The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-27

A B-26 BASE IN ENGLAND
May 26 -(by wireless)- Every
pilot and enlisted combat crew.
man on this bomber station has
an English bicycle, for the dis
tances are long on big airdrome.
The boys in my hut have to go
about a mile to the flying line and
about a quarter of a mile to eat.
Breakfast ends at o'clock, and
like human beings the world over
those not flying get up just in time
to run fast and beat the break
fast deadline by five seconds.
They eat at long wooden tables,
sitting on benches. But they have
white tablecloths, and soldiers to
serve them. At supper they have
to wear necktiee and their dress
blouses. The officers club bar
opens half an hour before supper
and some of the boys go and have
a couple of drinks before eating.
las everywhere else in England,
the whisky and gin are all gone a
few minutes after the bar opens.
The enlisted crewmen eat in a
big room adjoining the officers
mess They eat exactly the same
food, but they eat it little differ
emily. They line up and pass
through a chow line. White pro-
celain plates are furnished them,
but they have to bring their own
fork, knife and canteel cup.
Their tables are not covered.
When they are through they carry
out their own dishes and empty
anything left over into garbage
pail, but they don't have to wash
their dishes. The enlisted men don't
have to dress up, even for supper.
Everybody feels that the food is
exceptionally good. Since I've been
here we've had real eggs for break
fast, and for other meals such
things as pork chops, hamburger
steak, chocolate cake and ice
cream.
Of course both of these messes
are for combat crews only. Ground
personnel eat at different mess.
They don't have quite as fine
choice as the filters, but l guess
nobody begrudges them a little ex-
ira.
In various clubrooms on the air.
drome, and even in some OF the
huts, there are numerous paint
ings on the walls of beautiful girls,
colored maps of Europe, and so on.
One hut has been beautifully deco
rated by one of the occupants
Lieutenant C. V. Grippe, bombar-
die1 from Elkhart, Ind. He also
paints insignia on planes.
This same hut has tiny little
garden walk leading up to the door.
On high post thanking the walk
there hangs white wooden boards
with the name of each flier in the
hut painted in green letters, and
under the name rows of little green
bombs representing the number
of missions he has been on.
All the names are of officers
except for the bottom board, which
says "Pfc. Gin FizZ,' and under
it are painted five little puppy dogs
marching along in row with their
tails up.
| Pfc Gin Fizz is a little white dog
with a face like gagoyle, and
altogether the most ratty and re-
pulsive-looking animal I've ever
seen. But she produces beautiful
pups practically like an assembly
line, and the station is covered
with her offspring.
Dogs are rampant on this station.
They have everything from fat fuz-
zy little puppies with eyes barely
open to gigantic Great Dane.
This one magnificent beast is own
ed by Lieutenant Richard Light
fine, of Garden City, L. l., and
goes by the name of Tray.
The gunner sergeants in the bar.
racks where I've been living have
dreedless but lovable cur named