To: My Grandson DJ (of whom I am very proud.)
From: Grandpa Harry (Harry C. Roff Jr., Lt. Col. Air Force Reserve Retired)
Date: Memorial Day 2011
-
I enlisted as an Aviation Cadet 1-15-1943 in Hartford, Conn. I was ordered to report to Maxwell Field, [Ala.]
-
Eight weeks at Maxwell Field - four as underclassman, four as upperclassman. No planes, drilling, marching, parades, schoolwork, physical training.
-
Then someone made a choice and I went to Bennettsville S.C. for flight training on PT-17’s, that was the first time I had ever flown.
-
Then Sumpter S.C. for basic training on BT-17’s. Bi-planes [are] primary mono-planes in basic.
-
Then Moultree, Ga. for advanced training in AT-6’s.
-
Graduated in Nov. 10 1943 as a second lieutenant.
-
Then Clearwater, Florida. I was pleased that I had been selected for fighter aircraft not bombers but the sight of those old P-40’s like they had been used to fight in China was depressing. They gave us 10 hours of book learning then they got a rush order for pilots, so I soloed that day. Accumulated about 40 hours.
-
Then off to the Queen Elizabeth. Assigned to a private stateroom with 14 other guys. She crossed the North Atlantic in 4½ days.
-
Then Grimsby, England up by the wash. The 78 Fighter Group had P-38’s - the planes and all their pilots went to Africa leaving the Top Group officers and the Top Squadron officers to form a new group. They were assigned P-47’s.
-
All unassigned pilots were assigned to the new 78th Fighter Group.
-
I was assigned to the 83rd Fighter Squadron. The other were the 82nd and the 84th.
-
Our top brass missed their showy P-38’s, but we all pushed to get hours. I got about 40 hours in the P-47.
-
Then the Group and all three Squadrons were sent to Duxford, Near Cambridge, Eng. The RAF gave us their base, airfield all grass, permanent buildings. The P-47’s weighed 7 tons which was harder on the grass than the Spitfires.
-
We took advantage of the wide grassfield and took off four abreast.
-
Our first combat missions were “Fighter Sweeps.” Forty eight P-47’s at 30,000 feet crossing the channel and flying over Hitler’s Occupied Territory.
-
The Germans could have ignored us, but they felt insulted and flew up to challenge.
-
Then we started on our key-role which was bomber escort.
-
Bomber crews were assigned a “tour” of 200 hours. If they survived they are rotated home.
-
They planned a “tour” for us which would be about 80 missions compared to the bomber’s 25.
-
When my 80 missions were complete I was a first lieutenant with 79½ missions credited. Two Enemy shot down, one downed, awarded the Air Medal four times which shows as an Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with two clusters, and the ETO Theater ribbon with one star.
-
Then I was assigned as a Flight Instructor and I found that duty as dangerous as combat.
DJ all my flight log books are missing, so this is an overview of my career. All done as a lieutenant. My promotions came in my reserve duty. Thanks for sharing.
Grandpa Harry