Netherlands East Indies

Jim Hogan didn’t come back from his Balikpapan patrol yesterday. His last message said he was being attacked by “Zeros.” If he landed anywhere south of Balik — his chances of not being picked up by the Japs is good.

This morning Brownie went north on the same patrol. They have had no word of him since 0630 — so he’s either down or his radio is gone. Poor old Brownie — he liked some of the better things in life, too — however, his luck couldn’t last forever — and this outfit played it for all of it was worth. God, if we only had some of the airplanes instead of these death traps — B-26s and Airacobras. This squadron has over 100 pilots in it now, and about four planes left here and one or two in Darwin — forgot to mention that the Darwin outfit lost one yesterday too — off Ambon, which is another spot swarming with fighters.

Have develop some kind of fever this afternoon — very pleasant — cold chills and a knock-down, drag-out feeling. Also hurt my left foot during yesterday’s raid, how I don’t remember. Something must’ve dropped on it in that shop fire. Have to move to a new room, away from temple chants, sewage stink, and gorged mosquitoes.