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HISTORICAL RECORD - March 1944
HEADQUARTERS, 450TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)
APO 520
U.S. ARMY
20 April 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 March to 1 April 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 uits.
C.
Strength, commissioned and enlisted.
(1) Month of March 1944.
(A)
At beginning: 1820
(B)
Increase:
180
(C)
Decrease:
(D)
At end:
2000
D.
Manduria, Italy, #25, Army Air Base.
E.
No movement of organization in March.
F.
Campaigns
(1) Italian
(2) Duration:From 2 January 1944, still in progress.
G.
Operations
(1)The activities of group headquarters was greatly augmented by the stepping up of the combat tempo. Arrival of replacement crews necessitated additional quarters and increased facilities
which were carefully administered by the S-1 section of headquarters. Mounting losses increased the responsibility of John S. Mills and his staff. M.I.A. properties had to be stored or
disposed of as directed, and letters to respective relatives had to be sent.
(2) The well being of the group became the responsibility of headquarters during this month. Supplies for the officer's club and bar were bought from every conceivable source by
Lt. Colonel Gideon, Major Donovan, and 1st Lt. Campa. Building materials and labor were secured during the month for completion of various headquarters additions badly needed.
Furniture was contracted for in three surrounding towns and villages and other pieces were secured from the Italian Air Force through the approval of the allied commission.
(3) Movies, entertainment and recreational activities comprising basketball and other sports were initiated by group Special Services. Fruit, nuts, and reading literature for the enlisted
men and officers were also secured with approved success.
(4) Sanitary conditions were greatly improved through the supervision of the group medical department. Increased bath facilities and running water were made available
to all organization members.
H.
Losses in action
(1) None.
I.
Awards
(1) Colonel John S. Mills 0-17106, Lt. Colonel Robert R. Gideon, Jr. 0-22-64, Major William G. Snaith, 0-3399653, Captain Henry C. Kaecker, 0-728282, and 1st Lt. Jerome R. Goldvarg, 0-795232
were all awarded the Air Medal "For meritorious achievment while participating in sustained operational activity against the enemy."
(2) Lt. Colonel Robert R. Gideon, 0-22064 was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action for leading the mission to Regensburg Germany on 25 February 1944.
For the commanding officer
Arthur L. Campa,
1st Lt., Air Corps,
Group Historian.
1 Encl.
War Diary.
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1 March 1944
The biggest business, outside of combat, has been the completion of the Officer's Club. The group enlisted men have found ways and means of building stone houses.
This morning the group personnel could scarcely believe its eyes: Fried eggs and pancakes for breakfast! Too good to be true. Incidentally, the new group officers mess
opened today. Gone are the days of the oil can and jeep fender. They are actually sitting down to a meal.
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2 March 1944
No mission still. Italian labor is so plentiful on the camp that it begins to look like a regular Italian city around here. It is remarkable how fast the Americanos have learned to
use their hands in talking. A few gestures by Captain Vogel and the Italian mason answers, "Ah, si, si, si, si."
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3 March 1944
The weather is beginning to irk everyone around camp. Nothing but mud and rain, and everyone thought it was "Sunny Italy" they were going to. Every time one goes to
Manduria the natives remark: "You come from the airport, don't you?" The reason: mud splattered pants, galoshes, and a conveyance that looks like it went through a deluge.
Oh, well, c'est la guerre!
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4 March 1944
The
724th squadron of the 451s bombardment group moved onto our field because of the mud at their base. The first thing they did was
get stuck in the mire and mud. It continued to rain and it continued to get muddier!
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5 March 1944
Group intelligence gave a very interesting news lecture today to all personnel interested in knowing what's going on. Captain Bowman spoke to a packed house in the war room.
The group is wondering if there will be any officers club. The fancy bar under the direction of Lt. Colonel Gideon is beginning to look like a cocktail lounge. The officers think it will
repay them for the $10.00 assessment per head.
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6 March 1944
"Gene," the future caretaker of the club decides to teach Italian to some of the officers. The former student of Turin university is trying to show them the fine points of Italian phonetics.
Colonel Gideon arrives with a command car filled with a variety of liquors and drinks. Things are looking up.
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7 March 1944
Glasses were badly needed by both group mess-hall and the incipient bar. Lt. Colonel Gideon and Lt. Campa find 80 very practical glasses in Manduria on sale at 80’ each!
They take all 80 of them and place $32.00 on the counter. The merchant objected that he was losing tremendously. Questioning revealed actual cost to be around 5 lira.
He took 40’ per glass and the officers took the glasses.
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8 March 1944
The club is scheduled to open on the 9th. Major donovan, Lt. Colonel Gideon and Lt. Campa journeyed to Leece to buy dishes, silver and more glasses.
At the open air market they spy a vendor with glassware. They load the truck with everything needed and settle with the eager merchant for one half of his original price.
He pleaded and gesticulated that he was losing everything he had. However, just as the car started to roll he shouted: "If you need anything else, let me know.
We'll arrange the price." Lt. Colonel Gideon said something that the merchant did not understand.
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9 March 1944
Colonel Mills looks over the new carpets, tables and stuffed furniturein the club and declares everything, "Molto Buono."
The club finally opens with Lt. Colonel Gideon as Master of Ceremonies at the bar. The camera flashes bulbs pop all over the spirited crowd. Cases are dragged in and empties are carried out.
The bar displays its name: "Cotton Tail Bar," and here' the menu:
Cognac, Isolabella
30 Lira
Champagne, Serizzala
..110 Lira
Vermouth, Gancia
30 Lira
Rum, Jamaica
...
25 Lira
Grappa, Inferno
30 Lira
Champagne bottles are popping all over the club. The piano is being pounded by the lusty Major North to the tune of old favorites. There is wine, song, but alas! No women.
Fireplaces are burning, the crap tables are resounding, and the opening night continues its successful first night of many that will follow. What about tomorrow? Who cares!
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10 March 1944
Today was the morning after the night before. There was no mission so the officers had an opportunity to sleep it off. The CottonTail Club got off to a good start, so it seems as though there
will be a nice place for headquarters to relax.
The enlisted men, not to be outdone are already talking about setting up a day room with bar and all. Sergeant Major, Betters, Master Sergeant Radkoff, and Master Sergeant Silverman of
group headquarters have put their heads together so it looks as though they mean business.
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12 March 1944
Lt. Chronister, group P.I. officer, has decided to let the crews in on the mysteries of Photo Interpretation. Also he is giving a few pointers on target readings. Group headquarters is reluctant to
declare a successful mission until talking to Lt. Chronister. Says he, everytime the question comes up: "Well, there are several bits within a hundred yards of the aiming point, and one or two at the
choke point." Answer: Cosi, Cosi.
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13 March 1944
A "swap crew" arrived from England today. Everyone wanted to know how it was in "Ye Olde Englande," but the crew had little to say. There was some remark about
Anglo-American relations being quite good, but the discussion on these relations was lost in the rush everyone made to hear the details. All the historian heard was an exultant expression:
"Boy, let's go to England."
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14 March 1944
The British ack ack on the field tore lose with several rounds of heavy and an undetermined number of rounds of light shells. Fragments rained on the area and ran everyone to cover.
One 40mm shell went through the roof of the war room and danced on the concrete floor. Lt. Quinn who was warming himself by the stove, as usual, looked at the shell and shifted his weight
on to the other foot. Said the weary officer: "Blimey! This war is getting rough."
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15 March 1944
The Italian artist at group headquarters club is doing a land office business. Lt. "Foggy" Jackson has had several sittings, hoping that the artist may catch that "hidden" quality in his
personality which will please a certain young lady in the Northwest. The Chaplain did not like the artist's interpretation of his Irish jaw. "Too realistic," claims Captain Stevens.
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16 March 1944
Lt. Goldvarg, group navigator, is accepting bets on his mustache. After two weeks trying there is an indication that a mustache will reach maturity in a few months. The Italians
have found out the 450th like eggs, oranges and almonds, so they have set up their wares outside the gate. All personnel leaving through the main gate is greeted
with "Fruta, mandola, signor tenente?"
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17 March 1944
The group surgeon was much concerned today ver a certain line that the G.I.'s in the area were "Sweating out" in the olive grove. Suspicion was aroused when some of the men
showed up at places other than their posts. Headquarters looked into the situation and there is no longer a line in the grove. At the opposite side of the grove two young females of
doubtful character were seen leaving in a hurry.
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18 March 1944
Signal flares were seen again on the road to Oria. Major McKamy, group S-2, and Major North, security officer, were all excitement. They had the goods on the saboteurs, spies, or
whatever they were. Major McKamy rushed into his room, strapped on all the armament he could find and took his assistant, Lt. Campa, to help out and do a bit of interpreting. Squads were
organized with tommy guns. The officer of the day posted them around the suspected area, and fifteen officers and men marched on the house with pistols drawn. The gate to the big house was
forced open and a firm hand pounded on the door. "Appire!" shouted the interpreter. A trembling voice answered and opened the door. Two old women were sitting by the fireplace and three
badly scared children looked apprehensively at the officer's guns. Yes, a young boy had shot some flairs to amuse his little brother, but it didn't matter because there were lots of them left. He only used two.
It turned out to be an ammunition dump of the Italian army. The M.P.'s had already inventoried the place a few days before so everything was in order. "Anyway," said Major North,
"It was a nice witch hunt."
Colonels Mills and Gideon sat by the fireplace at the Officers' Club discussing the curriculum at West Point as several pilots listened attentively. The 721st squadron, assisted by the
Red Cross girl's who presented a clever skit entitled "Take the consequences" put on a play. Lt. Colonel Gideon had to give a one minute talk on sex appeal or take the consequences.
Every pause he made was accentuated with a blow from a broom wielded by Patsie. She wields a wicked broom! Lt. Colonel Price and Major Snaith who didn't know the capital of
Switzerland had to dress in record time in an assortment of feminine apparel. Major Snaith won by a brassiere. Captain Hunt put on a very snaky Hula act. The play presented by the
721st was a takeoff on group missions. Lt. Anderson's impersonation was the hit of the evening. Prize blurb: "Do you know your geography?" asked the Red Cross. Answered Captain Hunt
with intent: "Not much, but I can usually locate anything."
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19 March 1944
Chaplain Stevens all dressed up complained at the take-off coinciding with his service in the tent by the field. Said he, "I guess we'll just sing this morning and dispense with the sermon.
" Raucous applause by the audience! Lt. Campa becomes consultant on house building. All aspirants to a bungalow in Italy consult him on ways and means of securing masons and building material.
He is reluctant to discuss ways and means above a wisper. One of the Red Cross girls was the guest of Major Donovan at headquarters mess and, "Doc hunt was held considerably in check."
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20 March 1944
There was no mission today. The day was foggy as is so often the occasion this time of the year in "Sunny Italy." Group headquarters continued its daily grind with no appreciable change.
The evening show at Oria started with a bang and blew up the bulb in the projector, while the jeep went out in search of another bulb the audience amused itself with a perculiarly military type
of pastime - - numerous inflated "You know what" were spotted by flashlights in the dark. These "Dinghies" floating all over the theatre were the object of comment by all sorts of wags.
There were no ladies present. Chaplain Stevens tried to divert the attention to more uplifting things by leading out with "Ham and eggs."
Major McKamy claims to have lived half his life today. He has turned 45. His side kick, Major North, "D.G.," to his close associates, sets 'em up at the club in honor of the occasion.
"Casa manana," APO #520, Cottontail Heights, is the official domicile of four group officers. Their Spanish, Indian, South Western home was opened today. Majors Thorpe and
McKamy, Captain Wright and Lt. Campa are now property owners. Their one room house has cold and hot running water, shower, wash bowl and, yes, that too.
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21 March 1944
Lt. Colonel Gideon and Lt. Campa journeyed to Taranto to secure lumber and nails, the two strategic materials for building. The Italian Admiral was very co-operative but the English
Commodore needed convincing. After a few rightos and cheerios his signature was secured. The 331st squadron put on a show at the musty theatre in 13th century Oria;
A very enthusiastic audience greeted a very lively G.I. show.
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22 March 1944
Taranto becomes a mecca for group headquarters officers in search of supplies. Captain Wright secured a diesel generator to supplement the highly irregular electrical power at camp.
Rock houses being built by group headquarters enlisted men give the area an air of a real estate boom. The constant inquiry, "Where can we get nails and lumber?" Everybody would
like to know that. Major Thorpe and McKamy, Captain Wright, and Lt. Campa are about to finish their South Western American Italian Indian bungalow. The protuding rafters are
suspiciously the influence of "Architect" Campa's Heimat. Building a stone house is a major pastime for group personnel. "This will be the bowling field of the Italian Air Corps
after we leave," says Colonel Mills.
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23 March 1944
The day was miserable and drizzly. There was a big leager on the books, but after a 04:30 briefing, it remained on the books. The weather didn't improve.
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24 March 1944
Group headquarters enlisted men have started a day room of their own. Everybody is building day rooms. Paradoxically, they're only used at night. The S-1 enlisted men
have put the finishing touches on a hut that passersby have dubbed "The Pig and Whistle." All they need is a few car hops to wait on customers.
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25 March 1944
Despite the miserable weather things picked up in the evening at the officers club. The 722nd squadron took over with a skit that provided both entertainment and variety to the
weather weary group. Major Huber created a sensation with his Hula-Hula interpretation. No dearth of femininity at this show. An Italian girl was brought in at the last moment to do a
Gypsy Lee. She was strictly a strip, but no tease. The "Lady," too modest to undress before the audience preferred to disrobe back stage and appear coyly before her audience. She had
been thrown to the wolves.
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26 March 1944
The groups master chislers and procurers have secured a couple of diesel generators from the Italian Navy. All they need is someone who can read the tech orders written in Italiian.
Church was well attended today. In fact, the hall was overflowing.
Rainy weather continued so the officers adjourned to warm their humid feet before the clubs fireplace.
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27 March 1944
A combination of Colonel Gideons generosity and Italian sheep's cheese resulted in a sleepless night for Colonel Mills and Major McKamy. Major McKamy got a running start and
won by a sitting. Major Thorpe, the group surgeon, came to the rescue with a bushel of Sulpha-Guanadine tablets. There were no more running starts - -Ah, the miracles of modern medicine.
Take a bow, doctor.
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28 March 1944
The sun came out today, presaging better luck for a mission, but the runway was too muddy. Officers at the club can now see themselves as others see them. Two Italian artists alternate
during the week at the easel and make pencil sketches of anyone who can sit still for five minutes. Major Snaith of group operations surreptitiously dropped a few Lira on his way in. His picture
now adorns the group mess hall. The artist got the hint. An extra hundred Lira does the trick - - very nice indeed.
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29 March 1944
After several days of hard labor installing the diesel generator, the complicated machinery began its throbbing"Chug-Chug." The exhausted and greased stained communications section sat
down to admire their handiwork. Their troubles were over, They thought, but suddenly with a whine the engine came to a stop. The main bearing was frozen. Ping! Ping! The information on
escape given at each briefing came to life as Lieutenant S.J. Nilsson and four enlisted men who went down on the
Regensberg attack on 22 February 1944 arrived from Yugoslavia and spoke
with circumspection of their experiences.
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30 March 1944
Today was a gala day for group headquarters. Air medals were presented to Colonel Mills, Lt. Colonel Gideon, Major Snaith, Captain Kaeker, and 1st Lt. Goldvarg. The weather
co-operated to make the presentation an interesting and pleasant occasion.
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31 March 1944
Today was the day when major McKamy of group intelligence prognosticated the end of the war. Johnny Garfield, Eddie Foy, and three good looking young lovelies from America were
dined and wined at group headquarters. The mess hall was transformed into an elegant dining room with horseshoe table, white linens, tinkling glassware, and champagne. The only dissonance
was that hamburgers were on the menu that day. Johnny's humorous ad lib was at its best. The girls - - they just sat and looked pretty 9and how). The show that followed at the theatre will be hard
to beat. By coincidence, Johnny's "The Fallen Sparrow" was showing that night. Hoots met the love scenes and the audience shouted, "Rough!" Johnny countered with, "How do you like my technique boys?"
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A very special thanks to Jim Ciborski, son of John C. Ciborski, 720th Squadron, for supplying the narratives and pictures
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