Evening star., 1944-12-14

.
Gen, H. H. Arnold, AAF chief, as a
means of boosting morale and in
terest between the Allies, was re-
vealed at a press conference at the
field yesterday. Concerts on behalf
of the War Bond drive are also
scheduled.
Wing Comdr. r. P. ODonnell,
director Of music for the RAF band,
spoke for the 100 blue uniformed
musicians he brought with him. For
all but five, who are Canadians, it
is the first trip to America.
"Simply Marvellous"
| Yesterday the Britishers were
given a thoroughly American lunch
hot dogs and banana splits. which
the commander termed simply
marvellous. Some of the band mem
bers confessed they didn't exactly
know how to maneuver the buns
and dogs and the fruit-decked ice
cream was beyond their eating ex-
lperience.
Comdr. O'Donnell. Londoner, has
visited practically every corner of
the world, except this continent
mainly through military duty, as
his many and bright ribbons indi-
cate. His very unique" past in
cludes service in the infantry, caval-
ry, artillery and Royal Marines
army. navy and air force. During
the World War he was 21st Lancer,
booted and spurred," he said, "in
India" He is due to retire next
February.
1--WE are astonished over the beauty
of your city," the commander said.
Il am SO sorry for your lads, for
we'll only be able to show them bits
and pieces of England"
Dance Band Busy Elsewhere.
Comdr. ODonnell brought his mill
tary and symphony bands here. but
his dance band is busy elsewhere
entertaining the fighting Tommies
in Belgium. They will not play
American jazz. "for I thought it
best to present the type of music
we play in England" the COM
mander explained.
Maj. ALT Heiberg, head of the
AAF Band, outlined the visiting
bands itinerary. The opening con-
cert will be played Monday in Con-
stitution Hall for high-ranking Gov
ernment and military officials, fol-
lowed by a program for volunteer
War Bond workers Tuesday night.
Both concerts will be in tribute to
the bond workers, with attendance
only by invitation.
On December % the Raj band
sters will return to Washington for
street parade from the Treasury
Building to Fourteenth and F. streets
NV, where they will play a concert
under the auspices of the War Fl
nance Committee. While in the
South, the Englishmen will fly from
Miami to Nassau, in the Bahamas
Islands, to entertain Raj personnel
there, Maj. Heiberg said.
Terrified" in New York.
Comdr. O'Donnell said he was
terrified with the speed and size of
New York" and his men are "rawther
dazed by the lights" of Washington.
But he seemed most surprised at the
unusual share-the-taxi system here.
Yesterday when a most beautiful
girl hoped inside my taxi" he told,
Il nearly bunked out the other side.
didn't understand it, and I don't
know what my wife would say about
such action"
The band played yesterday at a
formal parade in Comdr. ODonnell's
honor. Maj. Gen. ]. P. Hodges,
and Brig. Gen. Ray L. Owens. both
OF RAF headquarters, represented
Gen. Arnold, while Air Vice Marshal
Wilcox headed the British delega-
ton.
Gen. Hodges presented medals to
t he following enlisted airmen:
The Distinguished Flying Cross
and Air Medal with Cluster to
Tech. Sergt. Robert F. Kirk of
Galesburg, Ill, for so combat mis-
sions and for shooting down six
Jap planes; the Air Medal with
Cluster to Staff Sergt. Alfred r.
Rivers of Corvallis, Greg, and the
Air Medal to Tech. Sergt. Austin H.
England of Baltimore, both for
"meritorious achievement" during
| flights.