The Century Bombers
By Irving (Irv) Waterbury
The Century Bombers, the
100th’s own band, became famous in the E.T.O., often fulfilling
engagements off the base. We remember them best for the dance music they
played. Some members came and went as missions were completed; others were
constant, including Irv Waterbury, a prime mover in organizing and
maintaining the band, and now the Group’s co-chairman.
Horace L. Varian
When I came to AAF Station 139 in October 1943, I
heard there was at least the beginnings or nucleus of a band. However, not
much interest seemed evident. The Special Services Officer at that time
was in charge of the band, but, as we all do, he concentrated on his first
love, athletics. I do not remember this officer’s name.
I soon made contact with the band, hoping to get "in" as a singer. It
was at this time I was most fortunate to meet the basic organizer of the
band, the man most responsible for its being, Pfc. Art Woodgate. He
informed me that the band was not in the slightest need of singers, but
did need musicians, horn players and music-arrangements ("charts"). But
Woody, as he was called, also was very kind to me. I had played a clarinet
in high school, and not too well, but the fingering is similar to a sax, a
sax man was what they needed. Art (Woody) actually spent three months with
me in a room of the Big Top (the enlisted men’s club), which we called the
band room, teaching me to play the sax, every night from seven to about
eleven o’clock. Finally one of my greatest day arrived. Woody asked me to
go on the job with the band.
After a month in the band, Woody mentioned that as I was singing with
the Base Octet, and several of the members were officers, maybe I could go
to one of them and present the sorry state of the band, with its need for
organization. With the love of the band in my heart, I spoke to Captain
Varian (who else), who was singing in the Octet. (Other members were Major
Red Bowman, Captain Paul Mackessy, Lt. George Morgan, Lt. John Knapp, Lt.
Paul Mitchell, Sgt. Bob Frederick, Sgt. Tom Horak, Sgt. Bob Williams, Sgt.
Chris Christensen and myself)
Captain Varian was exceedingly kind and understanding. He took me to
present my story to Major Standish. The Major was also quite understanding
and asked if I knew of an officer who would be interested in leading the
band. At that time I worked for (then) Lt. John Williams and knew he’d
played drums in nite-clubs around New York. I recommended him and
subsequently he was appointed band director and the great organization,
The Century Bombers, came into being.
I believe Colonel Fred Sutterlin gave us his blessing, allowing us the
usual dress of open shirts, officer "pink" jackets and G.I. pants, with no
insignia. We all looked like privates. Williams was magnificent! We had
all the horns redone in London, we saved our money from the jobs and put
it into the kitty for an electric guitar for the HOSE - (Jose Benedicto,
base S-2). PA systems were a must. We’d just gotten the services of the
finest Big Band singer in the ETO (including Johnny Desmond), our great
Mike Londra. We bought three mikes and a P.A. system. Soon the girls were
actually swooning at the bandstand when Mike sang "I’ll Remember April."
Eddy Dolezal, communications chief for Mal Couter of the 350th, assembled
all electrical paraphernalia and did a superb job. Jim Anstett of the 84th
Service Group designed and made all of the Century Bombers’ stands. It was
truly a love affair. All of the guys went on pass together, splitting up
only when they headed for a tea as some church social in London! But when
they called "Dis is Diss," all the band guys got off the train.
The greatest accomplishment was the organization of the band by Willie
Williams. With the wonderful sympathetic help of Colonel Utely, we got a
band hut; we were allowed to have a bit of chow after the officer’s Tea
Dances on Sundays. We played for the First Four Graders Club at the Big
Top on varying Saturdays, the lower graders club on alternate Saturdays,
and the Red Cross on Wednesdays.
Our first trip off the base was four or six week trip selling War
Bonds. Our fine driver was Sgt. Ray Baze. We played in London. Then the
trio and rhythm section of the Century Bombers made a broadcast from
Rainbow Corner in London, announced by the BBC’s great Cecil Madden. The
song "Rainbow Corners," a tribute to the well known place and written by
Bo Williams of Cleveland and Herb Leventhal of the Bronx. Records were
made of that broadcast and I have possibility the only remaining record. I
have written the BBC to obtain other copies, but they indicate all records
were lost or destroyed. To prove that we were in great company that day at
Rainbow Corners, the other performers were sailors of the old Artie Shaw
Band, under the direction of the late, great Sam Donahue. Century Bomber
performers that day were; Woodgate, Baker, Brubaker, Craft, and Waterbury.
We played at fighter bases, other bomber air fields and had
Battles-of-the Bands with competing Air Force entries, one of which I
remember was the "Flying Yanks." No one had a singer like our Mike Londra.
Later we had a change in the sax section: Woody went to back to his horn,
the trumpet, and we moved in a young, curly-haired dude from Boston to
alto sax. The Band never again had a horn player like that man, whom you
may remember as Lt. Danny Shaffer. My pal Danny! Clara and I still see him
and his wife, Gert, on our trips to Boston.
John Williams was somehow able to hock cases of that great Birmingham
beer to the band hut for "payment" after officer dances. I think one night
16 men polished off 14 cases. But that didn’t compare with the night
Willey Made Captain. The beer flowed endlessly.
Posted in my den is the Special Order authorizing our last trip
together as a Band, sending us to – London and Aldershot, Hants on TDY for
app. Three (3) days for purpose of COCO Qtrs. (All band personnel were
listed) by order of Colonel Wallace – dated 21 July 45 and signed by one
Major Claude L. Hosford, Jr., Adjutant.
That was the beginning of the end or was it the end of the beginning?
----- Irv Waterbury