HEADQUARTERS - 448th SUB DEPOT
Transcribed from microfilm by Kevin Wilson

This segment on duties of the sub depot is found at the end of the war diary, I thought it important enough to be placed at the start as well. - Scott Burris

Duties of a Sub-Depot

DUTIES of a Sub-Depot (C1-1) on a heavy bomb group are divided among three main sections: administration, engineering and air corps supply.

The admin section is charged with administering personnel records, finance matters, correspondence, punishment, company fund, welfare and recreation, filing of records and publications, classification and living conditions. The adjutant is in charge of this section and directly responsible to the CO, as well as being his representative in routine matters. This section has six EM consisting of 1st Sgt, clerk typist, filing clerk, personnel clerk, duty Sgt and officers orderly.

The function of the Engineering Section is to perform insofar as is possible all maintenance and repair of aircraft and auxiliary equipment which cannot normally be done by the tactical unit without removing the aircraft from the station. This includes the fabrication of small parts, repair of aircraft and equipment which require the use of heavy or non-portable machinery, replacement and repair of parts requiring the service of highy specialised personnel or equipment, reclamation of damaged aircraft including repair of major battle damage, accomplishes Technical Order changes and those directed by other Theater directives.

Included under the Engineering Section are 11 shops, a Technical Administrative section and a Motor Pool for Special Purpose Vehicles, such shops as welding, machine, parachute and engine build-up along with both hangars operated by the Sub-Depot.

Sub-Depot Supply in charged with the responsibility of maintaining a knowledge of control, procurement, storage and distributions of all classes of Air Force, Signal, and Corps of Engineering property. It is an intermediate supply point between the depots and the squadron controlling the flow of supplies of all classes to squadron. It maintains an adequate reserve of all the above property, using prescribed storage methods. It is a re-filling point for the airdrome area, setting up and maintaining systems of requisitioning, following up of requisitions, receipt and shipment of equipment, binning and distributing to units. It provides administrative supervision of all supply points of its classes of property. There are two officers and 48 EM in this section.

November 1943

APO 636, U.S.ARMY
Activated 12 November 1943 A.A.F Station 167

Activated by General Order No 198 on 15 November 1943 the 448th Sub-Depot came into being. The actual formation of the organisation began 18 November 1943. Major Raymond D. Jolicouer, C.O. of the 330th Service Squadron, 100th Service Group, became the first C.O. of the Sub Depot.

A total of 154 enlisted men and four officers were transferred from the 330th S/Sq, with others from the HQ Sq of the 82nd Service Gp and various other units of the 381st BG at this station.

A nucleus was left in the 330th S/Sq consisting of the 1st Sgt, two top Supply men, Engineering Dept heads, Transportation, Mess and Medical personnel totalling 38 men. This cadre was to be the new 330th.

Officers transferred to the 448th were given their assignments commensurate with their previous duties, as follows: Major Jolicouer - CO; Capt Olas D.Miller - Supply Off; 1st Lt Mitchell M.Hall - Engineering Off; 1st Lt William J.Muckerman - Adjutant; WO/jg Gerald L.Warren - Asst Eng Off. S/Sgt Joseph H.Metzger as 1st Sgt. This Crescent City lad, a former member of the Woody Herman dance band, has been with the Service Sqd since its activation in January 1942. Other dept section heads retain their respective duties as follows: S/Sgt R.A.Glendenen - Supply; M/Sgt H.W.Schwagmeyer - Chief Clerk, Air Corps Supply; M/Sgt H.F.Emans - Warehouse Chief; M/Sgt K.O.Baldwin - Engineering Foreman; M/Sgt J.C.Geiger, Jr -Chief Clerk, Engineering; T/Sgt H.F.Meineke - Hangar # 1; T/Sgt R.L.Royal - Hangar # 2; T/Sgt G.C.Masters - Parachute Shop; M/Sgt E.C.Geer - Bombsight; S/Sgt R.W.Worthen - Dope & Fabric; S/Sgt E.R.Burch - Armament; T/Sgt F.W.Moye - Radio; T/Sgt G.J.Lemire - Welding; T/Sgt G.D.Grose - Machine; T/Sgt R.F.Taylor - Instrument; S/Sgt C.A.Hall - Tubing, Cable & Oil Cooler; T/Sgt K.K.Kidder - Propellor; T.Sgt E.Leikam - Sheet Metal; T/Sgt M.E.Kenny - Electric; S/Sgt R.A.Moore - Cabinet; T/Sgt R.H.Fleming - Engine Build Up.

The 330th S/Sq (cadre) was attached to the 448th for Rations, Quarters and Administration and the personnel continued with their previous duties. All the S/Sq equipment was transferred to the Sub Depot as initial allowance. It was immediately obvious that additional housing, engineering and supply space would be needed to take care of the additional personnel, increase in stock level, and new shop equipment. The need for such became immediately acute as personnel shortages began to come in. Among the first to arrive was Pvt Charlie F.McKee, a brother of Sgt Patrick McKee, also a member of this organisation. Both now work in Supply. Sgt McKee being a counter man, and his brother Charlie being a shipping and receiving clerk with a sense of humour comparable to that of the late humorist, Irvin S.Cobb.

In the mad scramble for additional space the first building to be acquired was the chemical storage building. Its proximity to Supply, Engineering and Station HQ made it ideal for Sub-Depot HQ; so the picket post of W.A.A.F Site # 2 - Orderly Room of the Sub-Depot, was vacated of all but the 1st Sgt who remained to take care of the living site, passes, housing, etc. The office at the west end was taken over by Maj Jolicouer as his office, with the west end of the main room becoming the office of Adjutant Muckerman, Personnel Clerk Freeman, Sgt Maj Parra, the Message Center and general administrative functions.

The rest of the spacious office became the Engineering office, with the central files of Chief Clerk Geiger, Technical Order Clerk Kennedy, Engineering Foreman Baldwin and Work Order Clerk Helminiak. The former engineering office became the Wire, Cable and Coolant Repair shop.

The next acquisition, on 23 November, was the large hangar at the local village (Great Yeldham), approx four miles. The distance was a handicap, but its fine facilities overcame this. It became the bulk storage warehouse. Sgt Tony Madril, Supply packing case maker, moved all his personal belongings there and became permanent charge of quarters, and M/Sgt Harry F.Emans, Warehouse Superintendent, began the task of moving surfaces, engines, etc there. Within a short time it was completed, and since then, well stocked, neatness and uniformity being the keynote. English laborers finally completed the concrete loading and unloading ramp in front of Supply in late November, just in time to handle the Sub-Depot level which began to arrive - eight truck loads and a 40ft trailer of supplies being the first. Among this, what has turned out to be the pride, joy and task saver of the organisation - one each - a fork lift. The same day three new planes arrived, which kept Sgt George of the aircraft Record section and his crew quite busy checking them in.

In the Engineering Section, constant operations and subsequent damage kept the crews there operating at top speed, 24 crews being in operation in most shops. The Hangar crews ready at a moment's notice for all sorts of work. So on 18 November, when 42-37721 (534th GD-L SUGAR) came in on her belly, this crew was `Johnny on the spot' and removed it to Hangar # 1 for repairs. Twice previously this aircraft has been in for major battle damage and repair. On the same day the crew again dashed forth with their equipment to raise 42-37754 (534th GD-I WHODAT - THE DINGBAT?) which also came in wheels up - Hangar # 1 also received this. Stations 4 - 9 were severely damaged, this was the third time in the hangar for this aircraft for major repairs. Twenty six days later however, this plane was out again dropping its eggs on Hitler's domain. It took 2,464 man hours, four new engines, four props, two flaps, landing gear and considerable sheet metal work, to get her into the air.

Altogether during November 131 aircraft passed thru the Sub-Depot Engineering section; 56 for repair, 55 for battle damage, and ten for modification beside the shop repair done for other aircraft by the various sections.

A comparatively heavy month for the prop shop as 98% prop governors were test and overhauled, 11 new props assembled and checked, 21 props from planes having engine changes were cleaned and checked. the Engine Build Up section turned over 21 built up engines for quick change to the bomb group.