In the shipment we were crew No. 11

Pilot - Capt. G. B. Clark. (He is now back home receiving discharge.)

Co-Pilot - Lt. W. A. Garland. (he is home now too.)

Navigator - Lt. W. T. Allen -He is still here waiting with thirty-four missions.

Bombardier - Lt. C. G. Crowtheir. He is still around with thirty-one missions

Engineer - Lt. T. M. Holloway. Nough said

Right Gunner - Sgt. R. O. Guthrie. He got to quit flying at thirty missions and is home by now.

Left Gunner - Sgt. C. O. Matlock. Finished thirty missions and is still here.

Senior Gunner - Sgt. H. J. DiCamillo. Has twenty-seven or twenty-eight missions and is still flying with what is left of the old crew.

Tail Gunner - G. H. Winn - Flew one mission to Mauken, Manchuria. He was given credit for shooting down one Jap plane. He quit flying after that - nobody knows what was wrong, but I guess he wasn't cut out for the job. He works in Tech supply over here now.

Radio Operator - Cpl. L. F. Czajkowski. Home with thirty-five missions.

(editor: Flight log indicates lots of difficulties with equipment and logistics which caused a high percentage of failures on the first deployment of new airplanes)

July 12, 1944 - Herrington KS to Morrison Field FL - We took off early but returned as inboard cowl flap on No.1 engine would not close. Final take-off at 11:30 A.M. and arrived at Morrison about dark. Weather over Georgia and Florida was rather bad. The airplane operated very well.

July 13 -Morrison Field - the crew was processed, but we did not leave as work was being done on the airplane. Officers have a fine swimming place in a small pool and a nice club. It is a beautiful spot for anyone to be stationed. The movie was overcrowded, so we attended a band concert in the evening. July 14 Work still being done on plane, so the day was spent at the pool and about camp. We couldn't leave the field to go into town. We saw the movie "Home in Indiana" which was colored and very enjoyable. July 15 Morrison Field to Atkinson British Guiana. Overseas pay starts. We left for Atkinson in south America. Trip uneventful and the first over-water flight to foreign soil. Atkinson is in the middle of a very rugged jungle. We carried pigeons on the trip to let out in case we were downed on the water. Lt. Garland, who flew sub-patrol out of here, said they had a big party on Saturday night, but there was no party or anything. biggest event: Crowthier left a cigarette in bed, and it started to burn. We thought we put it out with water.

July 16 Woke up smelling smoke. We didn't put the mattress out (after all) and half the bed was burned away - no one was in it. I took the remains into the shower and soaked it and left it. At 8:00 we took off for Natal, Brazil. The flight took us over dense jungle, across the equator, and over the Amazon River. An A-36 made a forced landing on the beach near the mouth of the Amazon while we were flying over. Natal is in open country and seemed like a very fine base. There is a beautiful P. X. with a good stock. I bought a pair of Natal Boots as did nearly everyone else.

July 17 We pulled a 25 Hr. inspection on plane, finishing about 4:00 P.M., so prepared to take of in the evening. At about 8:00 P.M. we took off on our course for Accra on the African Gold Coast. The flight is to last through the night.

July 18 The flight was going very well. Everyone was paying compliments to the fine airplane when at about 3:30 A.M. No.2 engine started running rough and throwing oil and sparks. No.18 cylinder seemed to be red-hot. We feathered No.2 at once. Allen reported Ascension Island an hour and a half closer than Roberts Field in Africa (this turned out to be a good move since we received $7.00 per day while on the island whereas no Per Diem was paid for time in Africa). A heading was taken for the island. We sighted the very beautiful looking island about 7:00 A.M. Nothing ever looked better (the peculiar part of this whole affair was that there was a rumor going around Clovis that we had ditched off Ascension Island while we were still at Herington -). So when our engine went out, it kind of ran through our minds. At the time the engine went, we were just about equal distant from both South America and Africa.) Being the first 29 to land there the whole island population was out to see us land. There was some doubt about our fitting through a cut in the mountains, but we fit with plenty of room to spare. It was a rather difficult runway to land on as the first half was up hill and the last down hill, and it was rather hard to stop. Checking No.2 engine we found No.18 cylinder nearly blown off, and an engine change was required. The island looks very barren as it is mostly lava with very little vegetation. There is one lone Palm tree in the A.T.C. Area where we stayed.

July 19 - Spent the day at the plane and got our first swim in the ocean. Attended open air theater in the evening. July 20 -the engine arrived from Natal. Sgt. "Swed" came along from Natal to help with the change because of his experience. We had a very good crew helping. T/Sgt. Morris E. Ellison, Cpl. Micheal H. Preis, and Cpl. James E. Dickenson. the crew really worked as I've seldom seen G.I.'s work before. We swam again today, and I got my rear end quite sun-burned picking up shells. July 21-22 - Worked and swam. July 23 - Went to church today, rather nice as the group picked the hymns they wished to sing. July 24 - The ship is ready to go, but No.3 fuel shut-off valve would not stay open. It was quite a job finding it as it was relocated in the wing. We finished up, so are ready to take off in the morning.

July 25 - We took off for Accra, but No.1 cowl flaps would not close, so had to return and repair. On the second start we got about 0 miles out and No.1 blew a cylinder head just as on No.2 before. We returned to island. In the afternoon i had a ride up Green Mountain. It is a paradise on top of the highest mountain on the island. There is nearly every type of vegetation known growing there.

July 26 - we are back to the regular routine, swimming, etc., while awaiting the new engine. We visited English Bay where there were some old pre-war German phosphate mining installations. The phosphate comes from the many birds that live about the island.

July 27 - August 6 - We made several trips up Green Mountain and down into Georgetown. Bob Guthrie and I mad one trip up the mountain on foot. It was quite a workout - one full day. We went up to the very tip where due to the moisture from ever[present clouds, vegetation grows like a tropical jungle and there is a little bamboo grove up there and a fish pond.

Georgetown is very small and English. An occasional ship docks there with supplies. It looks as if it was once an important place, but is now nearly deserted. There is a royal turtle pond there where they are raised for the King's table. On the 6th we slow-timed our second engine and gave the boys who worked on it a ride. They had wanted a ride after the first change, but we didn't slow time, so I was rather glad they had the chance to ride. Everything was OK.

August 7 - We took off for Accra. The trip was very successful and we landed early in the afternoon. Fifty hour inspection is due so we'll be here a couple days. Africa at this point doesn't look much different than any other country. We saw a very funny show "Make Your Own Bed" with Jack Carsen.

August 8 - During the inspection we found a loose valve requiring a cylinder change and also one exhaust stock needed changing. We went down to the beach today. It was very nice and great fun with surf boards. Clark, Allen, and I had our pictures taken by some natives with an old box camera. They came out pretty good. We were paid our per diem today - $174 in all. Sent $125 home. August 9 - Same as yesterday. We are being held up by flooded runways on the airfield in India so the fields all the way back are jammed. August 10 - Nothing to do but swim again. We tried to get into town, but couldn't get off the post. August 11 - We rode to town with an M.P. officer and visited the bazaar where I purchased an ivory necklace. the natives sure do pester you. We saw a parade of natives who had installed a new chief and he was coming to meet the Governor. We attended a very fine Band Concert given by the native police band. August 12 - We again go into town in the afternoon and attended the WAG horse races. I lost six or seven dollars. garland won about fifty on the first race. After the races we went into the Seaview Inn, which is quite a place. It is a very plain looking second floor establishment. It has a bar and a Negro piano player, who could play anything you can hum. we had a bit to eat at the British Y.M.C.A. and were directed to the Accra Club, which was British, but American Officers were invited. We had a fine meal and the music and dancing was good entertainment. We decided to look over the town a little more. We saw a rather poor native show and then went to watch the big New years dance of the natives. They played American jive music and were all dressed in formal gowns. It was a little different from a backwoods native dance.

August 13 - We left Accra after test hopping ship. We arrived a Kano (ed. North Nigeria) about 5:30 P.M. I set Ikle(?) on No2 engine. the meals here a wonderful.

Monday Aug. 14 - We took off about 6:30 for Khartoum in Egyptian Sudan and arrived without mishap. We expect to be held up here by flooded runways in India. We met Lt. Grode of my class at Yale. He is stationed here. There isn’t much to do here. We swam in a little pool they have here. We saw our first camel caravan going up the road to Cairo.

Wed. August 16 - We took a walk down to the Nile. It was just a plain muddy river and no where near as romantic as you would picture it. Nothing much else happened. We went to the movie expecting to see Holiday Inn but were a little disappointed in finding it Paris after Midnight.

Thur, Aug 17 -We left Khartoum for Aden in Arabia. We crossed over the Red Sea enroute. This sure is a hot dry place. They have electric fans in the BOQs.

Fri. Aug. 18 - We took off for Morira (?) Island. It is about the bleakest and hottest looking place I’ve seen. It belongs to the British. We did get to take a swim, in the ocean so it wasn’t so bad.

Sat. Aug. 19 - We worked on the plane until noon. Three planes were cleared to Karachi India but we were not included. We want to get there for our mail. Gay’s crew lost a life raft on take-off which damaged the elevator so we took off at about 2:00 pm in their place, arriving at Karachi about dusk. The place was jammed with planes and there were no quarters so we slept at the plane. Boy! What a night. I slept fairly well out in the wing though.

Sun. Aug. 20 - We went to town for mail the first thing in the morning. It was wonderful about 30 letters. We drew equipment such as mosquito bars, pup tents. Etc. We gave the plane an inspection in the afternoon and found that it needed a new collector ring on the right side of No. 3 engine. We started pulling it apart.

Mon. Aug. 21 - Guthrie and I spent the day working on the engine. We took the collector ring over to an old German dirigible hanger used by the sub-depot for welding.

Tues. Aug. 22 - We are still working on the plane. Crowther got a little sick and they took him to the hospital.

Wed. Aug. 23 - We finished up the airplane today. Allen took sick and went to the hospital.

Thurs. Aug. 24 - Clark and I visited Allen and then went into town where we rented bicycles and looked the place over. It is a big town but smells.

Fri. Aug. 25 - Crowther is out of the hospital and OK. We are leaving in the morning so Allen will have to catch up later. Auer is going to navigate for us.

Sat. Aug. 26 - We left for the 462nd group at Paridoba (?). We arrived in the afternoon. It was wet and uninviting as could be. The BOQ arrangement was very poor. We spent the evening at their club which was a very beautiful place. It was a pitch black night and I walked into a four foot deep slit trench on my way back to the BOQ.

Sun. Aug. 27 - Had to reload plane and move down to the 468 Bomb Group where we arrived at noon. We were assigned to the 792 bdgn. Ben Williams is in the same BOQ and we had a good time talking over old times. This is a pretty nice place and I think we will like it.

Mon. Aug. 28 - Went to meet the gears today; otherwise not much doing.

Clark and I went into town with Ben this evening. It is quite a place and has a market just like you’d picture in India.

Tues. Aug. 29 -We were briefed on the Hump trip today.

Wed. Aug. 30 - We are second crew on the ship we brought over. Our chief duty is to help wash it I guess.

Thurs. Aug. 31- Visit town now and then and don’t do much else besides work on the plane.

Fri. Sept. 1 - We are getting a stripped down B-29 tanker which our crew will fly. It needs quite a bit of work but we’ll get it in shape soon.

Sept. 2 - 8 - We spent our time getting the tanker in shape. Also a bicycle I bought. It cost 100 rupees. I bought it at night and found it in pretty sad shape in the daylight. Both are in good shape now.

Sat. Sept 9 - We made our first Hump trip with Major MacPherson and Lt. Grey. It was cloudy all the way. About half way over we lost No 2 engine, but we were plenty high so we made it ok with the load.

The Chinese are a very happy lot with their Ding How’s and thumbs-up sign. No 2 had swallowed a valve so needed changing. We are to sleep in tents and it is very cold.

Sun. Sept. 10 We worked on the engine all day and attended church and a service in the evening.

Mon. Sept. 11 We finished engine change in deep mud so will be ready to slow (?) time in the morning.

Tues. Sept. 12 Plane test hopped ok so returned to India. Had my first look at the mountains, but it was still quite cloudy.

Wed. Sept. 13 - Checked over airplane. We had to remove the leading edge of wing between No 1 and No 2 which was bent in from striking a bird in flight.

Thurs. Sept. 14 - We arose at 4:00 am for a Hump Trip. We found gas leaking from No 1 fuel well so spent the day removing covers and tightening connections.

Fri. Sept. 15 - The ship is not quite ready. We had a very good lecture on escape and evasion in the LoLo country by Capt. Mullins who had spent quite a good deal of time there.

Sat. Sept. 16 - We took off for a trip over the Hump with Capt. Parsons. It was cloudy and icing so we had to climb to 27,000 feet. We degased (?) but didn’t make the 4:00 pm deadline for the return trip so we had to remain over night.

In the evening Garland and I went into the little Chinese town with an old friend of his – Capt. Bar. He was quite a bag of wind and gave us his own idea of the dope on the Chinese gov’t., where the 20th Bomber Command was going to move, etc.

Sun. Sept. 17 - The return trip was uneventful. It was cloudy all day and once DiCamillo reported flak or pieces of the airplane hitting the horizontal stabilizer, but it was only pieces of ice breaking off the wing.

Mon. Sept. 18 - We arose at 3:45 am for the trip over the Hump. No 3 engine was cutting out on the Rt. Mag. So we spent the day changing the plugs. It was ok on run-up so we will leave tomorrow.

Tues. Sept. 19 We flew the Hump at 18,000 feet today. The interior lights were out so we had them fixed, but Capt. Clark managed to stall until after 4:00 pm so we had to stay overnight. Some of the boys sell material on the black market in China. The Chinese gov’t. is a bit unstable due to inflation and I guess these fellows help to make it that way.

Crowther, Garland and I went into town. At the Green Village Café there were three Chinese girls who represented a kind of Chinese USO which offers girls for GI dances etc. We also stopped at the ABC Café which is run by a Chinese named Smith who is a very brilliant civil engineer. We met a couple of our boys in town so the whole crew was out giving it the once-over.

Wed. Sept. 20 - The return trip was uneventful except that I nearly thought one engine was going to pieces when Winn shot the ammo out of the tail guns without warning us.

A letter came from Pa today which is quite an event.

Thurs. Sept. 21 - This was to be an easy day as H.G. Clark was to take our plane over the Hump but he didn’t get off. He claimed four runaway props and excessive manifold pressure in No 4 engine. They had changed all gov. I found waste gates stuck shut and asked to have pressurtial (?) checked. Late in the day we were told that we would make another Hump trip in the morning.

Fri. Sept. 22 - We were at the plane at 5:00 am but found they had changed 4 prop gov. on No 4 engine and hadn’t toughed pressurtial. We had it changed and everything was ok. A beautiful trip over.

Sat. Sept. 23 - The mountains were visible all the way home so it was a very enjoyable trip. We were informed upon our return that we were to go to Kalicundi to fly C-109’s.

Sun. Sept. 24 - We flew for 2 hours in “Irwin’s Wheelbarrow”, an old B-29 to get Clark checked out. We moved to K.K. in the afternoon by truck. It was only about 7 miles away. Clark and I went to evening church in town. There were lizards running around on the walls which kept us very entertained. The minister is American – Mr. Brush. Though we didn’t stay, they have open house after the service.

Thomas M Holloway