Editor’s notes –5/5/43 Mission:
Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) fighters and bombers fly 6 missions against strongholds on the NE and E slopes of Djebel Bou Aoukaz as the British 5 Corps' 1 Division attacks and gains the position. Fighters hit shipping in Gulf of Tunis and attack landing grounds and concentrations near Protville. Wellingtons bomb roads at Bir Meherga. From:http://www.milhist.net/usaaf/mto43a.html
5/6/43 Mission:
In Tunisia, the British 18 Army Group opens the final assault on Tunis and Bizerte before dawn. The assault is supported by massed artillery fire and the most intensive air bombardment yet employed in North Africa. Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) airplanes bomb El Aouina, La Sebala, and Ariana Airfields during the night of 5/6 May. Today, fighters, A-20's, and medium bombers fly over 1,400 sorties, attacking Protville and La Sebala Airfields, trucks on the Massicault-Tunis road, Bordj Frendj, Djebel Achour, traffic SW of Tunis, troops N of Massicault, the Djedeida- Saint-Cyprien road, the road S of Djedeida, and numerous other points of strength in extreme NE Tunisia. B-25's and B-26's bomb 2 beached vessels at Cape Zebib, and ships, a lighthouse, and parked aircraft near Capes Fortass, Zebib, Cap Serrat and at Protville. Fighters escort the bombing missions. From:http://www.milhist.net/usaaf/mto43a.html
5/6-7/43 Mission:
Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) fighters, A-20's, and medium bombers hit El Aouina Airfield and traffic on the roads around Tunis, especially the Tunis-Bizerte road, as the Allied forces of Lieutenant General Harold R. Alexander's 18 Army Group overrun both Tunis and Bizerte,splitting the enemy's forces. From:http://www.milhist.net/usaaf/mto43a.html
On May 7th, 1943, the British forces entered Tunis and the American forces entered Bizerte. By May 12 all German and Italian forces had surrendered in Tunisia. Over 230,000 prisoners of war were taken by the Allied forces.
5/8/43 Mission: This is the beginning of the bombing campaign as part of “Operation Corkscrew”, which was directed at the Italian island of Pantelleria. The allies wanted to know if they could overcome the fortified pill-boxes and batteries with just air and naval bombardment. Over 5200 sorties were flown against the island, dropping over 6000 tons of bombs. The campaign would last until June 11, 1943.
In the Mediterranean, Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) P-38's and Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) fighters and A-20's bomb the landing ground on Pantelleria Island. In Tunisia, NASAF B-26's and P-4O's attack small vessels off NE Tunisia. Weather prevents the success of other shipping sweeps, but B-25's hit a road junction and railroad at Korba and a highway N of Beni Khalled. P-40's bomb docks near Thonara. NATAF fighters and A-20's bomb shipping between Tunisia and Sicily, convoys and road network near Soliman and Hammamet, tanks near Protville, troops, emplacements, trucks, landing grounds, and vessels on and near Cap Bon and in the area S of Tunis. On the ground, CORPS FRANC D'AFRIQUE makes an official entry into Bizerte as the British 7 Armored Division pushes N from Tunis toward the US II Corps zone. The British 6 Armored and Indian 4 Infantry Divisions, pushing SE toward Hammamet, are stopped at Hammam Lif as the enemy strives to keep their line of retreat to the Cap Bon peninsula open. The British 5 Corps' l Division and 4 Indian Division push E with the French 19th Corps which meets firm resistance near Zaghouan. From:http://www.milhist.net/usaaf/mto43a.html
5/9/43 Mission:
In Tunisia during the night of 9/10 May, Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) Blenheims, bomb troops and vehicle concentrations in the Homemade-Nabeul-Menzel Bou Zelfa-Soliman-Tazorhrane areas. Fighter sweeps over the battle area, provide cover for destroyers, strafe barges, bomb buildings in the battle area, strafe trucks between Hammamet and Soliman and bomb a landing ground near Menzel Temime. A-20's and medium bombers also bomb shipping, hit concentrations in the battle area and in the town of Soliman, and bomb the airfield on Pantelleria Island. The US II Corps receives the unconditional surrender of enemy troops in its zone. From:http://www.milhist.net/usaaf/mto43a.html
5/10/43 Mission:
In Tunisia, Northwest Tactical Air Force (NATAF) fighters, A-20's, and medium bombers attack Pantelleria harbor in the Mediterranean, Korba bridge, Menzel Temime landing ground, Kelibia areas, and town of Menzel Bou Zelfa. Numerous motor transport and troop concentrations on Cap Bon peninsula are bombed and strafed as British 6 Armored Division drives to Hammamet, cutting off the peninsula. From:http://www.milhist.net/usaaf/mto43a.html
5/10/43 North Africa
Dear Toots:
This is quite a letter writing session. I wrote to Gunther and to Mother last night, then I wrote to Blen this morning, and then I got your letter of April 3 so I’m writing to you. I’m sure I have another money order for you which I shall enclose. Apparently the finance office method of sending money is not so hot, so shall probably continue to use the money order deal.
Don’t worry so much when I get unhappy and unload. Honey, it is hard for you not to have me, doubly hard since we have been so completely self-sufficient between us for so long, but try to imagine how it would be not to have any of your old friends around. That is why I occasionally get so blue and unload the way I do. You at least have a bunch of people you’ve been with for years. Actually, here in the 47th I have made some mighty fine friends. Walt Hanna and Don Smith, CO and Ops of one of the squadrons have been wonderful to me. I have flown all of my missions with their outfit, the 84th, and it is tops. They help a great deal. So just bear with me, and don’t let yourself get too peeved. I generally don’t write when I am griped, but there are times when I must unload.
Nice work on the shorthand at 90. Now when I get home I can really put you to work for me! If you haven’t gotten any of my recent letters, OK on the job provided you stay quite near either the folks, Doris and Cliff, Huntoons, or the Gerritys. I don’t want you any place else. If we work at it, we can increase that $300 saved to $3000 and that will just about cover a year of school. $185 per month will not do it in civilian life as we have to pay cash for stuff that is now our allotment. I estimate that it will be roughly a year before I get home. Although I have only been out of the country for 3 months, I haven’t seen you for 5, and that is too damn long. It irks me to think that I made that sacrifice for an outfit which didn’t get to do any good. I have a deep scar on that score, for all but one man were tops. Poor old Van didn’t get made assistant ops of the higher HQ he was fishing for, but merely got relieved of his command sent to a replacement pilot pool! I sincerely feel sorry for him, for he is a damn good staff officer, although no CO. I’m afraid he has cooked his goose almost as well over here as he did in the good ol’ USA. The men I brought up here with me have been doing a swell job, and have earned a couple of medals etc.
Speaking of which, I have an African campaign medal now, although I shall not wear it until I get home. I also have been rec’d for an air medal for flying 10 sorties. I’ll believe that one when I get it, although it is fairly certain to come through. When I get those two, I shall feel free to wear the yellow “sucker before Pearl Harbor” one. But I wouldn’t want to wear just one little yellow ribbon by itself. The African ribbon is pretty in an African sort of way. It has brown and blue and white etc. in it.
The paper says they are passing some new dope on income tax. If it goes through, we won’t have to pay any for 1942. Go ahead and pay until they get settled, and then go to Chi office and put in for a rebate. They are quite nice about that. Don’t hold out on the assumption that the bill may go through, for then we will have a slug to pay if it doesn’t.
The radio says the war is over in Africa. They’re nuts. It may be over in Africa, but not from Africa. It won’t be over anyplace until we chase these damned Jerrys back to Berlin.
Col. Terrel has recommended me for my majority AUS in addition to AUS(AC) like it now is. This won’t mean much, only that if I should ever be transferred to another branch (not AC) that I would be a major and not a first looey. Incidentally, tomorrow I mark off my first three years in this army.
Funny thing. Marty I is in this outfit! I haven’t had any dates with her yet, but she is doing a good job. Harsh’s girl almost let me down one day. She got a little weak on the left side, and had a flat foot when we danced the final here at the field.
What a machine. It has one of these 3 foot carriages, and can’t keep up to my speed. Also, you have to pound hell out of it.*
The Mediterranean is a nice place in which to swim. The water isn’t as salty as Savannah, but it is a lot colder. In fact, it is as cold as Lake Michigan. I have a little tan, but it is mostly on my face and hands.
If anybody had ever told me I would go without a bath for two weeks I would have been quite peeved. But that happens here regularly. I took a Turkish one yesterday and feel quite spry today.
Aw nuts. I’m getting exhausted from pounding on this thing. Keep on writing even if there isn’t anything about which to write. It is very hard to go through a week without hearing anything, and the more you write the better chance I have of getting something.
Had baby beef for lunch!
The German supply system has finally failed the boys. They’ve run out of white flags.
Your own, Cy
P.S. Will you send me a list of enclosures you’ve received: I’ve sent 1. Paper (4 kinds) 2. Flowers 3. Pictures (several) 4. 2 cook books 5. 3 pillow covers.
*The typewriter he’s using.