January 25, 1943 (Monday) 

“Buttons,” Espiritu Santo

Morning hop called off because the tow-plane pilots (VJ-2) are both down with dysentery, as are a good number of our men.

Out on formation bombing hop in the afternoon, but as only one of us had any bombs (the last four practice bombs on the island) it didn‘t amount to much. Later took on some F4Fs in a practice fight, but as Beswick went too damn slow (135 mph) I pulled out and went home. Last of squadron arrived.