Imperial Valley press., 1945-05-07
Science Lends
Mighty Hand
In Pacific War

a mark is made on the map indi-
eating exactly where he stood when
he saw the emplacement.
AMAZING DEVICE
One Of the most amazing devices
is mine-firing device. More than
2100 mines can be laid in an area
and each one can be blown up by
merely dialing number on reg
ular telephone dial 1t is done by
radio.
Other radio equipment includes
special transmitting sets that can
take the place of SO telephone lines
with only fraction of the equip
ment and manpower needed to put
it into operation
One Of the worst factors in an in
vaSion has been the number of men
who drowned while wading ashore.
Often they would be only slightly
wounded or temporarily stunned, but
would drown before aid could come.
The Army now has developed
special lightweight life preserver
that keeps mans head above water
even # he is unconscious and
weighted down with all his equip
ment.
SAFE DRINKING
Infected drinking water can cause
as may casualties as enemy bullets.
Ar1ny's Corps of Engineers has de-
veloped a small hand pump with
filter that takes out most of the
harmful elements of any fresh
water. When special powders are
added to the filtered water it is
fit for drinking.
The list of innovations is almost
endless. The Medical Corps has
built special portable dental units
that can be used as operating rooms,
and sterilization units that can be
converted into a heating plant large
enough to keep a whole hospital
warm.
Special lightweight bridges have
been developed that permit speed
of construction beyond anything
dreamed OF at the start of the war.
GROUND CREWS V-DAY
ARMY AIR FORCES, PACIFIC
HEADQUARTERS CUP)-The rec
ord-setting 100 combat missions
achieved recently by three veteran
7th AAF Liberator bombers have
been attributed to the tireless work
of each planes ground crew.
The Come Closer" 'Kontagious
Katie" and "Punjab" have flown
the combined equivalent of six full
months of combat hours, covering
approximately $4,000 air miles and
unloading $50 tons of bombs on Cen
trail and Western Pacific enemy in
Stallations.
High praise for ground crews
takes into consideration long and
exacting hours spent under threat
OF japanese attack, in the midst of
drenching, tropical downpours. or in
the redhot glow of the mid-Pacific
sun glaringly reflected from white.
coral runways
WORKED BY FLASHLIGHT
I'VE worked 80 hours straight
once in the Gilberts to read Come
Closer said the bomber's ground
crew chief. M/Sgt. James D. Lance.
McMinnville, Tenn. "The plane re-
turned from the strike with a gap
ing slash torn in the leading edge of
wing by 20-mm. shell burst. We
worked during night hours by flash
light. We were putting away the
tools when the flight crew arrived
to take off on the mission
''Kontagious Katie" flew 81 mis-
sions before being forced back to
her base without completing her
assignment. M Sgt. Franklin r.
CARPENTER, Riverside, California.
Katie's ground crew chief com
mented.
I'VE put in solid day of work
and I mean around the clock. no
time out for naps-to complete an
engine change on Katie in time for
her to go on scheduled mission.
We made it with minutes to spare
and Katie took off with the form
alton on schedule
AS to the "Punjab," M sgt. Mel
vim L. Hotz, Olin, Iowa. boasted:
ONLY USUAL THINGS
"Punjab hasn't given us much