450th BOMBARDEMT GROUP (H)  NARRATIVE DECEMBER 1944

"Forward March!" The 450th was on its way to the ramp on the first of December, 1944 to witness a presentation of awards to members of the organization who had been wounded in action or who had achieved distinction at their post. One could hardly expect propitious weather in Winter at the heel of the Italian boot, so the tramp of soldiers was more like a slosh, slip, splash of two thousand feet trying to keep in step through the soft mud of mid-winter. The icy breezes blowing from the Gulf of Taranto had nothing of that exotic thrill ascribed to them by romantic writers who extol the balmy scenes of "Sunny Italy." To officers and men standing at attention with bespattered shoes and wet feet, the bucolic milieu of mud, olive groves and bleak weather literally stunk!

Twelve months in Manduria had taught all to build and dress for the weather, and Uncle Sam had provided the materials with which to make this possible. A year ago the camp was a quagmire accentuated by the dearth of supplies caused by the sinking at Bari by the German Stukas. Today, we take stock proudly of Mess Halls, Day Rooms, and Operation Buildings built with Tuffi and roofed with American tar paper or corrugated iron. And as for quarters – everything from a concrete floored tent to a California Mission Bungalow with hot and cold running water.

Life overseas is now a definitely established routine. A year ago the first Liberator broke through the undercast, circled the field and came in for a landing. In it was Colonel John S. Mills, Commanding Officer of the 450th. Today planes are serviced, missions are flown, meals are served, men come and go, all this in all kinds of weather, and at any time decreed by higher Headquarters. Is the 450th in a rut? Hell no; they are housebroken. When the war ends – oh well, nobody thinks about it any more. What's the bomb load today?  

ACTIVITIES:

No longer will audiences run for cover when the downpour starts – and just when Dorothy Lamour was about to shed her sarong. The new indoor "Cottontail Theater" was opened on December 3 with a concert by Madame Eustis. Nine hundred bomb stools were occupied by as many men, with a couple of hundred more standing along the walls. They could not believe their eyes when they saw a full sized stage, screen, powerful lights, projection booth and all. It was quite a treat to sit indoors where the body heat of a thousand hot-blooded soldiers took the chill room the air. Major Jackson of S-4 need not lose any more sleep. The Italian structural steel held up, and the corrugated iron did the trick for walls and roofing. Now bring on all the stage shows and movies.

ACTIVITIES:

The S-2 Building addition is ready for the roof. Major Harwood, Group S-2 Officer, is reading the Book of Job in order to bear up under the stress of building, and is about to go broke buying materials which will reach him through channels some time after the armistice. "It all started when I mentioned a ten by twelve office, and then someone threw in a yeast cake. Now look at that overgrown hangar!" 

The Ari Base Group Aid Station, known in ordinary parlance as the "Hospital" is running a neck to neck race with the weather, but the Italian masons keep chipping away at their Tuffi and the Flight Surgeon keeps calling for "Ancora" and "Subito! Subito! Get the lead out of your pantaloni!" It seems to work, for the first wing is already roofed and the ground is broken for the next one.

The Group Officer's Mess Hall was getting too crowded with all the additional personnel in Headquarters, so there was only one thing to do: enlarge! Here was a job for the spanking new Second Lt. Kuhn, Erstwhile top-kick of the 722nd Squadron. A week later we moved into a large "Dinning Room" with tables for four, new dome lights, freshly painted walls, and white table cloths. All this and napkins too. As the Italian girls at the PX in Manduria would say: "S'roff gwar, Lootenan Roger!" Now that "Gino" the Italian Club Caretaker has been elevated to Head Waiter by Mess Officer Captain Wells, (Group Adjutant) eggs will be eggs instead of "ekkis," and "hotti Kekkis" will revert to hot cakes. And who ever heard of "zuppa" for cereal?

The extension of the runway, for-you-know-what, (or do you?) is crowding the 723rd Squadron out of its area, so the order is move. Sgt Toliver and Captain Olman thought they had enough headaches, but now they'll take aspirin instead of atabrine. The Doughty Top-Kick shoved his cap over his right eye, spat out some terbacker juice and barked: "did you ever see a squadron move from scratch? I'll have that 723rd across the road so quick it'll make your goddam head swim – beggin' yer pardon, sir!"

What a theater, a radio station, a weekly newspaper and basketball team, the next thing was a band. Yes, the 450th is going collegiate! Special Services promises us a Drum-Majorette also, but since it is not OEL equipment we may have to take "Eyetie" issue. Anyhow, a call had been put out for musicians and several have been uncovered. There's Lt. Cylkowski with his Julliard Conservatory Moniker, and then, too, a certain Lt. Eisler whose Father wielded the Metro Baton in New York for 20 years. There is a bond in the offing, sure 'nuff.

And in case anyone thinks that our college hi-jinks is all hoopla, they should step into our class rooms and see everything from calculus to languages and counterpoint being taught. "Cottontail University" is in full swing in December. The latest addition to the faculty has occupied the Chair of Physics. He is Captain "Robby" Robinson, of Yale, already well known in ping-pong circles where the Chaplain is ready to take all comers, and I men "take."

Close on the heels of Lt. Kuhn's promotion came S/Sgt. Hollingsworth Field Commission as a Gunnery Officer. He was old enough to accept a commission, but too young to enter Gunnery School. Captain Stevens, 720th C.O. was up at the Fifth Army Front getting a bit of Front Line color when the orders came through changing his bars into Gold Leaf. He did not seem to be a bit attached to his "railroad tracks."

When four Line Chiefs wer sent to a special school in Bari, ther were many shispers and much speculation. Theose in the know had it right from the horse's mouth that they were being trained for B-29 maintenance. It was a Military Secret, but it had leaked out. The Line Chiefs came back bursting with knowledge about the care of B-24 tires!

In addition to the regular weekly news lectures, the S-2 Section has instituted a 15 minute news flash account in the War Room every day at 11:45 for all Dept Heads and Commanding Officers. With the excellent map facilities in the War Room there is no excuse for not knowing the latest in World War News. This feature has been received with much enthusiasm.

If you can't make the show at 1800 Wednesday, shall we say, you can meet your buddy on the ground floor at 2000 and see the second show. But should you be tied up with such social obligations as KP or Guard Duty, you can wait and catch the Matinee on the following day. Not only that, but you can be choosy and look over the menu for the week and make your own selections. If you are in a frivolous mood, you'll go on Mondays; if you want a nice news lecture before the Piece De Resistance you'll choose Tuesday; if it's a five star reel you are dying to see, Friday is the day; but if you want a stage show with girls, girls, girls in the flesh, you'll save all your lip smacking until Saturday night. Sunday morning at 10 AM you may go back piously and cleanse your wicked soul, for on the day the chaplain holds services.

During December the Cottontail Theater billed a no small number of attractions outside of its regular share of first and third rate shows. On December 3, there was Madame Eustis whose trills are known to American audiences. She made her style GI and tried to sing what the boys like to hear.

On December 16th the "Broadway Varieties" did a good job of entertaining the Cottontail audience with the "Dizzy Ditties Deftly Done" by Owen and Parker and the Ventriloquacious, Miss Carole whose "Tommy" got nicely rough at times. The "Magician" had the usual card trick routine that is supposed to make audiences go ga-ga, but to which GI's well conversant with cards respond courteously. The inevitable lady accordionist who played badly and sang worse was also there -

ho hum!

The Ping Pong artists on December 28th went through a few antics deftly performed but that is as far as the show went. The treat of the season, however, was the excellent production of "Rhapsody in Blue" based on the life of George Gershwin. Knowing that they were being treated to a World Premiere presented at their brand new Cottontail Theater, the 450th behaved with all the dignity and decorum befitting the occasion. The three hour show went through in great style. The power did not break down. The new film held and the sound track was as clear as could be wished for. (Hold your breath, for there are a few guys who insist on smoking in the theater despite the prohibiting signs).

MORALE:

Nothing like piles of mail to boost morale in the Theater, and no month like December to bring in letters, Xmas greetings and parcels. Despite the enormous quantities of mail sacks that Sgt. Herman had to sort he was able to keep his temper at an even keel. Mail was his business before he joined the Army so it's only been a change of station for him.

The resumption of the trips to Rome has brought back the gleam to the GI's eyes. They are thinking of the interesting historical sites they will soon visit, and then too, travel is so broadening.

No morale can stay up without a few rumors to hold it up. "Parlor" gossip has been busy dishing out a few "have-you-heards" in December. Foremost among these are the facts that the 450th will be converted to B-29's, or was it B-32's? And if you don't believe it, look at the recent extensions of the runway. We also have it from those in the know that the Distinguished Unit Citation will be presented to us in January; that a Rest Camp is being opened in Southern France with young Mademoiselles as waitresses and everything. "OU LA LA! MAIS OUI. TOUJOURS L'AMOUR."

ACTIVITIES:    (continued)

There are no few Spartans who look upon the end of the year as the time for renewing their vows and pulling themselves by their imaginary bootstraps one step higher in the ladder of self-improvement. A few of such genera were heard to beat their manly chests and exclaim upon their word:

from Sgt. Radkoff of S-4:                 "No second helpings for me!"

Lt. Hessen:                                         "Early to bed early to rise"

Sgt Price of Special Services:        "I'm through with radio"

Major Clark, 721st Exec:                   "Only a spectator at card in 1945"

Captain "Doc" Hunt, Dentist:            "N'ary a drop for me!"

Major Harwood, S-2:                        "I'll never build again!"

Lt. Ogozalek, 720th Adj:                    "I won't sing if Lt. Cisternino doesn't"

OPERATIONS:

The increasingly poor flying weather in December cut down our missions to nineteen, most of which were carried out by PFF. However, on the eight instances in which visual bombing was possible, the boys did an excellent job. With the exception of four trips to refineries in Southern Germany, and Austria, all bombing was concentrated on the enemy's communications. With the gradual knocking out of the Axis' Satellites, the 450th have been greatly reduced. The overall bombing percentage for December put the 450th in the lead with a score of 67.1%  

VITAL STATISTICS:

The Strength at the beginning of the month was only 2388 but by the end it had jumped to 2517. Nineteen missions were flown during the month with a total of 473 sorties, 66 of which were ineffective. There were 0 officers and men MIA and one KIA. With the cooperation of Marshall Tito in Yugoslavia, a large proportion of these crews parachuting from damaged bombers will be safely returned to their base. Captain Vincent Taylor, young Commander of the 723rd Squadron was hit in the head by a  flak fragment and died at the controls of his plane as he was leading an attack against the Brenner Pass on the 29th.

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

There were a few more decorations pinned this month than the proceeding one, but the Bronze Star is still playing "hard-to-get." The following figures tell the story:

Silver Star                              1

D.F.C.                                     35

Bronze Star                            1

Air Medal                               172

OLC to Air Medal                  245

Purple Hearts                        16

Good Conducts                     121

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL ACCOUNT:

Four days after arriving in Manduria, Italy, Christmas came to a group of bewildered members of the 450th Air Echelon. They sat on their assorted gear, in the dark foul-smelling wooden barracks recently vacated by what once had been the "Reggia Aeronautica Italiana." Most of the conversation on that Xmas evening of 1943 centered around the subject of the next Christmas. Tired of travel, mad, rain and exposure, the men pulled on their flying clothes and lay down to wait for Santa Claus – that was 1943.

Preparations for Christmas began early in December of 1944. The 721st Squadron posted a $100 prize for the best trimmed Xmas tree, and that sent every GI hurrying to "downtown Manduria" to look for tinsel, artificial snow and Christmas Decorations. The Italian merchants, already accustomed to demands for stores they never heard of, simply shrugged their shoulders, grinned and answered in a gradual crescendo of "NON C'E, NON C'E," meaning "we ain't got it." Someone going into the olive grove (not for purposes of worship) happened to see a few strands of Window hanging from the olive trees. That was the answer! Next day when the judges passed on the best tree in the 721st Area they could not decide whether Sgt. Pietz's tree was better than Pfc. Gaeta's so they split honors both ways and awarded them $50 apiece. There was plenty of "tinsel" for decoration.

Down form the "Forests" of - -- - came truck loads of Christmas trees which were distributed among those who planned to have a tree "at home." The Day Rooms, Officer's Clubs and even Mess Halls were decorated in Yuletide Spirit. Squadrons vied with each other in an effort to create the real Christmas atmosphere, and despite the lack of snow just then to make it a White Xmas, they succeeded in creating the illusion of a Homey Christmas.

For the preceding two months the boys and had combed Bari, Lecce and the surrounding towns for souvenirs and suitable presents to send home. There was an increased traffic in such items as cameos, jewelry and ready to wear. Everywhere, the Italian street merchant tried to entice with signs and pleadings: "VERRA GOODA CAMEO, NAPKEENS, TEBLE CLOS – HANDA MADE."

The Army Gift Shop in Bari proved a boon to the soldier with money in his pocket. The assurance that they were getting their money's worth loosened the purse strings of the wary. Connoisseur of cameos insisted on the more expensive products from Torre Del Greco personally turned out by the able artisan "Salvatore," all from $35 and up (paid adv.)

But no American Christmas would be complete without there being some giving as well as receiving. And, since every American soldier is considered wealthy in Italy, it was expected that he should pass out a few bon-bons to celebrate the advent of one whose prime mission was to give. The orphanage of Oria had provided a concert at camp with a choir of 100 boys and a 20 piece orchestra. They sang Christmas Carols for two hours in the theater and broadcast over the "Voice of the Cottontails." We listened to the music but could not recognize any of the so called carols until the choir struck "Silent Night." The program ended with the rendering of the familiar "Adeste Fideles." The PX ration candy that had been donated before hand was distributed amongst the orphaned boys who from the alacrity with which they went at it must have had a first class Christmas belly ache the next day.

Those who had bailed out over Yugoslavia and had tasted of Yugoslavian Hospitality were foremost in contributing to the Yugoslav Orphans. All manner of candy, cookie sand sundry items were deposited in boxes at the PX's as the officers and men drew their rations. The chaplain, assisted by Escapees from Yugoslavia, packed the donations and sent them on their way to Tito's Boys.

For Protestants there was a service at 10 am and also one at midnight at the theater. The Catholic Churches in the surrounding villages afforded ample opportunity to those who wished to attend services. Some fortunate visitors to Rome attended Mass at St Pete's along with 150,000 others. The Protestant congregation in Oria had their Christmas Program at 3 pm. A good number of American soldiers and officers including Chaplain Keefe and Chaplain Mayfield of the 62nd Servic Group were present. They too received their share of candy and gifts from the 450th. Urchins on the street, hearing that candy was being distributed to the Protestant Congregation ran in declaring that they too were "Protestante."

The Colonel had overhauled the interior of his Italian storehouse and added a few of the embellishments that make American life enjoyable. There was a large open fireplace, electric lights, comfortable furniture, and rugs on the floor. Add to all this the Christmas Decorations, a tree, and stockings over the hearth and you have a scene as American as corn on the cob. In the midst of these surroundings, Colonel Jacoby planed host to his staff on Christmas Day preparatory to the sumptuous dinner that was to follow. The olives, crackers, fruitcake and other goodies he had received from home went into the Cocktail Party as "Aperitif." Those who needed a drink (this hot, dry climate) found one already mixed – eggnogs, mind you."

Put a good drink in a man's hand, a cocktail table before him filled with olives, fruitcake and stuff, and a warm fireplace behind him, and he'll forget he's in Italy. We all forgot that for a moment. Anyhow, the "Old Man's" reception was a big success - - but gosh! Christmas is so long in coming!