Year: 1944

1944 January 19 “I took off the moustache”

1/18/44 Mission:

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-26's hit the harbor, tin mills, steel works, power house, and blast furnaces at Piombino, and bomb the Montalto di Castro railroad and bridge; B-25's hit the town and railway viaduct at Terni, and A-20's blast gun positions in the Minturno area; P-40's hit trains, wharves and vessels in the Ploca and Metkovic, Yugoslavia areas; A-36's and P-40's pound troops, trucks, and gun positions in the Minturno area and near Pontecorvo and Atina, hit a gasoline dump at Pignataro Interamna, a warehouse at Fontana Liri, a factory at Ceprano, the rail and road junction at Avezzano, and railway at Santa Marinella.

1/19/44 Mission:

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-25's bomb Rieti Airfield; B-26's hit the airfield at Viterbo; A-20's attack the marshalling yard at Colleferro; P-40's bomb and strafe 2 schooners at Makarska, Yugoslavia; A-36's hit guns, trucks, and trains N of Rome and fly 70+ sorties against rail, communications and troop positions in the US Fifth Army battle area as the Garigliano bridgehead expands; P-40's also hit defended positions in the battle area and near Scauri, Tremensuoli, and Alvito.

1/19/44 V-Mail, Italy

Hi Marfy:

Today, I did it.  I couldn’t live with me anymore, not even long enough to get a picture made, so I took off the moustache.  Everybody is heartbroken but me.

Your sketch of the apartment looks interesting.  I shall check with a photo-interpretation magnifying set and see if I can make out something.

I feel like a heel.  I go on missions at regular intervals and take my chances along with the other flight leaders.  But chance has given me 3 pieces of cake in a row, with the others hot.  Of course, my luck ran the other way last summer.  We did some nice work a couple of days ago, although rather a small part of the all-out effort.

I washed my hair and took a bath today, and cleaned up the tent.  This was no mean task as Jax and Burt left in a hurry.  Burt’s arm is troubling him because of infected tonsils, which they are taking out.  He should be alright soon.  People who don’t know anything about it keep telling my men they’re going home and I got the nice job of disillusioning them.

Honey, I love you more daily.   Cy.

 

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1944 January 22 Anzio

1/20/44 Mission:

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-26's bomb the Viterbo marshalling yard and attack a bridge at Pontecorvo; B-25's attack railroads in the Carsoli area; A-20's give close support to the US 5th Infantry Division in the Minturno area; British and US P-40's follow RAF light bombers in a raid on the Popoli station; A-36's pound a rail and road crossing at Viterbo. and P-40's hit communications at Frosinone, Palestrina, and Carsoli, where a traffic block is created; A-36's and P-40's fly nearly 200 sorties in support of the US Fifth Army ground forces as the 36th Infantry Division begins an assault across the Rapido River in the Theodice area; and P-40's hit targets along the British Eighth Army front.

1/21/44 Mission:

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, B-26's hit railroad bridges N and S of Orvieto; B-25's bomb
chokepoints around Rome and unsuccessfully attack the Pontecorvo bridge; A-20's attack communications at Atina; P-40's hit shipping at Povlje, Yugoslavia; other P-40's and A-36's attack strongpoints, trucks, a command post, a HQ building, and radar station in the battle area; P-40's also give close support to US Fifth Army troops which are hardpressed at both Garigliano and the Rapido River bridgeheads; and A-36's bomb Veletri, a concentration at Minturno, and the area S of Viterbo.

1/22/44 Mission: The commencement of the Battle of Anzio

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
   In Italy, maximum support is given to Allied landings at Anzio, which are begun by the US Fifth Army's VI Corps at 0200; fighter-bombers, light and medium bombers direct efforts toward isolating the landing area by cutting roads, bridges, and railroads and obstructing towns in the surrounding region, at Valetri, Valmontone, Colleferro, Ceprano, and Fondi and hitting traffic and communications throughout the area; fighters maintain a patrol over shipping and beachhead and successfully intercept several enemy fighter-bomber missions directed against the landings.

For more on the Anzio landings see:

http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/anzio/72-19.htm

and http://www.worldwar2facts.org/battle-of-anzio.html

1/22/44 V-Mail

Honey:

I can spend all day thinking of things to write and then sit down and not be able to think of a thing.

The Vulcano kids went out and bought an Italian text book for me (written in English).  In addition, I was given a definite assignment!

Hey! Have you ever gotten the plaid skirt and the tam?  Do you like them?

I am sending you little turquoise pins.  Send one to Jack (Emma) and keep one for Beverly.  It is a color she wears well.  Also enclosed is a coral necklace for you—red—a color, oh boy!  Treat it carefully, it didn’t grow on a tree.  Happy Easter.  More later.

Next Day

You sound much happier down there!  I like this idea fine.  Davis’ were very nice to me and I’m sure you’ll like them if you get a chance to meet them, even if out of our class financially.  I’m glad you called.

Nena writes that she has your skirt and tam and will forward it when she gets your address.  Your necklace went out today.

Boy, have I got psycho problems in my tribe!

I love you muchly,  Cy

 

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