This month proved to be a very good one for this organisation, highlighted by the winning of the much coveted Sub-Depot Trophy for proficiency and visits by high military dignitaries, stage and screen celebrities. Col Stitt made the presentation to Major Jolicouer at a formal presentation on April 13 attended by the whole organisation.

The honor of an inspection by Lt Gen McNarney, Mr McCloy, assistant to the Under Secretary of War; Lt Gen Doolittle, Lt Gen Spaatz, Lt Gen Lee, Lt Gen Kepner and a staff of general officers and colonels was conferred on us on the 19th, when these gentlemen made a tour of our installations. After 45 minutes in our shops and hangars the lavish compliments given after a barrage of questions was indeed gratifying.

The wind up the month's parade of dignitaries, on the 22nd came a staff of newsreel and phographers to film the christening of `Stage Door Canteen'. On hand to break the bottle of Coca-Cola for this gala occasion was Prime Minister Churchill's daughter, Mary Churchill, stars of stage, screen and radio, Vivien Leigh, Alfren Lunt, Lawrence Olivier, and for the Army, Maj Gen Anderson. After the christening all proceeded to the control tower to witness a mission take off.

The next day the newsreel men returned to begin work on a film which would feature the work incident to end after a mission. The completion of work on a plane damaged on that day's raid and being prepared by the men of Hangar #1, for the next day's trip were filmed, with M/Sgt Baldwin and T/Sgt Eaton of our organisation starring as our contribution.

Seven men were sent during the month for Technical Training Schools, while 52 men participated in our own training program, of whom 22 were from other units, here on DS for training. Fourteen of the men here attached for training left to re-join their units. Three were transferred out and four in with Pvt Johnson being re-assigned from the General Hospital. Our morning report on the 30th shows 237 EM and eight attached and six officers assigned.

A plan was draw up early in the month for the formation of a Senior NCO Club to be composed of M/Sgts and S/Sgts here on the station. M/Sgt Baldwin was elected vice-president; M/Sgt Geiger secretary/treasurer; T/Sgt Moye as council member. The above members of the Sub-Depot together with the rest of the directors are at present arranging for the club, which is to feature their own bar, games room and mess hall.

The formation of a Station Band to be directed by 1st Sgt Metzger of the 448th with Majors Jolicouer and Goodrum as advisors was also started. The regular monthly dance for EM sponsored by the Red Cross was heavily attended, due to the cancellation of all passes, leaves and furloughs imposed in early April and lifted on the 28th.

In Supply, with the increased tempo of operations, requisitions really poured in, with 3,472 placed on us by units on the field with 2,938 or 85% filled at the time of asking. Of these, 293 were teletypes as AOG or IOR and 428 routines were placed on 2nd SAD. To fill these requisitions came 76 shipments from AAF sources and 17 from RAF sources, thru our own RAF Liaison Officer, F/Lt Riley.

Fifty one shipments were made to Station #547. Gas consumption was 867,772 Imperial gallons of 410 truck loads; 10,540 gallons of oil were used. Breathing oxygen consumption amounted to 491 cylinders, necessitating 17 trips to Barnum. Four trips were made to London for welding oxygen, acetylene and carbon dioxide. Some 127 work orders were placed on the Engineering Section for repair of unserviceable items with 79 of these being returned during the month for stock. Aircraft Records checked in 17 new ships.

T/Sgt Frink and S/Sgt George spent several days DS at Nuthampstead helping the supply boys at the new Sub-Depot there get started.

The hangar section of Engineering completed the month by dragging a battle damaged, brakeless B-17 from a 6ft deep ditch, 75 yards from the end of the runway when it eventually stopped after its 29th mission. Although declared Salvage by ASC inspectors, work is to begin during slack periods and it is hoped to have 42-39997 (533rd VP-R BIG MIKE) operational eventually. This in fact did take place, with numerous changes, including a F model wing on to a G model aircraft and 3,307 man hours later and re-named FRENCHY'S FOLLY after Crew Chief T/Sgt Charles Barbier who headed the project.

A resume of these activities showed 150 aircraft worked on during April, 104 for general maintenance, 40 for battle damage and six for modification, while 12 engines were also changed.

B-17, 42-97214, better known as `CAROLINA QUEEN' came in without landing gear on the 8th. As no tools were on board to use in freeing the ball turret, Lt Col Conway Hall took off in an A-20 to attempt the dropping of tools, but due to the lightness of the A-20 he was unsuccessful, so he landed and transferred to a B-17 with more rope and sand for the bag. After 20 minutes the transfer was completed and `Carolina Queen' headed out to sea to drop the turret. Four hours after a graceful turretless landing the plane was in the hangar. Work was begun on the 10th and it was turned over again to the group as operational on the 28th, with 1,764 man hours used.

Turning to work orders, 1,246 were served on the shop section during the month. To facilitate the repair of electrical accessories a test panel was made in the Electric Shop, the following being tested: 35 generators, Type P-1, Starters, thermocouple leads and magneto ground leads, 12 turret motors and 12 amplidynes overhauled, 125 electric suits, gloves and shoes repaired, 38 retracting motors, 10 electric hand drills, 12 generator relay switches and voltage regulators, four external energizer cables repaired, besides major electrical repairs on battle damaged aircraft, installation of wiring of electrical equipments in workshops.

In the battery section 522 batteries were recharged and 26 gallons of water distilled. The Accessory Shop overhauled and repaired 15 C-10 generators, 16 HRU 28 volt power plants, one energizer, 32 oil coolers were cleaned, flushed and repaired. Two steel rollers for a cement mixer and 17 cutters were annealed, with their new furnace.

Some 19 pieces of aircraft tubing were formed, eight control cables made, heating unit overhauled and a Jeep radiator repaired. This shop is manned by three men: Sgt Chester Hall being in charge. Thier manifold duties consist of cleaning and repairing of all oil coolers and regulators, all kinds of power plants, splice, repair and swedge fittings on aircraft cables; place, bend and cut tubing for aircraft heat treatment and annealing of rivets and metal as well as heat and bend plexiglass for repairing nose sections.

The Parachute Shop repacked 886 'chutes, 250 modified, as were 50 helmets, put 28 pairs of wristlets on A-2 jackets, beside the repair of 12 mechanics' jackets, 84 pairs of shoes, gloves and suits, a Jeep top and 290 oxygen snap on helmets.

Besides normal work of repair, overhaul, cleaning and installation of intruments, the Instrument Shop boasts a typewriter repair service, which overhauled seven during the month, 143 instruments tested and repaired besides two Flux Gate compasses. A-C-1 test set, and several milli-ohm volt meters.

In the Propeller Shop 167 governors, 47 props and two prop feathering pumps amd motors were cleaned and overhauled.

The 110 work orders in the Dope & Fabric Shop consisted of eight elevators, 15 ailerons and two rudders covered and doped, identification painting on 56 aircraft besides the normal painting of props, signs, status boards, helmets and cutting of stencils.

With the completion of the form for the straightening of gunsights in the Welding Shop, work proceeded faster; 24 were repaired with 53 bomb shackles modified, 22 helmets had ears enlarged besides a large quantity of general repair work for the whole station.

Bomb squadrons used 35 engines, and altogether 42 new engines were built up in the Engine Build-up Shop and 45 old engines pickled and returned the Depot.

Talking of boxes in compliance with Plan `R' accounted for most of the Carpenter Shop time, where 134 were made in addition to spar fillers, benches, status boards, signs and boxes for Supply.

Besides the repair of battle damage on aircraft by the tin benders, four wing panels, five horizontal stabilisers, four wing tips, two ailerons, four flaps and one elevator were repaired and turned in for stock to Air Corps Supply.

All shops now have almost all of their equipment and personnel are are able to operate at full efficiency.

An area and personnel inspection by Lt Col Reed, Ground Exec, on the 7th, was the beginning of a series of inspections.

The Volleyball and two Horseshoe courts in the squadron area were completed early in the month and practice was had by several teams prior to league play, which was formally started on the 24th. This was composed of nine teams, eight EM teams and one Officers team, each to play two games per week.

As a prelude to the season opening, a game between the officers and senior NCO dept heads was held on the 22nd, with the Leaves and Bars coming out on top 2-1, and an unmerciful ribbing for the five and six stripers by the rest of the organisation, and due threats of revenge by the Stripes.

The end of the month showed the following standings: Officers Won 4 Lost 1; Hut #9 4-2; Hut #3 3-2; Hut #7 3-2; Hut #4 2-1; Hut #6 3-3; Hut #5 1-4; Hut #8 1-4; Hut #2 0-2.

In addition to the squadron league a team has been in the Station League and is currently on top. Three softball teams have been entered in the Wildcat League and one in the Class A League. A baseball team, composed of last year's Station Champs, is also waiting their first game in the Station hard ball league.

R.D.Jolicouer,
Major, Air Corps,
Commanding.