War Letters – NW Australia: 16 Aug 1943, Fenton Airfield; With the USAAF 380th Bombardment Group
C/o DPR Unit,
APO Darwin
Monday
[16 Aug 1943]
Darling.
Just a note – I haven’t much time to write at any length as I’m only staying at this American bomber field for a day. This will be fully occupied getting around & having a look see. It is a big camp & takes a lot of covering. Will let you know more about it later.
US mechanics putting a new propellor on a B24 Liberator bomber, Fenton Airfield, Northern Territory – At the time of Wep’s visit, the United States Army Air Force 528th and 530th Bombardment Squadrons of the 380th Bombardment Group (Fifth Air Force Group) was based at Fenton with B-24 Liberators.
Won’t be getting back to Darwin until Wednesday which is unfortunate as I can’t get my mail until I return. Hope everyone got my letters OK. Unless Mrs Jackson1Alice Jackson; editor of the Australian Women’s Weekly gets up here before I leave I expect to be home fairly shortly – am getting to the stage of saying Thank God for that.
Making Hamburgers
The yanks do themselves pretty well in the way of food – they have more variety & pay much more attention to its preparation than do our own troops.
Expect to be making back along the road tomorrow and to complete a couple of notes I have taken.
Christ it’s hot here. Sweat is just cascading off me. However it is not all distressing – feels quite pleasant as a matter of fact as the breeze evaporates it almost immediately. Nothing like Sydney’s heat – i.e. Sydney’s summer heat to you.
Lots & lots of love honey. Am looking forward to getting your letters – I feel quite out of date.
A bloody bushwhacker, that’s what I am.
More love from
Bill
P.S. A booful flower from a NT gum tree for you.
US Air Force camp, The Australian Women’s Weekly, 25 Dec 1943, p11US Air Force campUS Air Force campUSAAF Hospitality Tent, Fenton AirfieldSketch for USAAF Hospitality Tent, Fenton AirfieldStudy for Making HamburgersStudy for: Horseplay in the officers’ quarters. A US aircrew off dutyHorseplay in the officers’ quarters. A U.S. aircrew off duty. – The Australian Women’s Weekly, 25 Dec 1943, p10Study for The Briefng, Fenton Airfield – Two US aircrews are briefed for a big job, one of the longest reconnaissance flights of the war, 2700 miles. This was most likely the raid undertaken by US bombers on fuel depots at Balikpapan, the evening of Sunday, August 16, 1943 as reported by fellow War Correspondent Frank Tierney for the Sydney Morning Herald TANKS AND REFINERIES LEFT ABLAZE (1943, August 16). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), p. 5.The Briefing; The Australian Women’s Weekly, 25 Dec 1943, p11Study for Awaiting emergency landingAwaiting emergency landing, The Australian Women’s Weekly, 25 Dec 1943, p10American ordinance truckYank command carUSAAF Officers’ cafeteria, The Australian Women’s Weekly, 25 Dec 1943, p10USAAF camp, Fenton AirfieldUSAAF camp, Fenton AirfieldUSAAF camp, Fenton AirfieldUSAAF camp, Fenton AirfieldControl tower at USAAF camp, Fenton Airfield
Notes:
1
Alice Jackson; editor of the Australian Women’s Weekly
