MAY 1945
- SQUADRON
HISTORY
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May brought many
improvements in living conditions, namely food and shelter. Nearly every tent in the area had a complete
floor, and fully enclosed with screening. A slight improvement in the issue of food added
a greater feeling of content.
About the first of this year the Officers and Enlisted men
purchased two ice making machines. The project was almost given up for lost, when the
machines arrived on the 19th of May. The Squadron now had two very efficient ice machines
that provide us with cold drinks and ice cream in the mess hall, and a means of
cooling an occasional drink in the tents. These added comforts to the inner man result in
a fine morale boost.
Both the Officers and enlisted men are
working on club
buildings. These are cooperative affairs, most of the work being voluntarily performed
in spare time. The purpose of the two clubs is entirely recreational, by-laws are being
drawn up to prohibit individual profits, give each man equal rights, and maintain the
dignity of an Army institution. The biggest problem is to set up a cash fund, for purchase
of initial supplies. It is the intention of club officers to repay any money now invested
of our future earnings. The clubs will operate on small monthly dues and profits from
sales.
After considerable "ballyhoo" and rumor-mongering the Individual Service Credit
Score Cards arrived on 16 May. Orderly room personnel gave the matter their undivided
attention. Our roster went into Air Force Headquarters on time. A representative was
dispatched to the two detachments to conduct the authentication of score cards there. Five
officers and fourteen enlisted men have scores of 100 or more. Eighteen officers and
forty-one enlisted men racked up 85 or more. Radio news broadcasts keep the personnel
interested, although the movie "Two Down and One to Go" shattered many hopes for
prompt separation under the Readjustment plan.
[Aircraft OA-10A Serno. 44-33878 was damaged
sometime previous and written off 14 May 1945, per
INDIVIDUAL AIRCRAFT RECORD
CARD3]
Two combat crews for "Flying Dutchmen", or
B-17's with ("Higgins" A-1) rescue boats attached, arrived here on 22 May. Although the
aircraft have not been assigned, it looks like the Squadron will soon be up to T/O &
E strength. One crew departed on temporary duty but is expected back shortly.
During May one officer and seven enlisted men left for the United States under provisions
of WAR DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR 372 of 13 September 1944. (Return of Combat Personnel)
The year before 265 officers and enlisted men arrived in the theatre. The Squadron had
always maintained high standards, and is a closely knit, efficient team.
Our radar personnel are attending courses of
instruction at Nadzab. Usually two men are absent at school at a time. The courses are
refreshers and training in new phases of radar equipment. The armament section is planning
a course in aerial gunnery training, to make their department capable of handling the
problems sure to come with the B-17's.
2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron closes it's
first year of overseas duty with 465 rescues accomplished by flying
997
combat missions, and 9344:55
combat hours.
The total for May was
47 rescues, 109 combat missions and
1025
combat hours.
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03 May
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Rescued 11 crewmembers of a B-24 crew from 370th Bomb Squadron |
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06 May - |
Rescued 6 B-25
crewmembers of the 390th Bomb Squadron |
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10 May - |
Rescued 6 B-24
crewmembers from 424th Bomb Sq. |
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18 May - |
Rescued 8 B-24
crewmembers from the 72nd Bomb Squadron |
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30 May - |
Rescued 9 B-24
crewmembers from the 72nd Bomb Squadron |
Members of the Squadron were promoted and
awarded the Air Medal, and Oak Leaf Clusters in the following orders:
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SPECIAL ORDERS No. 1201,
HQ, U. S. Army Forces (02 May 1945) |
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GENERAL ORDERS No. 6661, HQ, Far East Air Forces,
(02 May 1945) |
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GENERAL ORDERS No. 7711, HQ, Far East Air
Forces, (12 May 1945) |
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GENERAL ORDERS
No. 9331, HQ, Far East Air Forces, (29 May 1945) |
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This report was copied verbatim from the "Official" Squadron History that
was obtained via microfilm from Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. The text
that is in brackets [ ], I added to clarify the information. It is not Official.
Some documents are original and some are reproductions.
1
Official
Squadron rosters, orders, or documents
obtained from the microfilm - Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
2
APO numbers from "Numbered Army & Air Force Post Office Locations" - 7th
Edition - by Russ Carter
3
From Individual Aircraft Record Cards - Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
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