Those of us that also read BW are lucky enough to get read Earl Miller's log book entries of his time flying in WW2 and throughout his flying career. I thought I'd post one of his entries to give you guys a tease
October 1
1942:
I was undergoing advanced pilot training, Class of 42-J, at
Spence Field, Moultree, Georgia. I flew an AT-6 on a cross
country flight for 2:10 hours, from Spence to Butler and
return.
1943:
I was with the 345th Fighter Squadron, 350th Fighter Group
at Reghaia Airfield, 25 miles east of Algiers in North
Africa. Our primary mission was air defense, especially
against enemy air attacks against Allied ship convoys. On
this day I flew a P-39N on convoy patrol for 1:35 hours.
1944:
I was with the 345th Fighter Squadron, 350th Fighter Group
at Tarquinia Airfield, near Civitavecchia, Italy. Our
mission was air defense, scramble alert, convoy patrols,
CAP over mine sweepers working along the advancing front
line and anti-recce patrols over the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Tarquinia Airfield was a "liberated" wheat field that
turned into a sea of mud each time it rained. On this day
I flew a P-47D for 2:15 hours on a dive bombing and
strafing mission north of Modena, Italy
1st Lt. Shuford M. Alexander (Big Al), 346th Fighter
Squadron, 350th Fighter Group was attacking gun positions
on a flak-suppression mission for B-25s when his P-47D was
hit by AAA. He tried to bail out, but his parachute got
hung up on the armor plate. He got back into the aircraft
and crash landed. He was rescued by Partisans and later
captured by the Germans. On the way to prison, he escaped
and was able to contact the Partisans again. He crossed the
battle line via an icy pass near Massa on 14th February,
1945 with 1st Lt. Earnest D. Falberg of the 346th Fighter
Squadron. Falberg was hit by 20mm while strafing near
Milan, Italy on January 12, 1945. When the P-47's engine
quit because of oil loss, he crash landed five miles
northeast of Vigevano, Italy. He hid in a manure pile
until contacted by Partisans.
1946:
I was with the 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group
stationed at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. On this day I
flew a P-51D on the way to Hamilton Field, California for
an air show. The flight from Biggs Field to Williams Field,
Arizona took 1:35 hours.
earl
Ack-Ack
