Diary - October 1, 1943

DIARY - Friday, October 1, 1943.
Our 2nd Bomb Group went on their first mission over Germany today. The target was the Messerschmitt plant at Augsburg. This would be a maximum range mission for the B-17’s - even with the “Tokyo” wing tanks installed. Refueling on the return trip would be available in Sardinia.
The Group had to return, before they got to the target, because of bad weather. The three B-24 Groups stationed here also flew a mission. Their target was an aircraft factory at Wiener-Neustadt, near Vienna. They had a very rough mission - losing 14 aircraft, and having 52 planes damaged by flak and fighters. The remainder of the B-24’s returned to England, after the raid.
Redbird, and I, stayed at the Transatlantic Hotel in Tunis last night. We saw the movie “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”. Tonight, we saw the movie “Nice Girl”, and had some ice cream afterwards. We had supper back at the field. Then, we went back into town. We went up to Burt’s room at the Claridge and shot the bull. (we all are waiting for our orders returning us to the States.) We stayed in town tonight.

DIARY

DIARY - Monday, September 27, 1943.
Soupy ground this morning - after last night's rain. I turned- in my equipment to Supply, and then sorted through my “junk”.

Tuesday, September 28, 1943.
I went in to Tunis this afternoon.

Wednesday, September 29, 1943.
I went in to Tunis this afternoon (about 18 miles). I saw a stage show. Then, tonight Les, Redbird and I saw Johannesen at the Red Cross. Also, saw “Ziegfield Girl."

September 26, 1943.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1943.
Doc Hall, our Flight Surgeon, gave me a physical this morning. Then,
I went to 12 o’clock mass over at Group. The Catholic Chaplain that presided, came down with the 378th Group of B-24’s from England. He’s from Cincinnati. Afterwards, I went in to La Goulette ,with Jack, Redbird and Hank.
We went swimming in the Mediterranean, and then had a feast of : American hot dogs, pickles, doughnuts and beer. The orchestra played some jive to lighten things up.
Then we came back to Base, and went to the show at Group. We saw Abbott and Costello in “Who Done It?”. During the show, we got rained out - the first “dew” in a long time over here.

AGING SUMMIT - 2 - (Conclusion).

SUMMIT-2.
WHEN ROLES REVERSE.
PANEL:
Peggy Phelps - Yolo Adult Day Health Center.
Will Tift - Area 4 Agency on Aging.
Ted Puntillo - Yolo County Veterans’ Service Officer.
Paul Driver Shimada - Yolo County Commission on Aging.
Veterans’ Administration -
They have the second largest federal budget, second to the Defense Department. Their services include Medical; Compensation and Burial. Local veterans have free burial in the Dixon Military Cemetery.
The Department has 100,000 employees.
The veterans cost for prescription drugs is limited to $8 a month for each prescription. For service-connected hearing and sight loss, the veteran can receive free hearing aids and glasses.
The V.A. will help to pay for assisted living - dependent on income.
BARRIERS TO SERVICE:
1.Indepndent living in your own area. You will need monitoring supervision. Some elderly say that they don’t want help. They should have this conversation with their children.
2. An incident happens, and a diagnosis of dementia is similar to that of cancer. (This is the denial stage). There is need of acceptance - both by the individual as well as the family.
3. Hands-on care giving. This is very important! You need other resources - especially, if you are home alone. Many needy elderly will say, “I don’t need that” (as Mother told me when I suggested a hearing aid - a life-line emergency system - and some one to stay with her for a few hours, so that I can get out and do things that I like to do.) Don’t ever tell your loved one that “I’ll never put you in a rest home!” Because the best choice may be not to care for them at home. Too, people (especially women) don’t like people coming into their home.
Elder Care - This is assistance with one’s “Activities of Daily Living” (ADL). The local Area Agency on Aging tries to keep people in their home, through their In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) unit. However, when you are seeking a caregiver, you are largely on your own.
It is estimated that the cost to employers for employee care giving is 17 billion dollars a year! A source for working caregivers is - working caregivers.com. Employers should treat Elder -Care benefits just like they have treated Child -Care benefits.
Barriers to V.A. Benefits. (Every County has a Veterans’ Service Officer.)
The veteran benefits aren’t known.
There are 15,000 working caregivers in Yolo County - one in four! In 20 years, this ratio will be 1 in 2!
“It takes a village to take care of everyone!” - Peggy Phelps.
You can register “wandering” people with dementia.
We need a private “Registry” for “Referrals” and “screening”.

AGING SUMMIT -1 (Cont.)

Summit 1C.
AGING AND HEALTH.
PANEL:
Dr. Beth Ober - Chair, UC Davis Human & Community Development.
Dr. Jon Caldwell - Adult Psychiatrist, Yolo County Alcohol, drug and Mental Health Services.
Dr. Jeff Yee - Medical Director, Woodland health Care.
Dee Dee Gilliam - Yolo County Public health Nursing.
De. Louise Betner - Psychologist, Faculty, John F. Kennedy University; Moderator.
Dr. Ober:- Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia - a cognition problem. About 85 % of the aging population show a normal cognitive function. Memory shows some decline in normal aging.
Most people have a memory of recent events and episodes (short-term memory). This is a mental time travel of personal events. Long-term memory is composed of semantics, world knowledge and facts’
The hippocampus in the brain, is involved with Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Yee:- Levels of Care
1. What happens in the doctor’s office - medications; instructions; follow-up?
2. What is the care outside of the doctor’s office? This is more important in defining the health of older patients.
Nurse Gilliam:- The primary service of public nursing is Prevention through intervention, such as education, diabetes, blood pressure and dietician.
Dr. Caldwell:- MediCal is a mandated health care provider. The patient needs a collaborative effort between care services. If you improve mental health, you improve physical health.
THE PANEL:
Mental Health Main Issues:
Evaluating the cognitive function status - get tested.
How do the patients present their care? (their lists to doctor)
Does the family member think that it is a problem? And why bring it up with the doctor? (memory screening).
(My note: If dr. Reynoso is Pete’s Gatekeeper, what other medical service will he refer her to? We would certainly use this service.)
There is a big fear among seniors of Alzheimer’s disease(just like cancer). People don’t recognize that they have a problem. It is a family member who detects something wrong. Memory loss has a high profile, with a high fear factor.
There is a disparity between the level of testing and ability to live in the community. Cognitive testing may not correlate with actual conditions.
Environmental support - Post-it reminders.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) - if caught early enough, you can minimize the effects, or push out their deterioration.
Highly trained nurses (Home Health Nursing) could evaluate mental health in the home. Early intervention makes it easier to mitigate problems - “user friendly”.
Medication problems are one of the biggest correctible situations.
Types of Dementia:
1. Alzheimer’s
2. Multi-infarct (stroke)
3. A combination of 1 and 2.
Talk to your doctor about “functional improvement”
The use of “In Home Supportive Services” is very important and much needed. (see your local Area Agency on Aging.)

AGING SUMMIT

YOLO COUNTY AGING SUMMIT
Woodland Community & Senior Center
September 20, 2007.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Dr. Michael McCloud - UC Davis. “ The Silver Tsunami”.
Dr. McCloud was very interesting and provocative. A summary of his talk follows:
The care of older adults is similar to the care of children.
In 1946, the birth rate increased by 20%! Between 1946 and 1965, the increase in the birth rate was 12%! There were 78.2 million babies born during those 18 years! We call them the “Baby Boomers.” 56,000 of them celebrate their 60th birthday every week. “Life Expectancy” has increased 8 years since 1960! The “Life Expectancy” during Ancient Rome was 23 years! Babies born in 2007, can look forward to living about 80 years!
We describe this group by - : “dream big; can be anything you want to be; cynicism; after Viet Nam - a distrust of the establishment; give me choices - I want options.” The boomers bought sports utility vehicles, which have never been off the road - the “Boomers” need them to drive to fitness classes! The Supreme Court nominees, for the next 20 years, will be Boomers! Labeling them as the “ME” society is a myth, for they are generous “givers”
When Dr. McCloud was born (circa 1950), there were 2,000 centenarians. Today - there are 60,000! The fastest growing segment of the population is 85 and older.
30 % of the Boomers are living pay -check to pay -check, with none having a net worth over $1,000. The medication contribution of the U.S. government will increase by 40% over the next 75 years! The dependency ratio - old and young vs. workers will change dramatically over the years.
Boomers will work beyond the normal retirement age. One in 50 will have Alzheimer’s disease. During the heat wave in Yolo County last July, 250 Seniors died! We must do a better job of planning.
Goals of Boomers:
1. Keep them working. The Seniors will not retire, but stay employed.
The Seniors will need the money, and society will need their knowledge and skills.
2. Keep them healthy.

Less than 2% of physicians have Geriatric credentials. Of the 125 medical schools in the U.S., only 6 have Geriatric departments!
- coumadin, lithium, digitalis and insulin.
There needs to be some incentives to produce more - give loan forgiveness to medical students in Geriatrics.
We need more health care workers - pharmacists, nurses, physical therapists, health aides etc. We need Geriatric Assessment clinics, that will provide better care than general practitioners.
“Prescription Cascade” - trial and error excessive use of medications.
There are four drugs that land the most people in Emergency Departments:
The brain produces images when vision is impaired by cataracts.
A cause of disabilities is over-mediation. Doctors and pharmacists need more “training in a list of portentously inappropriate medication for adults.” We need mandatory reporting of these preventable occurrences. There is more emergency care for such inappropriate drug use than there is for motor vehicle accidents!
We need to see more healthy-older adults aging in place.
Train people to be their own “geriatrician” - to age gracefully in place. What to ask your doctor? These topics are covered by Dr. McCloud in his Mini Medical School course at UC Davis. What a unique opportunity for seniors to learn more about their health and aging - and best of all - no Registration fee!
Dr, McCloud went on to say - “We need Adult -Day Health Centers - social workers and job consultants etc. on site.

CLOTHESLINE

Clothes Line.
I read an interesting, and provocative, human-interest story in today’s (9/18/07) Wall Street Journal.
A lady in Bend, Oregon, put up an outside clothesline. While this sounds pretty innocuous to me, I don’t live in a neighborhood such as hers. There was a big brouhaha with her neighbors! They claimed that she violated the Neighborhood -homeowner associations’ rules. While the violator was cognizant of the covenants, she thought that her reasoning trumped those regulations. She rationalized that “clotheslines are one way to fight climate change, using the sun and wind instead of electricity” in response to Global warming. This sure makes sense to me - but apparently, not to the developer’s lawyer.
The article went on to quote statistics, and other related data, such as:
Clothes dryers account for 6% of total electricity used by U.S. families (at an average cost of $80 a year); third behind refrigerators and lighting!
I grew up in Michigan, and Ohio, with these contraptions! Clotheslines are sturdy-“tee” posts, imbedded in concrete, located in backyards, with rope or wire lines strung between them. (occasionally, we would get “necktied”, when we forgot to duck, when running below the lines!)
The clothes, dried outside in the sun, had a nice smell, and felt softer when I folded them. On rainy days, or in the winter, the clothes were hung on rope lines, fastened beneath floor joists, in the basement. Residents from these “gated communities” must shudder when they travel out of the country. Such clothes drying is standard practice. I remember our Tour Guide in Italy referring to all the wash hanging outside as “Italian flags.”

MISSION NO.50!

50th MISSION! - Bologna, Italy; Saturday, September 25, 1943.
This is my 50th official mission. I only hope and pray that I will complete it. This is my first flying in a week, due to bad weather.
Went up to North-Central Italy (Po Valley) this morning, unescorted. The weather was bad all the way up, over the target and on our return to base. Colonel Rice led the Group, and I flew with Major O’Connor (in “Vagabond” - #465), who led our squadron.
Our bombing was fair due to the lousy weather. A few planes went in to Sardinia on our return as they were low on gas. One plane went down 200 yards off the African coast, trying to stretch their fuel, and the crew is O.K.
I certainly had a great feeling of relief after landing, when I realized that my mind, body and nervous system would be getting a rest for a spell.
My total combat time was 325:20 hours, and I dropped 120 tons of bombs.
FINI!

Mission # 49.

Mission # 49. Viterbo, Italy. Saturday, September 18, 1943.
I flew a mission today - with Capt. Kutschera in #581 - “Sugar Puss”
We hit the airdrome, near Viterbo, with 100 # bombs and incendiaries, and did a pretty good job. There were supposed to have been 200 planes on the field and in the dispersal areas. These planes were mostly HE 111’s, according to the photo taken a couple of days ago.
The weather and visibility were fairly good in the target area. The flak was moderate to heavy, and quite accurate - even though we didn’t receive any holes. I didn’t see any fighters.
Bomb load - 38 - 100’s= 3800#. Mission time 06:30.
This is my 49th mission today. One more to go! I am really sweating out No. 50 - my last combat mission (at least in this theatre).
A group of B-24’s flew in from England today. They were on the Ploesti (Romania) oil field raid, and suffered large losses. They will operate out of here, temporarily.

Letter to Editor

Readers’ Opinions - Times Herald: September 15, 2007.
Many, many, years ago, I took Econ 101 at Cal. During this economics course, I learned the following:
In a laissez-faire economy such as ours, you can set the price for your labor as high as you choose. But, at the same time, you cannot require employers to hire you at your price! During the past 50 years, I have seen this theorem proved - over and over again. If you doubt this, talk to anyone who used to work in the U.S. Auto or Steel industries!

Ray L’Amoreaux
528 Brooke Drive,
Vallejo, CA 94591-6628.
707-642-5389.

MISSION #48.

MISSION # 48 - CASERTA, ITALY. Thur. Sept. 16, 1943.
Briefing was at 0900. I flew with Major O’Connor, and Moe, in “096”, and led the Squadron. The weather was good in the target area, and we did quite accurate bombing. We hit the rail-marshalling yard and bridges.
I didn’t see any fighters, but noticed some accurate flak as we left the target area. Mac turned back about a half hour short of the Italian coast. Their No. 4 engine was feathered and they salvoed their bombs. The crew is still missing. I pray that they made it to land in Sicily, and they are OK.
Fred Olson (pilot) and Bob Jarrett (bombardier), completed their 50 missions today.
We carried 16 - 300 pounders today. Total bomb weight 4800 #. Time of mission - 06:00 hours. Total bomb weight, on all my missions to date, 229,600#
I got a tetanus booster shot tonight. Wolf and I went in to El Aouena to see Jack Benny and Larry Adler. I never saw such a mob! They put on a pretty good show.
Still no word from Mac and crew.

Mission # 47 , Sept. 15, 1943.

47th MISSION:- BATTAPAGLIE, Italy. Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1943.
I was at a Group Bombardiers meeting, when they announced that there would be a Briefing in 20 minutes - at 1430. I hurried back to the tent to pick up my equipment, and rushed over to Briefing - which they also rushed through. The target was a highway and bridge near Salerno. The Germans were making a “push”, and our troops were retreating. This explained the suddenness and urgency for the mission.
I was just working from a map for the target. We didn’t reach the target area until 1800. The weather was very hazy, and I didn’t pick up the target until we were directly over it. We continued flying on for a few minutes, and then made a 180 degree turn to head back in the opposite heading than we were briefed. Visibility was even worse. We were heading into a low sun. I dropped the 16 - 300# bombs on the highway, but missed.
Four ME-109’s hopped us, but they didn’t do any damage. I saw some flak, but it turned out to be from our batteries shooting at German dive bombers over the Gulf of Salerno. The German planes were attacking our invasion forces in both the harbor and on the beach. Our Fifth Army (headed by General Mark Clark) is desperate, and their situation is critical.
I flew with Major O’Connor, and Moe as co-pilot, and led the Squadron. I saw a most beautiful sunset behind the clouds, from 8,000 feet, on our return to Base. It was dark when we landed, as the traffic pattern was a “rat race”. This is the first time that we have flown so late in the day. Redbird, and Wolfcale, completed their 50 missions today!
Mission Time: 05:00.

49th Sortie

49th Sortie (46th Mission) - Fri. Sept. 10, 1943. Vinchiaturo, Italy.
(To be counted as a “Mission”, towards our 50, we had to fly at least half way to the target before aborting. Otherwise, it didn’t count, and was classified as a “Sortie”.)
Briefing at 0550, and then off to the land of olives, grapes, spaghetti and Jerries. I flew with Major O’Connor, and we led the Squadron and the 2nd wave. We had bad weather all the way. We lost an engine, just before reaching the coast of Italy. We turned back after losing our wing Squadron in the overcast. We started losing altitude, flying on three engines, so I salvoed the bombs into the Mediterranean.
Our new Group Commander, Col. Rice, led for the first time today. Major “Pappy” Haynes finished his 50 Missions today, and celebrated by buzzing the field, after his return from the mission.
Mission time : 06:30.

Missio # 48.

MISSION # 48 - Cantello, Italy. Thur. Sept. 9, 1943.
Briefing at 0450, and then we were off to North of Naples. I flew with Capt. Kutschera, leading the Squadron, in #773 - “Scrubby Ole Goat”.
We had to turn back 100 miles out over the Mediterranean, when the number 4 engine threw a cylinder head through the ring cowling. Then, the No. 3 engine started acting up. The Capt. Ordered me to get rid of the bombs, so I salvoed them into the water.
I was disappointed that I didn’t get to see the Invasion of Italy, around Naples. Our intended target was a bridge north of Naples, to cut off the retreat of the Germans.
We were unescorted and had a bomb load of twelve 500’s.
I tried getting in my 48th mission a couple of days ago, but Mac had engine trouble, and we never got off the ground.

Mac's Letter

(Note: I have copied the following from the original- faded- hand written letter. The parens are mine for explanation.)

* UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCES *
February 24, 1944
Dear Junior:
Just read your letter and when I saw the picture, I wanted to cry like a baby, but I guess it would not help any. I’ll tell you a secret though. One night when I was in the Italian hospital, I had a terrific stomach ache - lack of food I guess. Damn near starved to death, no doctors or nurses around. So, I just broke down and really cried. It helped, too, stomach stopped hurting and I went to sleep. That was the worst I ever felt. All in all, I can’t complain as to the treatment they gave me. Saved my life. I got a bad broken neck and brain concussion out of the deal, and consider myself lucky. I was paralyzed all over for about 3 weeks, am coming out of it though. My hands and arms have been the slowest to come back. You can tell about how weak they are from the way I write. Can’t use a pen at all. They are snapping out though. My legs are fairly strong and have just reached the point where I can stay up most of the day. It looks like I’ll be down a long time yet. I don’t know much about our accident except that I distinctly heard three shell bursts. I passed out trying to get to the hatch (escape). Came to on the way down with my chute open, passed out again before I hit the ground and came to in the hospital where I stayed until our boys came into Naples
Oct. 1. happy Day!
Bill (Mayer his pilot) was in the same hospital with me. He just had a few burns and was sent to a prison camp where the Germans got him when the Italians quit. His wife hears from him. Al Nash, tail gunner, is also a prisoner of the Germans. Bill said that Aldo’s (navigator) chute didn’t open. Nothing has been heard from anyone else. We are still hoping and praying that they are safe somewhere. Rod O’Connor (our Squadron Commander) came by to see me last week on his way to Salt Lake. He is getting a Group and going to the Pacific. He told me again what a fine job you did and he isn’t the only one that has told me the same. I knew you would. Mary Lou and Anita came to see me last week. Brave girls! They both want snap shots. I thought of you but didn’t know your address. Remember the ones you took of Bill and Paul taking baths in the wide-open spaces of Africa? They would like to have any available.
Bill, Heberg, Grooms and Bentley all in same barracks!
If you will send me the pictures, I will have prints made and send the negatives back to you. We would appreciate it very much. I sure would like to have the negative of our plane, after it was hit. I believe Jarrett had it. Do you have his address?
I have often thought of how close you came to be with my crew that day. Thank God you weren’t. I’m glad that I was with my crew if it had to happen. I have heard about Ken (Spinning - my pilot) and all the rest. It’s hell.
Best of everything old man. Hope I can be back in sometime.
Your friend,
Mac. (2nd Lt. Elmo F. McClain.)
Mrs. Paul Wernich Mrs. William H. Mayer
2457 North 46th Street 478 12th avenue North
St. Petersburg, Florida.
Milwaukee, 10 Wisconsin.
(Note: As I recall, Mac was our Squadron Bombardier when they were shot down. I was named the new Squadron Bombardier. This is a key assignment, because you are the only bombardier using a bombsight. All the other bombardiers - in the other planes flying in the Squadron formation - when they would first see the bombs, from the lead plane, leave the bomb bay, they would hit a toggle switch on their panel, whichthen released their bombs. None used their bombsights to set up for the drop! Initially, each bombardier set up his bombsight. But, the resulting target coverage was quite broad and erratic. So, the powers that be, decided to put the best bombardier in the lead plane. He would set up his bombsight on the target, with all the others dropping on his settings. It worked better - the key being: a skilled bombardier, a skilled pilot and a quality- lead B-17 airplane.

MISSION: # 47. - Monday, SEPT. 6, 1943.
(Today is my Mother’s 52nd birthday. Happy Birthday, Mom. It is also Labor Day!)
Cappodichino Airdrome, Naples, Italy.
I flew today for the first time in 10 days!
Briefing at 0830. Major Melcher introduced our new Group Commanding Officer - Colonel Rice from the States. He seems to be a good replacement for our Col. Joe Thomas - the best!
We were warned that the weather on our mission would be bad, and the promise came true. We went in to the target area unescorted. I could make out the Initial point OK, but I couldn’t see the airdrome. Instead of dropping our bombs on an alternate target, we brought the load back with us. I saw some flak, but no fighters.
The fuses in the bombs are “live” at this point. Shortly before reaching the IP, the bombardier goes back into the bomb bay (wearing a oxygen mask and carrying a portable -oxygen bottle) and pulls the cotter pins out of the fuses, and this “arms” them, so that they are “live”. So. When the decision was made to return with the bombs, I had to repeat the procedure - in reverse. I had to go back into the bomb bay and replace all the cotter pins to make the fuses “safe” once again.
I flew with Capt. Kutschera, who led our 429th Squadron, in #465 - a beautiful airplane and a good crew (#13). We had twelve 250 pounders on board. Mission time: 6:00 hours.

The northern sky lit up tonight as the Germans attacked Bizerte.

Jane and Jim

JANE and JIM
I had a great afternoon today! My friend of 70 years - Jim Leslie - and his daughter Jane Brown, stopped by to see Marie and I. I am really flattered - that anyone, who will be 85 on December 7th, said that he wanted to see Marie and I - this was the primary reason that he flew out from Detroit.
Jim has been a loyal friend since July, 1937. My Dad had been transferred from the New York Central Railroad’s Cleveland office to their Detroit office. This was at the tail end of the Great Depression, and the Railroad was consolidating their District offices. I met Jim shortly after we moved from Berea to Ypsilanti. He was in my brother Bob’s high school class of 1940. Bob was a good athlete with a great sense of humor. He made friends easily.
I was working at the International Radio Company in Ann Arbor at the time. The few people I met were my fellow workers. So, I started hanging out with my brother Bob and his friends. Jim was among those friends. Of course their acceptance of me might have been influenced by the second hand Model A Ford that I had just bought. Subsequently, I played a lot of golf with Bob and Jim. (Bob was on the Ypsilanti high school- golf team.) Jim and I played about the same caliber of golf so it was always challenging and interesting. We also did a lot of bowling, pitching pennies and playing cards together.
I am very proud of my three daughters - Mary, Joan and Sue. They really stepped up to the plate today when I needed them. They responded to my request that they join Jane, Jim and I for lunch. (Marie was sick and couldn’t make it.) They added a lot to the occasion, and helped me entertain my friend. They made our get-together that much more enjoyable.
Jim has been a very loyal and supportive friend through the years. He attended my brothers Bob’s and Jack’s weddings. He was always there, supporting the family, when my Dad, Mom, sister Jeanne and brother Bob died.
So, thanks Jim, and Jane, for coming to see us. We appreciate your thoughtfulness. Thanks, too, Mary ,Joan and Sue for all of your support and friendliness to my friend Jim, and his daughter Jane.
After lunch at the Front Room, Jim removed his University of Michigan “maize and blue” tie and gave it to me for an early 89th -birthday present! Thank you very much, Jim.
After we returned home, Jane brought out Jim’s Argus C-3 camera. It brought back memories when I worked in Ann Arbor assembling Argus cameras. I used to put in the shutter- release pin assembly
when I worked at the radio factory in Ann Arbor - before WWII.
Parting was quite emotional for me, as they left for Reno. When I said “Goodbye Jim”, I suddenly realized that this is probably the last time that Jim and I will see each other.
(Note: For more on Jim, see “My Friend Jim” on page 217 of my book.)

CAIRO per ARVAL

Sept. 4, 1943. Per Arval Streadbeck.
(The “Skipper’ piloted our plane to and from Cairo. I would like to share with you, his write-up of our trip.)
We are back from our trip to Cairo and it was absolutely wonderful. We saw so much and did so many things. We were to stay 3 days but the prop on #4 engine wouldn’t change pitch so we stayed 5 days. It was a long trip to get there. As we approached Cairo we saw first a long dark line out on the horizon of the desert. We thought it must be the shore line of the Mediterranean. Fifteen minutes later we crossed over a line of small lakes with water the darkest color of purple you could ever imagine. Just a few bushes were around the lakes and then sand for as far as you could see. Fifteen minutes from there we could see the delta of the Nile out to the North, and to the south the long thin line of deep green on each side of the river. There on the West bank we picked up the pyramids and we flew straight for them, letting down to about 1,000 feet. The largest pyramid is450 feet high so we were just a little over twice as high. We circled more than once because I couldn’t see the Sphinx which is much smaller than I expected. There were some pyramids down by Memphis, or where Memphis was. We flew down to see them also. Then we flew over Cairo, found our airport and landed. We were anxious to leave the plane and get started. The army bus was just leaving, but we hurried and got on and rode to Heliopolis, a suburb of Cairo, and found our hotel. When I say our crew it means minus Lt. Juster - and plus Doc Hall, Lt. Lyons and Lt. Lamoreaux. The first thing we did was bathe in real hot water in a tub. Imagine hot water to shave with too. Sometimes we bathed twice a day it felt so good. After taking a taxi the six miles into Cairo, we found that an electric train ran between the two towns for 10 cents, even less for 2nd class. A piaster is one-hundredth of an Egyptian pound and a pound is worth $4. The taxi cost $2. All the advertising signs are in 3 languages. English, French and Arabian, Shows are in English, with sub-titles in French and Arabic., on an extra screen underneath. Sometimes Greek also. The food was good all but the milk. There are no cows in Egypt but water buffalo. The milk has a very dark brown flavor. On the way to the pyramids we stopped at the bazaars. The shops are small but richly furnished. Fancy boxes line the shelves on the walls.


The Great Pyramid of Cheops. The largest of the three at Giza, is the best known pyramid in the world - it took 20 years to build and 100,000 workmen working all the time. It is 450 feet tall and its base covers thirteen acres of ground. (that is larger than a square city block). Each one of its 2,300,000 blocks weighs two and one half tons, giving a total of 85 million cubic feet of stone (someone said this is enough to build a 4ft. Wall, I foot thick, around France. This building was meant to be a tomb. But, the rulers must have been mad, because the entire nation worked for over 100 years for this one purpose - that of building pyramids.
We climbed up to the entrance and to the “Robbers Tunnel” a 2nd means of entering made by robbers, about 200 years after the Pyramid was sealed - but there was little to see - a long passage and empty rooms with a few carvings. The pyramids are not smooth now as they were originally. The 2nd pyramid, that of Cephren, is still capped with the original casing but the Great Pyramids and the Mycerinus Pyramids casings have been removed to build Mosques and other buildings in Cairo. We walked down to the Sphinx. These things date back to about 3700 B.C.!
On our way back from Cairo to Tunis we laughed nearly all the way. We had engine trouble. The C.O. had wanted a new supply of liquor. We had all wanted the trip. He had sent along Lt. Lyons to buy $6,000 worth of booze. We couldn’t get over how funny it would be if we had to throw out the whole $6,000 worth all across the Libyan desert, to lighten the plane.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

September 6, 1892 - September 6, 2007.
My Mother, Elizabeth Mary (Flood) L’Amoreaux, was born on this date - 115 years ago - in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents were Elizabeth Mary (Anderson) Flood and Daniel Dennis Flood.
She died on May 27, 1992 in Vallejo, California. Of these intervening years, I was most fortunate to have experienced - first hand - her wisdom, love, humor and companionship for 89 of them. I miss this relationship very much! HAPPY BIRTHDAY , MOM!

CAIRO - September 3, 1943

Friday, September 3, 1943. - Cairo
We finally got underway this noon - after four memorable days in Cairo. We have the liquor on board - stowed safely in the bomb bay!
The billboards come into their own here in Cairo. There are many horse-drawn carriages. Our daily Hotel Heliopolis rate per person, including meals, was 94 pilasters (about a pound - $4 American.)
The City of Cairo has a population of about a million and a quarter people - 50% Arabs; the rest French, Jewish, and English. There used to be 50,000 Italians living here, but since the war, they have all vanished!
The street cars are about 20 years old. The front of the car is for women, the back for men, and the middle section for Arabs. (When we rode the street cars, I don’t remember this segregation.) I was surprised at how many people speak English here.
I gained 8 pounds, and spent $120 while here - a GREAT R & R.
Many movies are showing here - “Gone With the Wind”; “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and other current pictures. They are in English with French and Arab captions running underneath the screen.
There are many photo shops - proof of a tremendous tourist business in peacetime.
There are countless searchlights positioned around the city - making Hollywood seem very small scale!
The 10% tip is included on all checkups. Directions are given in minutes, instead of blocks. Women wear their wedding rings on the finger of their .right hands.
Gum is 20 cents a pack; gasoline 50 cents an Imperial gallon (5 liters). Auto tires are $200 each! There are convertibles for sale, but I don’t know the price.
It seemed good not to be mobbed by kids - all asking for “bon -bons” and “shewing gum”. “Cigarettes?” was their substitute plea - although they are sold in the stores. Again, I don’t know the price.
King Farouk has a mammoth palace here in Cairo.
I saw a large funeral procession. The mourners march behind the coffin. The pall bearers carry the corpse with the head always pointing towards the East!

When we got back to our base, we had covered the 1600 miles from Cairo to Tunis in 9 and ½ hours. All in all, a beautiful trip!

CAIRO - September 2, 1943.

Thursday, September 2, 1943. CAIRO.
We expected to leave for Tunis today, but no soap again!
Tonight, I went out to A.T.S. and persuaded Laurie to forget the New Zealanders’ dance, that she had promised to attend. I tried calling her today, but I couldn’t get her. Two of her friends (Sargents on furlough), she and I piled into a Jeep and went riding. We ended up at the Beba Cabaret. I had a good cheese sandwich, chips (French fries) and a hot chocolate. A good time was had by all.

Cairo - "Laurie"

Cairo - September 1, 1943.
We were supposed to leave Cairo, for Tunis, at noon today. We had a prop-governor control problem, so couldn’t take off - darn it! So, we went downtown shopping this morning, to get in our last fill of ice cream. I was surprised and impressed by how modern the stores are - department, drug, dime, and barber shops.
I took a siesta this afternoon. Tonight, we went downtown and ended up at Groppi’s ice cream parlor. A couple of girls in uniform came in and sat at the booth across from us. Not bad looking either! So, we became interested. We went over and sat with them. The girl that I became “affiliated” with, is very nice -a Catholic; dark hair; dark eyes - a very fair Syrian. She is a private in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, with the Drivers’ Training Wing. She is very pleasant. She speaks English, French, Syrian, Arabic, Hebrew, Italian and Greek! (I felt pretty humble).
We then went over to Saults for supper, and I invited her to go along with us. I had a nice steak, with shoestring potatoes Her name is Cecile (“Laurie“) Saad. She is a good dancer. I got a kick out of her singing “Chattanooga Choo-Choo”; “You are My Sunshine”; and “Tangerine” - while we were dancing! She sounded very good. She said that she could always tell when the Yanks were around, because the orchestra played “Tangerine”! When the orchestra would take an intermission, New Zealanders, British soldiers and G.I’s would go up on the band stand and “sit in”, using the various instruments to beat out their own tunes! I was surprised at all the jitter-bugging!,
Afterwards, we took the girls back to their camp. We had an enjoyable taxi ride - past the pyramids - even though it cost us over a pound!

CAIRO (continued).

CAIRO - Cont.
The Pyramids are mammoth things - nearly 500 feet high! The quarries, from where the sandstone was obtained, can be seen on the outskirts of Cairo in the distance. The outer surfaces were covered with alabaster - a type of marble - from quarries 500 miles away! About 500 years ago, the alabaster was removed to build the large Mosques.
The pyramids housed the tomb of an old ruler, and his queen. Napoleon removed all the valuables from the tombs during his visit. He also knocked off the nose of the Sphinx, and painted the head red, which still remains. He also ordered the Egyptians to pay more taxes through the prophets. When the people refused, Napoleon shelled the mosques with his cannons, not doing much damage to the mosques, as I can still see the ball-shot stuck in the walls of the mosque.
The Sphinx had been buried, until not too long ago, when an American excavator dug the rest of the it out. The Sphinx has the head of a man, the face of a woman and the body of a lion - denoting Wisdom; Beauty and Strength, in their religion. There is a tablet - with hieroglyphic lettering, which explains the past history. The chin of the sphinx is propped up with sand bags, for protection during the war.
There’s a hole in the forehead, from where the priest would step out, and call all the faithful to prayer - facing East. Once a week, the religious would come down from Memphis; which was under water, many years ago. (to be continued)

August 31, 1943 (Continued).

CAIRO.

August 31, 1943. (Cont.)
The Moslems take their shoes off when they enter the Mosque. So, they placed slippers over our shoes. The Citadel is located at the entrance to the Mosque. Here are stone slabs, and the faithful sit on them. There are faucets in front of the faithful. The well that feeds these faucets is 300 feet deep, and is nearby. They sit on the stones and wash their hands, face and head three times before they enter the temple. The marble vaults, in the corridor, contain the remains of holy men.
Next, we went to the Bazaar - past the native section. In older times, when one of the family would pass on to their reward, they would be buried in the home or in the courtyard. Finally, after the whole family had died, the home served as a family plot and was no longer lived in.
The Bazaar is composed of many shops - perfume, jewelry, novelty items, etc. The merchants did a good tourist business - evident by their speaking English - even some slang! The merchant pulls up a chair for you to sit on, and then asks you if you care for coffee, tea or lemonade? They also pass you Egyptian cigarettes. Then, they drag out their wares on top of the counter. They are 20th century “feather merchants” for sure! They are gamblers from the old school. They are willing to “flip” you “double or nothing” for the material that you are interested in - or for either their price or yours. There are brass and copper shops; silk shops; ivory shops, etc.
Then, we get back into the 1931 Model A Ford -taxi, and proceed to another Mosque. Our guide’s father had been a Tourist Guide for 55 years, and was now working for one of the larger hotels. Between our guide, and his dad, they sent out 1,000 Christmas cards to people that they had worked for, to England and the United states. Our guide said that he had a chance to go back to the States with Mr. Reynolds, President of Camel cigarettes. But, he was only ten years old, and the only son. His mother cried so much that his father decided that he hadn’t better go! Our guide said that he has been unlucky ever since.
(to be continued.)