“Buttons,” Espiritu Santo

Patrol north again today. 010° to 016° for 800 miles. Nothing sighted. Spotted Cooper in the left-hand sector and sneaked up behind him slowly for 35 minutes before he spotted me. Our crews aren’t too wide-awake yet. When the first plane gets shot down, then watch them.

Got into Button just before weather closed in. The food provided on these patrols is lousy. 12 Spam sandwiches (one apiece), no butter. One can of Vienna sausage (fooey). An extra loaf of stale bread. One can of asparagus. Two cans of peaches. Nothing else.