Saturday, January 29

Took off with the dawn over Casablanca, up the coast of Portugal & Spain, past occupied France, over the Guernsey island & to the tip of the Cornish peninsula. Landed at Newquay - a former resort town and is it ever nice. We were expecting to be Jumped enroute by J.U. 88's & had the turrets loaded & manned but no incidents. It was beautiful weather - 100 mile visibility all the way.

It is cold and damp here in England but really beautiful - the quaint old structures of brick & stone look almost like castles overlooking the surf pounding on the rocks below. All of England is surrounded by a cliff about 300 ft. high.

Here we have no Army quarters so we are quartered in a hotel which is really wonderful. Beautiful women for waitresses and good food makes it wonderful. However this British monetary system is driving me crazy.

Stanfield & I went to a movie in the evening - had to elbow our way down the narrow pitch black streets - not a light showing anywhere. Henry Aldrich, & Laurel & Hardy were on.

Friday, January 28

Richard Carl Callison 1 year old.
Into this Universe, and Why not knowing.
Nor Whence, like Water willy-nilly flowing.


Up at noon again - this sleep is wonderful. Couldn't go to town as there was a French-Arab riot the Arabs are celebrating their independence day so there is apt to be trouble. Played cards and worked on ship. B-24 crashed on take-off last nite & they suspect sabotage. Capt. Loesch saw an Arab climb out of one ship and run - they found the gas turned off. We looked our ship over but no trouble. Leave in the morning so to bed early.

Thursday, January 27

Slept till noon today and then went into town again and just sat in the sun at one of the sidewalk cafes all afternoon just loafing. Went to show in the evening - saw "Return to Paris" a propaganda show but quite good. Early to bed.

Wednesday, January 26

What a day. Garwick got in today and he speaks fluent French. I went to town with him and he had the Arabs & French going around in circles. Later we went down to the part where a bunch of the prostitutes from the Medina came to sell their wares. They would get a customer and spread their blankets in the bushes - there were dozens of the girls there. Garwick later cornered a French Major & Captain over at the officer's Club and he talked them into taking us into the Medina in their car & showing us around. We drove down to the red light district and after dodging M.P.s we finally found the street about 4 blocks long which was one continuous "row of houses." We elbowed our way down thru the droves of girls who would grab onto us and just hang on. Sometimes they would get about 3 of them and drag us into their parlor. There they would rub up against us, try to take our pants off, pull up their dresses, and everything imaginable to try to get us to patronize them. We spent 5 hours there and was in every house there - it was one of the damndest things I have ever seen. Boy, it would have been wonderful not to have to worry about disease - for as low as 50c we could have slept with very attractive women.

Tuesday, January 25

Slept till noon - then went to town in the PM. Back on Flying status now and ship is O.K. Walked around the French quarters and bartered with the Arabs for a cigarette case & billfold - made of camel's leather. They are handmade & really beautiful. Went to a show at the Red Cross in the evening - saw Olson & Johnson in "Crazy House." It was one of the best comedies I have seen for a long time.

Monday, January 24

Got bawled out royally for leaving hospital last nite but don't care much. Slept all day and went into town again tonite. Three of us climbed over the wall and went down into the Medina tonite - it is off limits. It was an experience I shall never forget. We rode for 30 minutes in a horse-drawn cab thru narrow alleys just filled with grime and these black cloaked & hooded Arabs - it gives one the impression of the Ku Klux Klan. Finally wound up at a couple of French prostitute's room - we wanted them to put on a burlesque show for us but they wanted $4 apiece which we wouldn't pay. Our cab took our money & promised to wait but when we left - he was gone and so was the guide. We wandered around for 2 hours before we found our way out of the maize of alleys - we finally found an M.P. who took us back. Stood Nelly up to go into the Medina.

Sunday, January 23

Slept in hospital all day - tooth still hurts like the devil. The rest of the squadron finally caught up so a bunch of us went to town again tonite. We found a bar in the basement of a hotel over in the French quarters that was open and there we picked up a French girl. She was one of the dirtiest talking women I have ever seen she wanted me to sleep with her. I guess she is a prostitute. The Four of us talked her into taking us down into the Medina or native quarters where she lived if we could slip by the M.P.'s as the Medina is off limits. However we couldn't get by so she agreed to meet us tonite with 3 girl friends. We did get her story though. She lived in Paris when the Germans came and they shot two of her sisters, her brother and father for refusing to work for them. They threw her into a concentration camp with her baby which soon died from lack of food. She escaped to unoccupied France & on a destroyer from there to Oran. The Gestapo was close behind her though and chased her clear to Casablanca when we landed there.

Saturday, January 22

Flew across 1000 miles of the Sahara desert - not even a shrub or a rock for 600 miles - just sand dunes. After crossing the desert we had to fly over the Moroccan Mountain range to get to Marrakech. Some of the peaks were 15,000 ft. high and all snow capped. Snow in Africa but it sure was pretty.

The Arabs live in adobe houses - a cluster of them in the most desolate places. They will find a dry river bottom where there are a few shrubs and build a town there - 300 miles from a road and desert all around. There were hundreds of these in the dry rock foothills - and no visible means of support. Marrakech has hundreds of all kinds of planes - even some French fighters and trainers.

Reported right to hospital & they treated my tooth and put me to bed. Tonite I got up, dressed, and went to town. It was all blacked out and
everything closed so just looked around and then went back to hospital and went to bed.

Friday, January 21

Took off from Liberia & flew up to Dakar - the westernmost tip of Africa. Dakar is next to the worst Malaria spot in the World. We had to wear
our pants tucked into our boots, repellent, and everything to keep away the mosquitoes. They have the weirdest looking trees there - they are about 8 ft. in diameter and only about 15 ft. tall with no leaves & very few branches.

Went over to the dispensary with wisdom tooth trouble and they were going to send me to a hospital for 3-4 days but the Major persuaded them to let me go on to Marrakech.

Played hearts in the evening.

Thursday, January 20

Rained all morning so I just lay around and slept. Started reading "Topper Takes a Trip " after lunch and didn't stop till I finished it at 9:30 P.M. It is one of the funniest books I have read.

Sent out my laundry & my boots to be repaired spent a couple of hours trying to get them back for we are finally leaving tomorrow. Thank God for that.

Wednesday, January 19

Wallace James Bodker 21
And this was all the Harvest that I reaped, I came like Water and like Wind I go.

Played golf today - one of the most beautiful courses I have ever seen carved out of the jungles up on the far side of the Firestone Plantation.

There are about 40 or 50 white employees including twelve wives who use it. We borrowed some clubs and played nine holes out in the hot African sun - I hit a 66 - about 40 better than my first game at WSC.

Tuesday, January 18

Went on a Safari back up into the hills - walked about 10 miles back and saw a bunch of native villages. Some of them were very crude and dirty but others were very clean and almost modern. The small children - 6 - 10 years old are painted white when they are ready for their jungle schooling. The "country devil" then comes and for a fee takes the kids back in the bush for their education. We saw a 12 year old girl as fully developed as our 20 year olds. We also ran into two girls taking a bath in a stream. They just giggled and didn't mind us at all till I started to take a picture then they screamed and threw mud at us. Played ping pong all evening.

Monday, January 17

We were finally allowed to go up to the Firestone Plantation - about 5 miles up in the hills from here. A naval Lt. who is stationed there picked us up in his car and showed us everything. They have several thousand acres with about 100 trees/acre. We saw the big tank trucks bringing the liquid latex into the plants and then we tapped a tree ourselves and watched the white liquid drip into the cups. It hardens into a good quality rubber immediately. We then went up to this Lt's. house - leased from Firestone - it is a beautiful brick house with beautiful lawns & flowers right on the edge of the most beautiful golf course I have seen.

Then we went over to a huge native village and saw the bunches of native huts - they are all round, made of mud with thatched roofs. They have a bed room & parlor - the whole thing about 15 feet in diameter. They were cooking up some "palm oil" - a horrible smell -and cassava - the native potato which they live on. We bought a half stem of bananas for 15c and saw the half naked men and women bartering for goods at the trading post. We saw the witch doctor with all his hocus pocus and he did a very mystifying dance with a small boy contortionist helping him. They were both painted up & had head dresses and bells and bracelets all over them. The children and women smear mud over their faces to make them beautiful.

Sunday, January 16

Betty Darlene is 17 years old today.

For some we loved, the loveliest and the best, That from his Vintage rolling time
hast prest.

Happy birthday Betty - wish I were there but I guess this is war. Spent a very uninteresting day doing absolutely nothing except hiring a native to take us for a ride down the river in his dugout canoe. Nice boat. Saw "Man From Down Under" this evening.

This hot climate & nothing to do is just making one rot. Sleep 14 hours a day and just too lazy to write letters or anything. Some of the boys went across the river (court martial offense) last night and watched the native dance.

One of them even got to beat the Tom Tom. They all got "jig jig" - black variety. Just shows decaying effect of climate & locale & inactivity.

Saturday, January 15

Sweated out "Ben the Barber" today - he is a native who does the barbering here. Surprising as it sounds, he did an excellent job with a pair of scissors and hand powered clippers. Two of us sent a native boy with $5 across the river to buy a quart of Scotch. We never saw him or the money again - this is worse than New York for being a clip joint.

Time is beginning to drag terribly - just laying around & it looks like we will be here several days yet. Spent the evening trying to see the native dance with their drums across the river but couldn't see much.

Played hearts with the gang for an hour or so.

Friday, January 14

Re-read yesterdays entry as 13th and 14th were assigned to the same entry.

Thursday, January 13

Have to lay over here a day so just looked around and slept. Went thru a British Wellington, a Grumman Goose, and a Lockheed Hudson. Talked to a boy from Scotland who is stationed here and he told us all about where we are going. His Scottish dialect was really quite 'different'. The natives here are still the surprising element though. We walked over along the river today and saw Jacob there he is the chief of the tribe across the river. He had brought one of his wives across with him - he has two and he was telling us all about his love life. "I've got two wives and one girl friend," he laughed as he told us. "I sure hope my wife doesn't find out about the girl friend though or I will sure be in the dog house." He is always popping out with some expression such as "What's cooking, Doc," or "I'm cooking with gas on the front burners now," or "Get on the ball, youse guys." He is the foreman over about 28 boys who work here on the post. In spite of their still primitive practices they are quite highly educated though. Most of them speak almost perfect English. They were selling this liquor at $8 a quart - not one penny less. They apparently paid $6 a quart and thus made a $2 profit. Tonite they brought over some White Horse Scotch and Three Feathers. Someone asked them for Canadian Club and was told they were all out. They said it cost too much. They said it cost them $8 a quart and if they sold it for $8 a quart they couldn't make a profit so they would have to sell it for $10 a quart and no-one wanted to pay that much. They are really quite shrewd. Jacob was also telling us that wives cost 8 lbs. each (about $35) but if he caught anyone making love to his wife, he could take it to court and sue him for 10 lbs. However, the working man's wage is 20c. to 35c. a day.

Elrod and I were talking to our barracks orderly and he was in the 8th grade up at the Catholic mission they have near here. At the mission, there are about 200 negro boys going to school - they can go clear thru college if they can afford it. It costs $32 per year for grade and high school and $18 a month for college. They earn this money by working during their vacation here on the army base. We asked the boy if he had some shoe shining equipment and he didn't because he didn't have the 35c. necessary to buy it. We knew he could make 50c. a day by shining the shoes of the fellows in his barracks so we went up to the PX and bought him the stuff and gave it to him. The first day, he earned 50c. and he was the happiest boy you have ever seen. We also had him invest some of his new money in Liberian coins which the fellows bought lc & 2c pieces for a nickel or dime each as curios. He has made more money than he knows what to do with. Every time he sees Elrod or I he runs over and tells us all about it. He shows his appreciation more than any white kid you have ever seen. If our American boys had the ambition & guts these kids have, each and every one could have a college education.


This little orderly said that some of the boys gambled or spent their money on girls but that he saved every penny. He couldn't understand why we would pay lOc. for a 2c. Liberian piece. He couldn't see any profit in it for us. We have to lay over several days here now so today, Friday, I had my laundry done and did more resting up. The base company here has a 2 year old chimpanzee - it weighs only about 25 lbs. - when it is full grown it will weigh about 125. This chimp is almost human in intelligence and everyone spent at least 2 hours watching his antics I have never seen anything so comical. They also have a grey gibbon here - about 10 lbs. - and a small dog. This gibbon and dog play together constantly - the monk always having the upper hand in their wrestling matches - his human like hands lets him grab on to the dogs legs and trip him or pull his ears. I took pictures with both the gibbon and chimp wrapped around my neck. The rest of the squadron anyway about half of them - have caught up with us so it isn't so lonesome now - so far I have been traveling with another squadron and didn't know a soul. They have a swell day room here with a small library and a short wave radio - we were listening  to good old American jive - playing records, ping pony, Chinese checkers, and reading most of afternoon. Went to a show - "Assignment in Brittany" - in the evening. It was a story of the French underground - it was quite interesting.

Wednesday, January 12

Africa - the land of dense jungles and vast deserts. Landed in Liberia on the African Gold Coast today in 96 degrees of sultriest weather possible. The field is hacked out of jungles just a few miles from the coast on a large river. Up the river is a huge Firestone Rubber Plantation but the rest is all jungles inhabited by natives who are the blackest Negroes I have ever seen.

We went to a beautiful brick building with a tin roof all covered with about 1 foot of thatch - for mess. Had the best meal since I left the U.S. Had a cold shower and slept till briefing then walked over to the bank of the river. The Negroes there were selling Nigerian 2 c. pieces for lOc., gibbon monkeys which they caught wild in the jungles for $3, and of all things - 1st grade whiskey, scotch, or anything you wanted made in U.S. but absolutely unobtainable there.  Where the natives got it we couldn't find out but they sold 14 qts. in just a few minutes for $8 a quart and they had all anyone could ask for across the river at their village.

They speak English almost perfectly and some have been educated at a mission nearby. Tonite they are having a native tribal dance beating their drums and all - it is an eerie sound. They have dugout canoes which they race up and down the river in. The boys who come across the river and said native "jig jig" would come across river that night for those who wanted a prostitute. One little boy was blonde headed and only half black. They are 100% infected with malaria and venereal diseases.

Tuesday, January 11

Off to "The Rock" as Ascension Island is called. I was the only one of our squadron to get off - just can't keep my plane grounded - damn it. After 76 hours of flying we hit the tiny island right on the nose - very lucky I guess. Ascension is a very interesting place - it consists entirely of volcanic ash with almost no plant life at all a little being found on "Green Mountain" the center of the island. The base has been blasted out of solid rock and ash and is quite good considering. All the barracks are out on a cliff overlooking the ocean which is very clear & blue at this spot. We went down to the beach but didn't have time for a swim although it was a beautiful little lagoon entirely surrounded by cliffs.

There are about 50-100 natives on island in a small fishing village which is only resource.

Went to a movie in the evening - theatre was carved out of the lee side of one of many caves. They had just carved ledges on slope of hill and this was the gallery. The screen being placed below on a platform built up. Morale is surprisingly high - some men having been there for 18 months.

Monday, January 10

Thank God for a day of rest - a day spent only in sleeping and a little work on my plane and two briefings. Bought me a pair of boots today - a combination between a military dress shoe, riding boots, and cowboy boots - they are the most comfortable things I have ever seen. Met Louie Ralsh who washed out at primary and is now navigating in B-26 Replacement group.

Have been eating fresh pineapples, oranges, bananas, mango s - all grown around here - they are really wonderful. To bed early for tomorrow we head east across the pond. Rest of squadron is now here - finally caught up with us.

Sunday, January 9

On South again today to Natal - the eastern tip of Brazil and jumping off place to Africa. This part of the country is just like Texas - sandy waste land with some shrubs, enough to make it wonderful cattle country. Flew over Fortaliza - second largest city in Brazil - it is much like Long Beach. Natal is hot and dusty with a steady east wind blowing in off the ocean. It is fairly dry and cool at nights though tonight is the most beautiful night I have ever seen. Full moon, 72 warm breeze, a 300 mile visibility - oh what a night for romance. Went to an outdoor movie and saw best demonstration of morale I have seen in the army. They had a community sing and everyone actually sang - the first time I have ever seen that. The fellows like it here although it is almost completely isolated from civilization. Natal is very small.

Saturday January 8

Brazil with all it's "scenic grandeur." Off at 5:30 on the Colonel's wing. Flew 5 hours over the top and on instruments so didn't get to see Devil's Island off the coast of French. Flew over 400 miles of dense steaming jungles without any habitation whatsoever. Crossed the equator - over 100° and 99% humidity - God. On down across the Amazon - 100 miles wide at the mouth with the huge ever-changing delta. One island 75 miles in diameter of the most fertile delta land in the world - all flat green grass with huge herds of cattle. To Belem and landed. This is Malaria infested country -sleep with mosquito nets and taking atabrine. People here are pretty dark - mostly Indian and speak Portuguese. Had the darndest time with waitresses at dinner trying to learn a little Spanish. Finally learned how to get more water etc. Tried to go to town but no soap. Belem is 3rd largest town in Brazil – 250,000 and is large rubber exporting city. All buildings red tiled roofs and no windows in any buildings - too hot. Rained 2 inch in about 3 minutes this evening - that's a lot. To bed at 8:30. Saving currency of countries we go thru - a short snorter indeed.

Friday, January 7

Off at 5:30 and headed nearer the equator. Passed over Martinique and Santa Lucia which is a really beautiful island. On South to Trinidad where we stopped for gas and lunch. Visibility was 200 miles on most of trip. On from Trinidad down along the jungle covered coast and swamps of South America to British New Guinea. Passed over huge banana plantations & rice fields with their native huts built upon stilts & thatched roofs. Air field where we stay over night is carved right in the middle of the jungle. Surprising as it is everything is modern here at base - very modern barracks, theatre, club and everything.

Even have a multitude of native girls - almost white working here on the base. They are of Portuguese origin and very beautiful. Heat is terrific - so sultry you can hardly breathe. It seems-like an age since we started but was only yesterday. Trip is so exciting never have time to even think. To bed at 8:30.

Thursday, January 6

One of those unforgettable little incidents of human interest. Was at breakfast at the P.X. when a cute little girl came in and sat at the booth next to ours. Naturally I was the wolf and made eyes at her but could only catch hers by accident. As we arose to go I again looked her way and she looked right back and with a damn nice smile she said almost under her breath "Good luck - soldier." The only person who even took the trouble to think of us as we left for the war.

Came down over Nassau again and then over 4 hours of overcast to Dominican Republic and finally Puerto Rico with their high jungle covered mountains and small patches of sugar cane. I have never seen a more beautiful ocean with brilliant blue water, white sand bottom, and beautiful palm trees and green grass.

Air Base is really beautiful. Oh yes - got our secret orders today - will enter destination later. Early to bed & up at 3:30 tomorrow. Staying at Hotel Stevens - one of army barracks so marked each with a name instead of a number.

Wednesday, January 5

Busy as heck with last minute details-briefings, buying clothing and film etc, drawing equipment, a final medical exam and so on. Reloaded my plane for my convenience and got it all repaired - had so many things wrong which I discovered yesterday. Last day in good old U.S.A. but no celebration, feasting, wining, or even reminiscing - too busy. To bed at 9:00 PM - to arise at 4:30.

Tuesday, January 4

Worked like a fool getting ship weighed and loaded. Was issued ammunition, field glasses, etc. and took possession of my plane. Left Savannah at 2:00 PM on a 4 hour fuel consumption flight. Went to Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Ft. Meyers, and across the gulf to Key West, up the keys to Miami and landed at Morrison Field at West Palm Beach which is P.O.E. They mean business here-took our A.G.O. passes and made crew post its own guard. Beautiful set up though. Won $35.

Monday, January 3

Loafed most of day but had the usual paper work to go thru. Saw a good picture "Destination Tokyo." Full of propaganda but was really a true story of many very unrelated true events of the war all knit together in one plot. Won $20.

Sunday, January 2

Started processing today. Spent the usual 8 hours in lines but finally got thru. It was just like Christmas Day - receiving so much equipment. Got a new pistol, knife, parachute, new clothes, including, boots, 2 jackets, flying suit, sun glasses - everything one could possibly need. More fun. Lost $20.

Saturday, January 1

The moving finger writes, and having writ, Moves on:
Nor all your Piety nor Wit, Shall lure it back to cancel half a line, Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.

A new day on a new year and a new day on a new post. Slept 12 hours on New Year's Eve while the rest of the boys were celebrating at the Officer's club indulging in tie cutting and beer throwing.

Spent the day writing letters and heard U.S.C. beat U. of Wash. 20-0 in Rose Bowl. Processing starts tomorrow - turned over my new plane to base for modification. Won $30 tonite playing poker.