The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-10-30
BY THOMAS w. YOUNG

with the Journal ard Guide. Copy
right, 1943. Reproduction In whole
or In part expressly forbidden.)
AN ADVANCE ALLIED AIR.
FIELD-During the five or six
weeks that the Goth Fighter Squad
ron was engaged in advance COM
bat training at an airfield far back
Of the front lines in French Mo-
rocco. the ordnance section had to
do little explaining and apollo
giving to justify its existence.
But once the pioneer Negro fight
er pilots got in to real combat action
and the fireworks began to pop sure
enough, everybody knew and un-
derstood. Without the ordnance
section the mechanics might as well
have Grated up their P-40 War
hawks and carried them on back
home.
Because the ordnance section Is
the supply agent for the squadron.
requisitioning and delivering the
ammunition for the guns and the
bombs to be carried by the planes
on bombing missions. II has the
further responsibility OF supplying
all motor vehicles used by the
squadron.
Unusual Advancement
Until recently. facilities for trans
49, 10
quartermaster. but now the ord
nance division OF the Army has title
10 all ground vehicles II issues
them out TO various other depart
ments and divisions for operation
and maintenance.
This squadron has. on paper two
separate and independent ordnance
organizations. But in operation
they are scrambled up and actually
function as one. This peculiar cir
cumstance grows out of the fact that
this. unlike other fighter squadrons q
Is operating as an independent unit
In the combat zone.
What goth Has
First. like all other squadrons. il
tas its own ordnance section
headed by End 1t. George r. Cur
RE Of Los Angeles Calf. ordnance
officer.
Then. unlike other squadrons. II
has an ordnance detachment con-
sisting OF four enlisted men and n
commanding officer. End 1t. James
q. Freeman Jr. of Jamaica, Long
Island. NY.
In the normal patterns ~ opera
ton. three fighter squadrons com
priSinC a group arc served by one
ordnance company or detachment
in the matter Of supplying am
muntion and bombs, and for major
repairs 10 weapons.
In addition. each squadron has
its own ordnance section 10 bridge
the gap between It's armament Sec
ton and the group ordnance COM
pany.
Fantastic Problems
But the experiment" Of . Negro
Fighter Squadron has produced .
practical solution for every one Of
the odd. almost fantastic problems
arising from Its independent and
separate existence.
In this instance the detachment
commanded by Lieut. Freeman has
virtually been merged with the
much larger ordnance section Of
the squadron.
To discuss or write about them.
II is easier 20 forget there are two
organizations and 10 consider them
IS just one.
The Personnel
Here are some o. the we'll trained
and highly capable enlisted men
who make the department succeed.
staff Sgt. James II. O'Neal. IS.
Malone. Ala. section chief.
Tech. Sgt Robert II. Irving. -.
1i3 Jackson street Pontiac, Mich.
graduate Of Alabama State col
Iege. chief clerk.
Cpl English l.. Girardeau. ~. 1923
w 18th street. jacksonville. Fla. .
graduate OF Iofida Norman coiTsv$
In 1888 and for three years there
after a teacher In the Florida pub
lie schools. assistant clerk.
Sgt Edward l. Doyier, IS. 1858
Lakewood avenue. Jamaica. Long
Island. NY. chief armorer.
Cpl.-JuliuS- A. Searlex. y. -ll22
Fifth street NV. Washington. DC,
AZ g.
Frederick. Md. q former student OF
Howard university.
Cpl. Marion Sampler. 80. ISL n.
w Iith street. Miami Fla.
Cpl John &. McLeese. ~. ITO
10Th street. NV. Washington. DC.
Pfc. Roy league. 10. Selma. Ala.
Pvt. Clarence w. Donaldson. %.
1922 Richmond street. Detroit, Mich.
Pvt william J. Jones. %, P.O.
Box I12 st. Clairsville. Ohio.
Pfc. Nicholas r. Quinonez, 81. 16
r. II6 street, New York City.
Cpl. Arthur T. Williams. rs. 2Is
r. 4srd Place. Los Angeles. Calf.
Sgt. Roscoe II. Smith. 2s. 1917
Linden street. NE, Washington.
DC.
Pvt. James w. Jones. 81. 1912
Cross street. Little Rock. Ark.
Sgt. william n. Young. %. 107
Birch avenue, Richmond. Va.
sgt. Ohio l.. Johnson. 2S. King
fisher. Okla.
Pvt. Leon W. Coles. 81. New York
City
Their Qualifications
These and the other men who
carry on the ordnance work for the
Squadron had. first. the capacity
for the work; they had. next. tho.
rough and careful training. and
finally. they had a fair opportunity
10 demonstrate their ability,
a.. ~ ihnse ,x.oel