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New Guinea An
ADAIR APA-91 World War Two
Following her visit to Saipan, Adair embarked upon an 11 week assignment in the southwestern Pacific, reporting for duty to the Commander, 7th Fleet, on 5 November and for one month thereafter, made short voyages between ports including Hollandia, Noemfoor, and Finschhafen in New Guinea. There, she began preparations for her part in the impending assault on Luzon. |
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| 57th Airlift Squadron
In addition to C-47s, the squadron flew a B-17F from February to May 1944 on long-range missions. On April 8, 1944, the 57th flew personnel and equipment from Guadalcanal to forward bases at Munda and Dobodura. The unit supported the invasion of Noemfoor Island on July 2 and on September 23, moved to Biak Island. They made the first trip to Morotai Island on October 5, carrying supplies forward and returning with litter patients. Memoirs of Richard
Morton Hess
His company joined 503rd PRCT (Parachute Regimental Combat Team). They came in on LCIs (Landing Craft Infantry ships). "We were assigned to help mop up the island." This was the first time he was in combat zone, but didn't actually engage in any fire fights. "99% of the Japs were dead, the others were starving. Noemfoor was a real small island, but it was strategically located. The Japanese had an airport there and the Seabees came in and extended the runway. It was then used for Navy and Army fighter planes." "The Japanese had an entirely different attitude. They didn't really care whether they left this world or not and most of them left this world. They didn't think about it; they just died." The 503rd was composed of: 3 battalions of infantry
(about 800 men each)
He did a practice jump with full equipment on October 18, 1944. Your host's mother made parachutes during WWII. |
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