Thursday, February 8. Hard day today. Finally got a letter from Ang and some pictures! Wrote letters in evening. Bed by 11:00  Log book. Mission #62. February 8, 1945. Form 5. Feb 8, ____ flight as navigator, B-25J, 2:40h [FROM ANG'S FLIGHT LOG. MISSTION #62.] #62. Feb. 8. Piacenza RR Bri. Heavy, intense & Accurate. 3 ships holed. Hit center of bridge. Capt. R.E. Jardine, Lt. G.P. Rahatz  From Ang's scrapbook. Labelled "62" on back. Ang is on left, bottom row. Ang listed the pilot (Jardine) and bombardier (Rahatz) in his log book. According to the crew sheet the crew was as follows: Jardine, Hackney, Rahatz, Adams, Karaica, Sterett. (See Official Documents tab.) February 9. Very warm today again and windy. Didn’t work real hard. Had a lovely meeting of LAOWC—but hectic. Bed very late. [Letter. Postmark 2-11] 2/9/45 Corsica Hi Hon: Well I’ve got another boy heading for L.A. –and he swears he’ll stop in to see you—just like the other ten or so. I think this one will though—he usually keeps his promises. His name is James (Jim) D. Smith. I’ve flown with him—and he should give you plenty of poop. By the way, he’s a captain. Talking about captains—I’ve got a little poop for you. Possibly Maybe (that’s easier) you’ll have to set back my homecoming another month or so. I got kind of an offer today—nothing definite—there are a lot of ifs and buts to it. If a certain person goes home in the near future—it will leave a certain opening which I can have which will make me eligible for promotion—providing the war lasts long enough for me to get enough time in the job to rate a Captaincy. As I said, there are a lot of ifs and buts to it—and as usual, I’m not expecting anything until I get it. It’s a fine opportunity, but as usual, it has its drawbacks. It means I will have to spend one to two months extra over here—What a blow! However, I won’t have to fly any extra missions—it’s practically a ground job—so it won’t be so bad. Now, don’t get excited about it—there are so many if & buts that the chances are only about 50-50. Don’t tell anybody about it—if it doesn’t go through I don’t want to have a lot of explaining to do. Don’t even tell Henthorn about it. I’ll keep you informed one way or the other. And now to get to one of your very interesting letters. The one in which you are all excited about an addition to the family. Tch, tch honey—I never hinted at such a thing. All I wanted you to do was to get a physical so could be sure. Then—whatever our plans were—we wouldn’t have to waste time. Just to quiet the fluttering of your wonderful little heart—I’ll tell you that a baby doesn’t enter into the future immediate future of my plans—but you never can tell when I’ll change my mind. So you do what you are told—and no back talk—see! I can see where I’m going to have trouble with you when I get home—but such troubles I hope I have for the rest of my life—Amen! Mmmm—I sure do love you! I think you’ll get a kick out of the enclosed article. All I can say is that the 321st is lying—we did beat them last month—and the month before that. Ha, I sure get a kick out of the rivalry around here—worse than a bunch of boy scouts-- I love you darling---Love, Ang  Downloaded from newspaperarchive.com; The Mediterranean Rome Stars and Stripes, Wednesday, February 7, 1945. The copy of the article in Ang's collection was missing the top. See below.
February 10. My day off—didn’t get up ‘till 11:00. Worked on Club’s books. Got things for trunk together. To movies—sewed in P.M. Bed 12:00 February 11. To late Mass—then down to Long Beach. Had a nice time—left early & home by eleven. Read—bed pretty late. [Letter. Postmark 2-14] 2/11/45 Corsica Hi Hon: I just finished writing to Joe & Peg—and my conscience is much the better for it. I got a letter from Joe two days ago—and that’s what started the twinging of the conscience. I haven’t gotten the letter from you telling me you loaned them any money or not—so I didn’t know how they were fixed. I hope you didn’t let them go without helping them out. At any rate, I kind of got the idea, from your letters and the one of Pegs that you sent—that they were running a little low. I sent them a check for fifty dollars as a delayed birthday present for Donny. I suppose they can use it, but I hope Joe doesn’t take it the wrong way and have his feelings hurt. After all, damn it, I guess I can send my nephew a present if I want to. You write and tell Peg that if they need any money not to be bashful about asking for it. They might as well have as good of time as they can while Joe is home. I hope they don’t have any trouble cashing the check—I didn’t have much cash so I couldn’t send a money order. By the way, I haven’t cashed any checks over here. I found out that I was better off than I thought—so I’ve been able to cover most of the Cairo expenses with what I had on hand. Aren’t you proud of me? Now, what else is there to cover—oh yes, my coming home. Well, honey it doesn’t look as if I can promise anything before the early part of May. Isn’t that a blow? I hope I haven’t wrecked your plans completely. Boy, we sure do take a beating, don’t we? That should be a definite date though, maybe a little sooner—I hope! I love you darling—Love, Ang February 12. Didn’t get up until 1:00—sure feels good to sleep late. Marian took me out to Bekins. Wrote letters all evening. Bed 11:00. February 13. Mr L out of town—thank goodness. Worked steady today. Out to Marg Haacker’s in evening. Bed by 12:00  Log book. Mission #63. February 13. Form 5. Feb 13, ____ flight as navigator, B-25J, 3:20h [FROM ANG’S FLIGHT LOG. MISSION #63.] #63. Feb. 13. San Ambrogio Landslide. Heavy, Intense & Accurate. All planes holed Lost 6-W & 6-Y. Missed Target. Maj F.W. Dyer, Capt. V. Meyers  From Ang's scrapbook. Labeled "63" on the bottom right corner. It's on a page with an March 1945 article (which I'll post later) about the Brenner Pass.  Log Book, verso of Mission #63 page, with crew names from lost ships. 6W and 6Y. 6W 1st Lt. M.W. Knighton, 2nd Lt. J.C. Smith, 2nd Lt. E.C. Reseburg, Sgt. J.R. Long, S/sgt. A.A. Kropp, Sgt. R.R. Chappins. 6Y 1st Lt. R.J. Figler, 2nd Lt. J.V. O'Connor, 2nd Lt. R.F. Siman, Cpl. N.R. Lewis, Cpl. C.R. Chaflin, Cpl. J.R. Davidson. [From the 340th Bomb Group diary, February 13, 1945: "The group flew an unusual mission today, a bombing attack on the rock overhang above the Brenner railroad near San Ambrogio. The idea of the mission was to jar loose the earth and rock and slide it down over the right-of-way. The mission failed. So did attacks at the same time directed against the San Ambrogio station yard and Calcinato rail bridge. Two planes of the 486th squadron flying in these operations were shot down by flak. They were flown respectively by 1st Lt. Roman H. Figler (Ship 6Y, “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”) and 1st Lt. Marshall W. Knighton (Ship 6W, “Idiots Delight”). (Pilots and crews of both aircraft all bailed out and were taken prisoner by the Germans.)" February 14. Worked steady today & accomplished a lot. Mr. L. should stay away for good. Mr S for dinner—wrote letters. Laundry. Bed 11:30 [Letter. Postmark 2-15] 2/14/45 Corsica Hi Darling: Happy Valentines day. Ha, I bet you thought I’d forgotten—and to tell you the truth I guess I had. Thanks for all the cards—they were cute. I guess it’s terrible the way I always forget dates and holidays—but then we never did get very excited about Valentines day. I got a big kick out of you telling me about your gold filling—until I happened to think of something. It doesn’t really stand out when you smile does it? I mean it doesn’t stand out like a sore thumb does it hon. I don’t think I could stand that—we’d have it changed to that white stuff they fill teeth with. I’m only kidding—I know you said it was just a cap. Boy, Joe’s and Pegs letters really had me drooling with all their talk about the places they had gone to in Chicago. Oh me, oh my---ah well, our turn will come some day. I suppose that by the time you get this, Henthorn will be home. I just thought I’d warn you about something—if he isn’t in a happy mood he’ll probably bitch a lot about this squadron and the men that run it. He figured that he deserved a Captaincy and he didn’t get it, so he’s a little bitter—and he’s probably got a right to be. However, things aren’t a tenth as bad as he thinks they are—so just don’t let him worry you. By the way, tell him that I’ve sent his things to him some time ago. And ask him where’s the letters he promised me. I’m sorry, but my mind seems to be blank as far as anything to say goes, except-- I love you—Love, Ang February 15. Didn’t work so hard today. Had last appt at dentist. Thank goodness. Out to Cahills in evening. Bed by 12:00 February 16. Typed all day today and got a lot done. Mr. L. in tomorrow and it’s my Saturday. Dinner and movie with Martha. 12:00 [Letter. Postmark 2-17] 2/16/56 Corsica Hi Hon: I’m just getting your letters which you wrote when you weren’t getting any of mine. Gosh hon, even if it wasn’t my fault, I still feel like a heel. You’re so nice about it, even though I know you were worried sick. Well, I guess its just one of those things which just can’t be helped. I’m enclosing a little poetry which I think you’ll get a big kick out of. It was written by a bombardier name Schmidt about 7-8 months ago, after he came down from his first mission. I think he does a good job. He has a couple of more floating around, which I’ll copy and send to you someday. I’m also enclosing a couple of pictures. The one of the beach is really beauty. I got a letter from Johnny (A) today—I guess he’s about ready to ship out now. The way he talks though—he sounds like he’ll be on sub-patrol. He’ll probably go down to Cuba or South America which isn’t a bad deal. I also got a letter from Jen—I sure get a kick out of hers. I know what you mean about her—and to tell you the truth I’ve been giving it a bit of worried thought myself. There isn’t much I can do about it now, but I’ll have a long talk with all of them as soon as I get back. As you say, something must be done—and done rather soon. Poor kid, she does take a beating. Gee, I sure feel in an ugly mood tonight. For two cents, I’d go up and insist on flying the rest of my missions on the wing and getting started for home. I suppose I’d be foolish to pass up the slight possibility of getting a Captaincy when it would only mean an extra month or so over here, but tonight somehow, I just don’t seem to give a damn. Don’t mind me darling—its just a mood and I’ll be over it by tomorrow. I just haven’t been feeling too happy the last couple of weeks—someday, I’ll be able to tell you why. Don’t worry, its nothing really affecting me or us—its just one of those things—the fortunes of war---damn them! I love you darling—Love, Ang  Bombing Mission. Credited to "a bombardier named Schmidt." I assume this is the poem he included in his letter. It was in his scrapbook, on the page about his first mission. February 17. My Sat[urday] to work but didn't do much. Napped in PM - sure tired. Home alone all evening. Odd jobs. Bed late. [Letter. Postmark 2-18] 2/17/45 Corsica Hello Darling: Here I go again—this time to France and the Riviara(?). Don’t ask me questions that I can’t answer—all I can say is that it beats the hell out of me. I can make a pretty good guess, but - - oh well! I’m on the orders—so that’s that. I can’t say that I really don’t want to go—but I would much rather wait until I was finished. Oh well, there is no sense argueing—this is the Army Lt. Adams. In a way it’s funny—I’ll bet I’m the only man in the Air Corps who bitches about going to rest camp too often. I’m going to really make a rest period out of this one though—just see the sights and dozens of movies—it says here! All kidding aside though, I promise to watch my money, and try not to go over next months salary. I know I can mail letters from there, so I promise to write often. This trip will be a lot shorter than the one to Cairo. Boy, I sure am getting to be quite a cossacker. By the way, did I tell you that my new roommate is also from L.A.—or should I say South Pasadena. Before you get all excited, yes, I’m going to give you his wifes address: Pat Able 1551 Diamond Ave South Pasadena Tel: Blanchard 71300 His first name is Bob—and he’s a pilot. That should be all the information you need. I sure get a kick out of you and your officers wives club. I don’t mean that as a dig either—I really am glad that you are in something like that. I think I’m more proud of you being elected to the job you hold than I’ve ever been of anything before. Really, darling, sometimes you amaze me—I think you’re wonderful. When I think of the worrying I did over you making your first trip out to L.A. I sure have to laugh. I guess I just never really did appreciate the wonder that was to become my wife. Honey, I stand before you (don’t I wish I were) with head bowed. That kind of sounds like I’m drunk—but, really, I haven’t had a drink. Its just that since I’ve read your last letter (Feb 4.) I’ve been sitting here reviewing the past—and I really can’t describe my amazement. You must admit there is a wide gulf between the time ( is it eight or nine years ago) when Bud practically had to force me to go out with scrawny little girl so he could date up her girlfriend—to the wonder that is Elizabeth R. Adams. Gee whiz! I love you darling—Love, Ang P.S. The pictures I promised yesterday are enclosed today. February 18. To late Mass. Did a little sewing. Mr S & out to dinner. Then to movie with Margaret. Bed by 12:00. February 19. Didn’t work very hard today—rainy and cloudy. Had swell letters from dear Ang. To bed by 11:30 February 20. Nothing much doing today—Ate dinner alone & wrote letters in evening. To bed by 11:00 February 21. Worked steady today - but not rushed. Mr. S for dinner. I went to movies. To bed by 1:00. Tired.  Special Orders to Cannes Rest Camp, February 1945.
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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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