1941
They say that no news is good news, but to a column writer it is sad news. Nevertheless, I shall try to put forth some comments on a few things you have not already heard about through Lew's DFDB's. Incidentally don't forget the Alumni Fund; we can still come out on top.
Major Robert C. Mensel, former commander of Group II at the Columbus. Army Air Field, has been appointed director of flying training at an advanced twin-engined school by his commanding officer.
J. Allen Van Wie Jr. led his 63rd Battalion academically with an average of 3.752 at the U. S. Navy Pre-Flight School, Chapel Hill, N. C.
A/C George M. Wharton was awarded a $25 War Bond as the outstanding cadet, this honor being based on military bearing, leadership ability, primary flight ability, general attitude, etc., at the 2164 th AAF Base Unit, Tuskegee Institute, Ala. This primary flight training school is the only activity in the Army Air Forces which devotes its entire time to the training of Negro aviators. Doc was also awarded $lO in War Stamps for having attained the highest ground-school average of his class. It was the highest ever made at this school,—92.5.
As you may recall Lew reported Capt. Robert J. Dixon as missing. I have some more information from the Bth Air Force Reconnaissance Station in England, on just what occurred at the time he was forced to bail outover Germany. I will copy the info, verbatim:
Captain Robert J. Dixon is the seventh photographic group reconnaissance pilot who, February 14, displayed exceptional coolness and courage over a synthetic oil plant in Central Germany when he radioed to nearby allied aircraft a description of the bomb-damaged target he was unable to photograph because flak damaged and fired his "Spitfire." Capt. Dixon was making his fourth picture run over the target when other reconnaissance pilots saw heavy concentrations of flak envelop his airplane. It broke into flames and began to lose altitude although the pilot fought to keep it under control. He immediately warned the recon pilots to remain out of range and then calmly described the "must" priority target and gave the pilots a correction in windage so they might safely return with the valuable information to this station. The planes circled above the falling photo aircraft until Capt. Dixon bailed out and floated earthward in his parachute. Another photo recon-pilot's pictures of a later hour disclosed that Capt. Dixon's verbal picture had been complete in every detail.
After having the misfortune of losing their first born daughter, Marjorie and John Kelley are very proud to announce the birth of their seven-pound, five ounce baby girl who was born on April 11. They have named her Christina Gray. We are all very happy for you. John, as you may remember from previous notes, was not home for the blessed event but is in the Pacific on one of our new battleships.
News from Bob Hamilton, who is working at the Southern California Telephone Co. in the Disbursement Accounting Department, indicates that he is beginning to think the weather in California has a lot of things in its favor, although he didn't want Chuck D Olive to hear about it. Bob is putting some of his Tuck School training to work as secretary-treasurer of the "Disbursement Accounting Local Union No. 104." He writes that the union is in the "process of collective bargaining with the management for a fivedollar a week raise for everyone, shortening of wage schedules for women, establishment of a wage schedule for men, arbitration, maintenance of membership, and a few other less obnoxious items." Bob says the weather agrees with him and that he has gained ten pounds since he left the strain of Washington and the WPB.
It seems that a month cannot pass without my having the sad duty of informing you of the death of another of our beloved classmates. It has only been a couple of issues back since I reported to you the activities of Lt. (jg) Robert S. Nichols MC USNR. Roxie Nichols, Bob's wife, has written me that the Navy Department informed her on April 21 that Bob had been killed in action and was buried somewhere in the Pacific on an island. A few days later, however, Roxie received a letter from the lieutenant in command of the naval beach party of which Bob was medical officer. He said that it happened in the invasion of Okinawa and that they had "dug in" for the night. A hospital corpsman was shot by a Jap sniper and called for a doctor. Bob left his foxhole and went to him immediately, but, as he approached him, Bob too was shot by the sniper. He died immediately and did not suffer. We can only express our profound sympathy and pray that this war will come to an early end.
Richard Silberstein became engaged to Miss Doris Ettelson of Passaic, N. J., recently. Miss Ettelson is a senior at Smith College where she is a Phi Beta Kappa. Miss Isabella Logan Kruger is going to say "I do" some time this summer to Staff Sergeant Alexis M. Tarumianz. Miss Kruger is a graduate of Penn Hall Junior College. Alexis has returned from service in the African and Italian theatres of war and is now stationed in Philadelphia.
Lt. Robert Kellogg Hess AUS has returned from eighteen months' duty in Greenland to marry his lady-love, the former Miss Maurine Van Meter of Bronxville. The new Mrs. Hess was graduatedt from Principia College in 1943.
So short, but sweetly, I close my notes withsome of the more recent promotions: Lt. (jg)Kenneth W. Kimball, Lt. (jg) Robert W. Sherwin, Capt. David Chittim, Lt. (jg) Harry W.Douty 3rd, Capt. James S. Eckels, Lt. (jg)Bruce C. Muir, and Capt. Richard C. Borellal
REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION on January 21, 1945, Lt. George Adams Taylor '4l, USNR.
Secretary, James Buchanan Apt., B 13 Presidential Gardens, Alexandria, Va. Treasurer, 2617—30 th St., S. E., Anacostia, D. C.
