9/27-30/43: The residents of the city of Naples, Italy, organized a popular uprising against the German occupying force and drove them out of the city, allowing the Allies to enter the city on October 1, without opposition.
9/30/43 Mission:
XII Air Support Command fighter-bombers carry out strafing and bombing missions N and NE of Naples as Avellino falls to the US 3d Division.
10/1/43 Mission:
In Italy, Northwest African Tactical Bomber Force (NATBF) and XII Air Support Command medium and light bombers, and fighter-bombers hit the Benevento town area and marshalling yard, the bridge at Capua, and motor transport, trains, and railroads mainly in the Isernia area and N to Avezzano. The British King's Dragoon Guards (with the US Fifth Army) occupy Naples. British Eighth Army troops occupy Foggia airfields.
10/2/43 Mission:
In Italy, fighter-bombers of the XII Air Support Command attack motor transport, roads, and bridges during armed reconnaissance missions from the Volturno Valley N to Isernia and W to Benevento.
10/3/43 Mission:
XII Bomber Command fighter-bombers hit motor transport in the battle area as US Fifth Army troops take Benevento.
10/4/43 Mission:
XII Air Support Command fighter-bombers hit trains, roads, railroads, and vehicles near Isernia, Avezzano, Pescara, and Isolella. The Allies now have complete control of Corsica.
10/4/43 V-Mail #1 “Somewhere [censored]”
Hi Miss Beautiful:
How’s my baby tonight? It’s only 1600 here, but will soon be dark. Burt and I are having Arthur Dixon and Gordon Roberts down from Group for a snack, an appetizer, and supper. This will be followed by 2 bottles of 22 year old champagne. War is hell. Don’t ever worry about this cooky.
[censored] is beautiful. Sunrise over the Adriatic, which I got a glimpse of on an inspection trip, followed by a dawn dip in same is wonderful. Many of the towns and cities have not been touched. Someday I’ll take you through them. All produce is ersatz and I have fortunately seen little worth buying. I have enough command of [censored] (via Spanish) to be able to get along swell, although actual conversation is limited to “ughs” and “ahs.”
The natives are almost 100% pro-allied, and have been all along. There are a few die-hards in the military who have been quickly weeded out.
I have one more continent to add to the collection and it will be complete. I would give my left eyebrow to be able to take a mill and write all of the things I see. It will be so hard to remember later. Have you ever gotten the stuff from Malta? I love you. Cy.
10/4-5/43 #2 “Somewhere in Italy”
Toots:
It really isn’t the 4th, as I started yesterday, but a lot of stuff came up.
I got a letter from Tom Reed and Obie last time the mail came in.
Nuts—I’ve got a meeting in 2 minutes—be back later.
Think I’ll go back to bed. I have a grade A sore throat and just had it painted by the Doc.
One of my rather questionable privileges is regularly sending other people home. Our work is so highly specialized that we haven’t the opportunity of snagging the required number of missions and scramming home.* I ought to be a mission hog like the rest of the Squad. CO’s, but I’m not. I try to fly those missions which require new tactics on the spot in the probably conceited thought that I may be better able to get them out of a tight one.
I had two of the older officers down from group for a supper last night. We ended in a deep discussion–a lawyer, a businessman, banker, farmer, newspaperman, and engineer being represented. It was most interesting.
Well, so long for now. I loves ya, baby. Cy
*The information I’ve been able to find indicates there is a lot of debate about just how many missions the bomber crews had to fly in order to complete a tour of duty. Initially the number was 25, which due to likelihood of injury or death, was very difficult to accomplish. Then the Air Corps kept raising the bar to 30, 35 and then 50 missions. Source: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Military-History-669/2010/9/WWII-Bomber-Flight-Crews.htm