It has been a while since doing more research. I appreciate though all the help you have given so far
. I am doing a book for my family on my Father during World War Two. I have located more letters, pictures and mementos. Some pictures are labeled and some not so finding or should I say guessing the location is interesting. Maybe if I post some pictures someone could help.
Understanding the big picture of where he fits in is confusing at times.
Is there a way to find out what ship he took to England? Can I assume he took the USS Uruguay? He shipped out of Fort Dix on August 6, 1942. On one the Web sites it says that the USS Uruguay took the 301st Bomb Group on August 6, 1942 and arrived in Swansea, Wales on August 18.
So would that mean he was part of the 301st? My Father was company clerk.
Does he have a trail of paper work that could identify where he has been? This is quoted from my Father in a letter "So far, the present routine of my day goes I carry out to the best of my aptitude the work of any company clerk. Reporting to higher headquarters on this, that, whatever else. Reading and trying to remember a hundred different directives, which come out. In general trying my best to keep the government well posted on the boys in my outfit either through records or through payrolls. Trying to keep the boys straight with the government.
Actually, I spend a great of time before papers and a typewriter. Probably, I fork five good hours a day on the average. Sometimes I work more at the first of the month or around the fifteenth, but I think maybe four hours a day is a good average to mark down. Of course, all of us are on hand for duty at any hour of the day so maybe this balances the lack of longer hours of actual work. The full designation of this outfit in 811th Quartermaster Platoon (Truck) (Aviation) (Separate) and from this you might know that we are a trucking outfit. All of the boys are truck drivers excepting a few who are mechanics or cooks or clerks. Mostly we operate with the air corps and have been at every important air base in North Africa. More than that, I don't believe I can tell you. You can I believe get somewhat of an idea of “My Day", so far as work goes."
Below is his timeline in the United States before departure:
March 13, 1942 Inducted into United States Army Air Force
Fort Snelling, Minnesota
March 17, 1942 Train to Cheyenne, Wyoming
March 18, 1942 Arrive Cheyenne, Wyoming for Basic Training Fort Francis E. Warren, Wyoming
Company L (1 week), Company F
May 22, 1942 Leave 10:30 am by train Cheyenne, Wyoming
May 25, 1942 Arrive 4:00 am
Headquarters Army Personnel
811th Q.M. Detachment
7th Air Depot Group
Brookley Field, Alabama
July 24, 1942 Arrive by train at 9:30 am
Fort Dix, New Jersey
811th Q.M. (TRK)
7th Air Depot Group
APO #1254 New York, NY
August 30, 1942 Fort Dix, New Jersey
August 5, 1942 Restricted to camp
Fort Dix
August 6, 1942 Ship out Embark from New York
August 8, 1942 Embark Halifax, Nova Scotia.
At sea England via disembarkation at Swansea, Wales on
August 18th