’m sorry, dear—but as soon as I finished writing that—It struck me that it was a good way of filling up space. I knew you’d think so—but really it wasn’t intentional. Your letters come in steady as clockwork—which makes me very, very happy—I love you wifey Love, Ang August 3. Packed two boxes for Ang - the bottle in one. Wrote couple of letters in evening. Home alone. Family to movies. Pretty warm today. Bed 11:00. Form 5. C-3, Combat flight as navigator, B25-J, 2:05h [Crew sheet is under Official Documents tab.] [FROM ANG'S FLIGHT LOG. MISSION #20.] 20. 8-3 Nice. Chaff [Note: A Chaff mission indicated that they dropped "chaff" in an effort to "confuse" the German radars. The crew sheet for this date (see under the Official Documents tab) shows Ang flying one of three planes dropping chaff, out of a total of 10 planes from the 486th bomb squadron. Written on verso "Glade. D.L. Phelps, T.H." Generally, when Ang noted crew on a mission, it was the pilot and the bombardier] August 4. Worked steady all day. Sent box to Ang - finally. Kay and Tom with in-laws for weekend. Washed head and wrote Ang. Form 5. A-4, Administrative flight as navigator, B25-J, 2:30h [As usual, Ang does not note this Administrative flight on the fourth, in his log book or in a letter. I don't see anything about it in the 340th or 486th diaries either. However there were missions flown on 8-4-44.) [V-Mail. 8-15 postmark and stamped Aug 26 on inside] 8-4-44 Corsica Hi Hon: I got a letter from Frankie yesterday—not much news—just chatter. Say, my letter writing is really bringing in dividends. In your last letter—you were worried about my hospitalization. It was nothing to worry about. I ran a little temperature—and they were observing me for malaria. I didn’t have it—so that was that. Say, hon—I know what you can send me—a batch of Air Mail stationary. No cracks now! If I had it around—I might put out some long letters—ha! I sure am glad to hear that Kay got to L.A.—I’ll bet Herm is a happy sailor. I love you, hon—Love, Ang August 5. Very warm. Did a little shopping after work. Bought some kitchenware. Mr. S for dinner and to movie. Bed about 12:30. Dead tired. Form 5. C-5, Combat flight as navigator, B25-J, 1:30h [I don't have a crew sheet for this mission. ] [FROM ANG'S FLIGHT LOG. MISSION #21.] 21. 8-5 Pisa. [Chaff Mission crossed out] Paper. [written on verso: "Laney"] August 6. To 12:00 mass - then to Kay’s in-laws. Had a real good time - saw some lovely movies. Drive home and straight to bed about 11:30. Form 5. C-6, Combat flight as bombardier, B25-J, 1:30h [I don't have a crew sheet for this mission.] [FROM ANG'S FLIGHT LOG. MISSION 22.] 22 8-6 Nice. Weather. Recce [written on verso: "Regan N.J."] [I assume he means weather reconnaissance.] [V-Mail. Postmark 8-15.] 8-6-44 Corsica Hi Hon: Its one of those dull, drizzly days that make you ready to lay down and die. Its hardly good for the morale—and I’m way down in the dumps. Oh well, the way the boys are going on the other fronts—the war shouldn't last too much longer. Gosh, I sure do sound miserable—its really not as bad as all that. I guess it[s] just the weather. Charley [Vail] has been drunk for 2 days—and boy what a hang over he has. He’s really in sad shape—and the way he looks, doesn’t help my disposition any. Tch, tch! Gosh hon, I sure do love you an awful lot—Love, Ang August 7. Gee it was hard to get up this morning. Wrote letters all evening and feel a little better. Mrs. A very ill--??? To bed 11:00. Tired. August 8. Nothing new at office today—mailed a large package to Ang. Warmish in P.M. Quick supper & to Schr[ricker or reiber]s. Bed by 11:30. Sure tired. [Letter, written on small notepad paper. Postmark 8-11] 8-8-44 [no dateline] Hi Hon: I’ve been doing rather poorly with my letter writing lately—haven’t I. I’m sorry—I’ve been rather busy lately. Of course thats no excuse because I’m never that busy—I’ll snap out of it. That last “V” mail of yours really slayed me. The last part, I mean. “Ang, I love you so much--Hurry home!” Gee, hon, my nerves are still aquiver—you shouldn’t do that to me. Holy mackeral! It was nice of you to suggest getting something for our boy Skeezix—but it isn’t worth it. He’s got everything he wants now—about six or seven slightly used honest to goodness pairs of shoes. All they can get in Sicily is sandals—and those are about 25 bucks a pair. He’s got more clothes than all the rest of the Eyeties put together—and the food he eats sends him to paradise. We also take him for a practice flight once in a while—and that leave him with only one desire. The squirt wants to go with us on one of our missions. He really hates the Germans (He has good reason for it)—and he loves the idea of being in the plane that rains bombs down on them. Oh well, maybe some day when we have a milk run we’ll put him aboard. If you noticed a pause—which you didn’t—it was me going to dinner. And, it was a darn nice dinner—Ham, pot., corn on the cob, and apple pie. Its quite a meal for us. I’m still sweating out my promotion—its just about time for them to come back. Oh well, why worry. Joe sent me a picture of you and the baby. You both look right pert—as I’ve said before just a bit too maternal. Please excuse the paper—its all I have! On the other hand maybe its just right. I guess you’d prefer this to “V” mail. I think I’ll start using it. I love you honey—and I am hurrying as fast as I can. Love, Ang
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorJoni Adams Sesma, daughter of Angelo and Elizabeth Adams. Ang served on Corsica with the 57th Bomb Wing, 340th Bomb Group, 486th Bomb Squadron. April 1944-April 1945. Archives
July 2017
Categories
All
|