Date |
Sgt David S. Gray's Notes, October 1942 |
| October 1 |
Our plane is moved way down to a revetment on other side of field. Its better than the open field. We had drill on how to put up our pup tents. How about that? don't give us credit for any brains Wonder where were going. See Mary tonight. (make Report now) |
| October 2 |
Worked on plane this morn. Left with Charlie Heisler for London at 12 NOON. bus to Salisbury then train. about 70 - 90 mile takes 2 1/2 - 3 hrs Had chop suey supper went to Diane's house and Charlie picked up some babe. were both in our hotel at 11:30 P.M. Washington Club was full + we didn't want to go way out side. |
| October 3 |
Got out of bed at 9:30 A.M. had breakfast, hair cut, shave. but some U.S. {pins}. Called Charlies Uncle about Charlie getting a commission - very good chance. Picked Diane up for lunch in Paddington Sta Restaurant. Met Charlie and saw Bing Crosby + Fred Astaire in "Holiday Inn". swell. Met Diane and with Charlie saw "Three Gay Sisters" Barb Stanwyck. Went for drinks got the 1:20 A.M. train Waterloo |
| October 4 |
Got into the field this morn at about 9:30 A.M. Went right to work on the plane Were pulling a 25 hr inspection which we pull every month wheather it has 25 hrs or not. Going to stay on plane till 8 P.M. Will be on guard again next week. There is going to be trouble for us for being A.W.O.L. A big gang of us. kind of tired walked from Salisbury to Fortingbridge (15 miles) last nite |
| October 5 |
Planes went on "OPPS" the 3rd and Lt. Young [Lt William Young, MIA Oct 2, 1942] on "Maui" Jackson's plane hasn't got back yet. don't know anything about him. Were escorting "Fortresses" but no fights. Our plane came back before even crossing Pilot (not Capt Wells) said a lot things wrong. = Everything was perfect cause we checked. He just didn't want to go I guess. Saw Maj. Rudell [Maj. Raymond Rudell] today. He won't break me but will give me punishment. gravel truck I guess. |
| October 6 |
Got up at 9:30 or so and went to Fordingbridge and had picture taken Went with Landy and got 2 new tires for his motorcycle. very lucky Went to classes this afternoon. gas, first aid, and military courtesy. Found out I was up for Serg. but won't get it. now, I guess we are really going to be on the move soon. Making infantry men out of us. Guard tonite. |
| October 7 |
Still haven't heard from Jackson' ship + Lt. Young. guess he went into the channel. slept this forenoon gravel truck this afternoon. Saw Mary this eve Guard at night from 2:00 - 8:00 I saw "Ball of Fire" at the camp show |
| October 8 |
27th planes came in this afternoon we put right belly tank on for a mission. no sooner finished then told us to take em off. and 27th took off for their field. I don't think I ever saw an outfit so screwed up as this one. In my own deductions I think our next move will take us to either America or China or Egypt. |
| October 9 |
Slept till noon today put 1 aux tank on three planes last nite while on guard and filled em. They left this morning with the 27th at 8:15 got back at 11:00. escorted Fortresses nearly to Berlin. No fights they dropped their empty tanks. Maj. Garman shot off nearly all his ammo but was the only one. Turn in the pistol today + tool box. Westland Whirlwind mixing it with a 38. They're about equal. 38 out climb it. |
| October 10 |
Point of embarcation is Newport. also they are putting beam receivers back in plane. and only Canada + U.S. use that type. Yesterdays "opps" was terrible. over 110 Flying Fortresses escorted above by our 38's and 31st Pursuit Spitfires below. Almost reached Berlin. The Spits mixed it and 38's went back to help em and FW 190's beat it. Guard last nite. 7:30 - 2:00 Saw Mary before guard. |
| October 11 |
Slept till 10:00 A.M. Reading + letters this P.M. One of the (Lt. {Pennyington}) [Lt William Pennington] 94th Pilots giving the gun crews practice went to low with his dive and mushed in at high speed. He hit the generator shack - ploughed the banking + barbed wire fence across the road. ploughed thru other banking + fence leaving stabalzer + prop threw a wing off into field and ploughed thru garden and across field in flames. He was in one piece but dead also killed Limey in gener. shack. |
| October 12 |
That wreck yesterday was terrible. Hardly know it was a plane, Pilot was killed on impact them burned. Had day off today. Haven't done any gravel truck except one day. Hope they forget it. Finished guard last nite. awfully cold. Washed some clothes today. wrote letters. Saw "My favorite Blond" Bob Hope + M. Corrol. Gotta pack my bag tomorrow. Probably will never see {B} bag again. |
| October 13 |
Saw Mary last nite. On the ship all day. |
| October 14 |
On the ship. no work. she didn't fly. Settergren + Cog took off this noon for Bournemouth I stayed with 3 ships because this afternoon + tomorrow morning we have free but must have one man on the 3 ships. They started blasting near my ship and the one Walters + John work on. I was about to taxi mine away when Capt. Hoey and couple of {shavelands}came + taxied off. Gased up a visiting Typhoon. |
| October 15 |
Slept all morning went out to ship ran it up. taxied it around in circles. very easy plane to handle but hard on my leg muscles because adjusted for smaller guy like Capt. Wells + Settergren. Settergen got back from Bournemouth with a little camera + 3 rolls of film took some snaps of the ship. Coghilan + I Took Mary to Cap show in the gym. "Valley of the Sun" saw it at home. |
| October 16 |
On the ship. some Capt. ground officer who used to work for G.E. in Lynn came over and looked the plane all over asked a lot of questions otherwise the plane wasn't even uncovered. Played football in the afternoon only [portion faded] last 5 of my packet 70 Lancasters came over with 15 Spits + 3 Typhoons coming from direction of France. Took Mary to the camp show. "Frisco Kid" No Mail from Home and [cont'd on October 17] |
| October 17 |
[Cont'd from October 16] I know our mail hasn't gone out for a month. Last letter from Dad he figured we were in Russia via the big convoy I wouldn't be at all surprised if we saw the states an this next move. We gotta do {susnp} in with these ships they have 120 hrs. and engine superchargers are giving out on all of em. I made the Pre-flight this morn. Then we took off leading edge of wing between engine + gondola + found fuel leak. Going to put distributor oil vents back in. U.S. radio system antennaes + receivers put back in. mean anything? |
| October 18 |
On the ship this morn. took off for Bournemouth this noon Took a room in hotel Met 2 of the pilots on their 7 day furlough. We drank the bar dry of Scotch and drank beer till they closed at 11:00 P.M. Didn't even get an edge on. We talked planes and Air Corps + my chances in it till 1:00 A.M. Played around with some girls for awhile then retired to our room. |
| October 19 |
Got back from Bournemouth this noon One of the R.A.F. boys transfered (Myers and Butler) to us flew my plane today asked if engines should quit at 27,000. forgot or didn't know about putting fuel pumps on. York's ship had new supercharger throw its buckets. tore holes in wing, cockpit, tail booms. brand new supercharger $3000. |
| October 20 |
On the ship today. poured all day. Figure I'll turn out a couple of letters tonite cause Charlie H. (in armament) gets all the dope and I guess we'll leave tomorrow. pulled in a letter from Mum today. Haven't heard from me since 15th of Sept. So I know the mail has been held in fact we've had 2 new A.P.O.'s that the folks don't know about |
| October 21 |
Left Ibsley this eve by truck for the R.R. station in Ringwood. Bag A was so heavy couldn't throw it on to our shoulders alone. slept all nite in train 5 guys + bags in compartment. kind of hard to sleep. crackers and jelley for breakfast + apples. spam + crackers + butter for lunch. |
| October 22 |
Arrived in Gurock Scot. where we landed on the Queen Lizzy. Wish she was here this time. by 5:30 PM we had boarded a beat out troop ship that was almost falling apart with decay. The "Orbita" ran from Engl. to South Africa + S. America. all signs in Spanish + English. 300 fellows in such a small room with all our equipment and awfully [Cont'd on October 23] |
| October 23 |
[Cont'd from October 22] hot so Brown Coghlin and I took our blankets + slept out on the deck. Today we're getting a little better arranged. eat + sleep in same room. Impatient to get going so we can get off this damn tub. still loading boat. about 40 other boats in the harbor with us and 5 plane carriers. made {oviers} with hurricanes and Spitfires + Swordfishes on em. |
| October 24 |
Spent day waiting for food + PX lines. fair food but not enuff. Visited deck quite often Infantry outfit setting up guns. Boat drill and orders. Boat still being loaded. |
| October 25 |
Slept on mess table last nite Havn't sailed yet takes about a day to fill boat with water + oil. quite a movement of boats around us. Watch the Catalinas taking off + landing |
| October 26 |
MON Sailed at 10:20 at night. |
| October 27 |
Out side the channel today but still in sight of land. Spitfires from Ayr Scotland buzzing around Sea fairly calm but rainy + cloudy Ships spread out in front of us. plane carriers moving out of sight ahead one staying with us. |
| October 28 |
Still see land today Coast of Northern Island. Sunderlands of the Coastal Command flying around the edges of the convoy and ahead of it. weather misty over the coast. Boat drills. |
| October 29 |
Open sea today little rough. B-17-D's of Coastal Command flying around. The Catilina flying boats have accessory apparatus projecting from them in the form of a bumper along the hull above the waterline, under the pilots cabin and rods projecting from the leading edge of the wing to detect subs. |
| October 30 |
We have been given little American flags to sew on our sleeves for when we go ashore. about 3" X 5" Identification I guess because the people aren't supposed to know we're coming. L.S.T. We'll go ashore in invasion boats of the type the Marines use. |
| October 31 |
Heading South + Southwest all day. Food lousy and not enough. Boat Drill sometimes during the day Guard duty at 8:30 - 10:30 P.M. |
WWII Notebook Journal of Sgt. David S. Gray