DIARY OF S/SGT LEWIS D. PAYNE
THORPE ABBOTTS, JUNE 6, 1944-SEPT 23, 1944

JUNE 1944

TUESDAY JUNE 6, 1944
ARRIVED IN IRELAND AT NUTS CORNER, CHECK OUR NEW G IN (CREWS FROM THE STATES FERRIED ACROSS BRAND NEW B-17G'S, DROPPED THEM OFF AT DEPOTS, AND WERE USUALLY ASSIGNED TO THE OLDEST PLANES AT THEIR NEW BASE…. MPF) AND LOADED OUR BAGS FOR THE TRAIN. ATE-SLEPT-AND HAD SHEETS. WENT TO THE SHOW AND TALKED TO SOME WAAF AT THE NAAFI. PEOPLE THERE ARE WONDERFUL-ALL BUT AT THE SGT CLUB WHERE WE WERE THROWN OUT. TODAY WAS D-DAY FOR THE INVASION IN FRANCE BY AMERICANS.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 7, 1944
SECOND DAY IN IRELAND AND ALSO THE SECOND DAY OF THE INVASION. WALKED AROUND THE BASE A LITTLE AND VISITED THE NAAFI AND HAD TEA AND CRUMPETS. HAD MY AMERICAN MONEY CHANGED TO POUNDS AND SHILLINGS. GOT DARK AT 11:30PM AND WAS LIGHT AT 2:30AM. SAW BELFAST FROM THE AIR—BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.

THURSDAY JUNE 8, 1944--JUNE 18, 1944
NO ENTRIES

MONDAY JUNE 19, 1944
AROSE AT 7:00AM ANS WENT TO SCHOOL ALL DAY. MADE MY RATING OF THE RATE OF STAFF SERGEANT. PAY NOW IS $98. 00 PER MONTH.

TUESDAY JUNE 20, 1944
AROSE AT 7:00AM. HAD SCHOOL ALL DAY

WEDNESDAY JUNE 21, 1944
SCHOOL ALL DAY. WROTE HOME AND SENT BICYCLING WITH WIGGS (ALBERT) AND BEASLEY (DONALD) THEN TO THE USO ETO CAMP SHOW. WAS A GOOD SHOW WITH 2 FEMALES AND A JEW MASTER OF CEREMONIES? BOUGHT MY RATIONS: 2 R. BLADES, 3 BOXES OF CANDY, 2 PKG OF COOKIES, 10 CIGARS. SENT MY DIRTY CLOTHES OUT BY AN ENGLISH BOY

THURSDAY JUNE 22, 1944
WAS SUNSHINY DAY. WENT TO SCHOOL, FIRED MY OWN 45 CAL AND CLEANED. PUT MY WRISTWATCH IN INSTRUMENT SHOP TO HAVE IT CLEANED. IT WILL COST 4 POUNDS. GET IT JULY 1ST. GOT A V-MAIL LETTER FROM MOTHER AND ANSWERED. SIGNED THE PAYROLL.

FRIDAY JUNE 23, 1944
WENT TO SCHOOL AND JUST LISTENED TO RADIO AT NIGHT.

SATURDAY JUNE 24, 1944
WENT TO DISS, (A NEARBY TOWN) AT NIGHT—WENT TO A FAIR AND BOUGHT A BICYCLE FOR 10 POUNDS AND 10 SCHILLINGS—A GOOD 3 SPEED BIKE. WENT ON A PRACTICE BOMBING MISSION

TUESDAY JUNE 27, 1944
RAINED! HAD SCHOOL—HAD MY BICYCLE REGISTERED AT THE PROVO MARSHALL. WENT TO DICKLEBURGH AND CYCLED BACK.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 28, 1944
SCHOOL, FLEW A LOW ALTITUDE AND HEDGE HOPPED A LITTLE

THURSDAY JUNE 29, 1944
WENT TO TURRET SCHOOL AND FLEW FROM 2-5:30 HIGH ALTITUDE PRACTICE MISSION. WENT TO DISS AND CYCLED IN WITH WIGGS.

FRIDAY JUNE 30, 1944
AROSE AT 7:00. WENT TO TURRET SCHOOL. PAID 30 POUNDS 6 SHILLINGS—WASHED CLOTHES. WENT TO DISS AND CYCLED IN. WAS AWARDED THE PRESIDENTS CITATION--A BLUE RIBBON TRIMMED IN GOLD TO BE WORN ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

TUESDAY JULY 4, 1944
HAD SCHOOL AND CLEANED THE GUNS ON 320 “YEHUDI” AND WAS READY TO GO ON A RAID TO FRANCE. SCRUBBED. WE HAD PRAYER AT THE SHIP.

WEDNESDAY JULY 5, 1944
CLEANED GUNS, FLEW PRACTICE MISSION IN THE MORNING AND HAD A MISSION SCRUBBED IN THE EVENING.

THURSDAY JULY 6, 1944
AROSE AT 1:45 AM-BREAKFAST AT 2:00 AND HAD FRIED EGGS-SUNNY SIDE UP. BRIEFING AT 2:30AM. HAD PRAYER AT 6:15AM AND WENT WEST OF BOULOGNE FRANCE AND DROPPED 20-250LB BOMBS. GOT 2 PIECES OF FLAK IN RIGHT WING. THIS WAS MY FIRST MISSION ON THE ENEMY. WE FLEW PURPLE HEART CORNER.

FRIDAY JULY 7, 1944
AROSE A 11:45PM, HAD BREAKFAST AT 12:45AM, BRIEFED AT 1:45AM, TOOK OFF AT 4:35AM. DROPPED BOMBS AT MALKAV, MALTO, LUTZKENDORF, BOHLEN WAS SYNTHETIC OIL PLANT AND BOMBER ASSEMBLY. SAW PLENTY OF FLAK. WAS IN THE BALL 4 HRS—9HR MISSION. SAW 2 BURNING PLANES GO DOWN IN HOLLAND. WE PRAYED GOING AND COMING. GOT 6 LETTERS.

SATURDAY JULY 8, 1945
AROSE AT 12:10AM, HAD BREAKFAST AT 12:45AM, BRIEFED AT 1:45AM, TOOK OFF AT 4:25AM. WENT TO ENALUX FRANCE. JUST A 5HR MISSION, SAW JUST A LITTLE FLAK—WASN’T CLOSE THOUGH. 1-1000LBS. SIX LETTERS—GOT SOME SLEEP.

SUNDAY JULY 9, 1945
FLEW 4 HR PRACTICE MISSION

TUESDAY JULY 11, 1944
WE FLEW A SPARE ON WHICH THE BOYS WENT TO MUNICH THEY MISSED IT BY 31 MILES. SENT MY LAUNDRY AND HAD A DISH OF STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM

WEDNESDAY JULY 12, 1944
AROSE AT 4:30AM, BRIEFED AT 5:30AM, FLEW A MISSION TO MUNICH, GERMANY AND DROPPED BOMBS ON PILOT-LESS AIRCRAFT FACTORIES. WAS A 10 HR MISSION—SAW LOTS OF FLAK, GOT A LETTER FROM WIFE.

THURSDAY JULY 13, 1944
AROSE AT 3:30AM, WENT TO MUNICH GERMANY—WAS THE 2ND MISSION THERE. FLAK WAS DENSE. IN THE AIR FOR 10 HOURS. PICKED UP QUITE A BIT OF FLAK IN RADIO ROOM. SAW THE BEAUTIFUL ALPS. FIVE CREWS WENT TO SWITZERLAND. GOT A LETTER FROM HOME.

FRIDAY JULY 14, 1944
THE WHOLE CREW GOT A PASS FOR 48 HRS ANDS WE WENT TO LONDON. STAYED AT THE REGENCY PALACE HOTEL AT PICADILLY CIRCUS. HAD PICTURE TAKEN OF ME AND RODE THE SUBWAYS AND THE TWO—STORY BUSES. TWO AIR RAID ALERTS.

MONDAY JULY 17, 1944
WENT TO AUXERRE, FRANCE. NO FLAK AT TARGET BUT SAW SOME LATER. THE MAKES MY 6TH MISSION

TUESDAY JULY 18 1944
WENT TO KIEL, GERMANY TO DROP BUNDLES ON KIEL CANAL. FLAK WAS INTENSE. THIS WAS A 7 HOUR MISSION. WENT TO BED AT 10:00PM AFTER READING MY BIBLE.

WEDNESDAY JULY 19, 1944
2:00AM WAKE UP, WENT TO SCHWEINFURT, GERMANY TO LAY EGGS ON A BALL BEARING PLANT. WAS A HEAVY RECEPTION OF FLAK. THIS WAS MISSION # 8. THE LORD RODE WITH US. GOT 4 LETTERS TODAY, WHICH WAS WELCOME.

THURSDAY JULY 20, 1944
AROSE AT 1:00 AM. WENT TO MERSEBURG, GERMANY AND SAW PLENTY OF FLAK. I WAS 8 HR 30 MIN ON OXYGEN. DIDN’T PICK UP MUCH FLAK THOUGH. THANK THE GOOD LORD.

FRIDAY JULY 21 , 1944
AROSE AT 2:15 AM. STARTED TO REGENSBURG BUT DROPPED OUR BOMBS ON AN AIR FIELD AT 28, 000 FT. THERE WAS A HEAVY OVERCST AND MOST CREWS GOT LOST FROM FORMATION. WE FEATHERED #1 AND HAD A HOLE IN GAS TANK AND OXYGEN BOTTLE—BUT MAKE IT OK.

SATURDAY JULY 22, 1944
AROSE AT 7:30 AM. HAD A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP. WENT TO A RADIO CLASS AND WAS OUT ON THE LINE FOR 2 HOURS. WENT TO NORWICH AT NIGHT FOR TEA. THE TOWN HAD REALLY BEEN BOMBED.

MONDAY JULY 24, 1944
AROSE 7:45 AM HAD A MISSION IN FRANCE TO HELP THE GROUND TROOPS AROUND ST. LO NOT MUCH FLAK BUT A HEAVY OVERCAST AND DIDN’T DROP BOMBS.

TUESDAY JULY 25 1944
AROSE 2:30AM. HAD A MISSION TO FRANCE ON THE GROUND FORCES LINE AND DROPPED 38/100 LBS ON GERMAN LINE. AT 4:00 PM WENT ON ANOTHER MISSION BUT WAS CALLED BACK. THIS WAS #13.

WEDNESDAY JULY 26, 1944
NAME WAS UP FOR AIR MEDAL BUT HAD TO AWARD DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND PURPLE HEART SO AIR MEDAL WAS CANCELLED UNTIL A LATER DATE. CLEANED OUR GUNS AND FLEW A FRIEND OF PHELPS TO A B-26 BASE CLOSE TO LONDON

THURSDAY JULY 27, 1944
AROSE AT 1:00AM. WAS ALL READY TO GO ON A MISSION CLOSE TO SWITZERLAND BUT WAS SCRUBBED AT 4:30-SO WE HAD THE DAY OFF

FRIDAY JULY 28, 1944
I DIDN'T FLY! THE BOYS WENT TO GERMANY BUT HAD TO TURN BACK ON ACCOUNT OF OXYGEN LEAK. WE ALL JUST WANDERED AROUND ON THE FIELD AND CLEANED GUNS.

SATURDAY JULY 29, 1944
RAINY DAY! THE CREW WAS LOST WEST OF MERSEBURG. FLAK GOT THROUGH AND THEY FELL OUT OF FORMATION AND WAS ATTACKED BY FIGHTERS. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE GOT CLEAR OF THE PLANE. WAS MISSION NO 14. THE CREWS CLOTHES WERE COLLECTED.

SUNDAY JULY 30, 1944
RAINED! I TURNED IN ALL PERSONAL BELONGINGS IN AT SUPPLY. I WENT TO CHURCH IN THE MORNING

MONDAY JULY 31, 1944
JUST LOAFED AROUND THE BASE AND PRAYED ALL DAY FOR THE CREW

TUESDAY AUGUST 1, 1944
WENT TO LONDON ON A 48HR PASS. HAD A GOOD ROOM AND A SOFT BED AND HAD SOME GOOD MEALS. WENT TO THEATRE AND SAW WOMAN OF COURAGE AND DONALD O'CONNOR. HAD SOME WINE. SWEATED OUT THE BUZZ BOMBS FROM 3:00-9:15AM AND TWO WERE TOO CLOSE TO SUIT ME.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 2, 1944
HAD CRISPY TOAST AND COFFEE AND SWEATED OUT MORE BUZZ BOMBS IN THE MORNING. CAME HOME AT 1:30PM AND HAD LETTERS HOME WHEN I GOT TO THE HUT. HAD A QUIETS NIGHTS SLEEP.

THURSDAY AUGUST 3, 1944
WENT TO 388T BOMB GROUP TO SEE KASSEN BUE THEN WAS ON A PASS TO LONDON. I CYCLED ABOUT 60 MILES. SAW TWO FRIENDS FROM HOME AND IVAN McCAPPIN CAME UP AND STAYED ALL NIGHT WITH ME.

FRIDAY AUGUST 4, 1944
GOT UP AT 6:35AM TO GET IVAN OFF TO CATCH THE 7:25AM BUS. PAINTED MY BICYCLE AND GOT A SCARF, SOAP, MINTS, CRACKER JACKS AND 6 LETTERS FROM HOME. I WROTE 6 LETTERS AND SENT MY PICTURE TO BIG BEN HOME. .

SATURDAY AUGUST 5, 1944
EXCELLENT WEATHER! FLEW WITH STREED CREW IN THE BALL AND WAS WOUNDED AT MAGDEBURG AT THE LEFT ANKLE. CAME TO THE 65TH HOSPITAL AND WENT ON THE OPERATING TABLE AT 5:50PM. I WOKE UP AT 8:30PM.

SUNDAY AUGUST 6, 1944
STILL AT 65TH-HAVE A CAST ON LEG TO KNEE. JUST RESTED ALL DAY, FOOD FAIR

MONDAY AUGUST 7, 1944
F. O. EYSLER VISITED ME. HE IS NAVIGATOR FOR STREED. MY FAVORITE NURSE IS A YANKEE AND THEY ARE ALL NICE TO US HERE.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 9, 1944
GOT 8 LETTERS. HAD COMPANY; FIRST WAS 2ND LT STREED AND THEN 2ND LT GRIFFIN AND 2ND LT EYSLER. 2ND LT LINDSAY IS HERE WITH A SERIOUS LEG WOUND. I WENT UP TO SEE HIM, WAS OUT IN THE SUNSHINE FOR AWHILE. WE HAVE CUTE NEW NURSE TONIGHT.

THURSDAY AUGUST 10, 1944
LT STREED WAS OVER AND BROUGHT SOME CANDY AND GUM. "DOC" McCARTHY AND MAJOR BARR WERE ALSO OVER TO SEE ME. GOT 3 LETTERS. WENT UP TO SEE LT LINDSAY. MY BEST BUDDY NEXT TO ME IS NAMED GOODALL. HE IS REALLY OK-FROM THE 390TH BOMB GROUP.

SATURDAY AUGUST 12, 1944
WENT UP TO SEE LT LINDSAY. S/SGT GOODALL'S GIRLFRIEND CAME UP AND WE HAD A GOOD VISIT.

SUNDAY AUGUST 13, 1944
STREED AND THE WHOLE CREW WERE OVER. GOOD VISIT.

MONDAY AUGUST 14, 1944
MOVED 2 BEDS FROM GOODALL HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS HERE. I WROTE A LETTER FOR LT LINDSAY TO HIS WIFE AND PAID HIM 2 VISITS. STREED AND EYSLER WERE HERE FOR A FEW MINUTES. I'LL CLOSE AND READ MY BIBLE.

SUNDAY AUGUST 20, 1944
I WAS AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL AND ONE CLUSTER AND THE PURPLE HEART. RECEIVED 6 LETTERS AND WENT TO CHURCH.

MONDAY AUGUST 21, 1944
PART OF LT LINDSAY'S CREW CAME OVER TO SEE ME. NO MAIL TODAY! SLEPT A GOOD BIT AND READ A COUPLE OF MAGAZINES. CHAPLAIN WAS OVER TO SEE ME. IT WAS COL JEFFREY WHO AWARDED MY PURPLE HEART AND AIR MEDAL FROM THE BASE.

THURSDAY AUGUST 24, 1944
THIRTEEN HUNDRED HEAVIES WENT DEEP INTO GERMANY (RUHLAND OIL REFINERY). NO MAIL. VISITED LT LINDSAY AND S/SGT GOODALL. WENT UP TO COCA-COLA BAR AND HAD COKE AND COOKIES.

FRIDAY AUGUST 25, 1944
WE LOST 25 HEAVIES YESTERDAY. NO MAIL. STILL AT 65TH.

SUNDAY AUGUST 27, 1944
LT STREED CREW STARTS THEIR 7 DAY FLAK LEAVE

MONDAY AUGUST 28, 1944
I WAS RELEASED FROM THE 65TH HOSPITAL AND CAME BACK TO 100TH GROUP.

TUESDAY AUGUST 29, 1944
I WENT UP AND CHECKED MY FLYING EQUIPMENT AND GOT MYSELF A BIN FOR MY A-3 BAG. THEN UP TO THE HOSPITAL TO SEE THE DOC BUT DIDN'T GET TO SEE HIM. DON'T FEEL SO GOOD TONIGHT.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 30, 1944
WENT TO THORPE ABBOTTS AND TOOK MY BICYCLE TO BE REPAIRED. WENT UP TO SEE THE DOC ABOUT MY FOOT. I 'M GETTING A 7 DAY FLAK LEAVE.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 1944
WENT UP AND SAW THE DOC AND CAME BACK DOWN TO SEE MAJ SAMMY BARR AND HE SAID I'LL BE ON MY WAY HOME IN 2 OR 3 DAYS. I TOOK MY PARTIAL PLATE TO THE 65TH.

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 1944
GROUP LOST PLANES. WE LOST FOUR AND EVERETTS CREW WENT DOWN. ONE TAIL GUNNER WAS HIT AND SHIP WAS BADLY SHOT UP BUT HE LIVED. WAS HIT BY FW'S AND SHOT 20MM AT OUR AIR FORCES.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 1944
WENT TO 65TH HOSPITAL AND GOT MY PARTIAL PLATE. VISITED GOODALL AND BRIGHT EYES (NURSE) AND REST OF THE BOYS AND LT LINDSAY. HE IS GETTING ALONG FAIR.

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 1944
SENT MY PURPLE HEART AND AIR MEDAL HOME AND INSURED IT FOR $25. 00. WENT TO DISS AT NIGHT. THEY GOT THEIR WEEKLY SUPPLY OF MILDS AND BITTERS. WORKED ON MY CYCLE


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