1/10/44 Mission:
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-25's hit San Benedetto de Marsi; P-40's, with RAF, SAAF, and RAAF airplanes, hit communications, gun positions, trucks, and tanks at numerous points in and NW of the battle area; other P-40's give close support to ground forces in the Chieti area; and A-36's hit trucks, tanks, trains, and other targets of opportunity N of Rome. Transfers: HQ 47th Bombardment Group (Light) from Vincenzo Airfield to Vesuvius Airfield, Italy.
1/11/44 Mission:
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): In Italy, B-26's attack the iron and steel works at Piombino during the night of 10/11 Jan; during the day, B-25's bomb Falconara (hitting the railroad junction) and railroad yards at Fabriano; P-40's and A-36's blast defenses and gun positions in Cervaro-Monte Trocchio, a gun position N of Minturno, the towns of Sora and Isola del Liri, road traffic in the Macerata-Aquila-Popoli area, and railroad facilities at San Giorgio del Sannio. Transfers: HQ 87th Fighter Wing to Nouvion, Algeria from the US. 84th and 85th Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 47th Bombardment Group (Light), from Vincenzo Airfield to Vesuvius Airfield, Italy with A-20's.
1/11/44 Original Correspondence:
1/11 (?)/44, Italy
Hi Marfy:
I think most of my mail has caught up to me now. Don’t worry when it doesn’t come through. The last delay was due to the use of all available facilities to get mail to us.
Having been flying all over Italy for the past 3 months or so, I don’t see that the censor can draw any conclusions from the following. You can’t either, for that matter. I could describe any part of Italy in as great detail, but none are as pretty as the old mountain.
Vesuvius is not a particularly high mountain. When I first saw it, I was on a mission, and it was rather difficult to pick out amongst the adjacent peaks. The mountain has a marked effect on the surrounding country as all of the soil is volcanic ash. It is most peculiar. They say it is as easy or easier to till than loose, dry, sand would be. The smoke from the mountain hangs over the area continually, and may contribute to the warm temperature of the surrounding valleys, in which are raised peanuts, grapes, oranges and tangerines.
The plume of smoke is most beautiful in the early morning, when the sun has turned it red. It only lasts for a few minutes, but is a sight which I shall someday show you. The smoke rises almost vertically until it hits the omnipresent cloud layer, where it flattens out and is absorbed. As in all of Italy, the mountain is terraced and cultivated as high as possible.
Although I haven’t been able to get to it on the ground, all of my observations of necessity being made from aerial observation, or conversations with other people, I have accumulated some interesting dope about the ancient Roman Empire. Napoli is one of the oldest cities. It’s king once controlled all of southern Italy as well as the Mediterranean. Pompeii was the resort town of the kingdom. Contrary to general belief, it was destroyed by an adjacent volcano, not Vesuvius.* It had only one industry, sex. Apparently every other house was a whore house, as attested by the inlaid murals. They depict all of the positions in which the act can be accomplished.
Other murals depict men (and women) with tremendous genitalia. In front of many of the houses can be found a marble replica of the owner’s genitalia, and a smaller set representing each son. It’s sort of a sorry situation. Many of the houses have receptacles for [vomiting] adjacent to the dining room. A real man could eat four or five meals, tossing each one down the receptacle after he was full. Modern Italy is little better. Even men of middle class feel perfectly free to tell their fiancé that they won’t be able to call on them on a certain night because they’re going over to their favorite house for a little sexological exercise. This, of course, is not universally true.
Honey, don’t let Doc Sheaff do any surgery of more than a very minor nature until he checks up on me. I’m sure you can trust him to do what is right. I wish you would quit feeling that it was your fault—nuts, I fell in love with you when you weren’t pregnant and that will never make any real difference. Keep me posted.
After sitting around local HQ for some months, my bomb-sight has finally gone forward and AF advises it has been sent to Wright Field. I hope those stupid bastards can see the advantage. If they do, it will sure cut down on our losses due to flak.
Well, Toots, that’s about the story. I hope your mail doesn’t get too screwed up because of your trip.
I think I shall stop over and see Harsh after supper tonight.
All my love Kitten. Your Cy.
Later
Hi There:
Another letter—the one Xmas eve. Sure am sorry I couldn’t be there, but will try to do better in the future. If I live to be a million I shall never forget the peach and strength I am able to extract from your cheerful letters.
Tsk, tsk. I’m a bad boy. I clipped a telephone wire this afternoon. If I’d been flying where I usually do when practicing low level, I wouldn’t have hit it—I’d have gone under it. I was trying to get back in shape after a month layoff. I flew 2 ¾ hours today and shall try to get in more time domani.
Well, angel, write me voluminous reports of your trip. I wish I could do the same.
All my love, goodnight, Cy.
*I’m not sure where Cy got this information, but I have found no credible historical or geological resource that does not credit Vesuvius with the destruction of Pompeii.