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APO 6 50 , c/ o Pb+i OUTLI NE HI STORY Co

Ne w Yo rk , N. Y. J ul y 19 4 4 T C c

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SUBJ E CT : Ri s t o r i c a l Ke c o r d e . r;

TO : Comman di ng Ge n e r a l ,j we l f t h Ai r Fo r c e ,

Th r oug h Chann e l eAt t e n t i o n - Hi s t o r i a n .

1

1.

Ou t l i n e Hi s t o r y o f t h e 4 8 9 t h Ho mb a r dme n t 8 qu a d r o n ( i )

for the period of 1 July 1944 to 31 July 1944.

a .Preeent esignation : 489th Hombardment Squadron ( ).

b.Changes in organization .( 1 ) $t a f f of f i c e r .( a ) l at . Lt . Guy v e rg e r a s s i gn e d t o s qua dr on

.as Ad utant , reheiving Capt. Anderaon.

_c . St r e ng t h f or mon t h of J ul y .(1) At beginning .( a ) 89 of f i c e r e .(b ) 368 enl i s t ed rnen . _ c• ( 2 ) Net de creaee `

° .t a ) ? of f i c e r e . .(b ) Z e n l i s t e d maxi . 3 } At end.4a ) 89 ot f i c e r e .(b) 363 enllsted men .

d . 3t a t i on( 1 ) Al e s an L/ G

,Cor Bi c a .( a ) Ar r i v e d : 19 Ap r i l 1 94 4 .(b) Departed : ----

g ,l ovements of unit or echelon.( 1 } A1on e .

,-: ;,f , Ca mp a i g n a . "J

( 1 ) I t a l i an . ;' ( 2 ) Fr om Se pt emb e r 1 94 3 t o ( e t i l l i n p r og r e s a)

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Operations. ( 1 ) I t a l i an Camp a i gn . .- o( 2 ) 5 t r at e g i c b omb i ng of t a rg e t s i n t he Fl or e n c e

and Po Ri v e r v al l e y a r e e.s .( 3 ) Nunb e r of mi s e i on s f o r p e r i od : 2 5 .Numb e r of Eo r t i e s f o r pe r i od : 20 2 .( 4 ) Re s ul t s ot t h e mo s t i mp or t an t mi e s i on e . ,( a ) on 3 J ul y 12 pl an e s of t hi e e auadr on we r es en t t o d e 3t r oy a f u e l dump f ou r mi l e s n or t h ot Fe r r a r a ,

I t y .Incendi ries and high explosivea were flung on the target; the cen-,t r a.l g r oup of f ue l t an k a wa s c ov e r ed by t h e p at t e rn an d maay t i r e swe r e s t a r t e d .

Ack - a ck wa 8 h e a vy , i n t en s e , and a c c ur a t e ; a l l t we l v eplanes were holed, and T/5gt.

E, V, Hunt was eeriously in,

ured in the leg. (b) On 12 July 18 crews of the squadron were

briefed to bomb the R,x. bridge at Ferrara,

Italy but bad weathern e c e s s i t at e d t hat t h e y bomb t h e al t e rna t e , t h e R.

, b r i dg e a t

Chiavari,Italy.

The target wae misaed, but the near-by marehall-i ng y ar d e re r e h i t .

Lt . l i t ch e l l a pl ne d e v e l op e d e ng i n e t r o ub l e u s t b cf o r e r e a chi ng t h e p r i ma r y t a r g e t , and sho r t l y t he r ®af t e r i twa.e n e c e e sa r y f o r hi m t o di t c h t h e pl an e .

T/ Sg t . R.E

. Wi n um,

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THIS PAGE DECLASSIFIED IAW E0 12958

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OUTLI i 1E HI STORYPag e 2 -

r adi o op e r a t o r , an d g/ Sg t . W.

E,

a cRi t c h i e , t a i l g unn e r , pa r a -c hu t e d f r om t h e p l ane b e f or e i t wa s br oug h t d own on t h e wa t e r ;with the exception of these tWO men , the crew Was rescued and wasr e t ur n e d t o t h e f i e l d t he saII e da y . c ) On 12 J u l y 1 p l an e of t h i s s quRdr on f l e wa hoto mission in con unction with the missian noted in (b)

,immediately above,As the plen e approached the Inltial Point to

turn into the nhoto run , it we,a attacked by 16 FW 190 8.Our

gu nn e r s ma y hav e sh ot d wn on e e n emy ai r c r af t .( d ) On 14_J u l y 12 i t c h e 1 1 s of t h i s aquad r on

went for targete in orthern ltaly.The 2nd box bombed the pri-

mary target, a R ,R, a,n

d road bridge ; direct hits were scored.En emy ai r c r a f t a t t a ck e d otir f o r ma t i on an d ou r g un r e r s a c c oun t edf o r on e de s t r oy e d an d t wo p r ob ab l y de s t r oy e d .

E. B, Fe t he r s t on

and P .E

,Wa l t e r s ,

S/ Sg t , g unn e r s , we r e s e r i o u al y i n ur e d by f l ak , . Comma nd Of f i c e r s on i mp or t an t mi s s i on e .( 1 ) I , or Leonard Eauf mann,

J r . , f l y i ng a s c t i ngCommand Pi l ot on mi s si on t o R.

R, and hi ghway bri dg e at Ferrara ,Italy, on 13

ul . •( 2

ia o r Le on a r d Eau f mann ,

J r . , f l y i ng a s Ac t i ngCo an d Pi l o t , on mi s s i on t o Ce r vo R

,K

, b r l d.g e ,

l t a l y , on 2 5July ,

,.Losses in action.( 1 ) ii s ei on t o f u e l dump 4 m .l e s no r t h o f r e r r ar g ,Italy , on 3 July. .( a Se r i ou s l y woun de d ,

, .

T/Sgt.E. V . Hunt.

( 2 ) l . s s i on t o R,

R, b r i c e a t Ch i a va r i ,

I t a l y , on12 J u l y , ( a ) i s s i ng . , T/Sgt. H. E. Win, um.

_2, 3/Sgt, , H, SacRitchie.

( 3 ) ti s s i on t o f ue l dump at (I - 625459 ), I t al y , on

14 July._

a ) 5 e r i ou s l y rounde d , . S/Sgt. E, B, Fetherston, , S/ Sg t , P , E, 81 1.t er s ,1 ,

Personnel who distinguished themselves in action .( 1 ) i r ltitee dal .( a ) J ohn F.

Ha s t i ng ,Capt . , na v i a t or .4b ) Ray r o nd L,

Fi t z g e r al d , l e t ,

t . , p i l o t .l c ) h N. Le t s i n e r l s t .Lt , bo mba r d i e r .P g , ,(d J a ck G. a i r , l s t .

Lt . , pi l o t .( e

i .cha e l J, St al l on e l at Lt i l o tP -( f ) Don al d n

, VVhi t c omb ,

l s t .Lt .

, bo mb a r di e r .( g ) Fr e d Br en t 2nd . Lt . , b or b a r di e r .(h ) Robe rt , 'rench , l st . Lt . , bombardi er .( i Wal s t on S ,

J on e s , 2n d Lt . , p i l ot . ( Joeeph arzulla , 2nd Lt., bombardier.(k HoRard Taylor, 2nd.

t., pilot.(1 Baxter Thomag, lst.Lt, pilot.(m) Beonard Schwartz, lst.

t., bombardier.(n ) uell 0 , iltshire 2nd Lt., pilot.( o ) Ern e s t B , R,i ddl e ,

/ Sg t . , gunn e r .

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OUTLINE HISTORYPa,ge 3 -

(p) Louis C. ienstenz, S/S t., gunner.

(2} Fourth Cluater.( a ) Paul . Gal e , l et Lt . , navi ga t or .

_k . Nuabe r of phot ograph e be i ng submi t t ed.( 1 ) None .

2. Inclosed are WAR DIARY, 489th Hombardment Jquadron ( i),for the period 1 July 1944 to 31 July 1944.For the Commanding Officer :

N ,

a . , .

C.Comraan di ng .1 Incl: iar Di ary .

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WAR DI ARY

489 t h Romb a r dmen t gqua dr on (LI) STATI ON Al e san L/ G, Cor si ca

on t h of J u i y 1944

DAY EVENTS

1 - Half of 1944 Ss out of the way.It was an eventtul eix monthe

f o r t h e Al l i e d ca u s e ; wi t h i n t ha t p e r i od of t i me we e aw t h e Ge r man sp u s h e d c l o s e r t o t h e u l t i ma t e di s a s t e r wh i c h t he y a r e eu r e t o e u f -f e r . Thie morning our planes attacked a rail bridge in the Florencearea ; it is doubtPul if the target was deatroyed.The movie ahowing this evening is "Up in Arms,

" a hilarioue muei-c a l i n t e c hn i c o l o r .2 - we a r e n o t a l l oR i n o t h e en emy a ny r e s p i t e f r on vu r i n c e s s a n tha mme r i ng . He i s r e t r e a t i ng t o Nor t h e r n l t a l y i n g r ea t h .s

t e , an dwe a r e h a,mp e r i ng t h a t r e t r e a t u s t a s mu ch a s p o e s i b l e b y de et r oy -i ng h i e b r i d ; e B, h i s v i a d u c t s , h i e ma r sh a l l i n g ya r d s , a n d h i s r oa d un c t i on s o v e r wh i ch h e mu s t mov e . Wi t h c omp l e t e a i r eup e r i o r i t y ,Re a r e me.

k i n g h i s .:,o s i t i on i n j t a l y v e r y t en u ou s . ̀ od a y we di r e c t -

e d ou r e f f o r t s t owa r d s a r a i l r oa d v i a du c t a t Do r g o S . Lo r e n z o , s c o r -i n g p o s s i b l e h i t e on t h e we s t a pp r e a c h . 1 s a ua d r on s a r e r un n i ng t r a n s i t i on f l i h t 8 f o r n i g h t mi s s i on e .Ve r y -sh o r t l y we eh a l l be h i t t i n$ J e r r y b y n i g h t a s we l l a s b y da,y .'j 'r.l s mor n i ng Lt . Ri t t en h ou s e ,

Op e r a t i on s f f i c e r , l e f t f o r t heSt a t e s on d e t a ch e d s e r v i c e .He wi l l r e o i n u s l e.

t e r t h i s au mme r .Th e r e ha s b e en a r e c e n t i mp r ove me n t i n ou r f o od , t he r e b e i n g mo r eP r e sh me a t a n d b ut t e r . F o od h a s be en c on s i s t e n t l y p o or s i n c e ou ra r r i v a l on t h e i s l a nd . Thu s axly c h an g e f or t h e b e t t e r , h owe ve r sma.

l li t may b e , i a we l c o me .Th e of f i ce r a h a ve mov e d i f t o t h e i r n e w, r u s t i c me s e ha l l wh i c hthey built atop the hill.

It appears that this attractive club housei a d e s t i n e d t o b e c ome a p op ul a r r e n 3 e z v ou s f o r d i g n i t a t l e s of t h eGr oup an d f o r c e l e b r i t i e s .3 - Although the KrAUts no longer flank this isldnd on the east, nev-e r t h e l e a s t h e y a t i l l c on s t i t u t e a da ng e r ou s men a c e t o u s . Ti e r e a a i non l y a f e w mi n u t e s f l y i n g t

,i me t r o n e n e my a i r p l ,n e f i e l d s i n No r t h -e r n I t a l y an d i n So u t h e r n r r an c e . La s t n i gh t we we r e r emi nd e d o t u s t

ho r close we atill remain to the war.5hortly after midnight we were

a wa k e n e d b y t he b oom o f b i b s un s , a n d a b ov e t h i s r e en un d i n g n oi s ec ou l d b e h e a r d t h e un s yn c r on i z e d t h r ob of t wi n - en g i n e Ge r ma n f i g h t e r -b omb e r 8 , i n t e r r up t e d f r e q ue n t l y by t h e r a p i d f i r e of ma c h i n e g un a .Ev e r y on e wP S a wa k e n e d b y t he c ommo t i on an d e x p e c t e d a n a t t a ck on t h efield momentarily, but none came. Apparently the engagement wae an a v a l on e n ot f a r o f f s h o r e .Toda.y we s t r u ck a t a f u e l du mp f o u r mi l e 9 n o r t h o f r e r r a r a ,

I t a l y .The target was well covered with demolition and incPndiary qombs, butt h e Gr oup pa i d d e a r l y f o r t h e a t t a ck . Th e 48 8t h 5qu a d r on l o s t ap l a.n e t o f l ak .

Ca pt a i n Cr o s sma n , t h e Gr oup ' s Eng 3l s h AI+ , we n t d ownwi t h t h e p l a n e . Ev e r y on e of ou r p l ail e s we r e h ol e d , a nd T Sg t , Hun t ,r a d i o - g unn e r , wa e s e r i ou s l y i n u r e d i n t he l e g .4 - Ano t h e r 4 t h of J u l y ap en t i n t h e o v e r s e a s s e r v i c e .

Fo r u s i t wa sn ot h i ng n o r e t h an a n ot h e r wo r k d e,y , b u t n ot a a i f f i cu l t on e , b e c a u s et h e r e wa e a a t a n d - do wn . Un d e r wh a t c i r c u ns t a n c e a Lh a l l we s p e n d t he

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WAR DI AAY489tb Hombardment Squadron ( i Page 21 on t h o f J a l y 194 4

DAY EYENTS

n e x t I n d e p e n d e n c e Da y ? Now we k n orv t h e a n ewe r t o t h e s a me qu e et i onwh i c h tive p o i s ed u st on e y e a r ag o t od a y .The l a t e s t B8 C ne vrs . Th e Ru s s i an s h ave cs.p t u r e d i n sk , cap i t olof Whi t e Ru s si a . They ha ve a l r e ady pu shed spe a r he a ds e i ght y ra .l e st o t h e s ou t hwe s t a l a ng t he ma i n r a i l wa y wh i c h r un e 2'r om i n sk t o c en -t r a l P ol a n d .

I n No r cia,n d y t h e Qme r i c an f or c e s h a v e s t a.r t e d a n e r d r i v eon t l-i e we s t e r n s i d e of t he Ch e r b our g P e n l i su l a a g a i n s t s t u b b or n Ge r -man r e e i st a n c e . I n I t a l y F r en ch t r oop s of t h e 5 t h Ar my ha v e o c c up i e dt h e c i t y of Si e nn a .

o r e t ha n f i v e h un d r e d Ame r i c a n b o mb e r s we r e ou tag ain yeeterday pounding oil target$ in Hungary , Ruman ia, and Yugo-s l a v l a .

I n t h e 5 ou t hwe s t P a c i f i c Ame r i c an t r o op s h a ve l an d e d on Noe m-f o o r I s l a n d i n t h e Ge e l v i nk a y a.r e a o f Du t c h l e w Gui n e a a n d h a v e a l -r e a dy c a p t u r e d on e of t h e a i r f i e l d s .

5 - Once again I must report that we had a stand-down all day.In the

a f t e r n o on man y of t h e b o y e wen t t o t h e b e a ch , wh i ch i s on e oft h e mo s th e a l t rif u l me an s of r e c r e a,t i on we h a v e .6 - Today this squadron eompleted its 250th combat mission .

Eighteeno P ou r p l an e e f l e w t o t h e P o Va l l e y a.n

d un l oa d e d 10 00 p oun d e r s on ar a i l b r i dg e n o r t h we s t of t h e c i t y of r a r ma . Ei g h t y - t wo p e r c e n t oft h e b omb s f e l l wi t h i n t h e t a r g e t a r e a , ma k i n g t h i s a h i g h l y su c c e s s f u lmi s ai on .

7 - La t e l a s t n i gh t a s t a n d- d own wa s d e c l a r e d . Ta ki n g a dv a nt a g e oft h i s f r e e t i cne , man y of t h e b oy e a r e s l e ep i n g , ma n y mo r e a r e i n a et i af o r t he a f t e r n o on , sn d ma n y a r e a t t h e b e a c h .Th®r e i s a f e e l i ng a mong u s t ha t t h e p r e a e n t l o c a t i on i e v e r y mu chlike a suu er resort. With the beach , the mountains, and the idealwe a t h e r , a nd a l i t t l e i ma g i n a t i on , yo u ar e wa r r a n t e d i n c a l l i ng t h i s ust that. And compRred with what We had a year ago,

Coraica ie ap ax a d i s e . Na t u r a l l y we d o n ot en oy t h e g a y an d h a p p y a i r of va c a -t i on i s t s , bu t c on s i d e r i ng vrha t o ur l o t mi g h t be , we ruu s t b e t h a r f u lt o be wh e r e we s.r e - an d t h i s i n sp i t e of ma y n ot s o a t t r a c t i v e f e a t u r e sof t h e l oc a t i on .8 - Th i s e v e n i n g t h e En l i s t e d aen ' e Cl ub op e n e d wi t h I t a l i a n - p u r c h s.s e dl i c u o r a va i l a b l e i n c ua n t i t y . Th e a f f a i r wa s n o i sy bu t o r a e r l y . Att h e e a me t i me t h e Of f i c e r s ' Cl ub h a d i t s of f i c i a l op en i ng wh i c h wa sc e l e b r at e d mo r e qu i e t l y b u t wi t h u s t a s mu c h en t h u s i a em.9 - At t we l v e o ' c l o ck t h e s t a n d- d o vm f or t h e da y b e c a me oPP i c i a l . Attao this morning we flew another night practice mission .

Soon we shallb e s t r i k i n g a t t h e e n e my by n i o h t .He a v y t riun d e r s h owe r e h a v e c on t i n u e d t h r o u h ou t t h e a f t e r n oon a n dt h e e ve n i n g . Un l i k e No r t h Af r i ca i n t h e aum, e r s e a s on , t h e we a t h e ris not monotonously good ; at frequent intervals cooling rains drencht h e c oun t r y s i d e .Tod a y on e o f ou r p l a n e s l ef t f o r Ca i r o , a b o u t 17 00 a i r mi l e s di s -tan t, with a load of inen who will en,

oy reet and recreation at thishug e Af r i c an me t r op ol i s . Ido p l a c e i n t h e e d i t e r r an e a n a,r e a i s t o of a r a Na y f o r o u r p l a n e s . Al n o s t e v e r y da y we h ve a t l e a s t on e p l ,3.n eon a c r o s s - c oun t r y t o Af r i c a , Si c i l y , o r I t a l y , b o un d on p l e a e u r e o rbu e i n e s e .

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WAR D 4 69 t h Bomb a r dme n t 5a_

ua dro n ( i) Pa g e 3l on t h of J ul y

i

DAY EVEI tT3

1 0 - Ou r b omb e r e we r e ov e r t h e d/ Y a t Rov i g o i n t h e Ve ni ce a r ea . Atthe time of this notation the photograph s have not been •developed,bu t i n t e r r og a t i on di s c l o s e d t h at t h e mi s s i on wa s p r ob abl y eu c c e s s f ul .Th e l at e s t B3 C n e we f r om London r e v e al e t ha t Ca en ,

No r ms n dT, wa s1 iberated by United Kingdom and Canadian troops.

The G®rmana still holdthe suburb on the further bank.

11 - Today we ran two missione; neither one was auccessful.Fo r di nne r we f e a s t e d on f r e eh b e e f , f r e sh p o t a t o e s an d v ®o e t ab l l s ,f r e s h but t e r , an d pu ddi ng . .At s upp e r we en o ye d s t e ak an d mo r e f r e ehvegetables. Beer wae rationed and many of us drank it with our meal.We a r e s e e i ng r e au l t s f r om t h e f our d ol l a r s whi c h we r e c ent l y c on t r i bu t _ed to a meee fund that has been set up to augment our regular e uarter-ma s t e r r at i on e .

Th e p r e aen t sup p l y of f o od , whi ch i n + l ude d t h r e e t hou -s an d f r e ah e gg e , wa $ pur c h a s e d a t Cat an i a . We i nt en d e e ndi ng a pl an et he r e r e gu l a r l y .1 2 - Th i s mor n i nJ we se n t on e p1 An e a l o ng wi t h a f or ma.t i on of o t he rplanea Prom the Group.

Tt carried a full crew and two photographerswho photographed the bombing . Juat before reaching the tdrget, ourp l a,cl e , wh i c h wa s t a i l i ng t he f o r ma t i o n , vra e at t a ck e d b y s i ct e en e nemyf i g ht e r a . a t l e a s t on e of t h e f i g h t e r s wa 8 eho t d own b y ou r wa i s t an dt u r r e t g unne r s .I n t h e af t e r n o on e i gh t e e n pl ane s f r om t he s qu adr on f l e w t o t heVen i c e a r e a of i t a l y t o s t r i k e at a r a i l r oad b r i dg e a t Chi a va r i . Po ae-l bl e h i t s we r e made on t he b r i dg e . Sho r t l y b e f o r e r e a c hi ng t he t u e t ,Lt. itchell s plane developed left en ine trouble. He proceeded tot he t a rg e t an d t he b omba r di e r dr opp e d t he b oma s . J u s t a f t e r t u r n i ngof f t he b omb r un , t he r i g h t e ng i n e f a i l e d .

Th e l e f t e ng i ne c on t i nue dt o mi s s b s ,

dl y , f i n a l l y ma.k i ng i t n e c e s e ar y f o r t he p i l ot t o di t c h t hepl an e at s e a .

Fi v e ne mbe r s of t he c r e w of s e v en g o t ou t be f or e t heplane sank. They climoed into their raft which the plane carried andun doubt e dl y wi l l b e pi ck e d up b y t h e Ai r Se a e gc ue Co mmand . Al l oft he s e e v®n t e l e a di ng up t o t h e di t ch i ng we r e ob ae r ve d b y t h e c r e rr ofone oP ou r pl an e s wh i ch c i r c l e d t he s t r i ck e n men .1 3 - Oc c a s i on a l l y we hav e an oppo r t un i t y of v i ai t i ng A a e c i o ab out110 milee distant by road.

Going by way of Ghisonaccia and ivario,

y ou f o l l ow a s hi mme r i ng b and of s e a f o r f or t y o r f i f t y mi l e s . Th®nbegins the long elimb through the precipitoua nountain range which®traddles the isl8nd.

Sky-embracing an d eerene, they preeent an un-f or g e t ab l e pi e t ur e of ,

t ur e a t i t 8 b e at . The n a r r ow, de vi ou s r o adc a r r i e d u s t h r ough s we e t - e c en t e d p i n e f o r e s t s wh i ch b l ,a k e t e d v a s ta r e a e of t h i s r i s i ng and f a l l i ng l and .

Vi et a s of b r e a t h - t ak i ng be aut yun f o l de d wi t h e v e r y t urn of t h® r oad , whi ch o c ca e l ona l l y c a r r i e d u st h r ou g h qu i e t , wi n d awe p t moun t a i n v i l l ag e s t ha t a r e e x i s t i ng i n a wo r l d apa r t f r om u s .Th e Fe r r a ra r ai l r o ad b r i dg e wa s ag ai n t h e t ar g e t . Ou r s e c on d boxd ro ppe d a c c o s s t he t r a c k a , p o s s i bl y c r a t e r i ng t h e m.

14 - U - Du r i ng t hi s pe r i od we h av e b e e n un u s ual l y a c t f v e , s t r i k i ng ha r dan d relentlessly at targets in Northern Ztaly.On t h e e 4 e n i ng of t h e 19 t h Lt . Bu l k e l y r e ,

o i n e d t he s qua dr on a,f -t e r s pe ndi ng t h i r t y d ay s a t h ome .

He i s t n e Li r s t o n e t o r e t ur n und e rt h e r ot at i on p l an p ut i :i t o e

f e c t a numb e r of we e k s a6 o .

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YAR DI ARY469th Bombardment Souadron ( i) Page 4

onth of July

DAY EVE JT3

On the 20th Sot.Arthur Pape of Gperations and Cpl.

Bobby Rein-hol d of t h e P ar a c hut e Depa r t me n t l e f t f o r t h e ' t a t e s .

2 1 - Gr e a t e v e n t s a r e hap pe n i ng al l o v e r t he wo r l d , e ve n t s whi c h a r eaha pi ng t he f ut ur e co ur s e o f t h e wa r .

n t h e ot h e r s i d e of t h e wo r l din Japan there hae been a shake-up in the ar Cabinet. On the 18th oft h e mon t h Gen e r a l Hi de k i To,

o wa s r e no ve d a s Ch i e f of t he J apan e s e I r p e r i a l Ge n e r al s t af f . The re a s on ; i v e n f o r t hi e ch an e wa s t he r e c en tf av o r ab l e t u rn of e v e nt s f o r t h e Al l i e s i n t h e Cen t r a l an d Sou t h we s tPa c i f i c .Yesterday in ermAny an Rttempt was made to aseinate Hitler andsome of his close henchmen.

Hitler was only slightly in, ured ,

loassure the people that he is still alive, he s oae to them last ni;ht.l e mb e r s o f t r̀le mi l i t a r y c l i q_

u e t ns,t at t e mp t e d t hi s un au c c e s sf ul a s s i n-a t i on h av e a l r e ady b e e n ah ot .

Wi t h i n t h e p a st f e «r day s Anc ona and Leg ho rn , i mpo r t ant I t a l i anp o r t s , ha v e f a l l e n t o t he Al l i e s .

The Ru s s i an s a r e a dv an c i ng a t a p a c eunp r e c ed e n t e d e v en f o r t h e m. I n iJo rmand y ou r t r oop g a r e adv an c i ng a-g a i n s t e t i f f e n emy r s i s t an c e .The r e ha s be en a s t an d- d own a l l da y .

Thi s s t at u s c an p xob ab l yb e a t t r i b ut e d t o un f av o r ab l e we a t he r c onci i t i on s i n No r t he rn l t a l y ..2 2 - The Ao n c o Sc r i v i a b r i dg e i n l t a l y wa s e f f e c t i v e l y bor b e d b y p l a,n e sof t hi e r oup .

Tak i ng of f l a t e i n t he a f t e r rio on , our b oy s we .r e o ve rt h e t a rg e t at 6 :2 7 .

Ne i t h e r e n emy a i r c r af t n o r a ck - a c k w; s e n c oun t e r e d ,On t he wa y ba ck a n umb e r of ob s e r v a t i on s we r e made c on c e rn i.ng e n e myrailroad traffic, shipping , the condltion of bridges, airdromES, andmo t o r t r an s po r t mov e me nt s .23 - 26 - During this period we have been operating to the fullestpo s s i b l e de g r e e and t he r e ha 8 b e en n o t i me av ai l abl e f or any t hi ngbu t wo rk .

iCant a i n Ha,s t i ng a l e f t f or t he 5 t a t e s on Tue s day . J u s t r e c e nt l y

a n e w Ad,jut an t ,

Lt .Guy v e r g e r , wa s a s s i 6 n ed t o t he s qu .

d r on ; h e r e -places Captain Anderson , who now is in charoe of squadron Supply andt h e o t o r P oo l . The ot h e r da y Capt a i n s c o t t of ou r Commun i ca t i on sSe c t i on an d Lt , Cu t l e r , f o r me r l y i n c h a r r e of supp l y an d t r axl sp o r t a-t i on , we r e i n ,

u r e d s e r i ou s l y i n a e ep a c c i d e n t .

2? - 2 9 - an t h e 2 ?t h e i x li t ch e l l s of t h i s eQUa dr on , wi t h ot he r p l an e sof t he Gr oup , s t r ue k a t a r oa d b r i dg e i n Nor t h e r n I t a l y , de s t r o y i ng i tc omp l e t e l y .At n o on t h e 'Gr oup ( and a l l t h e ot h e r Gr o up s an d f o r c e s on t rle i s l andof Co r s i c a ) wa $ a l e r t e d f or a p o s s i b l e i nv a s i on b y t h e en e my f r o m t h eair and the sea. Higher Allied Intelligence has acquired certain know-l e c' g e whi c h i nd i c a t e s t he i m ni ne ne e. of a l ar g e e c al e a t t ac k f r o m 5 ou t h -e rn Fr an c e o r Yro m No r t h e r n l t a l y . '

30 - 3 1 - S i n c e t he 2 7 t h we hav e b e en on a et and- do wn . The dan g e r ofan i nv a s i on o f t he i s l an d s t i l l r e ma i n s . F i g ht e r pl an e a ra c e b a c k an df o r t h ove r t h e i s l and da y and ni gh t . YJe con t i nu e t o c a r r y g un s a ndg a s ma sk s an d r e ma i n al e r t e d f o r any e me r g en c y .

, J .., Y.WALTER F . GREiTE, . o . , A. C.WFG/ wPg •

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