Erick, Beckham, OK -- World War II Diary of Sgt. Billy W. Morgan ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Submitted by: David W. Morgan -- dmorgan@efn.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with the USGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- My Life in the Service Diary of Sgt. Billy W. Morgan 459th Pomeroy Prov. Grp. Biggs Field, Tx Identification Billy Wayne Morgan Rank: Sgt. Serial Number: 18192547 Unit: U. S. Army Air Force Stationed at: Biggs Field, Texas Religion: Baptists. Date of Birth: Aug. 19, 1923 Weight: 135 Color: White Color of Hair: Brown Height: 5' 3 1/4" Color of Eyes: Blue Nearest Relative or Friend Mrs. French Morgan Route 3 Erick, Okla Physical Record on Entering the Service Date: Oct 28, 1942 Weight: 135 Chest-Normal: 35" Expanded: 37" Waist: 27" Dates to Remember March 24th March 11th Dec. 21th Mrs. French Morgan Earl Morgan Mrs. & Mrs. Fred Ricketts Birthday Birthday Anniversary Dec. 18th Apr. 24th June 17th French Morgan Robert Morgan Mr & Mrs. Don Morgan Birthday Birthday Anniversary. July 23th Oct. 19th Dec. 7th 1943 Don Morgan Bobby Bruner Sail from the Birthday Birthday States Dec. 30th Nov. 29th Dec. 15th 1943 Eddie Morgan Leta Marie Barber Landed in Birthday Birthday North Africa Aug. 15th March 4th Jan. 4, 1944 J.B. Morgan D. Wayne Morgan Landed in Birthday Birthday Southern Italy. Training Shipped out of Sheppard Field, Texas on March the 30th 1943, my rank was Corporal. Was sent to Middle River, Maryland for special training. We left there May 4th 1943 for Tyndall Field as gunners. graduated there June 28, as arial gunners and with a Sgts. rating. My Buddies in the Service 1. Cpl. Lelan Daniels we run around together for about 12 1/2 years, graduated from High School together, and went to N.Y.A. school together, then worked on a construction job before joining the Air Corp. He is somewhere in England now. He was like a brother to me and we never quarreled or fought. He is from my home town. 2. Gus Musich and I met in A.M. School in Shepperd Field Tx. and went through a special school and gunner school together. He was a real swell guy. He is from Chicago. 3. Vincent Poone. Met him in A.M. school in Texas and went to Baltimore and Gunnery school together. He was an Italian and was a swell guy I liked him very much, he was from Philidelpia, Pa. 4. I.R. Perkins we have been together for over 15 months now and went every where together, never been seperated. He is another swell guy and I like him very much. He is from Fairland, Indiana. 5. Paul A. Parkhurst, he is the other musketeer, myself, I.R. Perkins and Parkhurst or Packrat. He has been with us 15 months and is quite a guy. He is full of jokes and don't care for nothing. His home town is Anderson, Indiana. 6. Robert B. Reed. He went through all the schools with us and all the training we had, shipped out with us everytime we shipped. He is also full of jokes. His home town is Indianapolis, Indiana. 7. Harley Ogden. He went through school with me all the way but was killed in a crash in California. He was a quite kid never said much but everyone liked him. He was from Witichita Kansas. 8. Jesse Maulton. Met him in A.M. school in Texas and went to Baltimore together, but got seperated there. He was younger than I, but likeable guy. He hailed from Dalhart, Texas. 9. Robert Morris. Met him in Casablanca and came to Italy with him. He was a pretty nice guy. He was killed about a week ago in a crash. He was from Arizona. 10. W.L. Runnels. Met him in Clovis, New Mexico. He is 1st Engineer on our crew. I like him quite a bit. He is a swell guy and everyone likes him. He is from Mize, Miss. 11. Jake Stubbs. I also met him in Clovis, New Mexico. He is our Armor Gunner. He is really a swell guy. Has a swell Personality, and everyone thinks a lot of him. He is from Fort Smith Arkansas. 12. Jack Garfield. Harbor Creek, Pa. Officers I have met Capt. Furr, met him at Sheppard FIeld Texas. Everyone in the Sqdn liked him very much, because he was just like one of the boys always setting down and talking to us. Capt. Heirline, he was out adjutant in the 318th T.S.S. Sheppard Field, Texas. He was a pretty good guy too, only he didn't mix with us very much. 2nd Lt. Valletina, no body like him because he was the only one who ever gave us any trouble, he was a 90 day wonder and thought he was the Big shot of the Sqdn. Major Palmer met him in Baltimore he was a swell guy, we could ask him to do anything for us, and he would try his best to get it done our way, if it was within reason. Major Perkins of Tyndall Field, he was also a swell guy. He gave us our wings when we finished gunnery school. Everyone liked him. 2nd Lt. C.E. French he is our pilot - met him in Biggs Field after our other pilot was killed. He like to run around with us more than he does with other officers. 2nd Lt. Clarke. He was our first pilot at Clovis. He was a quite guy and never said anything. He was killed on the 28th of July in a test hop. 1943 2nd Lt. D.S. Stone. He is our co-pilot, has been with us every since we left Clovis. He is from New York and a funny guy to be around. F/O Baldt, he is our bombadier. Met him in Clovis also. He is about the same size I am and a very good guy. He is from Chester, Pa. 2nd Lt. Guen, he was our navigator until he was grounded. He is from Arkansas, we thought a lot of him. 2nd Lt. Phelps, is our navigator now, he is from Mich. and we all like him pretty good, we don't know him very well as yet. Autographs To My Pal, The days may come and the days may go, but we will be together always (while in the Army) Leo K. Bitting To My Pal, One of the nices fellows I have had the pleasure of meeting since I have been in the army. I hope we will be friends for a long time? Jack W. Garfield To My Pal, Can't think of anything to write so here's hoping that we'll all be successful in making our 50 missions and return to the States together. A friend and crew-member W.R. Runnels To My Pal - 1-28-44 It is a pleasure to write a line in your book of memory. Here is hopeing you and the rest of the crew will be successful in making your missions, an return back home some day. Jake Stubbs Places I Have Been April 1, 1943 stopped over in Chicago, Ill. We stop there at sundown and didn't get to see much of the town, but it seemed to be a very nice town. April 2, 1943, stopped and ate lunch in Harrisburg, Pa. We got to look around a little there. I didn't like the town very much. April 3, 1943, arrived at Baltimore, Maryland, was stationed there one month and it is a very nice town the nicest I've been in since joining the army. April 15, 1943 went up to Metuchen, New Jersey. it is a small town but a very nice one. I didn't like it because I don't like the state of New Jersey. Left Maryland May 2nd and travelled by day coaches to Tyndall Field in Florida and took a course in aerial gunnery then shipped to Salt Lake City Utah for 12 days of processing. Went to Clovis, New Mexico, for ten days of training as a combat crew. We left there on the 24th of July and arrived at Biggs Field, Texas and took 4 months trainig there. When we had finished training we were shipped the Grand Island Nebraska, for 17 days of processing, then shipped out to Camp Patrick Henry, Va. awaiting a boat for over seas. We left the states on Dec. 7th and stayed on the boat for 8 days and finally docked at Casablanca for 20 days more of processing. Then we caught a C-47 out of Casablancea for Oran then to Tunis then over to Gelo in Sicily. Stayed overnight then on to Leece, Italy. On Oct. 19, 1943, Leo, Packrat and I spend a very loveable evening in the Jaurez, Mexico Jail. We'll not mention the details. Gifts I have Received Crash Brachlet Cigarett Case Sept. 15, 1943 Sept 17th Mr & Mrs. Harvey Hudgins Mr & Mrs Harvey Hudgins Comb & finger nail file set Billfold Aug. 21, 1943 Dec. 24th Bobby Bruner Carolyn Tate Book Stationery Cigarette Lighter Aug 18, 1943 March 12, 1944 Leta Marie Barber Mother & Dad Shaving Set Cigarette Case Dec 26th March 12, 1944 Leta Marie Barber Mother & Dad Sewing Kit Fountain Pen Dec 26th March 12- 44 Leta Marie Barber Mother & Dad The folks back home Mr. & Mrs. French Morgan Miss Betty Ohms Route 3 309 George Ave Erick Okla Essex, Baltimore (21) Maryland Mr. Bobby Bruner Miss Leta Marie Barber Gen. Del. 346th Station Hospital Erick Okla Phoenixville Penn. Miss Ima Storts Cpl. Don Morgan Gen. Del. Co. "C" 216 Gen. Hosp. Erick Okla Camp Forrest Tenn. Mr. % Mrs. Ted Magar Miss Mildred Sexton Route 3 37 Bay Street Erick Okla Panama City Florida Mr & Mrs. Clarence Bartlett Miss Helen Schoner Route 3 2338 Scarff St. Erick Okla Los Angeles Calif. Miss Twilia Smith Miss Patty Barnhill 304 N. Lincoln St. 714 South Star St. Amarillo Texas El Dorado Kansas Miss Leta Marie Barber Miss Emma L. MacMullen 701 Nutt Street 824 East 9th St. Phoenixville Pa Grand Island Nebraska Miss Virginia Logsding Cpl. Hubert D. Morgan 32595221 800th South Sycamore Co. "C" 216 General Hosp A.P.O. 9639 Grand Island Nebraska % Postmaster, New York City, New York Mr & Mrs Roy Morgan Mr & Mrs Harvey H. Hudgins 301 E. Harmond, Midwest City 202 N. Main St Okla City Okla Shamrock Texas The Following Pages Contain the Diary of My Life in the Service This simple record of my daily experiences and thoughts has given me pleasure in the writing of it. If for any reason it leaves my possession, I would like to have it forwarded to: Sgt. Billy W. Morgan Route # 3 Erick Oklahoma Oct 28, 1942 I joined up with a buddy of mine and chose aircraft mechanics course as our training we went through alright. Dec 7, 1943 We set out for a unknown port. I was still pretty sick at the time. Dec 8, 1943. I was setting in a little poker game and lost $140 that night. Dec 9, 1943. Laid in my bunk all day getting over my cold. Dec 10, 1943. We had a boat drill today on top deck. The boat was rocking a little. Dec 11, 1943. Got up this morning at 8: oclock and clean up for room for inspection. Then slep the rest of the time. Dec 12, 1943. Met Freddie Sawada from Seattle, Washington. He is Japnese, met a swell guy. Dec 13, 1943 Stood watch on a gun nest today for two hours with a buddy of my outfit. Dec 14, 1943. Carried C rations up from the bottom of the boat, which was about 7 decks, I really was tired at night. Dec 15, 1943 We docked in Casablanca today and went out to the camp. It was raining pretty hard and we got soaking wet before we got there. Dec 16 to Dec 20, 1943. We were drilling and taking exercise and doing details. Dec 21, 1943. pulled two shifts of guard duty today and they were four hrs each. Keeping the Arabs out of camp. Dec 22, 1943. Didn't have nothing to do today, I slept most of it away. Dec 23, 1943. We were on detail again today at the main supply, all we did was set around and talk. Dec 24, 1943. We fixed up the tents today and got everything ready for xmas. Dec. 25, 1943. Had a swell dinner today and was off all day, we talked, wrote letters and played Cassino. Dec. 26, 1943, We didn't do nothing to day but stand retreat. Dec. 27, 1943. Had detail again today at the supply again we didn't do anything today either. Dec 28 to Dec 31, 1943. We set around and fixed our tents up a bit and played cards again most of the time. Jan 1, 1944 Had a swell time to day also a swell diner. Jan 2. 1944. We were put on the alert also we were restricted to the area. Jan 3, 1944 We got our stuff packed today for shipment, and stayed around the area pretty close. Jan 4, 1944 We boarded a C-47 for another place, where we didn't know Jan 5, 1944. We stopped over in Tunis and Gela, Sicily today and stayed all nite. Jan 6, 1944. We landed in Italy. It was raining when we got there but cleared up in about 3 hrs. We slept in the chemical warfare tent. Jan 7, 1944, We put our tent up today and moved into it. The ground was wet and it was pretty cold. Jan 8, 1944 We tried to get some lumber today to build a floor but they had just run out and we weren't able to fix our tent up. Jan 9, 1944, Our crew had a flight today, but I didn't go on it because only five of them had to fly. Jan 10, 1944. I tried to get a chute today but couldn't. So I didn't fly today. Jan 11 to 20 We got in 45 hrs flying time. OUr crew bailed out over Southern Italy today and Leo, Jake and I are sweating them out. Jan 21, 1944. We had a report from them awhile ago. they are all okay. Jan 22 Our crew is still in southern Italy waiting for us to come after them. Jan 23. Lt. Stone, Lt. Phelps, S/Sgt. Sauls and Sgt. Garfield came in today. Jan 24 Lt French came in today and S/Sgt Runnels is in Naples. Jan 25 S/Sgt Runnels came in today on a C-47 from Naples, we were all glad to see him. Jan 26. We sat around most of the day shooting the breeze with our crew. Jan 27. We flew again today on a short practice mission. Feb 8, 1944 We pulled our first combat mission today over the Piterbo, Italy airbase. The mission was successful. Feb 9, Mission scheduled today but due to wheather we couldn't make it Feb 10. Same thing today no mission on account of weather. Feb 11 We had a mission over some crossroads just above the Anzio beachead. Mission Complete. Feb 12. Started on another mission today but our ship couldn't catch formation so we had to turn back. Feb 13. No mission today we slep all day. Feb 14. Pulled a mission over nothern Italy at the Verona Marshalling Yards. Feb 15 - 44 We fooled around in Pomigilina Feb 16. We were still in Naples run around. Feb 17. We caught a plane back to the base with a crew that just made a mission. Feb 18. Was put on (ot Daboine)? for a mission, but turned back at Bary. Feb 19. Was Grounded because of cold and ears. Until Feb 29. That's all brother. March 1st. We turned back from a mission because of the weather. March 2nd. Pulled a mission over the Anzelo beachhead. It was a concentration of troops. March 3 Turned back from Northern Germany. the Colonel was our group leader. March 4. Turned back from a marshalling yard in nothern Italy. March the 5d It was raining and the mission was called off. March the 6th We laid in bed all day because of weather, couldn't go on a mission. March 7th Pulled a mission on Pista, Italy marshalling yards. March 8 to 10 Stood by for mission. practice mission the 9th (too much ink - mess from other page) March 11th Pulled a mission over Tulon, France. It is in southern France and was a submarine repair shop. We stop off at the Island called Corssica for gas. March 12. We went to briefing for a fighter sweep over Venis, but the weather keep us from going we had a practice mission. March 13, 1944. It rained all day so we stayed in our tents or in the N.C.O. Club. March 14 Scheduled for Sophia, Bulgaria but weather keep us from going. March 15, Pulled a mission over Cassina today. I think we pretty well fixed it up. March 16, It rained nearly all day. I played poker this afternoon and sent $80 to the States. March 17, Pulled a mission over vienna, Austria today. It was a breeze. We got credit for two missions. March 18. Had another mission today in northern Italy. The target was a German air field. No opposition. March 18, Went up to 11th mission K lagenfort on another mission. We only got one missin for the trip. March 19 to March 27. Weather was too bad to pull any missions March 28. We raided Mertie M/Y in northern Italy, saw some dog fight between P-38's and Me 109's. March 29. Pulled a mission on Bulzona in northern Italy and also in the alps. It was successful. March 30, We went to Sofia in Bulgaria today the mission was completed, the 98th B.G. liked to of bomb our formation. March 31 We get paid today and didn't have no mission scheduled so we are sleeping all day. My Discharge from the Service S/Sgt Billy Wayne Morgan was killed on a mission over Bucherest Romania April 4th 1944. Was laid to rest in Erick Cemetery Dec. 18, 1948; Left his mother & father Mr & Mrs French Morgan and 5 brothers Don, Eddie, J.B. Earl and Robert, and a host of relatives & friends. Billy marked on a picture of Army insignia that he made Private 1st Class on March 12, 1943, Corporal on March 30, 1943, Sergeant on June 28, 1943, and Staff Sergeant on March 1, 1944.