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.