Perth, Western Australia
Walked out of a movie this afternoon (“A Woman’s Face” – excellent) and was told that Captain Wagner (Patwing 10) was putting out the dope for all officers at 5:30 or in 45 minutes.
Wagner, after a long harangue, in which he made a lot of ambiguous and far-fetched statements on the wartime accomplishments of Patwing 10, told us that most of us were being sent back to the “States” (including me).
I asked Wagner personally if I could stay, as I had only just gotten out here (after six months of effort) and that I was a Hudson pilot and would undoubtedly be of use, but he, none too courteously, said I had to go with the rest of them, and we were to pass the word around back there of Jap tactics – God damn!
Six months getting my orders out here, two months getting here, and little less than 40 days of duty, and they’re sending me back – with only two or three flights under my belt and about the only person in the Asiatic Fleet capable capable of handling any heavy land planes – God damn son-of-a-bitch!What horse’s asses we’re led by. Some of the fellows, friends of Pendola’s, just got here a few days ago – and they’re going back too! !hat stupidity!
Left a good bunch of guys it left a good bunch of boys in Perth – most of them have been out here for years and most earnestly wish to go back to the states. Why couldn’t I have been traded for one of them? Maybe it’s just as well – the Captain (ComPatWing 10) prove himself an ass, in the two speeches I heard him make, and Cmdr. Neal, the skipper of VP-101, was intensely disliked by most of the fellows (Called “Greasy Neal” and considered yellow) – perhaps I’ll be getting into a better outfit, though I could not ask for more in the way of ensigns and J.g.s (Brownie, Duke Campbell, Armbruster, etc. – all left behind – and Lt. Antonides (Tony) a damn fine fellow, who fixed it – or rather tried to – for me to stay here.
Everything I told David Manners six months ago has proved true – these ass-kissing, selection-board-darlings (Academy products) who are squadron commanders and above, are, in most cases, horses asses without the respect or love of their under-officers and men. They are proving something I’ve always contended, the successful peacetime officer is not the successful wartime officer!