Colonel Bob Richard WWII diary, 1st Fighter Group Commander P38s 1943

Sunday Aug 15, 1943 . Miami. Awakened at 0200 to be ready to catch C-54. Mix up in cargo delayed T.O. until 1100. Arrived at Baringuen, Puerto Rico 1550. Next T.O. scheduled for midnight so not much rest tonight - 26 passengers and 6 in the crew.

Monday Aug 16. Left Baringuen at 1230 and arrived at Atkinson Field, south of Georgetown, British Guiana at 0530. Left at 0700 and landed at Belem, Brazil at 1130. Departed Belem at 1220 and arrived Natal, Brazil at 1830. Total distance covered so far is 3660 miles.

Friday Aug 20. Spent the last three days in Natal. Scheduled to T.O. at 2130 last night but delayed until 0300 this morning. Arrived Ascension Island (Wideawake Field) at 1030. Just a runway tunneled out of a mountain.

Saturday Aug 21. T.O. Ascension at 0700. Landed at Roberto Field, Liberia 1230. T.O. Roberto Field at 1400. Landed at Dakar [Senegal] at 1815. Total miles 6840.

Monday Aug 23. T.O. Dakar 0700. Flew 30 miles over jungle, then about 75 miles over bush country and from then on nothing but desert and a solid dust cloud. Landed at Atar [Mauritania] at 0955. T.O. at Atar at 1025. Landed at Tindouf at 1355. T.O. 1420 and landed at Marrakech [Morocco] at 1555. Between Tindauf [Algeria] and Marrakech we left the desert to cross a mountain [Atlas] range 15,000 high and came into a beautiful fertile valley.

Tuesday Aug 24. T.O. 0815 Marrakech and landed 0930 at Casablanca. This is very much like any part of the cost line in Southern California. They put us up in the Suise Hotel, a former resort. The food was the best we had had since leaving Miami. It cost us the horrible sum of 25 francs a day (50 cents) for room and three meals a day.

Wednesday Aug 25. Toured the city and went swimming in the surf. A very bad undertow and beach not so good.

Thursday Aug 26. T.O. 0920 Casablanca. Landed Oran at 1130. Had lunch and I got locked in an Algerian latrine & had to use my wings to pick the lock. Almost got left. T.O. 1230 landed at Tunis 1630. This will be the furthest East we will get until we actually go into operation.

Friday Aug 27. Reported to NAAF Hdg. Met with Colonel Dahl who assigned us further to NASAF which put us back in Tunis. Stayed at Latecia Hotel, 2nd rate for Tunis and 7th rate U.S.

Met with General Barn who is A-3 and mentioned Mac [McKenzie] as a Goat at the Point. He made assignments as follows:

Reported this afternoon but won’t know what Group until tomorrow. Probably the 325th a P-40 outfit. Mac & Bill will probably go to a P-38 group. We are staying in the German Staffs (Air) former quarters. Not so hot. Haven’t had running water now for 3 days.

Monday Aug 30
Assignments for the day. Hanes [Horace, but nobody ever called him that. It was either Hanes or Dude] and myself to D.S. 1st Fighter Group (P-38) at Mateur. Toner assigned 325th Fighter Group (P-40). Reported in to Col Ralph Garmen who is leaving for the States in a day or two. The group had a rough day. Latest count shows 12 ships & 12 pilots lost and 4 ships crash landed in Sicily – pilots ok. A sad bunch of boys here tonight.

Tuesday Aug 31

Had a 30 minute ride in a piggy-back P-38. Too soon to express an opinion on the ship. It definitely does not seem to be a fighter or an interceptor. Later on flew the P-38 for an hour. It is very heavy on the controls but I can see why pilots like it after some experience.

Wed Sept 1, 1943
Not much to report. 87 mile round trip to Tunis with not much results. Lights in the tents tonight.

Friday Sept 3 1943. Laundry came back today. Paid 275 f for hardly anything but at least I have a few clean clothes. Went to the 325th & saw Buzz [Toner]. He made his first operational flight that morning. A dive bomb mission on Sardinia. All pilots (36) returned from a strafing mission over Naples.

Saturday Sept 4 1943
Got paid today for month of August in francs. Also per diem for trip over here. 11670f ($233.40) 3235f ($64.70).

Monday 6 Sept
Went to Wing to learn what our status is to be, but to no avail. No one there who could help me out. Went to the movie tonight to see Law of the Jungle. At 2050 an alarm was spread that paratroops had landed nearby. In a few minutes the air raid was sounded and we watched Bizerte and Ferryvaille being bombed. They really put up a flak barrage that was amazing to watch. Better than the 4th of July. One enemy ship was shot down in flames that was a sight to see. There were many flares dropped, some of them quite close to us, that lit up the place like daylight. It lasted for about 45 minutes and then quiet for the rest of the night.

Tuesday Sept 7
Flew to Sicily today to join the advance air echelon there. Thought they had some flies in Tunisia, but this is worse. Am messing in an abandoned church which is also S-2 and S-3.

Wednesday Sept 8
Flew my first mission today as air cover for the invasion convoy. War can sometimes look pretty and that’s all. Mt Etna is really a sight to see. We are based right at the base of it.

Thursday Sept 9
Mission #2 as air cover for landing parties. No action or enemy ships seen. Italy surrendered today.

Friday Sept 10
Mission #3. Same deal. One pilot crash landed, another flew into ground at night trying to form a ground beacon, managed to survive. Two shot down over Italy, one bailed out but the other exploded in mid air.

Saturday Sept 11
Flew the dawn patrol this morning and at the end they called us to strafe a train. On the second pass I damaged the locomotive enough so that it had to quit. On the breakaway they hit my ship about a foot outboard of my right engine with a 20mm H.E. shell. Those knockers don’t play fair. For all we knew we were shooting at surrendered Italians.
Went on Mission # 5 late this afternoon and just missed a good scrap in which 8 Huns were shot down. These easy missions are going to spoil & cost us later on. These five missions are going to give Dude and myself the Air Medal. It seems sort of ridiculous.

Sept 12 Sunday
No mission today but flew my damaged ship back to Mateur for repair and also to get clean clothes. Had dinner with Buzz and Rum & Lemon at the club. Good show also.

Sept 13 Monday
Back to Sicily. Went to 14th Group for dinner with Troy Keith, Mac and Bill. Mac has the G.I..’s pretty bad. He and Bill have squadrons and several mission to their credit.

Sept 14 Tuesday
Went to Catania and got a haircut, shave and shampoo for 70 cents including the tip

Sept 15 Wednesday
Dive bomb mission today over Avalino. No enemy aircraft seen

Sept 16 Thursday
Another dive bomb mission. No results. Eighth Army joined up with our Fifth.

Sept 18 Saturday
Back to Mateur for a two week rest and training period. Called into Wing for the General to give me a new assignment.

Sept 19 Sunday
Today assumed command of the 1st Fighter Group. In doing so succeeded to a long line of illustrious and not so illustrious C.O.’s. There is plenty of hard work ahead. Morale is quite bad and things are generally run down. Everyone on top side is aware of this conditions and for that reason I am going to be scrutinized through a pretty strong reading glass. I only wish I were ten years younger. [He was 36 years old at the time] The tactical task would be many times easier. All I ask is a fair chance.

Monday Sept 20, 1943
Generals Spaatz, Doolittle & Webster present today to decorate members of this group for gallantry in action, meritorious service & wounds in battle. 3-Silver Stars, 2-Purple Hearts, 14-D.F.C.’s, 12-Air Medals.

Friday Sept 24
Started construction on the Officer’s Club, also one for E.M. I can see the spirit and morale of this outfit go up each day as things such as this are started on their way.

Sunday 26 1943
Went into NAAF to meet Major Sherry, a World War I member of the 94th Sqd. Saw Dick Elvins & Felton Turner. Turner is to leave for the States in a week and has promised to phone Idie [Ida Ruth Richard, his wife] and tell her the latest news. It has started to rain and some rain, & this is the 1st rain in many months. This adobe clay is turning into a sea of sticky slippery mud already.

Monday 27th
Cleaned house in the group today. Appointed all new sqd commanders including Hanes in the 71st which is the poorest outfit. Many other changes in jobs. Hope I have made the right choices.

Sunday Oct 3
Today was a great day for me. Received my first letter from Idie #16. It was grand to hear that all my family is well and getting on so great. Am still up in the air about Paboo [His Grandfather].

Monday Oct 4
Up at 0430 this AM to get the dope on a secret, rapid move to the Middle East. Another job by a Staff who sometimes work in strange and mysterious ways. Landed late tonight on Gambut #5 which is near Tobruk [Lybia]. No facilities whatsoever. Everyone slept on the ground after no food.

Tuesday Oct 5
Finally landed at our field Gambut # 2. Things are really in a horrible mess. No one expected us let alone know what to do with us. However the British are really doing a good job servicing us. They know how to operate in this country.

Thursday Oct 7
Started operations today with convoy patrols over the Islands of Kos and Leros (Dodecanese). Hanes flight had to land on the Isle of Cyprus. He missed a JU-88 and then when he got a good shot all guns jammed.

Saturday Oct 9
I led a mission to the Straits of Skarpnto [?] to give cover to a Naval convoy. Stayed there an extra hour hoping to see some action, but no luck. Soon after I left Bill [Leverette] & his outfit ran into 20/25 Jerries. They shot down 14 Ju-87’s damaged 2 and shot down 1 Ju-88. Bill got six himself (later given credit for seven) running into the last one. On the return home found our airdrome U.S. on account of a dust cloud that rose to 11000’. They vectored us into Mersa Watruh [?] where we refueled. Had time for a good swim in the Med. The first bath since leaving Mateur.

Monday Oct 11
Hanes and I flew to Alexanderia where Bill and Mac joined us later that evening. Did our Christmas shopping. Things are certainly high. It was certainly nice to walk into the Red Cross and have someone in a clean, crisp uniform greet us. Then to have a long warm shower after a week in that awful dust bowl. Then some good food and a good bed.

Tuesday Oct12
More shopping, lunch at the Hotel Cecil. Dinner that night at a night club. Stuck Hanes for a $15 dinner.

Wed Oct 13
Weather bad so no take off. A trip to the harbor to see the Italian Fleet.

Thursday Oct14
Returned to Mateur #1. Flew from Alex down to Cairo and flew over Pyramids and the Sphinx. Landed at Benghazi for gas and then home. Field was so muddy we had to land at another strip & came home by jeep. Plenty tired. 8 hours in the air.

Oct 23rd
Went to Sardinia landed at Elmas, near Cagliari to look over our new field. They are marvelous (after they had been bombed and sabotaged) quarters for everyone. Something will happen I know, so we will not get this place.

Oct 26th
It happened, we don’t move in. We must go Monserato which is East of Cagliari. Some improvement over our present set up but not much.

Friday Oct 29th
The ground echelon is moving out for Bizertte to load on an LST craft preparatory to movement to Sardinia. Air Echelon at Mateur #1

Sunday Oct 31st
Ground echelon sailed today. We are left behind without any transportation.

Monday Nov 1st
Ground echelon landed Sardinia. We had to move to Djedeida as our field is too muddy and they will not allow us to go inoperational. In addition, they required us to run a mission as we moved. Fortunately it was cancelled by weather. We are on afield with two bomb groups and it is a state of confusion no end.

Nov 3rd Wed
Went to Tunis for dinner tonight with Buzz, Bill and Dude. Mac missed connections. Best meal since leaving the states.

Nov 6th Saturday
Dinner in Tunis again. This time it was Buzz who missed out. Soup, fresh salad, fish course, steak and two huge servings of ice cream. This kills me.

Nov 9th Tuesday
To Sardinia to look over new quarters again. I have a villa which is fair. A good house but no furniture or hot water. The officers are to be in three apartment houses with some things lacking. It’s too bad we did such a good job bombing. We escorted the B-24s over Turin. They missed everything. We got 1 destroyed, 1 damaged.

Nov 10 Wed
More rain today. We are now in a sea of mud for sure. High altitude mission with the B-24’s. Weather and cold scattered 5 pilots all over. Two still missing & 1 missing from a test hop. Good hot shower tonight & so to bed.

Nov 11 Thursday
Armistice Day. Don’t you ever believe it. Another trip to Sardinia. The field is supposed to be ready on the 13th. Never.

Nov 12 Friday
Move is now postponed until the 14th. Dinner tonight in Tunis. Mac in Alexandria. Dude got the G.I.’s and could not attend

Nov 13 Sat
Move now postponed until the 18th. Will this never stop. More rain and cold wind today. First mission over France. Marseilles to bomb airdrome.

Nov 15 Monday
To Monserato, Sardinia to test out new landing strip. Only ½ the width and ½ the length was finished so used ¼ of the field. There had been an inch of rain and the strip was in not too bad shape. We may be able to move the 18th. The group escorted the 24’s to Athens, staging twice, 1625 mile round trip. One pilot missing.

Nov 18 Thursday
Went on a mission today but had to turn back on account of weather. No credit

Nov 19 Friday
To Tunis to see the Air Force. No good results. Had sandwiches, coffee & ice cream at the Red Cross. Saw a movie George Raft and Ann Sheridan. Hanes then stuck me for a $10 dinner at the Tunisian Palace. So to bed.

Nov 20 Saturday
To Sardinia to find out why the hell we are being sent on so many wild goose chases. The last four days have flown at least three hours and then return to home after mission called off.

Mission #9 71st B-26 escort to Fano, Italy on the Adriatic. 6 hours in the air with staging at Decimomannu, home at dark. Saw about 12-15 ME109’s. Had a small scrap but didn’t get a shot. The 27th was jumped by 4 who damaged two of ours and shot down one, Lt Flynn. We claim one 109 damaged. We were supposed to move today but it has been postponed again, this time until the 23rd C’est La Guerre! Flynn got back. Landed in Italy.

Thanksgiving Day. Move cancelled until Dec 3. Mission for the day was cancelled so everyone had a good turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Ate at 1700 hours here and then to Tunis for another big dinner

Mission cancelled again today. There is a cold drizzle that has everything slippery and sloppy again.

Good news today, we move tomorrow instead of Dec 3. Mission to Marseilles today. I couldn’t go. Hanes’ bunch got 3-1-3. Dude didn’t go either – was he griped. So it goes.

Strange as it may seem we did move. The field was as I predicted unserviceable and one pilot Lt Williams was killed landing. Was it nice to move into a house. Tile floors, windows, bathroom & such. No dirt or bugs.

Mission over Spezia. Three pilots lost. 2 in mid air collisions and one to enemy action. He tried to become a hero and instead lost everything. One may be down in the sea where ASR will pick him up. Lt Parker & F/O Tanner collided. Lt Vondra shot down.

Mission #10 with the 94th. 1st early return. Got another ship and joined formation – no need to hurry as B-26’s were ½ hour late. 2nd ship not too good but damned if I will early return twice in one day. Were to escort Baker Twin Sixes to Guidonia, A/O NE of Rome but weather prevented. No E/A but some flak to the bombers.

A meeting at the wing where I was told to take my Air Echelon to Italy on the 8th for an undetermined length of stay. What a vagabond bunch we are turning into.

The second anniversary of Pearl Harbor. It was this day two years ago that I arrived in New York to pick up a P-43. General Webster was out today to present medals, 3 DFC’s, 1 Purple Heart, 1 Silver Star and about 50 Air Medals. I hope I never have to admit how I got mine. Some war.

I slipped a cog here somewhere and missed this day. We had some genuine entertainment today. Frederick March and his troupe. They were Sammy Walsh, comedian, Jane Darnell singer and Evelyn Hamilton accordionist. They had a very good show. The girls had dinner and were entertained at the Italian Officers Mess. March and Walsh came by place for a drink and then to the hospital where they stayed.

Dec 8 Wed 1943
Air Echelon to Gioia del Colle, Italy for a supposed 10day D.S. To Bari at 15th A.F. to learn we are in Italy for good. God knows where my G.E. will ever join us this time. The field is filled with British and Italians. They are to move out soon but I doubt it. Hanes is now Operations.

Dec 9th
To Bari again & learned that we will go to another field in the near future. What a mess.

Dec 12th Sunday
Four months away from home. A trip to Foggia to see the 5th Wing one of many we are either attached to or assigned to. Mac, Bill and Buzz are in this area too

Dec 13th Monday
A big show was called off on account of weather today. Hanes came in after dark and in bad stuff. We had a Red Alert here while Bari was bombed. We could see the flares and the anti air tracers.

Dec 14th Tuesday
I went to Sardinia by B-26 today to see about gathering up all my clothes. The weather was stinky. Found everything packed up for me, and also that the ground echelon was scheduled to leave very shortly. One never knows.

Mac gave Sandy a 109 for her birthday. Bill gave Larry the same.

Dec 15th Wed
The B-26 out so started home in a C-47. Landed at Palermo and then Catania for the night. Went to a show tonight Jeanette Mac D & Nelson Eddy. Not good.

Dec 16th
Back to Base this morning. Two missions while I was gone. One to Athens & one to Balzano. Both a success.

Dec 18th Saturday
As stated before, the new field is still in the offing, but supposed to be Cerignola #2. Went up to look at it today and found the place overrun with Blokes. This is where I had hoped to move my Ground Echelon ahead of us. My, my.

Dec 19th Sunday
Three months ago I took the group. With the exception of fewer airplanes I must say the outfit is a fitter one now. A long mission over Stutgartt which I couldn’t go on as they had a meeting at Air Force. Things have changed again and the ground people are coming here. We apparently are not going to Cerignola. The suspense is killing all of us.

The situation at present.

Assigned 42nd Wing – Administration

&# 47th ? Supply & Maint.

&# 5th ? Operations

Very simple “ my dear Watson”. Ah yes! I love them all.

Dec 20th Monday
Mission #11 today. Escorted the Forts to Athens where they really blasted the hell out of Eleusis Airdrome. Too bad there were not more fighters on the field. I hope to get good pictures. Coming home was not so good. The weather closed in on some and we have 15 unreported. Are sure most of them are ok. But one boy for sure hit a hill. Capt ___________ is in a pretty low state. It may be I have made a bad mistake. However, he is too fine a boy to let this get him down for too long.

Dec 21st Thursday

Yesterday’s toll was greater than ever thought of. Four ships were lost and three pilots. The fourth one is in the hospital in a very serious condition.

Dec 22nd Wed
We are now assigned to the 5th in toto thank goodness. This will probably be about as permanent as all other assignments. Went to the Air Force to be briefed for a very secret mission which if successful will make a wonderful Christmas present for lots of people. The weather prediction is bad so it will no doubt be postponed.

Dec 23rd Thursday
Mission X Ray postponed for 24 hours. Hope it isn’t cancelled entirely. Dude and I went to Taranto this afternoon and had a cold wet ride. Not much to offer there but they do have a nice officers club.

Dec 24th Friday
No mission today.

Dec 25th Saturday Christmas
There was a mission today and the weather was stinky. It was a long one and 11 boys are not back. They had to stop at another field for gas. Hope they get taken care of. We had a wonderful Christmas Dinner.

December 29th Wed
We ran mission X-Ray today # 12. Everything worked fine but no one was there. Damn it, this would really have been a honey. I shot up some anti air batteries. Probably killed about six people. Everything is so impersonal. They could just as well be bugs.

Dec 31st New Years Eve
Dude & I going to a dance at Bari given by the15th A.F. The weather is lousy. Rain, sleet, snow & wind.

Jan 1st 1944 New Years
Happy, lovely, wonderful day. Seven packages and six letters. I shall not leave this room except to eat. What a good time I am going to have.

Jan 3rd Monday
A cold, clear day with a long mission to Turrin with staging at Sardinia. 19 pilots failed to return due to darkness and fuel. All are accounted for. Two runway crackups, one here and one at Deceinomaro [?], Sardinia.

Jan 7th Friday
This was the day I have been dreading. The brass hats insist we still go on Rube Goldberg missions with our little force. Had to send 20 while there should have been 50. When the attack came there were only 16 at the target (Weiner Nuestatt). Over 50 Me’s & FW’s in two waves. Eight of our boys were shot up. Hanes was one of them. I am a very lonely man tonight. This has hurt me more than anything of this kind ever has. There was no earthly reason for it either, but for the foolish planning of those in the office berths.

We know we lost two for sure and six more are missing. Dude may have bailed out but it means he will be a prisoner of war. I hope so then he will have no more of this hell. Damn this war to hell.

Jan 8th Saturday
We are moving today to our new base at Foggia #5. It was the old German Foggia #3. Later I arrived at noon today and went directly to see Gen Atkinson of the 5th Wing. Also saw Gen Twining of the 15th A.F. I stood my ground and we are now off operations until we have a chance to recover. We need new ships and new personnel. Col Garman is back and assigned to XII ASC.

Who should I see but [Chaplain] Tony Pennell. How little did he know how wonderfully happy he was to make the two us, or maybe he did. [Chaplain Pennell performed the wedding ceremony for Colonel and Mrs. Richard upon his graduation from flight school and his commissioning in the Army.] He was fine and sends his love to my dear family. I shall see him soon.

Jan 9th Sunday
Went to 5th Wing for a farewell party for Gen Atkinson, he is going to England. The only reason I went was to see Mac. We had a grand visit, but not very pleasant thoughts.

Jan 11th
Had lunch with Mac and Bill yesterday. They are about six miles up the road. I have asked for Mac & Bill both but the General says no. We’ll see. Packages from home. Stationary from Dad, sniffers from Switzer’s [Drug Store], magazines from Roy and coffee from my Idie. Buzz came over tonight and we went to Wing for dinner and a meeting.

Jan 12th 1944
37 years old today. How time does fly. If the next 37 years are as full these I certainly have a lot to live for.
Mac is going to be assigned to me after all. He was here today to see me. I know he feels badly about it and I hope to be able to make it up to him. He is a soldier.

Jan 13th Thursday
Mission #13 Rome.

Jan 14th Friday
I am having a winterized tent made for Mac & me. It was supposed to be finished yesterday but there are still a few things to finish tomorrow. We should be very comfortable. What a country this is. Sunny Italy.

Jan 17 Monday
Great Day in the Morning! Word has just come in through Intelligence that Hanes is safe in the hands of the Partisans some where in Yugoslavia. He is being handed along and should be back in two or three weeks. What a relief.

Jan 18th Tuesday
Mission # 14 over Prato near Florence. No flak, no fighters, no nothing. Plenty of P-47’s for top cover. Mac has the piles! So he doesn’t feel too well.

Jan 21st Friday
Had dinner with Mac & Buzz at Aprecina and as usual ate too damned much A long mission over Salon. Ten boys not back yet but we think most of them are in Sardinia or Corsica. ____________ is cracking up I’m afraid, so home he goes. His case may be my fault , but I’m damned if it was criticism that made him fold.

Jan 22nd Saturday
We had hoped to go on a tactical mission today but no luck. The radio flash tells about landings near and above Rome. More power to them.

Jan 23rd Sunday
A dive bombing mission to Orte, but 10/10 cloud cover prevented completion, dropped bombs on a highway near Aquila.
Received an official letter on Dude which included messages to Gin [Mrs. Hanes] and myself.

Jan 25th Tuesday
No mission today so slept late, had chicken for lunch and then into Wing. General Atkinson has gone to England worse luck, & Col. Charlie Lawrence is to take command at least temporarily. Also learned that Lt Meredith was shot down the same day as Dude is ok and on his way back. What a marvelous system they must have

Bill Cummings is now a full Colonel so I hear with Speed as his Exec. Rumor has it that I am to get a chicken too.

Jan 26th Wed
What a night we had last night. Between mission planning and bracing our tent and having 2x4’s fall periodically we slept but little. The wind blew up a gale all night long. Mac up at 0600 for briefing to have mission scrubbed at 0620. To Foggia for two helpings at the Red Cross. The same wind and rain is again with us tonight. We have our tent in better shape for the storm. I hope! Lt Meredith who was shot down the same day as Dude is also reported to be in friendly hands. This is a repeat I see.

Well great day, the phone just rang and it was Lt Meredith himself, back in the Squadron tonight. Just 19 days since going down. What a system. He also brought word of Dude. He had been captured by the Hun and made an escape to Partisan hands. He is quite the hero of the Partisans it seems. What a knocker.

Jan 27th Thursday
A good mission over Marsailles – 19 over target, 2 stayed in Sardinia. Score for us 2-2-2. A long talk with Meredith. He tells things that are unbelievable. Everyone treated him wonderfully but atrocity was all around him.

Jan 28th Friday
I had an early return today that was 100% cockpit trouble. Of all the downright dumb tricks that pilots pull, this one really is the worst yet. We needed all the ships over the target too. The mission turned out ok.

Jan 29th Saturday
Joe E. Brown put on a swell one man show for us today. Then Mac & Buzz and I had dinner at Apreccina again. Damned good. 5 letters from home and 3 cards.

Jan 30 1944
A big counter air force mission to the Po Valley. The Hun had massed a lot of bombers. Everything worked it seems. We knocked down one, but the 325th had a field day. 33 shot down and 6 probable. To hell with Hitler. Took Joe E. Brown to Bari in piggy back.

Jan 31st Monday
Group had a successful mission to Klagenfurt. Mac & I shot firearms most of the afternoon. A turkey dinner (canned) in our tent and so to bed.

Feb 1st Tuesday

Three letters from Idie # 84, 90 & 102. How scattered out they arrive. One from Tommy Black full of news of men about town. Mission cancelled , fog in the bomber fields.

Feb 2nd Wednesday
Mission cancelled just as I was taking off. Something fishy is going on and I can’t figure out what it is. Mac, Fitz & I went to dinner with Blokes at anti-air. A damned good one too. Scotch whiskey & good wines. Home to find 7 letters from Idie and 1 from KTB.

No mission tomorrow either. More bewildering than ever.

Feb 5th Saturday
Still no mission and the weather gets worse. I have picked up the flu bug and do I feel rotten.

Feb 7th Monday
No mission yet and the weather gets worse. It either snowed or sleeted all day today. Not good weather to rid ones self of the flu. Purvis got back from Oran and had everyone’s barracks bag but Hanes and mine. They were shipped to us again and God knows if we will ever see them again. Damn it all.

Feb 9th Wed
Had a short mission today but could not go on account of my cold. Mac is mad cause had too much staff work to go. Went to a GI show of Bill's squadron that was just so-so.

Called upon for a tactical mission today but the weather was stinky. Mac made a weather flight and we all had to sweat him home. Am glad we have our own DF.

Feb 10th
Seventeen ships came in today from U.K. 28 more to come. Dive bomb mission to help out the beach head. We lost one man to our own bombs. Mac & I shot hell out of a lot of Jerries (DFC). Wish we had killed more. A letter from Mr. Hanes.

Feb 11th Friday

We were alerted all morning but bad weather scrubbed everything. The wind here is terrific. I really believe it is worse than anyplace I have ever been. It is bitter cold for one thing.

I wrote to Mr. Hanes, rule or no rule. Hope it reaches him all right. Dude should be back any day now.

Feb 13th Sunday

More of this bad weather, so no flying today except for testing of new ships that are arriving from UK. They are not really new but new to us. Any ships are welcome I can tell you.

Feb 15th Tues

A message came today from Dude. It seems he has to take an alternate route and will be delayed about 2 weeks. I will be allowed to send an official message this time and also personal ones.

The group had a mission yesterday without mishap. Today and tomorrow are cancelled on account of weather. The wind has eased off some but it surely stays cold.

Feb 16th Wed

No mission today as the weather was bad again. The heavies blasted the hell out of the Benedict Monastery yesterday. They should have done that along time ago. The first day the Germans moved in they should have been hit.

I went down and saw [Lt Col Horace D.] Aynesworth today, he has the 454th [Bomb]Group. They have had three missions and are having a pretty hard time I guess.

Feb 17th Thursday

No mission on account of weather. Ge Twining was out on an informal inspection. Nothing else to report.

Feb 18th Friday

No mission. Mac and I slept until 1100 after being awake most of the night getting ready for mission that was scrubbed.

Mac and Bill were promoted to Lt Cols effective the 16th. We celebrated by having a steak dinner at Bill’s and so home at 2100 to mission plan again for tomorrow.

Dude’s DFC came today.

Feb 19th Saturday

No mission again. Went into town to have a blouse made into a Pea Jacket. Then to RC and then to Wing for dinner. Home at 1800.

Feb 22nd Tuesday

A long mission to Austria. I led the 27th and did a damn poor job. Got lost on the way home and flew the boys into enemy flak at Pescara. Poor business.

Feb 24th Thursday

How I dread these entries. Mac had to bail out over enemy territory north of the Alps. His right engine was on fire. He was all right and talked to the boys on the way down. Damn this war to hell. I shall never ask a friend of mine to serve with me again. This job seems to be hoodooed or something.

Feb 25th Friday

Lt Gresham was lost today same as Mac only he dove in from 6000 feet. He’s Gen Spaatz’s son in law. The bombers have been catching hell. 45 17’s lost in two days and no telling how many 24’s.

Feb 26th Saturday

Learned I was promoted to “Colonel” as of the 18th of the month. It is a small feeling I have getting this. I truly don’t believe I deserve it.

Feb 28th Monday

No mission yesterday or today. The sun shone for the first time in days. I really felt good. I miss my sugah!

Feb 29th Tuesday

Leap year day it says by the calendar. Just another pay day as far as we were concerned. We are stand by for a mission to the beach head tomorrow. The army is catching hell we hear.

March 2nd Thursday

The beach head mission came off today, as cover for 11 groups of heavies that frag bombed enemy troop concentrations. No enemy air at all. My new shoes arrived all with my old ones. The new ones are fine tho a little large. No mail since last Friday

Mar 6th Monday

The orders came today awarding me the D.F.C. dated Feb28th, 1944. I am now thoroughly convinced that there must be gross misuse of most awards and decorations. It is flattering to say the least but at the same time quite embarrassing.

There has been no mail for ten days. Something must be in the offing.

Later – 5 letters came real late & Time & Newsweek. How good it is to hear from my Idie and boys.

Mar 7th Tuesday

Mission to Toulon that was no good, weather. Another message came today from Dude. He has only one more jump to make and that by air. Good show.

Mar 8th Wed

No mission. A party at the 301st B.G. All fighter group & squadron CO’s were asked. Gen’s Twinning & Atkinson present. Plenty of pictures and publicity dope. Invitation was in the form of field orders. Very clever.

Mar 9th Thursday

No mission. The weather is stinky again. Lt Gresham came back today from the Island of Krk. These things are mystifying to say the least. Letters are coming again. There were also lots of magazines and a big box of Taffy from my sugah. Plenty lonesome over here.

March 19th Sunday

The last ten days have seen very little to log. I flew one mission on the 16th for top cover to bombing of Cassino. The weather was stinky & no contact with the bombers was made.

Four officers reported in. 1-Lt Col. 2-Majors & 1-Capt. One Maj was later sent to the 14th.

March 20th Monday

Great Day # One – Dude came back this morning at 500AM. It was the best sight I’ve had in weeks. He is as fit as a fiddle but very thin. The damn fool wanted to fly a mission for the Partisans this afternoon. We did, but the weather turned bad at the target. What a grand person to have around. If I could only hear from Mac everything would be so much better.

March 21st Tuesday

Thanks to Col Buck Taylor, Dude’s promotion was speeded up and he is now a Light Colonel. The new C.G. – Doc Strother was out for lunch today. If Mac were only here I would be on top of the world. I’ve got the best group in the theater!

Mar 23rd Thursday

Dude has finished his interrogation by the A.F. and their decision is to send him home. We are both relieved, I know I am, that the decision was made for him. He would have liked to stay, but this way is better. He is more tired and keyed up than he realizes.

Mar 24th Friday

Gen Twinning, Gen Strother, Col Larorance & staff came this afternoon to present medals. 3-Silver Stars, 12-D.F.C.s, 2 Oak Leave clusters to D.F.C., 1-Purple Heart and 58 Air Medals. The news reels and war correspondents were here too. Quite a big show. I still feel silly about mine.

Mar 25th Sat

Lt. Sias who was shot down over Naples Aug 20th 1943 is back now. He made two escapes. I have one hell of a cold and my sinuses are bothering.

April 1, Sat
The weather has been very changeable all this week two beautiful days but all the rest have been really nasty windy. I started checking out in a B-17 yesterday and made 6 landings. Its not hard, just big. Dude left for home today and I sure envy him in so many ways. He has been pretty sick but felt better today. I got him the Silver Star, all in 12 hours. He took picture, medals and pistols to my two guys and lots of messages to my sugah.

April 2 Sunday
The group really had a fine day today over Steyr. 39 off – 2 early returns and no losses. So far the claims are 10 plus probables. It can almost be called a professionally perfect job. Thiesen was leading again.

April 3rd Monday
Went to 2nd Bomb Group Party. They have a mansion for a club. It was very nice. Sent Idie 400.00 by P.T.A. Hope it gets there faster than money orders.

April 4th Tuesday
Had a group dance in Foggia. Every one seemed to have a good time. Plenty of Champagne. No casualties – I hope.

April 5th Thursday 1944
A cable from my Idie telling about Mac. I don’t know what I would do without her. I haven’t felt so light headed in I don’t know when. It certainly isn’t the best thing that could have happened to him but neither is it the worst. Thank God he is safe.

April 7th Friday
Sent a cable to Idie and Doris [McKenzie]. Forgot to record last night that I went to the 306th [Fighter Wing] for a buffet supper at the invitation of the CG. Sandy was there. [Colonel Charles “Sandy” McCorkle, CO, 31st Fighter Group. Sandy was an old friend from Hamilton Field days]

April 9th Sunday
Today is Easter and what a dreary day it is. There is a low ceiling and it rains intermittently. I went to church today for the first time in a long one. I missed the Protestant service so went to Low Mass. Naturally, I did not join in, but found it a good place to think. My Idie was so very close to me.

April 11
Checked out in a B-17 that we are going to use as a transport. Some clunk. As I was circling the field another 17 was passing by and pulled up in a stall & crashed and burned. Everyone thought it was me. Tomorrow I leave for Tunis to pick up a liquor stock for the clubs

April 14th Monday
The trip to Tunis was cancelled so am leaving tomorrow.

April 17th Monday
Back from Tunis where mission was accomplished. Had a good rest and two fine evening meals, steak & everything. The trip home was the roughest air I ever been in. Thought the wings were coming off at any minute.

April 20th
Who should walk in but Bill Cummings down from England on an inspection trip. Was mighty fine to see him. He will be around for some time.

April 28th Friday
Bill Leverette left for 30 days leave in the States. We bade him farewell last night, had a swell time. Also the official notice that Mac is a PW came today. The weather was good today for a change after two days of pretty heavy rain. The wind still blew tho.

April 29th Saturday
Work started today on my new stone house. They are as slow as Job. Six swell packages came from home with all kinds of delectable foods in them. My Idie!

A mission to Toulon with a score of 6-2-7. We have two boys missing. One boy when landing misjudged and flew into another on the ground. They were brand new J’s

May 4th Thursday
Am leaving today for Algiers to take Bill that far on his way to England Will also stay in Tunis to pick up some more supplies for the various clubs. Taking along some enlisted men to vacation.

May 6th Saturday
Returned today from the trip. Algiers is much overrated but had a good time. Stopped on the way back at Berteaux and spent the night with Ralph Garman. When I got back there were 16 letters waiting for me, oh happy day. They had lots of pictures of my family and home. They are both perfect.

[There were no entries between May 6th 1944 and August 11th 1944]

Aug11th Friday
The air echelon in 22 C-47’s and 60 P-38’s left Salsola for Aghione, Corsica to go on an operation known as Anvil. This looks like the real beginning of the real end for that SOB Hitler. We are living in an old abandoned hotel that is at a supposedly swanky Sulfur Spa (long since abandoned). I am living in what must have been the Bridal SuiteThe 14th Group is also with us. Now commanded by Col. Danny Campbell.

Aug12 1944 Saturday
Howdo Honey - This is D-Day plus 365 for us. I feel this holocaust will be over before too long and that we can all come home where we belong. J.B. is about to get his head knocked off, trying to hook his electric razor to the light wires. What a guy.

Aug 13 Sunday
Well the preview started today and it was a rough deal. Two groups on one field with hills around. A late mission for both & 72 ships trying to land after dark. 2 crashes in the brush, one pilot got only a scratch & the other a broken jaw. Two crashes on the runway, no one hurt. God was riding copilot a lot tonight.

August 14th Monday
All of today’s missions were patrols for the invasion convoys all without incident. It looks like D day tomorrow.

August 15th Tuesday
This is D Day all right and things are going beautifully. The convoys make the Salerno beach look like a play party. The Naval support is stupendous as of course is the air power. Our group only saw six enemy and shot three of them down. My flight dive bombed a 4 gun position & then patrolled for two hours. This is D day and also D day plus 365 as it was a year ago that I left Miami. I miss my sugah plenty.

August 17th Thursday
D+2 and things look good on the beach head what a sight. Did a patrol mission today over Toulon & the Riviera.

August 19th Saturday
Things are looking very well in Southern France and may go home tomorrow. Flew a late strafing mission last night between Toulon & Milan, landed about 10 o’clock. The partridge hunting is swell & we have at least two for supper each night. The Fourteenth is still having tough luck. They have lost 13 pilots & 20 airplanes. Also today their B-17 crashed on the field killing 13 out of 15 people - awful mess. The mail was aboard too & two letters to my Idie. Cest la Guerre!

August 20 Sunday
Home today - our combat losses were 4 men 2 of which we know are all right & 9 airplanes. Two more men were killed this morning forming up after takeoff. No excuse for these things.

August 26th Saturday
Curley Edwinson is here now & probably be put in Command of the 82nd.

August 27th
PK [Colonel P. K. Morrell, an old friend from prewar days] was here for lunch today. He is a member of the Air Evaluation Board who are compiling records of how we won the war. He asked me to join him. No thank you.

August 30th
A whole year with the Group today. Pretty good feeling at that but I’d rather be home. Perhaps that day will not be too far distant. Twenty of us are leaving at Midnight to go to England and pick up P-38’s. Am sure looking forward to this trip, sure nuff.

[This was the final entry in the journal. On 15 November 1944 command of the 1st Fighter Group was turned over to Colonel Arthur C. Agan. On 1 December1949, Colonel Richard departed for home via ship from Naples, Italy.]