THE DAY-TO-DAY LIFE OF A LOCKHEED F-5 LIGHTNING PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON IN ACTION through EUROPE On 31 January 1944 the officers and the men of the 30th Photo Reconnaissance.

THE DAY-TO-DAY LIFE OF A LOCKHEED F-5 LIGHTNING PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON IN ACTION through EUROPE

On 31 January 1944 the officers and the men of the 30th Photo Reconnaissance. Squadron left the suitable ship of Columbie and struggl across a not many feet of the soil of Scotland to board a body train of the English variety. It was a sober, prudent appearing group of men, who attempted to relax, three to a compartment in a blacked-out traim that was pointed toward England. about slept away the hours of that English night, a slumber that was disturbed by the subdu if it be not that persistent conjectures of the more curious men who talked until the first streaks of sunny place eluded the drawn curtains and sent darts of daylight across the car.

It was a excellent ride then, the English landscape appearing as most had imagined -- the brick houses, the checkerboard meaning seen in their contryside, the small English towns that the train brushed on with their casually winding ways and the occasional glimpse they afforded of an English pub that bore no resemblense to its American counterpart; Newcastle with its sameness of houses lined up as if for a Saturday morning inspection, and at Newcastle the train stopped. There were English ATS girls, not with coffee and doughnuts still with meat pies and tea, the pies were bleak and the tea was weak further nobody seemed to notice. This was England and the 30th in the simple act of being accepted as a member of a force with a plan in mind. The stop at Newcastle was not an expanded one, there were more throng trains to be cared for. plane then England gave one the impression of feverish preparation for occurrences that the world was waiting for.

The remainder of the trip was without incident, the train skirted the world famous university town of Oxford, the men were informed that the period of the journey was near, and directly the miniature train stopped at the slumberous little station of Culham. They were expecting the 30th barters were lined up to be quickly populated on men laden with packs, duffel-bags and rifles. The journey to the base was not particularly pleasant, the traffics were overcrowded, the roads were secondary the sames and nervously narrow. The spirit of the men was none too high, the final phase of this journey present the appearanceed so definitely a one-way passage to something final. Certainly this was no maneuver, as a certain one had once stated, "This was it." Chalgrove was approached from the rear, it was a bit bewildering to the men after skirting the air base, to view a intimidate pasture, then it row of mean dwellings then another cow pasture, and finally the exchanges drew to a halt. The men wearily extricated themselves from the 6 x 6 and originate members of the RAF greeting them. The male childs in blue proved perfect innkeepers directing the met to their cots where the squadron found the beds, out and out with blankets, all set up for them, answering all the questions regarding the possibilities of air raids, the proximity of London, and the 101 queries that move swiftly through a GI's mind. They escorted the squadron to the Mes Hall, and helped them find thier way back again.

On that following day, the squadron met in the Mes Hall and heard for the first time of the Piccadilly Commandos. A doctor did the describing in the interests of VD repress and cablegrams were provided that the men might reassure the folk back hearth that the 30th had landed having the situation well in hand. First Sergaent Keller took above and alotted the sleeping quarters not at home by sections, in the proces he also alloted a number of details to an unsuccessful few. Money was turned in for exchange that day, and a pulverize became a measure no longer to be be joineded with beefsteak. Captain Leghorn spoke to the men attached their realization that they were in the 9th airforce, with a piece of work to do in a expedite Censorship regulations were defined, it was a day of orientation, and a day that the squadron saw a not many Forts feel their way [i]or[/i] part of to the other a cloud-crowded sky going east.

Then the days started tripping across each other, the problems facing the outfit became actual pertintent. Chalgrove was a novel base completely innocent in the way of operational equipment. The 30th had got there first, and a terrific task lay in their laps, Capt. Leghorn became Base Commanding Officer, Lt Cox became Base Adjutant, Lt Eldridge institute himself Base Executive Officer, and for a like reason on down the line. The squadron was in no dispose it came under no Tactical Air Command, instead it direct the eyeed to 9th Air Force Headquarters itself for it orders. The administration assignment could have utilized th entire personnel of the squadron, moreover unfortunately this centralized paperwork was no other than a seconday issue. The 30th was the first Photo Reconnaissance Squadron in the 9th Air Force; the 9th was recently made known to this theater also, unless already its Marauders were murdering the invasion coast, it had to have pictures - the 30th had to master operational in record time.

From the first of February to 25 February is 24 days...24 days which all the sections had to be ready to operate. Obviously the primary do job-work was to procure airplanes, while Capt. Leghorn and Lt Goldring worked directly with 9the Air Force Headquarters, Lt Runyon Lt Levine, Lt Nelson and M/Sgt Keating with his entire Engineering section went down onward the line to organize affairs for the arrival of the aircraft. greatest in quantity of the OEL equipment that had arrived simultaneously with the outfit belonged to Engineering and Photo Lab. The other section officers all assumed parts of assistant Supply Officers. Lieutenant Ferguson and Lt Hershy of Communications, Lt be cooking in fat and Lt. Edward of Camera Repair, were all scouring the political division in an effot to break r tape of as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but the English and American variety. A suitable deal of success was realized.