On August 25th, the 340th bomb group celebrated themselves with 2nd anniversary events. Ang sent Betty the commemorative booklet that they produced. You can see part of it in the posts for May and I'll scan and post the the pages under Official Documents. There were no missions flown that day or on the 26th -- I imagine there were many hangovers being nursed. According to the published squadron diary, there were other stand downs during these last days of August, either due to weather or because their targets in France were already held. Ang only flew one mission, on the 29th. Betty complains about being bored at work and even says she's feeling low and in a bad mood. She sends cigars to Ang - he's been asking for them for awhile. It's probably a good thing he mentioned them in several letters because at least two of his letters won't get to Betty until October! Friday, August 25. Another boring day. Golly I’ll be glad when things pick up. We stained the bookcase tonight. Just lazed all evening. Bath and bed 11:30. [Letter. Handwritten on typing paper. Postmark 8-26.] 8-25-44 Corsica Hi Hon: Big doings on this little island today. It seems that it’s the groups’ 2nd anniversary today—so we are having a little celebration. I am sending you the program they put out in a package—I think you will find it interesting. Trying to anticipate a few of your questions about it: Major Hackney is our Sq. Co. The little event mentioned in the fifth paragraph of the last page happened on my first night here. There was your little ole husband with no foxhole to call his own—and his helmet packed in the bottom of my barracks bag. What a life—a nice way to start (and almost end). You should have seen me the next day with a pick and shovel. I now have one of the classiest fox holes in the world—at least its one of the deepest. Notice the last line on the last page “Of course, General, if you insist, we will go home!” Cute-eh? I think the program is really nice—and they had the censor pass it so we could send it home Boco generals around today. You should have seen Skeezix cleaning up this morning—scrubbed the floor and everything. As soon as he heard that some Generals were coming to inspect—he really got to work. I guess he was afraid that they would send him back to Sicily if didn’t have a sparkle on everything. What a kid! By the way, hon, you don’t have to Air mail stamps on “V” mail. The only thing they do is send them faster to the place where they photograph them, and in your case, it's right in LA. When I send them, they are photographed here and are flown by Air to L.A. to be printed, so there is no sense in my wasting stamps either. Straight poop from Group P.O. Also—the money I sent to the bank was 300 in one letter—and 200 in another. I thought I’d better tell you in case you got one receipt first. Let me know as soon as you get them. I sure have been thinking a lot about you today. I’ve been laying here letting all kinds of things go thru my mind—past and future. Tch, tch! Gosh, hon, I sure do miss you. I see by Bud’s letter that I’ve always taken you for granted. I sure wish I was with you—so I could take you—for granted(?). Oh my goodness—I’d better close before I start drooling. I love you sweetheart. Love, Ang August 26. To doctor’s in A.M. but everything OK. Mailed cookies to Ang. Had a letter after the invasion. Out to dinner. August 27. Sure was in a low mood today. Mother & I to movies after Mass. Did some odd jobs in evening & bed by 11:00. Sure warm. [Letter. Handwritten on typing paper. Postmark 8-29.] 8-27-44 Corsica Hi Hon: Well, its Sunday—and it actually does feel like Sunday. Maybe its because I went to church this morning. Talking about Sunday—I’m going to put that cross I bought in this letter—I hope it gets to you. You can consider it as an anniversary present until (and if) I can get anything else. Its not much—but you know what they say. At least I didn’t forget it—surprise! I had written to your dad a couple of months ago—but yesterday I got the letter back—not at that address…4300 Lindell is one you gave me—isn’t it? We had watermelon today for lunch—it wasn’t much good but I made a pig of myself just on general principles. I’m sure glad we can get little things like that once in awhile. By the way, did I tell you that I got the “T” shirts. Thanks a lot for the medicine—it was good for what ailed me. I’m sure making use of the “T” shirts. As Skeezix says—you’re a “bona spouse”. I’d better close now—the fellows are yelling at me—we are going swimming in the blue Mediterranean. (I knew I could spell it). I love you my darling. Love, Ang August 28. Mr L back from vacation—didn’t work very hard. Had cosmetic woman up & stayed all evening. To bed about 11:30. [Letter. Handwritten on typing paper. Postmark 8-29] 8-28 Corsica Hi Hon: Just got your letter of the 16th—my, my-what a temperature! Don’t get excited about those news clipping—they probably weren’t in your papers. There were mostly in small & medium sized city papers—you know, local boy makes good, etc. The clippings will never mention our group—just save all clippings that mention B-25 Mitchells in our part of the world. When I get home we’ll see which ones apply to us. I’m sending you a couple as an idea—and I guess they may be interesting to you even if you don’t know the fellows—because I do know them. As far as my mention—it was nothing. Some A.P. correspondent was here and for the lack of anything better to do he wrote an article on nicknames. Because of my name he gave me the monicker of “Angel face” Adams—I was supposed to have got that because of the angelic look on my face as I led the bombers to the target and rained bombs on the German heads—or some such foolishness he got into his head. God, what imagination those boys have. Honest, hon, no one ever called me that—what a ribbing I took when it came back. I’ll punch him in the nose if he ever comes back. Arne just got the news that he’s the proud pappy of a girl—you should see him hopping around passing out cigars. I love you darling—Love Ang August 29. Not quite so warm today. Mr. S took us down to Long Beach for dinner and some drinks. A so-so time. Swell letter from Ang. Late. Form 5. C-29, Combat flight as navigator, B25-J, 3:30h [Crew sheet under Official Documents. The crew sheet lists Ang as bombardier.] [FROM ANG'S FLIGHT LOG. MISSION #30.] 30 8-29 Verona R.R. Viaduct 1. Center 2. Did not drop Heavy, scant & inac. [verso: "Mell"] August 30. Not much to do at the office today. Mr. S up for dinner again. Very lousy frame of mind. Wrote letters in evening. 11:30. [Letter. Postmark 8-31] 8-30 Corsica Hi Hon: I know that I have to write a letter today—but I’ll be darned if I know what to say—mind is blank. I didn’t get any mail yesterday—so I don’t even have your questions to answer—such is life! I did get a “V” mail from the Folks—not much to say—just a “duty” letter. I’m enclosing a small piece in the paper I found somewhere. I think its kind of cute myself. I spent most of yesterday at the beach—this place is just ideal for it. You go swimming in the salt water & breakers for fun, and then swim in the mouth of a little river that runs into the seas to wash off the salt. I must admit that the climate and the scenery in this part of the world are wonderful—its just these “foreigners” that drive me crazy. We just finished teaching Skeezix how to sing “Lay that pistol down, Babe”. Boy, he’s really a scream. He gets the words all screwed up—and what comes out is shocking—tch. tch. its good for my morale to have him around—he keeps me laughing for hours. I’m afraid I’m teaching him bad habits, though. The other night he gathered his Eytie friends and “introduced” them to an American game called dice. He won 30 bucks though—so I guess he isn’t so dumb. What a kid! I love you darling—Love, Ang August 31. Sort of busy today for a change. Mailed cigars to Ang. Pay day. Wrote letters all evening. Mom and I home alone for change. Bed 11:30
[Letter. Postmark 9-1.] 8-31-44 Corsica Hi Hon: Gee Whiz, hon—I’m not making any suggestions against “V”mail letters—I don’t mind getting them—I’m just a little tired of addressing mine twice. I finally figured that it was a lot easier to write an extra page than all that work of addressing those “V” mail jobs. You just keep on writing them. I have nothing against them. (your letter of 8-18) Thanks for calling the folks up hon. I’m sure it pleased them—and I know it made Mom feel a little as if her family wasn’t completely torn away from her. I got a kick out of Margies letter. So the “Carribean commandos” are on their way to us. Well, well—I’ll be glad to see a few of the boys from Columbia. I’d love to see Elliot & Hoetling in the squadron. I’d give 50 bucks to see the looks on their faces as the first piece of flak nibbled at their pants seats. Gee- I sure do sound rather malicious—don’t I? I’m sorry—but the thought struck me as rather funny at the moment. It sounds like the Schrickers are in solid with the wheels—“Major Goldsworthy and Steve Howbert[?]”. And, Mrs. Adams, just what is the matter with Lana’s looks? Are you looking for trouble—just jealous and trying to undermine my secret love—that’s what you’re trying to do—ha! I love you sweets—Love, Ang
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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
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