HEADQUARTERS - 448th SUB DEPOT

June 1944

Promotions during the month were S/Sgts Worthen, Barbier and Hall to T/Sgts; Sgts Labriola, LeBlanc and Palaczewski to S/Sgt; Cpls Pisciotta, Trumbo, West, Wilson, Parra, Ammerman, Vissey, Petty, Carpenter, Hastings, Bitchko, Turner and Gentz to Sgt; Pfcs Hovard and Pietrzyk to Cpl.

On the 5th Supply Section received a Commendation for outstanding achievement, while 65 EM were awarded the Good Conduct Medal on the 10th. Pfc Hodgetts joined the unit the following day and on the 27th Cpl Kobza returned from Technical Training School.

Orientation classes were held during the month and the speakers and their subjects were as follows:- Major Jolicouer - Progress in the Air War; Major Miller - Post War Problems; Capt Hall - British-American Relations.

Requests for items over the counter were 3,617 were immediately issued, or 87%. Of the remainder 486 were not in stock amd 421 were sent teletype, priority due to existing critical items. In addition, routine stock replenishment totalled 320.

Due to the above requisitions 86 truck loads of property were received from Station #547, 12 from the British and 42 via Air Freight. Some 73 truck loads of repairable and serviceable property was dispatched from this station to #547. The supplying of oxygen to the ships required 21 trips to Barnum for the refilling of 591 cylinders.

The petrol installation unloaded 637 truck loads of 100 octane gas totalling 1,274,000 gallons. During the same period 1,218,520 gallons were issued to the squadrons. During the month we supplied other stations with 31 separate items which went out under AOG and IOR priority.

In combat operations inability to anticipate demands for certain parts required due to battle damage, maximum operating demand on equipment, peculiarities to specific operating conditions and limitations of assembly repair by lack of component parts, creates a shortage of items needed to make aircraft operational. This shortage finds sympathy only in the third and fourth echelon ranks, as neither the mechanics nor the Operations Officer recognises `Not in Stock', as a reason for keeping a plane grounded.

In the attempt to keep this critical list as small as possible, many strange and ingenious methods have been perpetrated by Supply and Engineering. Many stories could be told of the search for insignificant or vital parts, of the pages and pages of Technical Orders that have been thumbed and scrutinised and interpreted to suit our needs, of the search for many modified items needed in which there was no information whatsoever available. All the hours of toil, all the unrelenting perseverances, all the facilities at our disposal have been expended in an attempt to battle that scourge of AAF Supply the `NOT IN STOCK' stamp.

Through co-operative liaison between Maintenance Shops and Supply, many of these critical items have been kept in a minimum amd in many instances alleviated.

A good example, over and above the constant flow of aluminum tubing made into assemblies, plexiglass panels and many other critical items locally solved, is expressed in these few instances: latest action from SQUK was that lead, thermocouple, 4' 5" was unavailable from AAF and RAF sources. The need was urgent. Over and above normal requirements by the Bomb Squadrons one Lead for each engine that was set up by Engine Build-Up was required and none were forthcoming. The situation was one that definitely immediate solution.

Although contrary to Technical Orders and Maintenance Instructions ingenuity of Electric and Instrument Shops establised the fact that the needed item could be cut from 33' lengths. Some of these locally manufactured items were put to the test and found to be thoroughly reliable. Supply then put through a call to Depot and soon a sufficient quantity of the 33' lengths were on the way. Immediately upon arrival, they were routed to the Electric Shop together with a request for most expedient action on the making of 4'5" Leads. Upon completion they were given to the Instrument Shop for resistance test and check. Thus another of the critical items was restored to the ranks of normal supply.

With increased and extensive operations in the Division, there appeared on the critical list the Heater Assembly, Glycol System. These heaters, once in good supply, had to be periodically removed and cleaned of the carbon deposits which blocked the circulation glycol. Increased hours of operation quickly eliminated the supply on hand and requests for more assemblies brought forth the information that they were in extremely short supply with no hope of relief in the near future.

To combat crews operating in the terrific, killing cold of the stratosphere, where heat was life, this shortage threated the very success of the missions. Acting promptly, the SDSO stopped the shipping out of repairable assemblies to the Depot. A consultation with the Coolant and Cable Shop brought forth the knowledge of the type of tools needed for the job.

In the Machine Shop, a bolt was machined to the exact size needed to pull the core from the heater. A cleaning rod from an Armorer's Kit was fitted to the electric hand drill, a steel brush attached to the rod cleaned the interior of the core thoroughly while a rotary cleaned the exterior. A larger steel brush fitted to the electric hand drill was used to clean the interior of the heater after which the entire assembly is slushed and cleaned with gasoline. Re-assembled and checked, the heater is once more ready for use and becomes once more just like another items to be issued.

Although the Governor Assembly, Propellor, is small, its size is in direct ratio to its importance, without it, the engine and prop become inert hulks of metal. Subject to severe vibration, constant high pressure, and all the factors induced by the long, high altitude flights, failures of this assembly soon outdistanced the supply and another critical item was born. Routing of all repairable governors to the Prop Shop by Supply brought forth the common cause of the breakdowns: failure of the dump valve. Experienced prop specialists soon placed the Governor Assemblies in a service able condition and as a guard against future failures, instituted a `100 Hour Check'. Regardless of condition all Governor Assemblies in use are given a complete overhaul, inspected, adjusted and checked every 100 hours. As a result, the inclusion of prop governors on the critical list has little meaning to Supply, who have never really suffered from a shortage of this item.

This routine could be repeated again and again on many items, but to Engineering and Supply, it was just another necessary push to the punch that is, day by day, unglamorously being delivered by the men of VIII AFSC.

For nearly two years, the slightest possibility of an Armament Shop seemed highly improbable. However on the 16th of last month the Engineering Officer gave permission to put up a shop in Hangar #2. He allotted a space 21' x 12' plus all the bomb boxes needed to build it. Two weeks later, the shop was completed, neat, if not elegant, but `Open for business'.

A week later came the first job as an armament of the Sub-Depot, "Swinging" an outboard rack to all the Sheet Metal Shop to make necessary repairs to a damaged compression strut. Since that date, armament work has been spasmodic. We have taken care of our own armament work and have been loaned out to help other Squadrons when they were short handed.

A stipulation was made when permission for the shop was granted that when armament work was slack we would work with the Flight Section of Hangar #2 doing, or rather learning, airplane mechanical work. When there are wings to be dropped or stress plates to be removed, we do the work. In this manner were are becoming armament workers and airplane mechanics.

The biggest job to date was getting `BIG MIKE' (997) into shape again as far as gunnery and bombardment was concerned. It took 96 man hours to get the job completed. Being the youngest shop in the outfit, our contributions are few; however our modifications of the B-17 shackle has speeded up many a bomb loading.

A summary of aircraft work totalled 219 for which work was completed; 130 for maintenance; 74 for battle damage; 15 for modification; 86 were worked on for eight hours or more; 21 wing changes; seven stabilisers; 1,664 work orders were received; 21,388 man hours expanded on aircraft and parts; 5,590 items received for repair; 72 Engines built up and 73 aircraft returned to status in accordance to Daily 110 Report.

When the Instrument Shop first became operational overseas, it was working out of a Trailer Shop, but as the volume of work increased it was found necessary to have more space in which to work. The trailer was dismantled and moved all the work benches and equipment into a shop about 36' x 18'. We have set up all the equipment to duplicate as nearly as possible the layout of the Trailer itself in regards to handiness and ease of operation.

Once completed the extra space made it possible to make and install new equipment, the first a mock-up of the remote reading compass, which is at present used in the Navigation Lounge to instruct new navigators in its use and operation. Then followed a Gyro Stabilized Flux-gate Compass, a pitch-and-yaw stand for the directional gyro while the latest is a test stand for the Electronic Supercharger Regulator.

Several other jobs are done in the Instrument Shop, which includes all oxygen work on ships turned over to this unit. Two men do an extensive and successful watch repairing service, around 50% are turned back as serviceable items, despite no parts of any kind in stock. Also typewriter repairs are handled in the Shop, and so far have had no failures.

Work Order for June were 130; man hours around 235; 35 Electronic Turbo Regulator Amplifiers were made in servicable condition; modifified 12 (E-9) Tachometer Generators; swung a periodic compass on a RAF Spitfire (transit ship) checked the air speed indicator on RAF Oxford (transit ship).

In the Parachute Shop 1,041 'chutes were repacked, 210 modified, 182 winter flying helmets fitted with snaps for oxygen masks, 216 insignia sewn on flying clothes, repaired 170 electric heated suits, 60 summer flying suits, 10 tarpaulins and 15 Jeep tops; made 11 tarps and Jeep tops and sewed straps on 130 steel flak helmets.

The Propeller Shop was kept busy receiving 20 props for repair, 218 governors which were cleaned and overhauled; three prop feathering motors and pumps. The Electric Shop's longest job was the completion of the wiring on the inner wing change for BIG MIKE (997). This was the most outstanding performance, because of the fact that an `F' wing was put on a `G' Model fuselage, this meant the complete installation of the elctronic superchargers from #1 and #2 engines.

A vast array of generators, starters leads, governors etc. were cleaned, tested and repaired where necessary.

Paint Shop: About 181 work orders were turned in with one rudder, three ailerons and two elevators brought to the shop for major battle damage. Such damage repaired on the field amounted to 19 rudders, 42 ailerons and 78 elevators.

Division and Group markings were painted on 20 ships along with 21 props. The rest of the work consisted of 53 signs, one status board, 19 helmets and three boxes; 265 stencils were cut, two heated ducts repaired, call letters and serial numbers painted on six ships, the upholstering repaired on one ship and five drawings made and the office at Hangar #1 was painted.

The Welding Shop completed 335 Work Orders which included modification of 135 helmets and 25 exhaust stacks; 22 gun sights were repaired, 30 blast tubes, 20 air scoops and 11 fire walls. Some 125 orders were completed elsewhere in this unit, the balance being inter-departmental.

Two men have spent two weeks each working with the Flight Section and one salavaged aircraft was cut up.

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