Regimental Histories

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  303rd Signal Operation Battalion: an informal unofficial history, April 17, 1943 to February 25, 1946

  United States Army

  April 17, 1943 was officially activation day for the 303rd at Camp Crowder, Missouri. Shortly before that, Lt. Clyde Burch had herded a wild and wooly cadre crew northward from the 17th Sig. Opn. Bn., which was then on 2nd Army maneuvers in Tennessee. Officers then began to trickle in, more cadre men, and the inevitable lesson plans and course outlines started to take shape.

  The bulk of the "fillers" arrived around the first of June, and training took hold with vigor, if not with a great deal of vim. Basic training, hikes, calisthenics (TC-87!) and rain, rain, rain occupied our days, always under the fierce scrutiny of Col. Rinaldo Coe who ruled the 2d Army detachment at Crowder with the aid of Capt. Cohen and an assorted staff,guaranteed to give trouble. Col. Coe was a real soldier, and though we groaned under him, later we were damned proud of our state of training. He was aided in his inspections by his dog, which the men fervently believed came up to inspect our training on his own, and then scampered back to report our deficiencies to his master.

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  377th Infantry Regiment

  United States Army

  This is a history made by the men of the 377th Infantry Regiment. It's a story of men who served their country and served it well. Men who underwent the toughest, most rigorous, most backbreaking training that the Army could hand out. And men who, after two hard years of this training, went across to the field of battle in Europe, met the enemy, and defeated him at his own game -- war.

  It all began on the sandy flat of the recreational area at Camp Swift, Texas, a typical Army camp located about 30 miles from Austin, with the usual training-center panorama of red-and-white water towers, white wooden barracks, and green recruits. There, under the blazing hot sun of July 15, 1942, the 377th Infantry Regiment was activated, along with the rest of the 95th Infantry Division.

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  717th Tank Battalion record

  United States Army

  This is your book, and we tried to put it together so that it will bring you equal pleasure today or fifty years from now, when you'll probably have a grandson on one knee, and you'll want to tell him how it all was.

  The pictures are yours, and so is the writing. Not much of it relates to armies and corps. Our story -the one we all know -- it how about 750 officers and men got along for two years, training and fighting together to help win a big war.

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  71st Infantry Regiment

  United States Army

  The first companies of the Regiment entered combat on the twenty-third of October, 1944. They relieved elements of the 315th Infantry Regiment of the 79th Division east of Luneville, France, in the vicinity of Embermenil. The Regiment occupied dug-in positions in Le Remabois and in the eastern part of the Foret de Parroy. In the last week of October and the first weeks of November, with a series of night attacks, the First Battalion drove the Germans from their remaining strongholds in the forest. By continued and active patrolling, the Germans were kept from any effective offensive action in this part of the line.

  One of the more daring patrols of this time was made on 31 October by four men from Company E: S/Sgt. R. B. Lawrence and Harold L. Hunt and Pfc. Collie R. Martin and John F. Larkin. These men volunteered to investigate a patch of woods that was suspected of concealing a mortar position. The patrol moved into the woods and, upon discovering more of the enemy than had been anticipated, withdrew and directed an artillery concentration on the area.

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  Armor in the ETO

  United States Army

  The 20th Armored Division cannot point to a long record of heroic slugging or dashing achievement on many of the battle fields of World War II, it made its weight felt by serving for two years as a replacement training division, properly climaxed by active participation as a unit in the final drive in the defeat of Germany.

  The 20th did not write a great deal of combat history, yet it joined valiantly in the knockout punch against a desperate Nazism, throwing its infamous legions back to and breaking them at its citadel, the National Redoubt in the Alps. No, the 20th did not have a long history of battles and campaigns like so many other units; it wrote only a few paragraphs in the total book but it does know how history was written, and it was there to see the dramatic moments, causes and effects that will write the history of the future.

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  Blue infantrymen: the combat history of the Third Battalion, 310th Infantry Regiment, Seventy-eighth "Lightning" Division

  United States Army

  This book is dedicated to the men of the Third Battalion 310th Infantry who gave their lives for their country in World War II. It is the intent that the material contained herein will serve as an everlasting picture of the deeds and the courage of those who have gone, but whom we will never forget. It is hoped that their bereaved families will find comfort in this book and that it will enable them to know of the comrades of their sons, husbands or brothers who died so that others might live.

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  Buchenwald and beyond : 120th EVAC

  United States Army

  Foreword

  Bound in this volume are memories of the 120th Evacuation Hospital (SM) -- an evacuation hospital which served during World War II in an unusual capacity, i.e. rendering medical and, surgical aid to Political Prisoners and Displaced Personnel at Buchenwald near Weimar, Germany, and Cham, Bavaria.

  In that most of the members of the organization will return to civilian life, this book will serve as an informal record of their service in the army.

  William E. Williams, Colonel, MC Commanding

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  Combat history of the 119th Infantry Regiment

  United States Army

  This is a history of the 119th Infantry Regiment from June 13, 1944, when it landed on the coast of France, to its actions around the Elbe River, and the formal collapse of Germany on May 8, 1945. Each man who fought in the Regiment had his personal memories. If all the memories of our men, living and dead, could be gathered together here, a complete, exact story of our suffering, sacrifice, courage, and victories could be told.

  The passing of time, however, leaves only the War Department records and the memories of our survivors. An attempt has been made to fortify the official record with the lore of the Regiment. If any deviation from actual fact has been made in the attempt, it can only be attributed to the telling and retelling, and the fatigued minds of the handful of us left.

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  Combat history of the 6th Armored Division

  United States Army

  Introduction

  ''Combat History, The Super Sixth" is a compilation of data from many sources, but by far the greater part of the material was obtained from after-action reports prepared by the G-3 Section, 6th Armored Division, under the direction of Major Clyde J. Burk, Assistant G-3, with Lts. Hunter Haines, Chester Kneller, Bernard Yaeger, and Paul Cundiff assisting, and appears here under Section II with slight variations.

  Credit is given to Lt. Col. Ernest W. Mitchell Jr., G-2 of the 6th Armored Division, for his preparation of the material used as a base for Section I, the story of the 6th Armored Division, which gives the overall picture of the Division's role in combat operations in Europe, and for his permission to use same.

  The charts and other data presented in another section of this book were chosen from material compiled by the Office of the Chief of Staff under the direction of Captan Cyrus R. Shockey, Aide-de-Camp, and art work was done, for the most part, by Sgt. Frank X. Scalise, G-2 Section. Photographs were made by official U.S. Army Signal Corps photographers and the Publisher.

  To the above named individuals, and also to the staff of the Division I & E Section and Public Relations Office, the Publisher wishes to express his appreciation for the use of the material and for the cooperation which made the compilation of this history possible.

  Although this book is not an official publication, much of the material contained herein was taken from official records, and the remainder has been carefullv checked to avoid any misrepresentation of facts or figures.

  It is regrettable that this type of history does not provide for the mention of the many gallant individual achievements which so characterized the men of the 6th Armored Division, whose "esprit de Corps" was second to none in the U. S. Army. However, the reader may well see reflected in this impersonal record the loyalty, devotion, and sacrifices that made this smooth functioning, fighting team such an important member of the Armies on the Western Front, and enabled it to finish all of its missions with the satisfactory label -- "Success"-- inscribed thereon.

  William E. Rutledge, Jr. PUBLISHER

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  Eighth Division Artillery

  United States Army

  From ETO Action -- Headquarters Battery, page 19:

  On July 4, 1944, Headquarters Battery, Eighth Division Artillery-properly known as the artillery "nerve center" moved out of crowded landing craft and began the long climb up the hill at Omaha beach and then along the dusty Normandy roads that led to combat.

  Marching inland, the battery took up a position near the village of La Haye du Puits, prior to jumping off in a Seventh Corps attack. Here men and officers got their first taste of combat as German guns -- 88s and bigger -- began almost immediately to drop into the battery area, inflicting several casualties. Nonetheless, the battery proceeded with its duties -- chiefly those of maintaining wire and radio communication -- and played an instrumental role in the Eighth Division's seizure of immediate objectives. When the First Army's attempt to break out of the Normandy Peninsula (the attack began July 26) proved successful, the battery moved with considerable speed, following in the wake of the Fourth Armored Division's rapid advance. Along the road that led to Rennes, a sizeable Breton city, the battery got its first real taste of Jerry strafing when a flight of ME-109s chewed up the highway with machine guns and cannon and added considerably to our roster of Purple Hearts.

  Rennes fell. We rested, discovered cidre, tried our luck with the French language, then moved to the outskirts of Brest and played our vital part in the reduction of that large port.

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  Eighth Infantry Division, a combat history by regiments and special units [U.S. Army. 13th Infantry Regiment]

  United States Army

  From History of the 13th Regiment, World War II, page 34:

  The first action in World War II, in which elements of the 13th Infantry Regiment participated occurred on the 9th of July, 1944, when the Third Battalion cleared out pockets of resistance in the town of La Haye du Puits, capturing approximately 100 prisoners.

  The real D-Day for the 13th Infantry came on July 13th when the Regiment passed through the 28th Infantry, south of La Haye du Puits. At 0800 it attacked to the south with the First Battalion on the right, the Third Battalion on the left, and the Second. Battalion in reserve. The dense hedge-row country through which the fighting progressed was strongly defended by enemy mortar, artillery, and small arms fire. Both the First Battalion and the Third Battalion advanced steadily all day against strong resistance and by darkness both Battalions had reached their objectives some 1800 yards south of the jump-off line. The fighting in the First Battalion area was particularly bitter near the town of Vesly. For its action at Vesly, Company B, commanded by Captain Allen J. Mauderly, received a Division citation. For the Third Battalion, the town of La Puits Ruault constituted the main strong point.

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  Historical journal, Special Troops: 102d Infantry Division

  United States Army

  The Special Troops of the 102d Infantry Division were activated at Camp Maxey, Texas, 16 August 1943, in compliance with a revised table of organization, (7-3) which consolidated the service companies of the Division; Headquarters and Headquarters Company with the Military Police Platoon and the Division Band Attached, the 802d Ordnance (LM) Company, the 102d Signal Company and the 102d Quartermaster Company; under one tactical command of 52 Officers, 7 Warrant Officers and 904 Enlisted Men.

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  History of the 157th Infantry Regiment (Rifle), 4 June 1943-8 May 1945

  United States Army

  Introduction

  This an informal story of the travels and battles of an infantry regiment in World War II. Like most stories of war, it is difficult to tell, for it is about groups-- squads, platoons, companies, battalions -- while the real story of war, to every soldier who fought, is the story of the part HE played in it. But to tell the full story of any one soldier in this war, to tell of the grimness and the humor, the nausea and the dignity, the terror and the heroism which marked his fighting days would fill this whole book and many more. Even in this simple story of a single regiment we can only outline the major facts of endless battle. For greater detail we refer you to the men for whom this book was written, the men of the 157th Infantry.

  To the best of our knowledge, the facts in this book are accurate. Yet remember, the actions spoken of are not the calm, deliberate movements of history in its normal stride, but the frenzied, semi-chaos of men killing each other. No reporters stood by while these killings took place and the men present were too busy with the killing to note, at all times, which squad went where. So while we may place you at the bottom of a hill at a time when you know full well your squad was at the top of the hill, hear with us, for in the main you'll find us accurate.

  Cover reads: Eager For Duty -- motto of the regiment

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  "My Battalion", World War II / 795th AAA AW BN

  United States Army

  "Men who go to war live strongly during every day of their anxiety and peril. What they experience both in joy and in sorrow strikes deep roots into their hearts and minds. War makes memories.

  Following the collapse of Germany and the ultimate surrender of Japan, members of our Battalion began to think back over the war and the part they played therein.

  The mental and physical release brought on by peace helped them to recall the many and varied incidents that typified their military days.

  They found themselves trying to remember in the proper sequence where they had been and the outstanding events connected with each location. Some saved snapshots while others compiled itineraries. In each effort the theme was the same: to make a milestone in their memory of the events they would want to remember and relate when they returned home.

  The natural outgrowth of all these individual endeavors was the compilation of this Battalion History.

  Once conceived the idea of a beautiful and permanent record required hard work and skillful leadership. Special acknowledgement should be given the following members of our Battalion who made major contributions toward the successful publication of this volume: Edward Harris, James De Vita, Anthony Cocco, Daniel Botkiss, William Ross, Joseph Schimmler, Donald Leach, Bob Becker, Donald Walden and Leslie Williamson. To these and the many others who also helped I offer the official thanks of the Battalion.

  May this book be a cherished possession of every member of the 795th AAA A W BN, that it foster and preserve many happy memories of our collective achievement in a great and victorious conflict."

  John D. Betley, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army

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  Pictorial history of the 75th Infantry Division, 1944-1945 campaigns: photographic cavalcade

  United States Army

  This photo-heavy book tracks the 75th Infantry Division's activities through Europe, showcasing Europe's scenic beauty and architecture, and scenes of war-torn devastation and military life.

  This is separated into three parts to facilitate faster download.

  This book does not contain a roster of soldiers or officers.

  The title page indicates this is Volume One. A Volume Two may have been intended, but does not appear to have ever been published.

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  Seventy-First Home station news bulletin: Souvenir Edition

  United States Army

  From the opening pages:

  "The Home Station News Bulletin is the brain child of Captain Donald P. Sherman, who has had service in the seventy-first infantry since December 22, 1911, who served through the first World War with the 54th Pioneer Infantry with service in the Meuse Argonne and the army of occupation and who, remained at his position as Superintendent of the Armory at Thirty-Third Street and Park Avenue during World War II.

  The bulletin was conceived and carried on as a medium for keeping in touch with all the members of the seventy-first who were scattered throughout the entire world. It's first edition appeared in November 1942, and consisted of a three page mimeographed news sheet sent to seventy-five known addresses. It continued to be published in mimeographed form for the first year and then graduated to a photo offset job. This was made possible through the offer of Mr. Silverman of the Progressive Photo Offset Company to publish it at cost. Mr. Silverman continued to publish the bulletin at cost up to the final copy and including this souvenir edition. Our hats off to Mr. Silverman for a grand job."

  Donald P. Sherman

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  The 391st Infantry Regimental History

  United States Army

  " ... A regiment, which, while it may have no proud record of battles won and honors gained, yet has a spirit and a soul, which, if occasion should ever arise, would show itself true to those high ideals of service for which our executive has always stood."

  Thus was the 391st Infantry of the organized reserves described by Colonel Thomas H. Remington of Rochester, New York, at a farewell dinner in honor of Major Lester Baker, then War Department executive for the regiment, on 31 July 1926. And the "occasion" appears to be not far off, for the 391st Infantry was activated for combat duty at Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky, 15 September 1942, as a part of the 98th Infantry Division, commanded by Major General Paul L. Ransom.

  And, as General Ransom presented the regiment's colors to the 391st Infantry's Commanding Officer, Colonel Head, on that brisk September morning, indications were that the "best reserve infantry regiment in the United States Army" would now become one of the best regular units.

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  The 393d Engineer S.S. Regiment

  United States Army

  The history of the 393rd is a story of a hard working organization. It was not the fortune of the 393rd to become distinguished in combat. Its record is a good one made so because of the work it did. In the story of such units as the 393rd we see part of the work of a great Corps and even then we see the Corps as itself part of a great Army. It was and is the contributions of all the parts that made Victory possible.

  It is difficult in such a volume as this to pick out individuals for special mention. Our purpose is to tell the story of the Regiment. All members have contributed to that story. There was the work of those who had the problem of planning and leadership. There was the work of the men, those whom we call privates but without whom no work would ever be done. Out of all this, the "editor" assumes to "dedicate" this volume to the Junior Officers of the 393rd. The burden of adverse conditions fell upon them and it was because of their resourcefulness and labor and leadership that the work always moved forward.

  In compiling this history, the chief source has been the "secret log" of the regiment. Major Carleton and Captain Gurney deserve recognition for their work in keep this "log". Captain Gurney must also be mentioned for the work of his sketches. To Sgt. De Angelus goes mention for his work in photography and to T/4 Edward H. Owen for the use of his, "History of Company D."

  The Chaplain -- Editor, Harold A. Mercier

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  The 86th Chemical Mortar Battalion presents its battle history

  United States Army

  Everyone knows of the infantry and the air corps, the tankers and the engineers, the quartermaster and ordnance. And they "know" all about Chemical Warfare: they picture us playing with test tubes in white laboratories, a thousand miles behind the lines, discovering new war gases and atomic bombs.

  Some within the Chemical Warfare Service do bring new methods of warfare from their labs, but most of us are ordinary soldiers -- very like the infantry and all other troops who fight on the ground, for keeps.

  Originally, our mortar was designed for firing chemical shells. Then one day someone discovered that you could fire a TNT-filled shell from the same muzzle -- and that day you said goodbye forever to clean labs and pretty colored chemicals, and became a soldier.

  So we toted a 4.2" mortar from the beaches of France to the heart of fortress Germany. We went where the infantry had to go, a few times arriving before they did. Our ways of life were alike: same wariness by day. same fear by night, same boredom and despair. And some died in the fight-just as the infantrymen.

  Neither for the glory nor the medals, the press releases nor the newsreels -- but with a vague consciousness we sensed that we had to be part of this mighty juggernaut that was crushing the Nazis. Beneath our blusters and disdain of flighty words we were proud of being soldiers. We originated a favorite maxim that we used as a "wisecrack" all over Europe -- "Don't fool with the fighting troops!"

  Yet there are few -- soldiers and civilians alike -- who know what a 4.2" chemical mortar is and what it can do. Here is the answer, and it has nothing to do with chemicals or chemists except in a very abstract way. This is the historical account of a fighting odyssey, the simple facts of where and with whom we fought.

  Everyone knows of the infantry and the engineers. This is about mortar men, who also fought a war.

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  The Cross of Lorraine: a combat history of the 79th Infantry Division, June 1942-December 1945

  United States Army

  "The story of the 79th Division is fact, not fiction. The accomplishments set forth here are sufficient evidence that the individuals of the Division realized and accepted their several responsibilities. To our dear comrades who gave their all to bring about these great deeds let us do homage by renewing with ever greater vigor our determination to close with the enemy and exterminate him."

  Ira T. Wyche / Major General, U. S. Army Commanding General, 79th Infantry Division

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  The history of the 341st Engineer Regiment, July 29, 1943-March 22, 1946

  United States Army

  Members of the Three Forty-First: Joining with you in the pleasure and satisfaction of looking over the record of the 341st Engineer Regiment. I feel anew that warmth of joy and pride which came over me every time I visited your jobs. It made no difference whether the dust was at Briquebec or Coutances, the mud at Roanne Coo or Ettelbruck, the snow at Bastogne or St. Vith, or you were getting in the steel at Koblenz or at Bamberg, you were there and I saw you, day and night, overcoming impossible difficulties.

  You built 110 bridges, more than two miles of them, and the 341st target painted on them was a symbol of a job done well and in time. The Armies depended on you to do more than your part, and they knew that you would not, and did not, fail them.

  Our losses were few, and that also is a credit to the superb leadership of the officers and non-commissioned officers, and to the perfect teamwork of every part of the organization. Let us join as we have joined before in thanks to Almighty God for His care and for His continued guidance.

  Sincerely yours,

  Colonel Edward H. Coe

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  The soldier-railroaders' story of the 716th Railway Operating Battalion

  United States Army

  December 21st, 1943 marked the day of activation of the 716th Railway Operating Battalion. The outfit, sponsored by the Southern Pacific-Railroad, began its life at Fort Sam Houston (San Antonio), Texas with officer personnel drawn chiefly from the sponsor and a cadre made up of "veterans" of the 726th, the unit that had recently completed its technical training on the Santa Fe at Clovis, New Mexico. For the most part, both the officer personnel and the cadre were former railroad men.

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  What's the story? [49th Armored Infantry Battalion]

  United States Army

  6-7 January 1945:

  We made the most of our opportunity to get acquainted with the French. Phrase book in hand we went determinedly after the population, and soon large clusters of Gls were seen around tolerantly amused little kids, asking any sort of question they could think of.

  For the most part the kids waited until the boys were just about talked out, and then asked for ''Chocolate, chewing gum, or cigarette pour papa." Others didn't wait for them to talk themselves out. No matter how the conversation started, it always ended with the request for cigarettes and chocolate. In an alley down the street a still was found that transformed apple juice into a product for which many uses were found, including lighter fluid .

  And the "Vive Ia France!" sentiment gained in intensity. Our vocabulary was soon increased by such valuable terms as "Cognac, Calvados, No compree, Couchez avec moi, etc."

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  Wild deuces: 1902 Engineer Aviation Battalion

  United States Army

  "Here is our story -- to the everlasting memory of associations with men of courage, ability and determination in time of our greatest national emergency, a job well done."

  Robert E. Fonger, Lt. Col. C.E., Commanding

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  History of fighting Squadron Forty-six: a log in narrative form of its participation in World War II

  United States Army Air Corps and Hibben Ziesing

  Preface:

  This history is dedicated to the Fighter Pilots of VF 46 with my admiration, respect and affection.

  It is a narrative of the Squadron from its inception to the end of its first and last carrier combat tour of duty. Opportunities of splashing large numbers of enemy planes in "Turkey Shoots", enjoyed by some of our contemporary Air Groups, simply did not present themselves to 46. Any AGC will concede there is a great deal of luck in being assigned to Strikes or CAP where the hunting was good. We were not lucky in our assignments. Every opportunity to inflict damage on the enemy, however, was capitalized, thus contributing to their ultimate defeat in some of the most important actions of the war.

  To one who has participated enthusiastically in all forms of athletics for many years without ever having approached perfection in any, the expert is profoundly impressive. I can't resist this opportunity, therefore, to express my feeling which borders on awe for the perfectionist in the most difficult of all physical achievements. I refer to Carrier Landings. They require more precise timing, hair-trigger thinking and faultless judgment than any form of physical accomplishment. Each move is under pressure and unless perfectly executed may result in serious injury or death.

  Timing, the sine qua non of success in all forms of athletics, is concededly most allusive in the Royal and Ancient game of golf. Here the problem of timing is between a moving object, the golf club, and a stationary one, the ball. Not so difficult a problem of timing presents itself · in all kinds of racquet games where both the racquet and the ball are in motion. fn both of the above type of games the motion of the club can be controlled at all times to meet the object whose course is predictable, and therefore can be anticipated. Yet with these advantages how many participants can be classified as experts? There are few Bobby Joneses, Byron Nelsons, Bill Tildens or Donald Budges.

  On the other hand, all Carrier pilots are experts in Carrier landings. Many perfect carrier landings are made with plane controls damaged by enemy flak on an itinerant base, 588 feet long by 71 feet wide, one-third of which may be covered by planes parked forward, heaving and bobbing in a rough sea. The club, in this case a six-ton Grumman Hellcat landing at a speed of 65 knots with damaged controls, must meet in perfect timing, an object, the deck, whose motion is unpredictable. All participants have to be experts. Necessity is the mother of perfection.

  The pilots in Fighting 46 were always willing to do their job from dawn to dusk, were modest in their claims, bending backward to give their fellow-pilot the credit in case a doubt existed, showed no evidence of false heroics and were gentlemen. Anything one can say falls short of tP,e truth. In the words of Commander Kenneth McCracken, Navigation Officer of the U.S.S. Independence, I regret that my medium is paper instead of bronze.

  Hibben Ziesing, LT. COMDR., U.S.N.R. A.C./.0., and Historical Officer