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B-17
War Diary
by
Will S. Arnett, 1st Lt. USAAF
Ed.
Note: This is a transcription of the war diary
of my uncle Seaton, Col (ret.), USAF, who passed
away in April of 1994. He flew B-17s out of North
Africa during the Second World War. I have a lot
of respect for him and all of the men and women
who sacrificed so that we can be free. This is
my gift back to him, and to them. I present it
here exactly as it has come to me from his family.
Hopefully my typing transcription doesn't introduce
too many errors. These pages may not be reproduced
or copied without express permission.
"My
Diary while overseas in the European Theatre
of Operations, England, and North Africa,
respectively, with the 301st Heavy Bombardment
Group, and the 419th Bombardment Squadron."
Our
Crew
|
Capt.
G. R. Thomas
|
Pilot
|
Glendale,
Calif.
|
|
Lt.
W.S. Arnett
|
Co-Pilot
|
Madisonville,
Tx
|
|
Lt.
W.M. Reiss
|
Navigator
|
Klichatat,
Wash.
|
|
Lt.
J.G. Crimp
|
Bombardier
|
Ellensburg,
Was.
|
|
T/Sgt
J.A. Martching
|
Engineer
|
Ottunwa,
Iowa
|
|
T/Sgt
F. D'Aguar
|
Radio
Operator
|
Los
Angeles, Calif.
|
|
S/Sgt
J.O. Edwards
|
Tail
Gunner
|
Petersburg,
Va.
|
|
S/Sgt
I.B. Webb
|
Ball
Turret Gunner
|
Lewiston,
Idaho
|
|
S/Sgt
J.P. Graham
|
Asst.
Radio & Waist Gunner
|
St
Louis, Mo.
|
C
E R T I F I C A T E
I certify
that 1st Lt. Will S. Arnett has performed the
following missions on the following dates:
|
Date
|
Mission
|
Time
|
|
Sept
5, 1942
|
Rouen,
France
|
3:05
|
|
Sept
6, 1942
|
St
Oner, (Fort Rouge) A/D, France
|
3:00
|
|
Sept
7, 1942
|
Rotterdam
(schiedan) Shipyards, Holladn
|
3:10
|
|
Oct
2, 1942
|
Beulte,
France
|
3:20
|
|
Nov
8, 1942
|
Lisse,
France
|
3:25
|
|
Nov
25, 1942
|
BTOUSA
- KATOUSA
|
10:00
|
|
Nov
28, 1942
|
Bizerta
|
7:15
|
|
Nov
30, 1942
|
Bizerta
|
7:25
|
|
Dec
2, 1942
|
Bizerta
|
7:45
|
|
Dec
13, 1942
|
Tunis
|
7:15
|
|
Dec
17, 1942
|
Tunis
|
4:45
|
|
Dec
18, 1942
|
Tunis
|
4:05
|
|
Dec
23, 1942
|
Tunis
|
5:20
|
|
Dec
29, 1942
|
Sousao
|
4:45
|
|
Dec
31, 1942
|
Sfax
|
4:40
|
|
Jan
2 , 1943
|
Tunis
|
3:40
|
|
Jan
19,1943
|
Tunis
R.R. Yds.
|
4:00
|
|
Jan
20, 1943
|
Cabes
|
6:45
|
|
Feb
4, 1943
|
A/B
5 miles west of Gabes
|
4:05
|
|
Feb
9, 1943
|
A/B
at Zarousan
|
4:50
|
|
Feb
23, 1943
|
A/B
at Karousan
|
2:50
|
|
Feb
23, 1943
|
Kesserine
Pass
|
2:30
|
|
Mar
10, 1943
|
Lamarsa
A/D
|
4:05
|
|
Mar
12, 1943
|
Sousso
R.R. Yds.
|
4:35
|
|
Mar
13, 1943
|
Convoy
off Bizerta
|
5:30
|
|
Mar
18, 1943
|
Convoy
37° 40' N. 11° 55' E.
|
5:00
|
|
Mar
21, 1943
|
Djobel
Tobega A/D (south)
|
4:20
|
|
Mar
23, 1943
|
Palermo
Shipping
|
6:00
|
|
Mar
24,1943
|
Ferryville
Docks and shipping
|
3:00
|
|
Apr
4, 1943
|
Capodichino
A/D, Italy
|
7:30
|
|
Apr
8, 1943
|
Convoy
off Bizerta
|
4:05
|
|
Apr
11, 1943
|
Liner
at Tunis
|
3:00
|
|
Apr
12, 1943
|
Convoy
off Bizerta
|
4:00
|
|
Apr
13, 1943
|
Castolvotrano
A/D, Sicily
|
5:15
|
|
Apr
20, 1943
|
Lamarsa
A/D
|
3:00
|
|
Apr
26, 1943
|
Crosetto
A/D, Italy
|
7:10
|
|
May
5, 1943
|
M/Y
off Sicily
|
5:25
|
|
May
9, 1943
|
(incomplete
Mission)
|
2:20
|
|
May
11, 1943
|
Marsala,
Sicily
|
4:45
|
|
May
13, 1943
|
Cagliari
City, Sardina
|
3:45
|
|
May
18, 1943
|
(incomplete
Mission)
|
5:00
|
|
May
20, 1943
|
Crosotto
A/D, Italy
|
7:30
|
|
May
21, 1943
|
Sciacoa
A/D, Sicily
|
5:00
|
|
May
24, 1943
|
Torranova
Docks and shipping, Sardinia
|
6:00
|
|
May
25, 1943
|
Messina
Ferry Terminus
|
7:30
|
|
May
28, 1943
|
Leghorn
Shipping area, Italy
|
7:45
|
|
May
30, 1943
|
Coniglano
A/D, Italy
|
7:30
|
|
June
6, 1943
|
Battleship
at Speria, Italy
|
7:45
|
|
June
8, 1943
|
Island
of Pantelleria
|
<unreadable>
|
|
|
Total
|
-----------------------
|
|
|
50
Missions
|
252:20
|
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page has been visited
times since November 15, 2000.
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