MAY 1945 - SQUADRON HISTORY
[Back]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[Next]

       May brought many improvements in living conditions, namely food and shelter. Nearly every tent in the area had a complete floor, and fully enclosed with screening. A slight improvement in the issue of food added a greater feeling of content.
 
       About the first of this year the Officers and Enlisted men purchased two ice making machines. The project was almost given up for lost, when the machines arrived on the 19th of May. The Squadron now had two very efficient ice machines that provide us with cold drinks  and ice cream in the mess hall, and a means of cooling an occasional drink in the tents. These added comforts to the inner man result in a fine morale boost.
Both the Officers and enlisted men are working on club buildings. These are cooperative affairs, most of the work being voluntarily performed in spare time. The purpose of the two clubs is entirely recreational, by-laws are being drawn up to prohibit individual profits, give each man equal rights, and maintain the dignity of an Army institution. The biggest problem is to set up a cash fund, for purchase of initial supplies. It is the intention of club officers to repay any money now invested of our future earnings. The clubs will operate on small monthly dues and profits from sales.

       After considerable "ballyhoo" and rumor-mongering the Individual Service Credit Score Cards arrived on 16 May. Orderly room personnel gave the matter their undivided attention. Our roster went into Air Force Headquarters on time. A representative was dispatched to the two detachments to conduct the authentication of score cards there. Five officers and fourteen enlisted men have scores of 100 or more. Eighteen officers and forty-one enlisted men racked up 85 or more. Radio news broadcasts keep the personnel interested, although the movie "Two Down and One to Go" shattered many hopes for prompt separation under the Readjustment plan.

[Aircraft OA-10A Serno. 44-33878 was damaged sometime previous and written off 14 May 1945, per INDIVIDUAL AIRCRAFT RECORD CARD
3]

       Two combat crews for "Flying Dutchmen", or B-17's with ("Higgins" A-1) rescue boats attached, arrived here on 22 May. Although the aircraft have not been assigned, it looks like the Squadron will soon be up to T/O & E  strength. One crew departed on temporary duty but is expected back shortly.
 

       During May one officer and seven enlisted men left for the United States under provisions of WAR DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR 372 of 13 September 1944. (Return of Combat Personnel) The year before 265 officers and enlisted men arrived in the theatre. The Squadron had always maintained high standards, and is a closely knit, efficient team.


       Our radar personnel are attending courses of instruction at Nadzab. Usually two men are absent at school at a time. The courses are refreshers and training in new phases of radar equipment. The armament section is planning a course in aerial gunnery training, to make their department capable of handling the problems sure to come with the B-17's.

2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron closes it's first year of overseas duty with 465 rescues accomplished by flying 997 combat missions, and 9344:55 combat hours.

The total for May was 47 rescues, 109 combat missions and 1025 combat hours.

03 May - Rescued 11 crewmembers of a B-24 crew from 370th Bomb Squadron
06 May - Rescued 6 B-25 crewmembers of the 390th Bomb Squadron
10 May - Rescued 6 B-24 crewmembers from 424th Bomb Sq.
18 May - Rescued 8 B-24 crewmembers from the 72nd Bomb Squadron
30 May - Rescued 9 B-24 crewmembers from the 72nd Bomb Squadron



Members of the Squadron were promoted and awarded the Air Medal, and Oak Leaf Clusters in the following orders:

SPECIAL ORDERS No. 1201, HQ, U. S. Army Forces (02 May 1945)  
GENERAL ORDERS No. 6661, HQ, Far East Air Forces, (02 May 1945)  
GENERAL ORDERS No. 7711, HQ, Far East Air Forces, (12 May 1945)  
GENERAL ORDERS No. 9331, HQ, Far East Air Forces, (29 May 1945)  


[Back][Next][Top]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This report was copied verbatim from the "Official" Squadron History that was obtained via microfilm from Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. The text that is in brackets [ ], I added to clarify the information. It is not Official. Some documents are original and some are reproductions.

1 Official Squadron rosters, orders, or documents obtained from the microfilm - Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
2
APO numbers from "Numbered Army & Air Force Post Office Locations" - 7th Edition - by Russ Carter
3 From Individual Aircraft Record Cards - Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama


DEC'43 - APR 15, '44 | APR 16, '44 - JUN'44 | JUL'44 | AUG'44 | SEP'44 | OCT'44 | NOV'44 | DEC'44
JAN'45 | FEB'45 | MAR'45 | APR'45 | MAY'45 | JUN'45 | JUL'45 | AUG'45 | SEP'45 | OCT'45 | NOV'45 | DEC'45
SUMMARY 1944 | 5230th Organizational History|
History of Air Sea Rescue | "Dumbo" Missions


2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron -  All Rights Reserved