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At 0700 hours the first plane carrying
the first tactical load of parachute jumpers from Australia took off at
Cairns airport. Weather, slightly cloudy, cool, some mist. Troop
commander, 1st Lt. John M. Cole. (Capt. Padgett, Battalion S-2, Battalion
S-1 also aboard. Morale: Attitudes: Eventually, why not now. Men seem to
be doing some thinking regarding the possibility of dying.
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Morale : Attitudes :
Eventually, why not now. Men seem to be doing some thinking
regarding the possibility of dying. |
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0710 hrs. |
Present altitude 2000. |
|
0712 hrs |
Australian coast is vanishing. |
|
0725 hrs |
It looks as though we
were flying just above an endless snow field. (Flying just above
cumulus clouds but below stratus clouds). At the edge of one
horizon, just off the left of the tail can be seen a line which is
probably the receding Australian shore. Behind somewhere are the
other planes. From its early days in September 1940, the original
501st Prcht Bn at last moves to a forward base from whence she will move
to find the enemy. There are no test platooners aboard this plane
of 22. But S/Sgt Lee L. Thompson and other cooks (nonjumpers)
who have helped cook the first meal the 501st ever ate here.
(Remember, the 501st Prcht Bn became the 2nd Bn 503d). |
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0730 hrs |
Beginning to see water
underneath again. Capt. Padgett is in the tail of the ship.
He has his maps out and is figuring on his slide rule. He seems to
be enjoying himself.
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 Plans and Training People make a big thing about engaging in
intellectual activity of a mysterious type. It is their stock in
trade. Wilburn E. "Bitsy" Grant studied under Padgett and
in time became his assistant. Bitsy did just fine until there came
a time when he was pushed to the wall by Joe S. Lawrie. Lawrie was
Regimental Executive Officer under Colonel Kinsler. Every man and
officer in the regiment knew that even though Lt. Col. George M. Jones
was commander of the 2nd Bn, and was not Regimental Officer,
that Colonel Jones in fact did rank Joe S. Lawrie, who was also a Lt.
Colonel. There came a time in the tour, when the regiment needed
masking tape to tape up the jump planes. Lawrie called Bitsy
before him and demanded to know why Grant had not been able to obtain
masking tape. “I’ve looked everywhere for masking
tape, “ is the legendary Grant reply, “and I haven’t been able to find
any. I even drank a barrel of glue, ate a barrel of sawdust and
tried to get some that way, but it didn’t work.”
Grant came back to join my club of Mess Officers, Ex mess Officers, and
Assistant Platoon Leaders. In other words Lawrie got him fired. |
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0735 hrs. |
I can recognize in the water what
appears to be a swampy shore. At first islands. WE are
edging along the shore of what appears to be a long peninsular off the
port tail. |
|
0737 hrs. |
Off the port wing on the horizon there
is a thin line—might be mountains. Capt. Padgett is looking
intently out the starboard tail. More long islands off starboard
tail and wing. |
|
0740 hrs |
Just occured to me that the “long islands”
are undoubtedly the Great Barrier reef. |
|
0945 hrs |
Lt Cole stood up
and counted the plane load to see if we were all there. A typical Coleism. His uncle was at one time the President of
Czechoslovakia. Benes? |
|
1015 hrs. |
Landed at Ward Strip, Port Moresby, New
Guinea. Set up camp 17 miles from Port Moresby. The
Australians named this “17 Mile” which is a way the Australians have of
not wasting anything. This plane, under Lt Cole, was the first of
tactical parachutist to arrive in New Guinea. |
|
1045 hrs. |
Co’s D,
E, and F arrived at Ward Strip, coming from Cairns, Queensland by air.
Lt. J. Dick, now in the S-4 business, goes with 5 men forward by air to
what I assume is a second forward base. Supplies which are
flown by air are also being moved forward. |
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(This may have been a place
called Tsilli-Tsilli—it is pronounced “Silly-silly” and it may
have only been a military base, National Geographic Atlas of the World
does not show it. Nadzab, on the other hand, is shown plain and
clear.) |
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1800 hr.
0800 hr |
All organized Jap resistance
has been cleared in the area patroled by 503rd with exception of 20 Japs
reported near Menoekwari, 1st Bn is investigating that. |
