450TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)  NARRATIVE MARCH 1945

The tradition about "In like a lion, out like a lamb" does not hold in Italy during the month of March. There was hardly any wind during this month, and less rain, although there was plenty of sunshine. The natives insisted that la primavera would arrive on the 21st of the month, and for once they were pretty accurate.

ACTIVITIES

The bombsight maintenance section, not to be outdone by other builders on the base, decided that they too could have a building. Theirs is a fancy construction with trailers built right into the wall in order to take advantage of the air conditioning and heating units in each trailer. This consolidated structure takes care of all squadrons now. The CQ has installed even a shoe polishing machine "just in case we have to win another inspection."

GROUP SHOWERS OPEN

The Group Showers got their christening when the first soldier walked into one of the 32 stalls and pulled the chain that brought water down on him. There are 24 stalls for EM and 8 for the officers. Capt. Daniels and the Group Surgeon were pretty happy over their dream coming true. The portable unit has a 1000 gallon tank capacity and a gas burner that keeps the water at a constant temperature. But, there was dissonant note to the opening. Some nocturnal intruder tore open the metal guards and stole every bulb in the place. Now, those wishing to perform their ablutions at night will have to do so in the dark, for Capt Daniels says: "The bulbs are finito!" Those who are bashful can take their baths at night with all proper decorum.

A NEW GYM

There had been rumors about a new addition to the theater, but a last minute change turned the big Nissen hut into one of the finest indoor gyms in the theater. It is ample enough for basketball and badminton simultaneously. Since it opened, it has been one of the most popular spots in camp, and justly so.

GUNNERY SCHOOL

Gunners arriving on this base need not fear to get rusty at their guns. And just in case they are not sufficiently indoctrinated, the Group Gunnery School puts them through their paces at one of the most complete setups in the Air Force. Capt. Andrews has rigged up a unique program with all the necessary jam-handys, gun mounts and other accoutrements of the trade. So Jerry had better look out!

COOKS DO THEIR STUFF

The camp cooks may not have had courses in camouflage, but the way they disguise some of this army chow entitles them to credits in the department. When a steaming dish of hot mashed potatoes were placed at a mess table in the 723rd Squadron, one of the men rubbed his eyes and took another look. He smelled them cautiously and said: "By God, they are mashed potatoes!"

Like the traditional housewife looking for new recipes, the mess Sergeants scan the pages of their favorite newspaper: "The Stars and Stripes," for suggestions which are sometimes very timely. Pop Linbeck found one about whipped cream, and he tried it the next day on some chocolate cake. Yum, Yum! In addition to being cooks, they have to be mechanics in order to design ovens and beaters that will save time and do the work in large quantities.

FIFTH SQUADRON

There is now a fifth squadron in the Group. The Headquarters outfit has a First Sergeant, Acting CO and everything. They got tired of being assigned to this and that Squadron for administrative purposes and for everything else. Now they too belong to a Squadron, even if their Squadron does not put planes in the air. They call themselves the "Paragraph Troopers of the Chairborne Command."

TO MOVE OR NOT TO MOVE

The 723rd spent time, money, and plenty of sweat in getting an area ready across the road. There were day rooms, kitchens, mess halls and every type of building necessary to operate. Then came time to move. A vote was taken, and they all decided to stay put. They hated to take their truck and stuff over the road. They want to make only one move, and that is to the United States. Pretty optimistic, eh boys? They have been listening to Axis Sally who early this month told the 450th that it would move within 60 days. The Berlin prognosticator claims that it is Montanan for us. So what! Nothing wrong with Montana.

WAR BOND DRIVE

Another bond drive is under way under the title of "Special Easter War Bond Drive." The way the boys feel about it, you can call it by any name and it's still money in the bank. They are shooting for one million dollars, and by the looks of things they will get the million. There is so little to buy in southern Italy that a few bonds more or less mean nothing to a Master Sergeant with flying pay.

HOLY JOE GOES COLLEGIATE

"Holy Joe" went Hollywood during the month when the Combat Camera Unit came over to take pictures of what they termed: "Cottontail College." Men carrying books passed in review before the camera as it ground away at the "College Boys" on their way to class. The First Sergeant put in a call for a detail of men to be collegiate and presto, we had a college campus through the portals of the 722nd Squadron. The co-eds were not authorized for the occasion.

TALKS HIS WAY TO ROME

Sgt. Nicolosi of the 722nd talked his way into Rome during the month by winning the public speaking contest sponsored by the Wing. His subject was: "What shall be done with war criminals?" Being a cryptographer, he may have deciphered some interesting solutions to the problem. The gifted gabster has had some pre-law training a t the University of Illinois.

FIRE

The 723rd officers sat quietly in their day room or club one evening when the fireplace began to act up. Knowing of precious fires on the camp, it did not take long to vacate the place. They ran first and asked questions later. Nothing came of it, and when the gas had been turned down everything settled down to the usual routine of letter writing and chewing the fat.

BLESSED EVENTS

"Swamp Rat", the mascot of the plane by the same name, showed her appreciation to the crew members by presenting them with 8 little pups whose looks cast suspicion upon a certain big black dog whose pastime was not limited to biting Italians on the base. Mrs. "Cottontail," the 722nd rabbit, not to be outdone by an ordinary pup, raised the ante to ten little fuzzy wuzzy bundles. Too bad that Benito isn't around to give them both a few lira and a medal or two.

MORE EDUCATION

The I & E Officer wants to make sure that we all get indoctrinated, oriented and educated all in one swath. In addition to the lectures and classes, he has put up some bulletin boards with some interesting pictures, maps and other sorts of information designed to attract the eye and thereby catch the unsuspecting soldier while he is hopefully looking for some girl or pin-up picture.

FORGOTTEN PHOTOGRAPHERS

The photographers in the Photo Lab are the forgotten men of the Groups. Everyday they mix hypo, develop pictures, take pictures, and print without getting themselves into a single picture. Capt. Gandy's boys are becoming quite popular amongst those who would like to have a set of pictures to take back home. Preparing the Group Citations, of which there are now three, with two awarded, is no small job. When the Awards and Decorations officer has written all the poop and secured the proper form, the photo boys go tot work to dress it up. When it is ready for submitting it looks like a cross between Fortune magazine and Esquire.

"COTTON TALES" DEBUT

The public Relations Department decided to make a change in the Group news-weekly. "Molto Buono" was no longer indicative of anything connected with Cottontails, so with a lucky play on words the paper became the "Cotton Tales" officially. Arrangements have been made with the British press at Bari for cuts, and the addition of home talent has brought out some timely linoleum cuts as well. Gradually the little rag is growing up into a respectable and breezy weekly.

INSPECTION WON

There were rumors about that we could not win a second inspection because such honors had to be passed around. The 450th took no chances on such rumors and made a strong bid for first place and got it. That makes it second in a row. Group Headquarters was the best HQ in the Wing, and from the looks of it, with all its art and polish, it would seem hard to equal anywhere in the Air Force.

ATHLETICS

An Italian farmer planted some wheat across the road and another olive dealer set out some seedling that would yield in about fifteen years. To make a long story short, there is no more wheat patch and the trees have been pulled out by the roots. Instead, there is now a very nicely rolled field for baseball and softball where the officers and men can do their exercise as they play. Already they are trying out the field with a few impromptu games. The Special Service department promises all sorts of equipment for games with a store room and all necessary facilities for drawing such equipment. Prizes will be given for contestants who go out for the manly art of self-defense according to Lt. Walsh.

MANLY ART OF PING PONG

When you see "OX" Vetters beckoning to equally bit Capt. Jackson, the Administrative Inspector, and saying: "Come on out and I'll take you on," you will naturally expect no less than four rounds of some heavy slugging. If you follow them to the bar side of the club you will see them take up paddles and fall to playing ping pong! Two hundred and ten pounds on either side of the table playing the manly game of ping pong. That's what men in the theater of operations seem to enjoy the most. There's hardly a club or day room or a Red Cross Club that does not boast at least of one pinga ponga table as the Italians call them. And when the men rally feel like mixing up they play volleyball. The volleyball tournament in March called out a lot of players.

"CHAMPIONS" DEFEATED

The muchly touted 98th basketball team tasted of defeat in March when it met up the "Cottontailers" to the tune of 73-45. The tall timber of the 450th took the lead and kept it, completely ignoring the fact that the 98th champions had been heretofore undefeated.

CAMP BASKETBALL CHAMPS

In the intramural finals, the 721st Ordnance made the best showing by coming from behind to win the Special Services tourney held on the field. Basketball is no small game around here in the Spring.The season ended with the 450th entries on tap, and with the largest number of teams.

MAINTENANCE

Maintenance is one of those things hat the 450th looks upon as a tradition. During the month the boys on the lie established several records. They had the largest percentage of operational B-24 aircraft in the entire XV AF and averaged only 3.6 plane days lost per aircraft. When the boys head that an engine change record had been reported in the XV AF they got to work and set the record so high that no one else seems to be in the running. Two hours and ten minutes after the first piece of cowling was removed from the entire, the engine was being slow timed, and what's more, it kept on running until the plane took off. With timing watch in hand, some of the officers of the 722nd Squadron were eagerly watching the race with time, but M/Sgt. Hines and his crew beat the clock.

Despite the Fact that the month of February was the time for daily missions, the 723rd Squadron managed to have 26 engine changes without lowering their operational aircraft standards. The boys seem to change engines just for the sport of it.

Someone in the 720th ventured to state in "Cotton Tales" that they had some sort of record with 59 consecutive missions without early returns and started a battle amongst the line crews who proudly announced that their charges ranked all the way from the 59er to 75 missions. The big tailed birds seem to make a lot of round trips, and long ones too, without turning back.

OPERATIONS

The targets hit during the month of March were mostly communications with 13 out of 20 missions directed at Marshalling Yards. The remainder were flown against oil refineries and oil depots, also concerned strategically with transportation. Capt. Caselli seems to think that the bombing accuracy was not to consistent despite the fact that we led the Wig for the fifth consecutive time with a score of 57.6%. Capt. Schatzman, the Group navigator, commends his navigators for their outstanding work during the month. In all, there were 165 sorties flown during the month, only 144 of which were effective.

EXIT "BOTTOMS UP"

The veteran of the 450th, "Bottoms Up", made a dramatic exit on its 105th sortie after flying 104 combat missions against the enemy. In February it had been reconditioned with the hopes of having her with us throughout the entire duration of the European war, but she flew into a cloud on her way to Wiener-Neustadt and was never seen anymore.

FLYING PROPELLER

A freak accident proved fatal to four officers and men to the 723rd Squadron when their ship lost a prop on the take off causing the plane to explode and send the whirling prop trough the air where it caught an airborne ship piloted by Lt. Rorer. Despite a severed stabilizer, the second ship flew to the Adriatic to release its bombs. A bomb bay door had been damaged and tore loose after bombs away, striking on the exact spot where the flying prop had damaged the ship. Lt. Rorer landed with the door hanging on to his planes tail.

STRENGTH

The war may be over for some people, but to those who are flying in combat the war is still pretty much in evidence. There are 38 men MIA during the month, most of which parachuted to relative safety, some into enemy hands and others where partisans can pick them up. Four more now lie buried in the U.S. Army cemetery in Bari, while seven got off with minor flak wounds.

Increase in strength continues its upward trend with 544 officers and 2022 EM on March 1st, and 560 officers and 2031 EM on 31st of the month. A total of 2591 officers and men is the largest number ever had in camp.

THIS AND THAT

While it can't be said officially that a combat man goes home after finishing 50 combat missions, we know that such is the case. Every day at 1400 the Public Relations photographer, S/Sgt. Cinkowski takes his C-3 camera and leads a group of officers and men who have survived the 50 missions ordeal and takes their picture for the news story that will reach home some day. S/Sgt. Spera of the 720 can boast of two tours with a total of 105 missions. Medals are part of his authorized equipment and flying as a gunner has become second nature to him.

COLONEL TO THE RESCUE

No one has to tell a man in heavy bombardment that a burning ship loaded with RDX's is a sign of keep off, way off. But Col. Engstrom, 723rd CO saw a chance to save some of his men and he forgot about the RDX bombs. So did M/Sgt. Berkin, Ordnance Section chief who backed up an Ordnance truck loaded the victims and rushed them to the hospital. A few seconds after the Colonel left the scene, the plane went off and scattered burning debris in all directions. A 25 foot hole marks the spot where the plane once was.

DOLAN & PYLE

Sgt. Dolan of the 720th picked up Ernie Pyle's "Here is Your War" and by way of emphasis a piece of flak went through the book and wounded the would be reader. Now the Sergeant gunner from Brooklyn knows what the war's about, but he's gong to buy another copy of Ernie's book to replace the torn up copy he once had.

DOG COME BACK

Why an Italian would want to steal a good looking pointer from the base is a mystery in view of the shortage of food in Manduria, but Capt. Whytal's pointer bitch was AWOL for nearly two months before some soldier recognized her in town and brought her back. She had lost weight but had gained several colonies of fleas.

SONS OF ST. PAT

Pat Larkin is a true son of St. Patrick. On this saint's day he looked forlorn. Said the frustrated Sergeant: "Where does a guy fine a shamrock in dis land!" Pat had to have his shamrock so he made one out of some green cloth and some cardboard. He did not forget his friend, Lt. Col. Donovan, GP Exec., and made one for him too. "No self respecting Irishman is caught without a shamrock on this day, "says the colonel.

EASTER EGGS

The Cottontail laid quite a basketful of eggs this month and put a label on them. They are being sent to Adolf with the compliments of all the Cottontails. Nice big, elongated eggs with filling. The boys on the bomb dump thought they would celebrate Easter in this fashion.

VISITING AND VISITORS

Men who go to Rome for a rest are photographed by eager PRO's in that city who seem to be wide awake on publicity matters. The picture is sent back to the 450th PRO who can forward the story of Joe Doakes visiting the Eternal City.

The Colonel and Capts. Quinn and Hessen went on a business trip to Pisa and Florence. They saw quite a few interesting sights while there and did a bit of shopping for the Group.

A visiting nurse in camp is such an oddity that the officers and men forget their manners and stare at them. The Medics claim that they are here on business and proceed to monopolize them. The Medics claim that their business is none of our business. Nice business!

PROMOTIONS

The 723rd CO shed his gold leaves for a pair of silver ones. The Group Exec, Clarence Donovan, also turned color during the month and the Group Adjutant, John Wells, put on a gold leaf to replace his bars. The amount of rank around the camp is indicative of the growth and age of the Group. Captains are now a nickel a dozen.

RECREATION

Every now and then the individual Squadrons decide to put on a recreational program. The 722nd had a very successful run of shows and parties, and now the 720th is embarking on a series of bingo parties and dances. The recreation hungry soldiers welcome any program of this sort.

STRIP TEASER STRIPS

The 723rd decided not to wait until the next USO show came around so they hired their own entertainment from Bari. The strong man act put on by two Greek Adonises was remarkable for its timing and strength. The Vienses singer went over with the audience, singing in 11 different languages. The popular ballad singer was the best ever heard in camp, but all these fine acts were forgotten when Nella Colonna came on the stage and simply wiggled out of her kimono and stood in her unadorned nudity before a house filled with GI's. The soldiers claim that she did not come within a hair's of the famous Gypsy Rose Lee, however.

BALLET TOO HIGH BROW

There was a great deal of skepticism when it was announced that the famous Tatiana and her ballet troupe would visit camp. Some of the boys thought it was to be a burlesque and felt disappointed over the whole affair. Some rough baritone sounded off in the front row when the girls pirouetted on the stage: "All right babe, take 'em off!" The more sophisticated decided that Tatiana was no Spring chicken, but she put on a good act. M/Sgt. Radkoff knew some of the girls and added considerable weight to the argument in their favor.

THE NOVEL NOUVELAIRES

A man's quartette is a male quartette and so it proved to be when the "Nouvelaires" performed in camp. Their songs were spicy, risqué, but excellently done. They were by far the cleverest bunch of men to hit the camp. The little girl that claimed some sort of baton swinging championship did a good job of twirling the cane, but she also gave the audience something to look at.

CAMP TROUBADOURS

In addition to all the foreign talent coming to camp, the men cook up their won renditions and present them over their famous "Voice of the Cottontails." The recent barbershop quartette contest uncovered a few voices around camp that banded together and made music. S/Sgt Wallace of Radar leads them into tome pretty nice music.

The "Ramblers" are a bunch of mountain boys who decide that what the army needed was more mountain music and ballad songs. They soon found some of their "kin" strayed around camp and they got together around a "gueeter." Now we get it over the radio daily with "She'll be comin' around the mountain." Thus far the "Deacon" boys haven't started a feud, but Sgt. Detro, better known as "The Deacon", don't wanna have truck with sich critters.

DOGS, HORSESHOES AND CAKES

Dogs being what they are, it is difficult to keep them down and when they are merely puppies someone has to have them around. Last Winter's amorous parties are beginning to yield returns and a mixed lot they are.

Horse shoe pitching may be a small town diversion, but Manduria is no big town, so the men pitch a few every now and then in their spare time. The Italians keep an eye on the horse shoes, but the men keep an eye on the Italians, so we still have a few shoes to throw around.

One way to get in good and solid with the Orderly Room is to bake a cake on someone's birthday, and that is exactly what the Mess Sgt. In the 721st did the other day for Sgt. Strange, clerk of the Orderly Room. Not only that, but the cake was something to write about – in the history.

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

The awards and decorations mill continued its grind during the month turning out the following distribution of medals:

                        Silver Star                              3

                        D.F.C.                                     49

                        Bronze Star                            11

                        Air Medal                               225

                        OLC to Air Medal                  620

                        Purple Hearts                        18

                        OLC to Purple Heart 1

                        Good Conduct                       68