In The Service Now-This Day In Norwood History-February 11, 1944

Home From Panama

Captain Eugene B. Lunden, son of Mr. and Mrs. Berndt 0. Lunden, 63 Howard Street, is enjoying a three weeks leave from Army duties with his wife and parents. Captain Lunden arrived in the States last New Year’s Day, at Fort Devens, with his outfit from the Panama Canal Zone where he has been stationed the past two years.

He is a graduate of Norwood High School and from M I. T. as a civil engineer. As a first lieutenant in the Reserves, he was called to active Army service in the summer of 1941 and was promoted to Captain in the Canal Zone in 1942.

Marine Honored

Among Marines who fought in a Presidentially cited unit in the South Pacific, and who recently received awards is Sgt. Raymond H, Kozlowski, 320 Lenox Street, Norwood. He received a letter of commendation for performance at New Georgia.

In Invasion Forces

Pfc. Raymond F. O’Brien and Pfc. Jack Adelman are with the 4th Marine Division invading the Marshall Islands. Major General Schmidt in his pre-invasion message told this outfit they were superior forces with superior implements and equipment.

Also in the 4th Marine division is Corp. Fred Deeb, son of Mrs. Esther Deeb of Cedar Street.

Now a Sergeant

San Juan, P. R.—Promotion of James B. Donovan, of Norwood, Mass., to the grade of sergeant in the Army Air Forces was announced here today at Antilles Air Command headquarters.

Entering the Army July 23, 1942, Sgt. Donovan was assigned to his present overseas unit in October, 1943, and now is stationed on the island of Trinidad, in the British West Indies. He was promoted to corporal in December, 1942.

Sgt. Donovan was born June 11, 1908, in Norwood, Mass. He attended Norwood High School and Boston College.

Bases of the Antilles Air Command, of which Sgt. Donovan is a member, are located strategically from the western tip of Cuba to equatorial South America, covering an area 245 times the size of the state of Massachusetts. The bases form a protective barrier for the gateways to the three Americas, and serve as stepping stones on air supply routes to fighting fronts of the world.

Reports on Capt. Lee

This column is indebted to Corporal Roger P Flaherty for a copy of Stars and Stripes, Italy edition, which carries the account of Captain George Lee’s P-42 Squadron over the 5th Army beachhead.

Reads Stars and Stripes account. “Allied Air Forces of the Mediterranean, in their busiest day since the Salerno landings, flew 1300 sorties yesterday (January 23) in their contribution to the land-sea-air operation that brought American and British soldiers within the shadow of ancient Rome. The role of the Air Forces was threefold, to protect the convoy bearing the assault troops, to cover the landings and beachhead, to paralyze the movement of German reinforcements into the new combat area.

“At least 600 fighters and fighter bombers of the Tactical Air Forces kept up constant patrols over the 5th Army beachhead. In contrast, the Germans were able to put up no more than 100 light aircraft over the whole of land and sea areas involved—and these planes concentrated most of their efforts against Allied shipping.

“German bombers with fighter escort attempted to break through six times throughout the day and on at least one occasion succeeded But several times their hit-and-run dashes were intercepted and in one formation of more than 20 FW*190s, six were shot down by a P-40 squadron of the famed 79th Fighter Group. One P-40 was downed in this mass dogfight but the pilot is safe.

“This was the same P-40 squadron, now commanded by Capt. George Lee, Norwood, Mass,, which destroyed 17 enemy planes in one day in fighting over Cape Bon last June.

“Two other German planes were shot down over the beachhead area yesterday, for the loss of one Allied aircraft, making a total count for the day of 14 to 9.”

The account continues “Light, medium and even heavy bombers throughout the day struck at key road junctions over which the Germans might send reinforcements. Targets were at Vetletri, 20 miles south of Rome on the Appian Way; at Frascati, 10 miles south of the capital on the inland road; at Valmontone, Frosinone and Cassino, on the same road; and Terni, an important junction for railroads joining central Italy and the Adriatic coast with Rome. Other targets were Cep-rano, Fondi, Ferentino, Priverno, Esperia and Palestria.

“There were no bombing of targets immediately adjacent to the landing area.

“Heavy bombers of the 15th Air Force also struck north of Rome to cut the main arteries of communications leading to the capital and beachhead Main targets were in the Florence area and around Rome, where unescorted Flying Forts did the damage.

“Yesterday’s all-out air offensive in support pf the landing was made possible by the closeness of lighter strips and bomber bases, one authority pointed out. Fighter fields are within 15 minutes flying time of the disputed areas,

“Preparations for the landing had been going on for weeks, with systematic bombings of German bomber bases in southern France, of fighter bases in northern Italy and especially around Rome, the severing of all possible communications, and the smashing of military concentrations wherever they formed in the landing area.

“All air forces joined in the pre-invasion assaults, and all types of aircraft took part in the attack Aviation engineers worked day and night to finish needed lighter strips, and mechanics spent the eve of D-day tuning up motors for “the big day ’’.

“A few hours before the start of the landings all men of the 12th Air Support Command were briefed at the special insistence of their commander, Maj. Gen. Edwin J, House Cooks, crew chief«, pilots and ground officers—all were informed of the importance of their part in the operation.

“This is the first time that everyone knows a bit about the big show, and I think that knowledge is going to pay dividends,” said one air officer.

“Even as the briefings were being given, night bombers were over the beaches to soften up any last minute defenses, while night fighters patrolled over the invasion fleet. And before dawn of D-day, P-40s and Spitfires were taking off, the flames of their exhaust flashing in the darkness, to take over the patrol ”

Grow’s Citation

The citation which accompanied the Distinguished Flying Cross recently presented T/Sgt. Robert E Grow by Brig. General Leon W Johnson at an Eighth AAF Bomber Command Liberator Station, somewhere in England, read in part “For extraordinary achievement while participating in operations against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Roumania on August 1, 1943. During this extremely important attack made upon enemy oil refineries, Sgt. Grow participated in the longest flight ever undertaken by so large a number of B-24 type aircraft.

The mission was rendered doubly hazardous by the fact that the attack was made at minimum altitude and the target area was very strongly defended by both antiaircraft and machine-gun installations and numerous fighter aircraft. Yet so exemplary was the flying skill and valiant determination of this man that the operation was crowned with high success. His achievement was a tribute to the Forces in which he serves General Johnson, who commanded one group of Liberators at the time of the Ploesti operations, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor (the highest military honor given by the United States), for his part in this raid.

In addition to the OFC, Sgt Grow, who lives at 179 Roosevelt Avenue, Norwood, has also been awarded the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters.

Raymond Greene Missing In Action In New Guinea

The family of S-Sgt. Raymond F. Greene, 27, formerly of Davis Avenue. Norwood, had word yesterday that he was missing in action in New Guinea.

Sgt Greene had been in the Army three years and overseas for two years His mother had a letter from him yesterday which said he hoped to he home next month.

He was a graduate of Norwood High School and of Norfolk County Agricultural School.

Aviation Cadet

Joseph B Fenton, 25, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. W Fenton, 149 Walpole street, Norwood, is now enrolled as an aviation cadet in the pre-flight school at Maxwell Field, Alabama, installation of the Army Air Forces Training Command. Here the cadets are receiving nine weeks of intensive military, physical and academic training.

Cadet Fenton was graduated from Norwood High School and attended Springfield College, 1937-41, receiving a B. S. degree.

Graduates In Texas

Frederick L. Sansone, the husband of Mrs. Frederick L. Sansone of 18 Prospect Avenue, Norwood, has completed his course of studies as an aviation mechanic in the Army Air Forces Technical Training School, Amarillo Army Air Field, Amarillo, Texas.

His graduation from this technical school now fits him for airplane maintenance and he will be sent to some air base where he will assist in keeping America’s Flying Fortresses in the air for Allied Victory.

Is Aviation Cadet

Cadets in training nt the preflight school of the San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center, Texas, include 112 from Massachusetts, one of them from Norwood.

The nine-week pre-flight course prepares the cadets physically and mentally for aerial instruction in primary, basic and advanced flying schools. The future pilots study code, maps and charts, physics and other academic subjects as well as undergoing vigorous physical training schedules.

Cadets now in pre-flight training include- John II. Berkland, 44 Cedar Street, Norwood.

Advanced In Navy

Mr. and Mrs. Peter McCall of 2 Parkway have received word from their son, James, that he has completed his training course and has been advanced to Petty Officer third class in the electrical branch. James entered the service on June 25, 1943.

He received his boot training at Newport, R. I. After boot training, he did an additional four weeks in the Seaman Guard. After his leave, he returned to Newport for active duty with the fleet He js now somewhere overseas with the Navy.

He was formerly employed at Bird & Son.

Now at Greensboro

Pvt. Richard W. Spear, son of Mr.. and Mrs. G. Spear, 67 Howard Street, Norwood, has arrived at Basic Training Center No. 10 of the AAF Training Command, Greensboro, N. C.

While attached to this station, Pvt. Spear will take basic training in the AAF and undergo a course in physical conditioning. He is here as a pre-aviation cadet candidate.

He was formerly employed by the U. S. Post Office of Norwood and was active in DeMolay. He attended Norwood High School where he was a member of the rifle and sportsman clubs, leaving in 1943.

Pvt. Spear entered the Army on January 11 at Fort Devens.

Writes From Pacific

Pvt. Jim. Tomm, Dean Street, is now writing to his family from an overseas station in the Pacific area.

At Scott Field

Pfc. James E. Farmer, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. E Farmer, 48 Hawthorne Street, has arrived at the Scott Field, Illinois, Army Air Forces Technical Training Command Post where he will receive an intensive course in radio operating and mechanics to fit him for duty as a member of a fighting bomber crew.

During his training period at Scott Field, PFC Farmer will be tested by experts as to aptitudes for special types of work, and when his course is finished, he will be sent to more advanced training centers which are part of the vast network of Technical Training Command schools. Upon graduation, he will be well qualified for duty as an expert radio operator or technician wherever his services are required by the Army Air Forces.

(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)