1944 - Page 2 of 37 - WW II Love Story, Letters from Buddy

1944 January 9 “I confiscated one of the Sq. ambulances for the night”

1/8/44 Mission:

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   B-25's bomb the harbor, warehouses, and railway at Metkovic, Yugoslavia. In Italy, A-20's hit railway stations at Frosinone and in the Colleferro-Segni area; B-26's bomb marshalling yards at Grosseto and Lucca; P-40's support the US Fifth Army in the mountains E and SE of Cassino, and, with A-36's, hit railway targets S of Rome at Aquino, Frosinone, Palestrina and Castelforte; other P-40's hit Avezzano, and A-36's blast trains and vessels in the vicinity of Tarquinia.

1/9/44 Mission:

MEDITERRANEAN:
   Prime Minister Winston S Churchill and General Charles A De Gaulle meet at Marrakesh, French Morocco. They discuss cooperation of a French expeditionary force in invasion of Europe and the degree of authority of the French inside France after the invasion.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25's attack the marshalling yard and docks at Ancona; P-40's hit tanks and trucks at Palena and S of Sulmona, and positions and vehicles near Cervaro; and A-36's hit positions in the same area.

1/9/44: From Wikipedia: “James Patrick “Jimmy” Page, OBE (born 9 January 1944)^[1] is an English musician, songwriter, and record producer who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin.

Page began his career as a studio session musician in London and, by the mid-1960s, alongside Big Jim Sullivan, was one of the most sought-after session guitarists in Britain. He was a member of the Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968. In late 1968, he founded Led Zeppelin.

Page is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time.^[2]^[3]^[4] Rolling Stone magazine has described Page as “the pontiff of power riffing” and ranked him number 3 in their list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. In 2010, he was ranked number two in Gibson‘s list of “Top 50 Guitarists of All Time” and, in 2007, number four on Classic Rock‘s “100 Wildest Guitar Heroes”. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice; once as a member of the Yardbirds (1992) and once as a member of Led Zeppelin (1995). Page has been described by Uncut as “rock’s greatest and most mysterious guitar hero”. Los Angeles Times magazine voted Jimmy Page the 2nd greatest guitarist of all time.”

1/9/44 V-Mail, #1
Italy
Honey:
Yahoo! I’m to be sent back to duty tomorrow. I can’t find my outfit by phone, but Ed Bland is going to pick me up. Once out of the hospital, I can check through tactical channels and then get back to work.
Myron fixed the teeth of one of the lads here, and I may get to see him one of these days. Also he is damned well-liked by all. Tommy seems to be maintaining his reputation, you know for what.
For goodness sake! Our night nurse is the daughter of a rather prominent officer and is married to another officer. All of this unknown to hospital personnel. I asked today why I got all of special fruit juices and she said it was because I had a good-looking wife and was proud enough to show it. Seems as though the ANC is tired of being chased by married men who later admit they have a wife and three kids. It is a dirty trick, but one which occurs regularly.
So you see, honey, you’re of benefit to me even 5,000 miles away.
This chance to talk to officers of all branches has meant a great deal to me. It has given me a broader picture of the whole army problem.
Love Cy

1/9/43 #2, V-Mail
Hi:
Some more.
I have lived with everyone from shavetails to colonels, most of whom have been in combat. The few who haven’t have certainly been a different type. The ones from up front are Americans, and sufficiently proud of it to have daily pitted their skill against a damn tough enemy. This is without heroics. When the records are compiled, I believe this campaign will go down in history as one of the roughest.
The army is getting smart on clothing. We are learning and have learned many things in the past year. If this war drags out another two years, we shall not only be the biggest and best equipped, but shall also be the cleverest and best trained in history.
Somebody started the rumor last night that Jerry would capitulate in 36 hours. I had the doubtful pleasure of helping to spike it. Some of these rumors are fantastic.
Honey, I love you. I guess there just isn’t any other way to say it.
Your Cy.

1/9/43 #3, V-Mail
Italy
Hello Mrs. Stafford!
Back on the job again. You’ll never guess where I am. I got back too late to get my bunk out of supply, so I confiscated one of the Sq. ambulances for the night. It is most cozy and comfortable.
I hitch-hiked home from the hospital and got to spend the night with Chocolate. He’s almost ready for a trip home, having flown nearly the required number of missions. Also spent two hours talking to Ernie Pyle, who is most interesting.
The mountains are covered with snow and the wind really whips across the flats. In brief, winter has come.
Honey, never believe any rumor you hear about me. I know how they start and grow.
I must be well. Burt and I took a four mile walk in the bright, full moon, and I am not sufficiently tired to go to sleep.
Speaking of rumors, contrary to radio reports, the troops have not yet seen any of the beer or coke we were believed to have been issued.
I love you baby girl. How’s Florida? How about a date for late 1944? A long one, I hope.
Your very own, Cy.

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1944 January 11 Vesuvius, Napoli and Pompeii

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.

A photo of one of the preserved murals in a brothel in Pompeii (From blog editor’s trip to Pompeii, 2012)

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.

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1944 January 13 “I’m back at work”

1/12/44 Mission:

Colonel Archibald Y Smith assumes command of the XII Air Force Training and Replacement Command.
   In Italy, B-25's and B-26's bomb the Giulianova railway bridge and attack a dam and road bridge; A-20's hit San Donato; P-40's attack a vessel in the Krka River of Yugoslavia, hit enemy defensive positions at San Biagio Saracinesa, Sant' Elia Fiumerapido, Monte Trocchio, and Atina, and bomb Vallerotonda; A-36's attack the Avezzano railroad yards, a village near Atina, railroad facilities at Cisterna di Latina, and numerous trucks and train cars in the Rome area.

1/13/44 Mission:

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25's and B-26's bomb Guidonia, Centocelle, and Ciampino
airfields; A-20's strike the town of Atina. AAF, RAF, SAAF, and RAAF
fighter-bombers hit shipping along the Dalmatian coast at Sibenik and in the Krka River of Yugoslavia. A-36's hit the town and railway yards at Isola del Liri, a factory at Colleferro, docks at Formia, railroad yards at Valmontone, and a railway station SE of Frosinone. P-40's hit Sant' Elia Fiumerapido, San Biagio, Saracinesa, and a rail and road junction near Villa Latina.
   86th and 97th Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 47th Bombardment Group (Light), transfer from Vincenzo Airfield to Vesuvius Airfield, Italy with A-20's.

1/13/44 V-Mail, Italy #1

Honey:

I shall go over your letters and answer them.

When you get through taking vitamins, iron and liver pills, you should be healthy enough to take what I’m saving up for you.

I suppose Ann is very proud of her Jack. He rather disappointed me. I am afraid I am a little bitter about some of these people.

Pop Huntoon always works too hard, and should take care of himself better.

Sis should feel happy about the $50 Xmas presents.

I knew Sam Marks’ night work would get results.

Well, I’ll be damned—Sis has a new job too!

Boy, I’ll say I want to see some china, silver, and linen of ours.

Your Xmas presents sound interesting.

This is the silliest country. Instead of training grapes up on vines, they grow trees, cut all the branches off, and train the grapes between the trees. They also raise peanuts, oranges, and tangerines. All of the things which I learned in school about geography were strict hooey.

Hello trouble! Jackson, after being CO for a month, is confusing himself with the present CO. I get so damned sick of these little troubles that I could scream. Most of the things which are in conflict don’t amount to a hill of beans.

Love Cy

P.S. Bomb-sight is on way to Wright Field.

1/13/44 V-Mail #2

Hi There:

Got an old letter of yours today. So you’re going to deck me out in p.j.’s and dressing gown? It sure will feel funny not to sleep in G.I. longhandles or nothing at all. I’ll try it though, and thanks.

Bob Paul stopped in for a few minutes. It sure was nice to see him. He is back in engineering work now. Be sure to see Mary Kay if you get down that way in your travels. He is no longer in combat, which is good, and no reflection on him. He is still the perfect gentleman he always was. Outside of a healthy disrespect for a few things, he hasn’t changed a bit.

I’m back at work, and did the best job I’ve done for a long time. Of course, when the odds are right, this is easy. Burt’s age is finally creeping up on him and I finally persuaded him to submit to a little medical scrutiny. He is in such perfect health, he can’t conceive of anything being wrong even when it hurts.

(Later) Burt is being a good boy and going to the hospital for two weeks to get fixed up. That will help. I’m trying to get Jax 30 days leave. The poor kid got a letter from home and his 3 brothers all got home for Christmas so he feels a little sad.

I am a happy little moron but need the company of one other specific happy little moron.

All my love, Cy.

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1944 January 17 Ernie Pyle article #1 re fliers in Italy

This is the first in a series of articles that the famous war correspondent, Ernie Pyle, wrote about about the Air Force fliers in Italy. In subsequent articles he spends time with Cy’s group and mentions him by name. The articles offer a good deal of insight into the day-to-day lives of these men.

January 17, 1944 is also the date of the first major assault on the German stronghold in the Italian town of Monte Cassino. Ground was gained, but a German counter offensive drove the Allies back to their original positions by February 10.

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1944 January 17 Recommended for Lieutenant Colonel

1/14/44 Mission:

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25's strike the Pontecorvo bridge; A-20's offer close support to US Fifth Army forces in the Monte Trocchio area; P-40's blast Loreto tank repair shops; P-40's and A-36's hit defenses in the San Giuseppe, Sant' Elia Fiumerapido. and Monte Trocchio areas; A-36's also attack road and buildings E of Minturno, the town of Isola del Liri, and the harbor at Anzio.

1/15/44 Mission:

MEDITERRANEAN ALLIED AIR FORCE (MAAF):
   Lieutenant General Ira C Eaker, USAAF, assumes command of MAAF and Army Air Forces, MTO (AAFMTO), replacing Air Chief Marshall Sir Arthur Tedder, RAF, and General Carl Spaatz, who along with Air Vice Marshall Sir Arthur Coningham, RAF, and numerous other American and British officers have departed for the UK.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25's attack the Foligno railway junction; B-26's bomb bridges at Orvieto. P-40's of the 79th Fighter Group and RAF 239 Wing hit the San Valentino station in a joint attack; A-36's and other P-40's, in support of US Fifth Army forces, hit gun positions and strongpoints, especially at Picinisco and Atina; P-40's on armed reconnaissance hit the railroad W of Frosinone station and strafe the Ceccano station and railway cars.

1/16/44 Mission:

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25's bomb the marshalling yard and choke points at Terni; B-26's attack the marshalling yard and bridge at Orte; A-20's bomb the town of Atina; P-40's attack bridges in the San Giorgio del Sannio area and gun emplacements near Cassino; Sant' Angelo in Theodice and Picinisco; A-36's hit the railway junction at Cecina, road and railway S of Siena, and the town areas of Avezzano and Formia.

1/17/44 Mission:

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25's attack marshalling yards at Terni, Chiaravalle, and
Montemarciano; B-26's strike the Orte railway bridge and Viterbo marshalling yard; P-40's hit the Sibenik, Yugoslavia harbor, the bridge at San Giorgio del Sannio, gun positions at San Giuseppe and Formia and docks at Anzio; A-36's bomb Anzio, the Avezzano town area and road junction, and Tarquinia town and factory buildings.

1/17/44 Italy
Cara Martha Mia:
I love you! See, you didn’t have to wait for the end of the letter this time.
What a relief. One of the so-called officers in this army stole a jeep from me a couple of nights ago. Two of my men caught him today. I shall proffer charges against him tomorrow under a number of Articles of War. I hope it sticks. I can overlook almost anything but that.
Jackson is as happy as a kid on Christmas morning. He is packing for his 21 days leave. He is heading for Tunis & Cairo. Honey, I shall enjoy only leave, and that is with you. I find it very difficult to think of much else. In fact, I am definitely “Martha-sick,” not home sick.
My “moustache” (la bufa horribila) is now a thing of beauty. I think I shall get a charcoal sketch of said face & gadget, and then shave it off. I’ll mail you the sketch.
Next day—noon.
Jackson is on his way. Vance will handle ops in his absence, and I’m sure will do a good job. Gosh, I have some kids flying for me now who left home just before Christmas? It just doesn’t seem possible. Actually, Honey, I can scarcely visualize doing anything other than running a squadron, dropping bombs on Jerry, and planning and laying out new camp sites as we follow the army’s advances. Trying to get used to regular hours will be hard. We have all gotten so used to accepting as normal the fact that any inconvenience in meals or sleep is alright if it makes for more or better bombing that the thought of overtime is fantastic and inconceivable. Jackson’s new tent floor is the first thing other than bare earth since before last May! On work, it just goes on 24 hours per day. I wait until no shows are on, and leave for a few hours. There is always work when I get back.
I recently had a chance to see the entire bomb pattern from a squadron. I followed in with my squadron and saw all the bombs burst. It was most convincing. In all my flights, I had not previously seen the entire effect. Big bombs tore holes in the ground, gasoline fires flared up in orange flame and dense black smoke. The first anti-personnel bombs raised a dense, brown, dust cloud, out of which burst the piercing red flame of the remaining hundreds of anti-personnel bombs. After seeing that, their flak effort looked small, although damnably accurate. Honey, we’re winning the war in spite of all the selfish bastards back home. We are all getting sick and tired of letters from people telling us how many War Bonds they’re buying (at a wonderful interest rate).

They don’t mention the taxes we’ll have to pay after we finish fighting the war for them. The ones really essential are all right, but there are a hell of a lot of them, many in the army, who have deliberately tried to keep out of combat for purely personal reasons. Honey, I wouldn’t have missed this show for anything.
Had a little fun this morning. My right brake locked, and I couldn’t very well let that stop a mission. So I got up speed, lifted said wheel off the ground, and took off on one wheel. I’ve done that before through lack of skill, but never deliberately. It works nicely.
I must stop and wash so I will look nice for Cousin Charles’ friends when I meet them this afternoon.
I love you kitten. Cy.
Back again:
I forgot to mail this so I’ll add to it.
Ernie Pyle (columnist) spent the night with me night before last. He is middle aged and wiry. I have never met a finer gentleman. Ed Bland brought him over. We found a couple of bottles of rum, and Ed, Will Gauss, Jay Stout, and of my men had a bit of a blow-out. It was most pleasant. Ernie will probably be back a little later for a longer stay.
Whee! I took off the moustache (no picture—sorry).
Had a big meeting last night. In other words a bore-ass. Much to my amazement, the OM announced I had been recommended for Lt. Col. a matter of many months ago, and all I have to wait for is administrative delay. One of these years it will come through.
Harsh will finish up one of these days.
Well, Baby, I love you even if I forget to mail letters.
Cy.

1/17/44 was also the beginning of the battle for Monte Cassino, which would last until May. The following is the timeline of the battle:

Timeline of Battle of Monte Cassino

[From: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/world-war-two/war-in-the-mediterranean-sea/timeline-of-battle-of-monte-cassino/]

Citation: C N Trueman “Timeline of Battle of Monte Cassino”

historylearningsite.co.uk. The History Learning Site, 19 May 2015. 16 Aug 2016.

1944

January 17th: Major Allied assault on Monte Cassino commenced.

January 24th: US 34th Division started their attack on Monte Cassino.

January 29th: It became clear that the attack on Monte Cassino had failed and the ‘first battle’ ended. Rain ensured that movement around Monte Cassino was limited with whole areas in the region flooded. Even the weight of a jeep could not be taken. Between the end of January and mid-March, the Germans took the opportunity to reorganise the defences at Monte Cassino.

March 15th: Allied bombers dropped over 1,250 tons of bombs on Cassino. 142 B-17 Flying Fortressesdropped 350 tons of bombs on the monastery on the peak of Monte Cassino. Once this bombing raid had ended, an artillery bombardment started. An attack by the New Zealand 2nd Corps was met with heavy resistance and was halted. The 4th Indian Division captured peak 165 to the northeast of Monte Cassino.

March 16th: No advances were made on the previous day’s success.

March 17th: New Zealanders took most of Cassino town. The monks at the monastery were persuaded by the Germans to leave for Rome.

March 19th: A German counter-attack failed.

March 22nd: Allied assaults were halted due to high casualty rates and lack of territorial gains.

May 11th: An all-out Allied attack on the monastery started – but not a direct assault. A new plan called on Allied forces to outflank the monastery.

May 12th: The French Expeditionary Corps launch a successful attack against German positions.

May 13th: The French opened up a direct route to Rome to the north of Monte Cassino. Other Allied forces gathered to commence a major attack on Monte Cassino.

May 14th: The British 13th Corps continued its assault on Monte Cassino.

May 17th: German forces at Monte Cassino were ordered to retreat. French forces were 25 miles to the north of Cassino.

May 18th: Troops from the Polish 12th Podolski Regiment entered the ruins of the monastery at the top of Monte Cassino.

May 25th: The US 2nd Corps linked up with the beachhead at Anzio.

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