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HISTORICAL RECORD - June1944
HEADQUARTERS, 450TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)
APO 520
U.S. ARMY
20 July 1944
SUBJECT
:
Historical Records:
TO
:
Commanding General, Fifteenth Air Force
ATTENTION
:
Historian (through channels)
1.
Unit history of the 450th Bombardment Group (H) for the period 1 June to 1 July 1944.
A.
The present designation of the unit is 450th Bombardment Group (H), 47th Wing, 15th Air Force, United States Army.
B.
Changes in organization.
(1)
No change in designation of unit.
(2)
No transfer of units.
C.
Strength, commissioned and enlisted.
(1) Month of June 1944.
(A)
At beginning: 2094
(B)
Increase:
----
(C)
Decrease:
57
(D)
At end:
2037
D.
Manduria, Italy, #25, Army Air Base.
E.
No movement of organization in June.
F.
Campaigns
(1) Italian
(2) Duration: From 2 January 1944, still in progress.
G.
Operations
(1) The work and preparation of the foregoing months has finally climaxed in the existence of squadron day rooms. Officers messes, clubs and kitchens. Stone buildings fully equipped
to minister to all the needs of the camp. The 450th is now a well settled and housed bomb group.
(2) Group communications has added more diesel generators to its newly erected powerhouse, thereby providing headquarters with sufficient current for all needs.
This, together with commercial current, amply supplies the base with light and power.
(3) The public relations officer has swung into high gear, turning out feature stories and releases about promotions and awards. The routine of photographs is on schedule,
and every officer and enlisted man knows where to go when a good yarn is in store. Clippings from home and photo's in Yank and Front Page attest to the publicity being given the 450th.
The department has proven to be a good morale builder.
(4) The operations during the month were carried out in support of the Balcan Campaign, and against installations in Germany and Roumania.
H.
Losses in action
(1) Captain Henry C. MacQueen 0-364961, Assistant Group Operations Officer, did not return from the attack on Ploiesti on June 24, 1944.
I.
Awards
(1) Colonel John S. Mills 0-17106, Group Commanding Officer, was awarded the second Oak Leaf Cluster for his Air Medal.
Lt. Colonel Robert R. Gideon, Jr. 0-2264, and Lt. Col. William G. Snaith, 0-3399653, both received their third Oak Leaf Cluster for the Air Medal.
For the group commanding officer
Arthur L. Campa,
1st Lt., Air Corps,
Group Historian.
1 Encl.
War Diary.
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1 June 1944
It was a busy day for the paymaster. Money changed hands in group headquarters, but it changed into other hands by the time the sun set.
"It isn't gambling", the boys say; "It is just a means of passing the time". A few of the old timers are beginning to complete fifty missions.
Their big concern is that fifty first (51st) mission.
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2 June 1944
Many felt inside their pockets where a roll had been just 24 hours before. They sighed: "Well, it was a pretty swell game".
"Yup", added Lieutenant Colonel Snaith, "A bit rough, though". The air war is beginning to show dividends, by the looks of the map.
Medicine seems to be in the making too, but thus far all we have is speculation. One question still unanswered by the crystal gazers in S-2 is: "When will the second front open"?
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3 June 1944
We were sitting at the outdoor theatre enjoying a show when the soundtrack was turned off.
Before anyone could register the usual objection, a voice broke in: "Everyone go to the shelters in an orderly fashion.
Enemy planes in the area". Simultaneously, the communications siren began to wind its foreboding howl.
It was an orderly move but 2,000 men headed for the same place can get a bit crowded. After an hour's watchful waiting, the all clear was sounded.
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4 June 1944
All the camp was preparing to retire after a hard mission when the ear piercing wail of the siren sent everyone clomping down to the shelters.
There were an assorted group of men down in the caves. Some had grabbed a steel helmet on the way out of their quarters; only a helmet and a pair of shoes, very stunning!
One of the more curious was standing at the head of the stairs and called down: "Hey, fellas, I can see some lights down by San Ban".
Several joined him and in a minute half the camp was out watching the fireworks. The distant rumble announced that Taranto and Brindisi were firing.
Suddenly the ground shook with the nearby batteries, the siren started it's wail and intermittently could be heard the unsynchronized engines of jerry.
There was a headlong dash for the shelters. Past midnight, the all clear sounded.
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5 June 1944
After nightfall some of the men showed up at the open air theatre with helmets and guns. "Why the shooting irons and pot?" asked Lieutenant Colonel Snaith.
"When that siren winds up tonight," answered Sergeant Radkoff, "I'm making one trip only, and that is to the shelters." The show went on undisturbed.
There was no alarm but there was some good news: Rome had been taken by the Americans. A chorus went up as the news arrived in headquarters.
The tune was: "There'll be a hot time in the old time tonight."
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6 June 1944
Every Italian working on the base had a big grin on his face. "What's the matter Pietro?" asked the colonel of the headquarters mess waiter.
Pietro's eyebrows arched, his eyes sparkled and he answered with effusion: "Roma e liberata, signor colonello." Greater news was in store.
The second front opened with a speech by General Eisenhower over the Cherbourg Peninsular. There was shouting and celebration at headquarters.
Everybody was invasion happy. Morale did you ask? It broke the stock market in Manduria.
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7 June 1944
The S-2 war room the most popular place in camp. Officers and enlisted men crowded the maps for new names being thundered by the loudspeakers in front of headquarters.
Everybody wanted to know how large, how effective, how fast and how costly was the invasion. Some of the most optimistic were already predicting the end.
The incurable optimists of headquarters, Major McKamy, group S-2, was sure the war would be over. "I give it three weeks at most," said the hopeful major to all present.
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8 June 1944
It is now Lieutenant Colonel William G. Snaith for the record or "Colonel Bill" to the gang. The popular group operations officer had a broad grin and a
broader chest when he donned his silver leaves. Pro insisted on a picture and he posed with his bib and tucker. A handsome officer, we must say!
At 0300, when all were peacefully sleeping, the wailing siren broke the silence with its strident scream. In various stages of undress, the officers and enlisted men
took to the shelters. Jerry had dropped a few flares and the ack ack batteries shook the field with their thunder. It did not last long. After 0400 all returned to bed.
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9 June 1944
Rumors had it that German Parachutists had been dropped in the area. C.I.C. was reported to have taken a couple and some were actually apprehended at Ceglie not far away.
Majors McKamy and North out on another "Parachutist Hunt," enlisted the help of several men with Tommy Guns. They scour the neighbouring olive groves and flush a man out.
They overtake him at the point of cocked rifles. "He looks dangerous to me. Look how unsteady his eyes are," says Major McKamy. "Anybody here speak German?" asks Major North, .45 in hand.
They bring the Carabinieri, who after looking at the weasly little "Eyetie" in rags announce that he is the village idiot in Oria.
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10 June 1944
The headquarters enlisted men open their muchly awaited day room with quite a flourish. The spanking new bar pours out the drinks for the occasion and all
headquarters staff is on hand to see the handsome building and to try the drinks. Both are good. Major McKamy is sure that a nearby house is inhabited by saboteurs and he
has heard from a "Pretty reliable source" that German parachutists have been given lodging. In fact, a man in German uniform was seen entering the house after dark. Several
armed men, headed by the insistent S-2 major, surround the house. Sentinels are posted, and with drawn pistols, the major and two officers advance to the stone house.
They rap on the door. No one answers. They keep knocking. Feminine whispers are heard within. "Open the door or we'll knock it down," thunders the major.
Authoratative masculine voice from within answers: "You will like hell! This is Major so and so speaking." So ends another witch hunt. On the way back, Lieutenant
Vetters, group radar officer, asks: "Now what do you suppose that major was doing there?"
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11 June 1944
The invasion is still news and a good topic for discussion. Tonight, however, most of headquarters personnel could be found at the opening of the 721st squadron day room.
No guarantee can be made as to how anyone would be found. All we know is everyone had a swell time.
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12 June 1944
Last night's "Swell Time" gave a number of headquarters officers and enlisted men a swelled head. Fortunately there was no mission today and one could recover.
By evening, another gala opening of the 722nd squadron day room was in progress, and once again most of group headquarters was down there.
"You know how it is," explained Lieutenant Colonel Gideon, "We can't show partiality among the squadrons."
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13 June 1944
Just to show that "We are still in the bombing business," as Colonel Kyle of the wing says, the 450th went to Munich --- and all came back, we may add.
The weather is getting hot enough so the officers and enlisted men can enjoy a dip in the ocean. One thing we can say for this part of the Italian boot: The beach is perfect!
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14 June 1944
The invasion is a week old and it seems to be settling down too much to suit the predictions of the Monday morning quarterbacks.
Another interesting topic of conversation in headquarters is: "Will we get a chance to visit Rome?" Everyone is hoping that it will not be spoiled by the American soldiers.
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15 June 1944
Today's issue of "Yank" brought a few contented grunts from various men in the headquarters office. There were four shots from our P.R.O. in the issue showing chow line,
mechanics at the line, take off and a wing with our commanding officer in it. Hundreds of this issue were sent home.
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16 June 1944
Just another sunny day with little talk about the war and much talk about going to Rome.
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17 June 1944
Group Headquarters men in Bari learned the cause of the various alerts. A German Recon plane in the vicinity circled the area taking photo's, but he
ventured too far and was winged by ack ack in Bari. A Beaufighter went up after it and shot it down into the Adriatic. Word brought back by group P.R.O.
enlisted men reports that Lieutenant Campa, group P.R.O. will be back shortly from 26th General Hospital.
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18 June 1944
The latest story being circulated in Group Headquarters speaks of a B-24 crew shot down over the Adriatic which was found by a German hospital ship.
The German captain gave them their choice: To be taken aboard and handed over to the German army on landing, or to be set back adrift. They chose the latter.
The ship gave them rations and supplies and radioed their position. Air Sea Rescue found them hours later adrift in a dinghy.
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19 June 1944
No mission today, but accidents will happen. A returning ship crashed and killed all but one who bailed out on time. An entry on the diary that we don't like to make.
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20 June 1944
Part of a crew who bailed out over Yugoslavia returned to the base today. A boat showed right up under one crew member just as he was about to hit the water.
When he was taken ashore, a partisan shook his hand, handed him his cap, which he had lost in the jump, and said: "Let's beat it, the Germans are on their way." and that is how it's done.
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21 June 1944
Lieutenant Campa, group P.R.O., returned from the 26th General Hospital. The invasion on the French coast has settled into routine insofar as the group is concerned.
The war room keeps an up-to-date situation map giving all moves on that front. The capture of Rome gives rise to speculation as to the group's moving North.
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22 June 1944
The weather is good enough to go swimming but apparently little good for bombing operations. The Italian Navy did a good job of retrieving a crew out of the Taranto Bay
after an accident. Colonel Mills commended the good work officially and through the officers of the group interpreter.
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23 June 1944
Clippings from hometown papers attest the efforts of P.R.O. to give a bit of publicity to the boys of the 450th. Photo's and stories about combat incidents are
constantly arriving. This bit of morale boosters seems to elicit the approval of all concerned.
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24 June 1944
Twenty-two officers and men stood at attention in front of group headquarters to receive their well earned awards and decorations. Lieutenant Colonel Snaith
added another medal to his chest when Colonel Rush pinned the D.F.C. on him. Ploiesti still takes heavy toll of 450th bombers. Captain MacQueen, group operations
officer, did not return from today's mission.
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25 June 1944
The weather man is turning on the heat and giving headquarters men a bit of spring fever. With briefings at 0330 and 0400 the days are getting pretty long.
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26 June 1944
Question of the day: "At what time does the siren sound?" Visitors at camp today included Major General Salinas of the Mexican Air Force who was getting
acquainted with the American A.F. operations in this theatre. Mexico will send some 50 crews to participate in the attacks against the axis. General Salinas was
accompanied by Major a General and Brigadier General of the American Army. The Mexican General spoke English fluently and had no difficulty in getting acquainted.
All headquarters was curious to see a Mexican General. He looked no different from any other officer, even down to the two stars.
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27 June 1944
The Schiewchat mission of yesterday turned out to be the most successful bit of bombing done by the Air Force. Bomb strike photo's disclosed a close and concentrated pattern.
A feeling of elation is in evidence at group headquarters. Lieutenant Colonel Snaith's grinning from ear to ear gets no small number of pats on the back. He led the way.
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28 June 1944
The list of visitors to Rome appeared on headquarters bulletin board. Everyone is wondering what Rome is like. Too many already predjudiced against any part of Italy.
Says Lieutenant, group armament: "They can take all of Rome and ------." His ejaculation was interrupted by some young lieutenant's wishful querry: "I wonder if they have
any good looking girls in Rome?"
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29 June 1944
Lieutenant Campa, group P.R.O. and Captain Wright, group communications, left for Rome on a five day tour. Everyone is getting interested in the old capital and is
looking forward to visiting it. The group makes another trip to Ploiesti. Colonel Snaith hums: "Last time I saw Ploiesti."
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30 June 1944
Today was payday. Back home there used to be a line waiting to be paid. Here, where money has less meaning, no one seems to be in a hurry to be paid.
Neither does rank give precedence. The new Red Cross girls have taken their work most seriously, it seems. Parties to the beach and other parties and entertainment
for the enlisted men are good morale builders. The "I'm highly desirable but inaccessible," look is not apparent in these new additions to the Red Cross staff.
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A very special thanks to Jim Ciborski, son of John C. Ciborski, 720th Squadron, for supplying the narratives
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