The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-23
COED CREWS
 MAN BRIT ANS
 ANTI-AIRCRAFT
By FRANK BREEsE

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 United Press stan C6Tespondent) 1. A South Coast English Port --(U. P.) = Coed crews of Royal Artil- lerymen and ATS (Auxiliary Terri- torial Service, the English counter part of the Wacs) man the anti-air- craft defenses, and sex is no great problem even though the soldiers of sexes ii1habit the same camp.
 Betsy the Three -Pipper" (Jr. Commander H. E. Adlercron), who who wears three "pips" on each shoulder for designation of her rank, commands the detachment of about 100 girls at the camp. She explained that the men and women live in separate barracks so that moral order is maintained with a minimum of supervision. They have dances twice week. The married soldiers are given ''compassionat leave" every now and then. When- ever anyone seems to be straying, the commanding officer has frank talk. R. A. officers counsel the men and Betsy" talks things over with the women.
 Fill Vital Jobs
 The ATS have done a lot to re- lieve the nan-power situation in the services. Tn the case of Mixed Heavy Artillery Battery the girls don't actually man the guns, but they do equally vital work in the control room. The girls age range is between 19 and 9, and they have an average of one to two years experience. Once inducted, they volunteer for the artillery branch of the service if they like 1t. Their pay is about 28 cents day with proficiency bonus of eight cents day.
 Life in a Mixed Heavy A camp consists of tedious waiting for the ferries, who seldom come and many forms of recreation and di- version. The sports are hockey, football, net-ball, darts and table tennis. Most popular of all are the dances held in the barracks ballroom, about the size of a Small- town YMCA gymnasium.
 "MairZy Doats," hasn't reached this battery yet because none of the musicians of the three-piece orchestra has had a chance to go to London to get the music, So Pistol Packin' Mamma" is the current rage, and every hit back to Little Spanish Town" of the late '20s is syncopated during each evening of enthusiastic dancing Enthusiasm rather than style sets the pace for fancy-footing. The popular steps are the ''Kokie Kokie" (English for "Boogie Woogie'O, the Palais Glide, the Lambeth Walk, Bumps A,Daisy anc the Pride of Erin. Occasionally they indulge in the orthodox fox-tro and waltz, but only on occasion.
 Impatient For Invasion
 The camp mess is well-balanced according to those who eat it. Int 7:30 a. m., breakfast is two course! with porridge or cereal and bacor and potatoes. It is supplemented by the standard tea and bread margarine and marmalade. Luncl features roast beef and Yorkshir, pudding or pot roast and cabbag, or broiled beef and carrots. Tn, dessert is boiled pudding and GUS tard sauce. High tea is served a 4:30 p. m. spread of bread an real butter. scrambled dehydrate, eggs or grilled sardines or welsl rarebit and jam and tea. Suppe is light buffet, repast of sand wiches and no tea. They go to tn, Naaf1 Counterpart of USO) afte, supper for coffee or chocolate.
 The men and women of thi. camp have been waiting for thu invasion since late in March wher they went of home rations and or to field rations. Under the home ration system, they were giver messing allowance" of four cent. a day when Betsy" Jumped in 6 funds to buy such luxuries a! sliced herring, anchioves, mustard and condiments used to garnist the table and supply honey touch to the drab army fare. Deprived of the messing allowance" they have been waiting for the invasion feeling that the sooner it comes the better.