THE SQUADRON PULSE
For the Men of the Fightin’ 3rd.
Published in the Philippines
Vol. 1, No. 1. Weekly 3 March 1945 3rd Airdrome Squadron APO 72
INTRODUCING THE SQUADRON PULSE!
IT IS ABOUT TIME, WE AGREE, THAT THE SQUADRON NO LONGER STANDS SHORT. WE HAVE BEEN DEPRIVING OURSELVES TOO LONG ALREADY. IN PLAIN WORDS, WE NEED A NEWSPAPER. CERTAINLY OUR PRESTIGE WARRANTS A LITTLE MORE PUBLICITY THAN WHAT HAS THUS FAR BEEN DISSEMINATED. A SQUADRON, LIKE OURS, WHICH HAS PROVED ITSELF SO EXEMPLARY IN ITS WORK AND HAS DOGGED THE HARD, ARDUOUS TRAIL ON THE ROAD “UP” DESERVES TO BE CHRONICLED IN SOME WAY OR OTHER. SO THIS IS IT, MEN. GANDER THRU IT, CRITICIZE IT, AND BE A CONTRIBUTOR. TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE. THE PAPER IS FOR YOU, WITH YOU, AND BY YOU.
ONE BIG MOTIVE BEHIND THE PAPER IS TO PROVIDE EVERY MAN WITH AN UP-TO-DATE, BRIEF STORY OF SQUADRON’S ACTIVITIES, SOMETHING THAT CAN BE KEPT AND VALUED IN LATER YEARS. THE OFFICIAL SQUADRON HISTORY, WHICH IS RECORDED EACH MONTH, CLASSIFIED AS SECRET, AND SENT THROUGH CHANNELS TO HIGHER HEADQUARTERS AND WASHINGTON FOR PERMANENT FILE, WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO THE INDIVIDUAL. WE HOPE, THEN, THAT THIS LITTLE ORGAN WILL MAKE UP FOR THE SHORTCOMING. ITS SUCCESS DEPENDS LARGELY ON YOU.
The PULSE will be issued Saturday and will be distributed in the War room. This first edition will be more or less a feeler or trial balloon. If you like it, we promise that it will grow in size and content. We will try to mimeograph enough copies to enable each man in the squadron to get a sheet of his own. In order that we know how you feel about the paper and about issues pertaining to the squadron and elsewhere, write up a pro or con letter and drop it on the Editor’s desk. It will be published in the “Letters to the Editor” section. These letters should be on my desk before Wednesday morning. For those interested in having a column of their own, technical or otherwise, come in, and we’ll talk it over.
4 MEN ON ROTATION SAYS CAPT MITCHELL
Four men from the 3rd Airdrome Sq probably will go on rotation next month, Capt Mitchell told the PULSE this week. In addition, four other men will have a chance to visit the old home town on a 30 day furlough.
Who these eight enviable GI’s will be, was not disclosed, but the identity of a few of them, at least seems fairly obvious to most of the outfit.
Under the present setup, Capt. Mitchell said a man must have at least 24 months overseas to qualify for T.D. in the U.S.
Qualification for rotation, still stands at about 30 months.
DON’T FORGET THE WAC DANCE--14 MARCH. GET OFF THE SACK AND JAZZ WITH A WAC. [In the next issue, the dance was canceled. Unclear if there really was going to be dance or if it was just a joke. - Ed.]
The 59th Service Group has offered its mimeograph machine for our needs. To them goes our especial thanks for helping us promote this project by furnishing the necessary equipment.
ACE MAKES STAFF!
ACE GETS EXPERT DRIVER’S BADGE!
ACE SMASHES INTO MESS HALL!
During a fortnight of intense activity, Ace Stuart made Staff [was promoted to staff sergeant? - Ed.], received the Motor Vehicle Driver’s Badge, and shortly thereafter ran a trailer into one of the log props in front of the mess hall. Neither Ace nor the log suffered much damage and the former soon got a shovel and replaced the latter. Ace is still Staff and still holds his Motor Vehicle Driver’s Badge.
THE SQUADRON PULSE
Vol. 1, No. 1 March 3, 1945
Editor - Pfc. Stringfield
Assoc. Editor - Cpl. Calkins
Typist - Cpl. Drecoll
This paper has been censored and can be sent home.
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION
Although the rate of disease casualties have been remarkably few in recent weeks, it is no time for complacency. Bugs, whether they are carrying disease or not, still don’t deserve the break they’re getting. In the evenings it is next to impossible to sit by a light for all the strange long—legged, winged creatures that flit around your face. To counteract such a bug menace, we should strike at their source -- consistently. It takes no second look to discover that the swamp flanking us on the shower side of the camp area and the lagoon in the center of the area are the chief breeding grounds. Oil is the most effective exterminator, and if it could be procured in quantity why not spread it “all over hell and high acre?”---- especially in the swamp. -L.H.S.
THE ROOT OF IT ALL
Where are the cigarettes? We’re already aware of the black market and we know that peoples’ war nerves demand more smoking, but there are other reasons that account for the shortage we know little about. Strange as it may seem, peanuts is largely the blame. Experts point out that tobacco acreage has failed to keep pace with increased demands, and that in the last three yrs tobacco growers, because of worker shortage and government-encouraged peanut planting, haven’t been producing even allotted quotas. Now we know. Tsk, Tsk!
FLASHBACKS
By L.H. Stringfield
THE BLOODY BATTLE OF BRISBANE
Think back eighteen months ago. Righto mate, it was on the morning of October 9th that we left the scene of a great battle, the battle of bloody Brisbane. In this great battle the 3rd showed its timber, and what kind of punch it had....and it was quite a wallop. No one stood short....even "Pop" Baylor managed to get around despite his backwardness.
Now that we have licked our wounds, we have only memories of the great city, or shall we call it nostalgia? Let’s turn back the clock and get our teeth in some details.
Remember the first nite in the hangar when we nearly froze our antlers, and remember “Fruito” the peddler. Remember “Little Roy” who wanted to be a Yank someday, and the “stike and iggs” at the immaculate Allies Cafe. Remember the crowded trams and the tuppence fare, and the hotels with their pubs open 11 and 5 ... the warm beer, the stout and the barmaid. Remember Penfold and Vermouth and the stinkin’ rum....and oh yes, the South Brisbane gaol if and when...Remember Paddington, Bowen Hills, Brunswick Station and Sandgate. Remember the passes to Toowoomba, Coolangatta, and the ones we didn’t get to Sydney. Remember the Major and his “This is the story.”
Remember Maude and Sadie and all the other modest damsels. They really loved the G.D. Yanks. We can’t forget the WRENS and the WAAFS either, and above all, our cobbers [Australian slang for pals - Ed.] in arms the AIF, and their ready tongues, “You got a bloody cigarette, mate?” We could go on and on but would rather not get personal.
PUNCHES
Remember, your rifle is your best friend. Treat it as tenderly as you would your wife. Wipe it off with an oily rag every morning.
Give a Mess Sgt. enough rope and he’ll serve spaghetti.
“Mary, aren’t you getting too big to play with the boys?” “No, mother, the bigger I get the better I like them.”
MP: “Parking, huh? You can’t loaf along this road.” Voice in car: “Who’s loafing?”
“Some of the best cooks are in the army.” “What are they doing?”
The sweet young thing had broken her glasses. She carefully picked up the pieces, placed them in an envelope and took it to her optometrist. “Will I have to be examined all over?” she asked as she handed him the envelope. “No,” he replied, “Just your eyes.”
CAPT. MITCHELL COMMENDS
S/Sgt. Russell for his outstanding work, supervising the squadrons’ transient area.
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