Crownless hats ruled smartest millinery
‘Can’t keep much under your hat’
By Lenore Brundige
…
Roving Reporter
By Ernie Pyle
IN THE MARIANAS ISLANDS (delayed) – No sooner have the B-29 formations disappeared to the north on their long flight to Japan, than single planes begin coming back in.
These are called “aborts,” which is short for “abortives.” It is a much-used word around a bomber base.
The “aborts” come straggling back all day, hours apart. They are planes that had something happen to them which forbade them continuing on the long dangerous trip. Sometimes it happens immediately after takeoff. Sometimes it doesn’t happen until they are almost there.
The first “abort” had a bomb bay door come open, and couldn’t get it closed. The second had part of the cowl flap come unfastened, and a mechanic undoubtedly caught hell for that. A third had a prop run away when he lost an engine.
My friend Maj. Walter Todd of Ogden, Utah, “aborted” on the mission I watched take off. He blew a cylinder head clear off.
He was within sight of Japan when it happened, and he beat the others back home by only half an hour. He flew 13½ hours that day, and didn’t even get credit for a mission. That’s the way it goes.
‘Clock’ progress
Those left on the field will look idly at their watches as the long day wears on, mentally clocking the progress of their comrades.
“They’re about sighting the mainland now,” you’ll hear somebody say.
“They should be over the target by now. I’ll bet they’re catching hell,” comes a little later from somebody.
By late afternoon you look at your watch and know that by now, for good or bad, it is over with. You know they’re far enough off the coast that the last Jap fighter has turned for home, and left our men along with the night and the awful returning distance, and their troubles.
Our planes bomb in formation, and stick together until they’ve left the Japanese coast, and then they break up and each man comes home on his own.
It’s almost spooky the way they can fly through the dark night, up there above all that ocean, for more than six hours, and all arrive here at these little islands almost within a few minutes of each other.
By late afternoon we’ve begun to get radio messages from the returning planes. A flight leader will radio how the weather was, and if anybody went down over the target. It isn’t a complete picture, but we begin to patch together a general idea. We lost planes that day. Some went down over the target. Some just disappeared, and the other boys never knew where they went. Some fought as long as they could to keep crippled planes going, and then had to “ditch” in the ocean.
‘Miraculous’ return
And one tenacious planeload miraculously got back when it wasn’t in the cards for them at all. They had been hit over the target, had to drop down and back alone, and the Jap fighters went for him, as they do for any cripple.
Five fighters just butchered him, and there was nothing our boys could do about it. And yet he kept coming. How, nobody knows. Two of the crew were badly wounded. The horizontal stabilizers were shot away. The plane was riddled with holes. The pilot could control his plane only by using the motors.
Every half hour or so he would radio his fellow planes “am in right spiral and going out of control.” But he would get control again, and fly for an hour so, and then radio again that he was spiraling out of control.
But somehow, he made it home. He had to land without controls. He did wonderfully, but he didn’t quite pull it off.
The plane hit at the end of the runway. The engines came hurtling out, on fire. The wings flew off and the great fuselage broke in two and went careening across the ground. And yet every man came out if alive, even the wounded ones.
Two other crippled planes cracked up that night too, on landing. It was not until late at night that the final tally was made, of known lost, and of missing.
But hardly was the last returning bomber down until a lone plane took off into the night and headed northward, to be in the area by dawn where the “ditchings” were reported. And the others, after their excited stories were told, fell wearily into bed.
Stretcher-bearers walk upright through heavy Jap shellfire
Wounded reporter knows only fear when told he will live – rain impedes Iwo evacuation
By Keith Wheeler, North American Newspaper Alliance
Last of a series.
176TH ARMY STATION HOSPITAL, Saipan (Feb. 26, delayed) – I don’t know exactly when I began to believe I had a chance to live, but anyway when I did, it made a coward of me.
Probably it was when Lt. Cmdr. Howard S. Eccleston, the regimental surgeon on Iwo, succeeded in keeping a clamp on the artery the Jap bullet had severed in my throat. He pressed a dressing down on the oozing wound and, his face bent intently over me, counted my pulse while someone else I couldn’t see drove a needle into my arm and started plasma pouring into me.
I was still conscious and my mind was clear. It occurred to me dimly that I had a chance.
So long as I had thought I was dying, I was unafraid. Now gradually fear and nervousness grew in me.
Had pitied wounded men
I always had pitied wounded men who stared at their doctors with terrible intentness, asking whether they would live. And I always had thought if I were wounded, I wouldn’t ask – knowing that if it were a near thing one way or the other, the doctor would try to make it easy for me.
But anxious hope and resolution don’t mix. My right eye was drowned in blood but I stared at him with the other and croaked through my blood-filled throat, demanding what chance I had.
“You’re going to be all right now,” he said. It was what I wanted him to say, of course, but I didn’t really believe him. Nor fully disbelieve him either. I wished I hadn’t asked.
Starts to rain
“If you had to get hit, you couldn’t pick a better spot than this – five feet from the two best docs in the division,” Maj. John R. Jones’ voice said above me.
I lay and watched the clear amber level of the plasma going down in the jar somebody was holding above me, and I heard Maj. Jones telephoning for stretcher bearers. It began to rain and somebody folded a poncho around me and held a flap of it over my face.
And the earth still trembled and sand dribbled down the sides of the hole with the cadenced thudding of Jap shells.
Carried gently
I was feverishly impatient by the time the stretcher-bearers came, but I don’t really thing they took long. They lifted me out of the hole, holding my body gently all along its length, put me down on the stretcher and wrapped the poncho around me. The rain was heavier now, dismal and cold.
It was 500 yards to the beach through sand so soft and pitted with shell holes that it was practically a wading job all the way. The stretcher-bearers made it in three stages, stopping twice to change hands.
As we neared the beach, the shelling grew heavier and closer and by the time I saw the blackened prow of a wrecked Jap looming above me, we were moving through a roaring hell of sound.
Waits for boat
Upright, helpless, burdened by my inert weight, the stretcher-bearers trudged through the storm-like fury. A shell exploded so near that my upward-staring eyes saw the top of its plume of smoke and dirt.
Near the water’s edge, the shelling was so intense that we had to wait 20 minutes for a boat to come in. Cold and wet and sick, and by now nearly indifferent, I lay and listened to the shells, wondering whether I would lose now, having come so far.
While the shells crashed all around us, the stretcher-bearers lay close on either side of me, using their bodies to build a human foxhole for mine. They were strangers also; I’ll never know their names and if I did, there’s nothing I could do to thank them. It’s more than likely they’re dead or wounded by now.
The boat came at last and got out again safely through the barrage.
Poll: Waste paper collection shows lag
Fewer families reported saving
By George Gallup, Director, American Institute of Public Opinion
…
did he accidentally write ‘abouts’ instead of ‘aborts’ in the third paragraph?
1 Like
No, that was a goof on my end. Just fixed it 
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Führer HQ (March 4, 1945)
Kommuniqué des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht
Im slowakischen Erzgebirge setzte der Feind seine Angriffe gegen den Frontbogen von Schemnitz und Altsohl fort und erzielte bei und westlich Karpfen geringe Einbrüche. Volksgrenadiere fingen südlich der Hohen Tatra die Angriffe eines sowjetischen Schützenverbandes im Hauptkampffeld auf.
Schwächere Angriffe der Bolschewisten im schlesischen Raum brachen am Nord- und Ostrand des Zobten im Abwehrfeuer zusammen. Beiderseits Lauban verbesserten unsere Angriffsgruppen gegen zähen Widerstand und zahlreiche Gegenangriffe sowjetischer Panzerverbände auch gestern ihre Stellungen und schossen 31 feindliche Panzer ab. Die Kampftätigkeit an der Neiße- und Oderfront blieb auf vereinzelte erfolglose Aufklärungsvorstöße der Sowjets beschränkt.
Zwischen Stargard und Dramburg in Pommern warfen die Bolschewisten starke Teile von zwei Panzerarmeen in den Kampf und drängten die eigenen Abwehrkräfte trotz verbissener Gegenwehr über die Linie Daher–Schiefelbein zurück. Die aus dem Raum Bublitz nach Norden vorgestoßenen sowjetischen Panzerverbände wurden östlich Köslin und bei Schlawe aufgefangen. Rummelsburg ging nach hartem Kampf verloren. Schlacht- und Jagdflugzeuge vernichteten in diesem Raum wiederum 24 sowjetische Panzer.
Durch das Beispiel ihrer Offiziere mitgerissen, vereitelten unsere tapferen Truppen an den Brennpunkten der Abwehrschlacht in Ostpreußen in entschlossenen Gegenstößen weiterhin alle Durchbruchsversuche der Bolschewisten.
In Kurland nahm der Feind südöstlich Libau seihe Angriffe nach starker Feuervorbereitung wieder auf, blieb jedoch nach geringen Anfangserfolgen innerhalb des Hauptkampffeldes liegen.
Im Westen dauert die Materialschlacht nach Zuführung neuer feindlicher Kräfte in unverminderter Stärke an. Vom Rheinknie bei Rees bis Geldern schlugen unsere Truppen starke Angriffe blutig zurück. Südöstlich davon bis zum Rhein konnte der Gegner unsere Verbände in erbittertem Ringen zurückdrücken und in Krefeld eindringen.
Am Erft-Abschnitt bis in den Raum nördlich Euskirchen wurde der Feind, nachdem er den Fluss auf breiter Front nach Osten überschritten hatte, in Gegenstößen wieder aufgefangen.
Beiderseits Prüm und an der Kyll, östlich Bitburg, dauern die Stellungskämpfe an, ohne dass die angreifenden Amerikaner über örtliche Bodengewinne hinauskamen. Im Raum von Forbach, bei Saargemünd und in den unteren Vogesen führte der Gegner zahlreiche Ablenkungs- und Fesselungsangriffe.
Nach bisher vorliegenden Meldungen vernichteten unsere Truppen an der Westfront gestern 75 feindliche Panzer.
In Mittelitalien nahm der Feind nordwestlich Poretta seine Angriffe mit stärket Artillerie- und Schlachtfliegerunterstützung wieder auf. Nach harten Kämpfen konnte er übers den Monte Belvedere und Monte della Torrazza etwa drei Kilometer nach Norden vordringen. Ein stärkerer Angriff der Briten am Senio nördlich Faenza scheiterte. Auf der Landzunge östlich des Comacchiosees wurde ein örtlicher Einbruch abgeriegelt.
Die Besatzung der kleinen Insel Piscopi nordwestlich Rhodos hat vier Monate lang beträchtliche feindliche Seestreitkräfte gebunden. Die Kompanie wurde jetzt, nachdem sie zahlreiche Angriffe des Gegners abgewiesen hatte, von überlegenem Feind überwältigt.
Amerikanische Bomberverbände unternahmen am Tage weiträumige Angriffe gegen das Reichsgebiet, wobei vor allem Personenverluste und Schäden in Chemnitz, Magdeburg, Hannover und Bielefeld entstanden. In der Nacht war Dortmund das Ziel eines britischen Terrorangriffs. Kampfflugzeuge stießen bis in den Raum Berlin vor. Luftverteidigungskräfte brachten nach bisherigen Meldungen 39, meist viermotorige Bomber zum Absturz.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (March 4, 1945)
FROM
(A) SHAEF MAIN
ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section
DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
041100A March
TO FOR ACTION
(1) AGWAR
(2) NAVY DEPARTMENT
TO (W) FOR INFORMATION (INFO)
(3) TAC HQ 12 ARMY GP
(4) MAIN 12 ARMY GP
(5) AIR STAFF
(6) ANCXF
(7) EXFOR MAIN
(8) EXFOR REAR
(9) DEFENSOR, OTTAWA
(10) CANADIAN C/S, OTTAWA
(11) WAR OFFICE
(12) ADMIRALTY
(13) AIR MINISTRY
(14) UNITED KINGDOM BASE
(15) SACSEA
(16) CMHQ (Pass to RCAF & RCN)
(17) COM ZONE
(18) SHAEF REAR
(19) SHAEF MAIN
(20) PRO, ROME
(21) HQ SIXTH ARMY GP
(REF NO.)
NONE
(CLASSIFICATION)
IN THE CLEAR
Communiqué No. 330
UNCLASSIFIED: Allied forces east of the Hochwald Forest are fighting against fierce enemy resistance. We have occupied Kevelaer and to the west have advanced beyond the villages of Bergen and Langstraat on the right bank of the Meuse River. Contact has been made between elements of our forces advancing from the Roer and our units moving southward from the Reichwald. Farther south we have occupied Geldern, Sevelen and Kempen.
Enemy troops, defense positions, observation posts, road transport and barges in an area around Xanten and near Sonsbeck; objectives in the Wesel area, and rail and road traffic to the eastward were targets for medium, light and fighter-bombers and rocket-firing fighters.
The city of Krefeld has been completely cleared of the enemy. Three bridges across the Rhine in the Neuss-Düsseldorf area were blown by the Germans.
We are fighting in Frimmersdorf, southwest of Grevenbroich, and in Stommeln, northwest of Cologne while other units have reached Pulheim, four miles from the outskirts of Cologne. In this area Büsdorf, Fliesteden, Manstedten and Geyen have been cleared.
Mödrath, on the Düren-Cologne road, and Herrig, Lechenich, Ahrem and Weilerswist, southwest of Cologne also have been cleared.
Enemy positions north of Krefeld, communications on both sides of the Rhine and rail traffic around Cologne were hit by fighter-bombers.
Zülpich has been cleared.
Our forces across the Erft River north of Euskirchen, repulsed a counterattack supported by tanks and self-propelled guns after a hard fight.
We have crossed the Schwammenauel Dam and have mopped up the area between the Schwammenauel Lake and the Urft Lake to the south. Numerous minefields were encountered.
Northeast of Prüm, we have entered Weinsheim, and repulsed a small counterattack in that area. South of Prüm, our armor has crossed the Nims River. We have captured Oberlauch, Niederlauch, Schönecken and Dingdorf. A bridge at Schönecken was taken intact.
Our units hold the high ground overlooking the Nims River in the area ten miles northwest of Bitburg. We have captured Heilenbach.
Armored elements have reached the junction of the Kyll River and the Moselle River northeast of Trier. Southwest of Trier, we have taken Langsur, Igel, Zewen and Euren.
Two counterattacks were repulsed by our units in the area two miles southwest of Zerf.
Fortified towns in the area of Bitburg and Trier were attacked by fighter-bombers.
Breaking a week’s lull, our forces made limited gains in an attack in Forbach against stiff resistance.
Farther east, a slight gain was made north of Bübingen on the east bank of the Saar River in Germany.
Fighter-bombers set on fire a large ammunition dump at Eschringen east of Forbach, and attacked rail traffic in the Kaiserslautern area.
In northern Alsace and along the Rhine River, there was little activity.
Allied forces in the west captured 9,599 prisoners 2 March.
Medium and light bombers attacked supply and communications targets in the Ruhr Bassin and western Germany, including ordnance and motor repair depots at Schweim, Bergisch-Born, northeast of Cologne, Giessen, and Wiesbaden, rail bridges at Remagen and Heimersheim between Bonn and Koblenz, and at Simmern, an ammunition dump at Rheinbach, roadblocks at Kirn and a storage depot at Nahbollenbach to the southwest.
Oil, rail, and industrial targets over a wide area of Germany were attacked by escorted heavy bombers in very great strength. They included railyards at Chemnitz, synthetic oil plants at Magdeburg and Ruhland, north of Dresden, oil refineries and other factories in the Braunschweig and Hanover areas and a road and rail bridge spanning the Weser River at Nienburg, northwest of Hanover. Fighters strafed rail transport and destroyed 20 enemy aircraft on the ground. Ten enemy aircraft were destroyed in the air.
Last night, heavy bombers were over Germany in strength with Kamen as the main objective. Würzburg was also bombed. Light bombers again attacked targets in Berlin.
COORDINATED WITH: G-2, G-3 to C/S
THIS MESSAGE MAY BE SENT IN CLEAR BY ANY MEANS
/s/
Precedence
“OP” - AGWAR
“P” - Others
ORIGINATING DIVISION
PRD, Communique Section
NAME AND RANK TYPED. TEL. NO.
D. R. JORDAN, Lt Col FA4655
AUTHENTICATING SIGNATURE
/s/
U.S. Navy Department (March 4, 1945)
CINCPOA Communiqué No. 288
Small local advances which left the lines substantially unchanged were made by the Marines on Iwo Island on March 4 (East Longitude Date). Enemy resistance stiffened in all sectors and small arms fire mounted in intensity as our troops attacked. The enemy organized a counterattack in the 5th Division Sector but was repulsed with the loss of several hundred men. The 4th Division fighting over extremely difficult terrain eliminated a strong center of resistance in the morning. Hand-to-hand fighting was in progress in the 5th Division zone of action where the ground is rough and naturally suited to defensive operations. The southern Iwo airfield came under scattered artillery fire during the day as evacuation planes continued to land and take off.
By 1800 on March 3, a total of 12,864 enemy dead had been counted and 81 prisoners, of whom 45 are Koreans and 36 Japanese, had been captured.
The guns of fleet units covered the ground troops during the night of March 3, and supported the attack on the following day.
Carrier aircraft and 7th Army Air Force Liberators operating under the strategic air force attacked Chichi Jima in the Bonins with bombs and rockets on March 3.
Corsair and Hellcat Fighters of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing made bombing and rocket attacks on enemy-held islands in the Palaus on March 3. One plane was shot down by anti-aircraft fire.
Marine fighters bombed Yap in the Western Carolines on the same date.
Fighters of the 4th MarAirWing and Mitchell bombers strafed and bombed airfields and other installations on Ponape in the Eastern Carolines on March 3.
Navy search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two continued neutralizing attacks on enemy-held bases in the Marshalls on March 3.