HEADQUARTERS - 448th SUB DEPOT

May 1944

Announcement of the repeated performance of winning the Sub-Depot Trophy for April started a program of trying to further the operating efficiency of the organisation. This was the highlight of the month's activities, the award being made on the 10th at the Sub-Depot COs meeting at Station #547.

The first phase of this program was a meeting of all Bomb Squadron engineering officers, crew and line chiefs, Group Engineering Officer, Station Tech Insp, Group Ordnance and Armament Officer, squadron technical supply men, Sub -Depot Supply Officers, chief supply clerk and warehouse foreman, Engineering Officer, inspector and hangar chiefs.

The meeting was presided over by Major Jolicouer, CO, and Capt Kurner, Group Engineering Officer. Problems regarding supply procedure and difficulties were explained and ironed out. Suggestions for better working arrangements were made and many questions answered.

A Commendation from the Station Commander, Col Leber, for outstanding performance in maintenance of aircraft and equipment and observance of fire and safety regulations was received thru the medium of the Daily Bulletin.

On the 14th a Station Review in which all men on the base participated was held to honor 27 crew chiefs who received awards for 25 consecutive missions with no aborts. Other presentations were made to airman Pfc Adams, of this unit, who was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in enemy action.

A picture of all personnel of the Sub-Depot was taken the same day, and it is hoped after approval from the Base Censor, to have one made for each man.

Lt Hall's promotion to Capt was heartily welcomed by all. Likewise, so were T/Sgts Grose (Machine Shop Foreman); Meineke (Hangar #1 Crew Chief); Leikam (Sheet Metal Foreman) all to M/Sgts. S/Sgts Moore (Carpenter Shop Foreman); Golf (asst Hangar Chief #2) to T/Sgts. Sgts Bushway, Duncan, Flathers, Harris and Witt to S/Sgts. Cpls Buckstool, Collins, Hand and Sapone to Sgts and Pfcs Chabot, Leaver, Pinckney and Shull to Cpl.

On the 8th the last of the men attached to this organisation for training departed, while on the 12th in came Pfcs Mittleman and Morgan; Pvt Trotter on the 12th and Pvt Himmelstein a week later. The only man out was Cpl Powell to 450th Sub-Depot. Seven men were assigned to the Alert Detachment which was formed on the 13th for base protection.

A beer party was held on the 18th in the squadron area, the beer furnished by the Officers Mess in appreciation for the work done by the organisation on the Club.

The training program continued as before with cross-training of all personnel. S/Sgt Flathers was the only man to attend an off-base school when he attended a course on superchargers. End of month figures show five officers, one warrant officer and 240 EM assigned.

With the real spring weather this month the men not on duty could be found sunning themselves, playing pitch and catch, or going to a nearby village for a swim, while the unit softball team ended the month with four wins and no defeats.

To facilitate the storage of waste oil, long a headache to the 448th, construction of a 3,000 gallon cement storage pit was begun.

Supply section had a heavy month keeping up to level for the 20 missions during May. Work orders were 173, of which 133 were completed and the servicable property returned to stock. Shipping and receiving handled 133 shipments of which 91 were from Station #547 via truck, 30 via Air Freight and 12 from British sources. In return 80 loads were sent from this station. These figures do not include 19 trips to Barnum for the purpose of filling 544 oxygen cylinders. The Petrol Depot received 1,196,000 British gallons unloaded from 598 trucks, with 1,216,400 gallons issued to the Group.

Over the counter 3,980 separate requisitions were made for property of which 3,334 were immediately filled, or 83%. The existance of critical items necessitated the sending of 393 teletypes for property while routines amounted to 395.

The Aircraft Record Section was exceptionally busy checking in 23 new replacement aircraft. At the same time records had to be consolidated for 12 ships MIA, seven transferred and one salvaged.

Engineering Sections were also very busy. Heavy damage over the last period of the month resulted in the cancellation of all passes and a twelve hour shift for everyone, two per day being installed. A total of 155 ships were worked on of which 85 required over a day's work. The many wing changes were expedited by the simplicity of Taper Pin Removal made easy by S/Sgt Barbier's hydraulically operated pin remover. Some 15 wings and three stabilisers were changed; 67 engines were set up by the Engine Build up shop.

Work orders totalled 1,745, requiring 20,930 man hours to complete, by all depts.

A wall through the centre of Dope & Fabric Shop completed their renovation. The south side of the shop, equipped with four 12" fans and vapour proof lamps will be used for doping and spraying while the other side will be used for sewing and repairing, with 135 works orders turned in for May. Four ailerons and two elevators were in the shop for major repairs.

Battle damage repair on ships in the field amounted to 13 rudders, 21 ailerons and 31 elevators. Division and group markings were painted on 21 ships, along with 21 props. The rest of the work consisted of painting 26 signs, four status boards, 13 helmets, one bulletin board, and six miscellaneous objects. One wing panel was painted and the group markings and insignia were put on. Some 300 licence plates were painted an numbered. Two heater ducts were repaired and forty stencils cut.

The sewing consisted of manufacturing 20 sand bags, 300 white arm bands and two prop stand covers, and 20 drawings were turned out.

Gadgets, modifications, inventions, and `What have you' seemed to eminate from all depts. S/Sgt Chester Hall's Cable Repair Fitting headed the list. His shop also set up a system for cleaning oil tanks and is in the process of making one for cleaning and flushing Glycol Boilers and an addition to the ovens to allow them to form waist windows for G-planes; 12 HRU power plants were overhauled; 12 cables (3/4") and hooks spliced on for use on Cletracs; 54 oil coolers were cleaned and flushed as well as numerous repairs and forming of tubing.

The arrival of two 12" lathes for the Machine Shop greatly increased the work capacity; 421 batteries were charged by the Battery Shop, while the Electric Shop had an overflow of starters, generators and thermocouple leads due to the large number of engine changes.

The Instrument Shop had 80 Work Orders. A modification of the Turbo Regulator Test Stand enabled them to test the out-put of amplifier tubes; five oxygen mask leak testers were changed from constant flow to demand. In the Prop Shop 152 governors and 24 props were the main item of the section.

Some 197 Work Orders were dealt with by the Welding Shop consisting mainly of 42 helmet modifications and 102 gunsights were repaired; work on 20 ships consisted of repairs to pressure lines, air scoops, blast tubes, air intake lines and cutting of armor plate.

1,080 chutes wwere repacked in the Parachute Shop and 60 helmet modifications made in addition to the usual harness and repair work.

S/Sgt Barbier was appt Assistant Inspector to M/Sgt Baldwin, Lt McGhehey was placed in charge of the hangars, Armament Shop, Sheet Metal Shop and Motor Pool.

Longer days made it possible to work longer hours on more planes and get them operational faster.

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