1945 It's Over!

Wally's War

Glen Wallace's War Diary 3

Editor's note: These are the pages from Glen's diaries exactly as he wrote them at the time. He has attached comments to add to or explain the entry. Click the stars for more information..

15 AUGUST 1945
It`s all over!! Our planes were over Tokyo when peace was declared. The CAP shot down 4 Japs this afternoon . We may go home tomorrow.. The other ships are in on the occupation. Okinawa was attacked by Japs tonight.

18 AUGUST 1945
We got 10 replacement pilots. Farrell and Weisner came back aboard. It looks like we may be out here a long time yet. They have stopped cannibalizing the ship and are trying to get some of the stuff back..like 2300 pounds of butter. All fouled up!

20 AUGUST 1945
We are back to cannibalizing the ship.. Just heard the bull horn tell a DD alongside that we would see them in Frisco. The Wasp is taking our place here and we are going to task group 38.4... Sounds good..

22 AUGUST 1945
Had a big exhibition (Group Grope) for moving pictures. We may be in on the occupation of Japan and then again we may go home. Not sure of anything.

24 AUGUST
Guess we don`t go home....

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25 AUGUST 1945
Patrols over Japan.. Threw cigarettes to PWs.. Tokyo is Flat Ass! Had the tail of my plane chewed off by Gunner Way`s plane. Seven planes cracked up today. three pilots in the water.. - no one hurt.. more of same tomorrow.

27 AUGUST 1945
Japs came aboard the Missouri to turn in their swords but said they wanted them back after the ceremony because "They were used to them". Our ships in Tokyo bay now..
Landings start tomorrow.. two planes cracked up today.

28 AUGUST 1945
Flew Atsugi patrol - Saw the airborne troops land. - Flatted hatted around.. Looked over Yokohama . Yokuska and Tokyo. Saw another PW camp.. Tomorrow we refuel and get replacement aircraft. (Cracked up two more today). Even the Captain is grasping at straws... He said "Tomorrow we take aboard passengers for the States, but it may not mean anything."

30 AUGUST 1945
Took aboard over 400 passengers...only dropped 4 in the drink. Lots of hustle and bustle... We`re going home at last, (it says here).. Two more days of operations... we depart on the 3rd.

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31 AUGUST 1945
We really gave the Emperor a buzz job today.. Flathatted over Tokyo and surrounding area for two hours.. Snuffy landed at Yokosuki and left his plane there and is now aboard the Yorktown.. We may go home tomorrow...

1 SEPTEMBER 1945
Took aboard more passengers.. Must have over a thousand now. The Battleship Wisconsin is alongside. We have one rock happy Commander aboard.. He turned on the ship`s sprinkler system and flooded us out... We are now on our way to rendezvous with a tanker fleet. We leave for Seattle on the 3rd via the great circle route and the Aleutians.

3 SEPTEMBER 1945
Started for home this AM. We have another carrier, the San Jacinto, the Battleship Massachusetts, a CVL, the San Diego and two DDs.. Our homeward bound pennant was hoisted but broke off and fell into the sea...it was 1538 feet long.

5 SEPTEMBER 1945
Position 40-08 N. Latitude..156-10 E. Longitude. Getting cold.. Rain and wind all day. I guess it is typical Aelutian weather.. The movies are getting worse all the time.

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7 SEPTEMBER 1945
Tomorrow is also Friday 7th. We are now at 47 North Latitude. Weather cold. Heard Admiral McCain is dead.. Sea is very rough.

12 SEPTEMBER 1945
The only plane left aboard is the English Seafire that landed aboard and cracked up. We are 300 miles from Seattle. I guess the boys who flew in are making a big night of it... One F6F went in on take off but the pilot was rescued.

14 SEPTEMBER 1945
Went aboard an old DD and to NAS Sand Point, Seattle, Washington.. What a wonderful place this ole US is!!! Called wife and heard my baby boy, Jimmy making noises.. Ate lots of vegetables, drank cold milk and many beers.

15 SEPTEMBER 1945
Went to town.- Put in for Regular Navy - probably won't make it because of busted back.

18 SEPTEMBER 1945
Air Group 83 was Decommissioned and I got orders to NAS Atlanta for Instrument Flight Instructor School and then to San Diego for further assignment.. Things are looking very, very good!!

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22 SEPT 1945
Arrived Chicago, met Bonnie & my boy.

23 SEPT- 28 October 1945
Rockford, Ill. On leave, visited our folks in Ill, St Louis and Poplar Bluff, Missouri

29 OCT 1945
Atlanta, GA. and my leave is over - guess the war was pretty tough on the people back home.

3 NOV 1945
Received Air Medals from Capt. Strong also D.F.C.

13 NOV 1945
Atlanta is some town & this is some life. Eat, sleep, & go to town - - Sea Duty was never like this. Instrument flight instruction in SNJ`s and some ground school.

23 NOV 1945
Went home for Thanksgiving

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25 DEC 1945
Home for Christmas

1946

5 JAN 1946
Left Atlanta - bought a 1937 Packard. (For $600.)

10 JAN 1946
Left for San Diego. ( Traveling at 35 MPH )

14 JAN 1946
Jimmy sick in Fabens, TX

19 JAN 1946
Arrived after a nice trip.

20 JAN 1946
Left Dan Diego & reported in at NAS Los Alamitos - found a place to live in the Gardeners Cottage on a big estate - looks like nice duty.

March 1946
It is nice duty! Scuttlebutt had it we shove off from here July one. I re- applied for regular Navy

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19 March 1946
Left in an F6F for Chicago - Ferry trip - took 16 days

21 AUG 1946
CASU - Moved to Dago.

27 AUG 1946
I got orders to AG-98 at Dago.

30 AUG 1946
Got orders to Anacostia Wash. DC ( 18 nice days in route )

17 SEPT 1946
Arrived at Anacostia Found a two room apartment in DC and started flying twin engine SNB's - Instruct gold braid-

20 OCT 1946
Nice duty - piling up 2 engine time - students mostly Comdrs & above. Autumn - first cold weather in 4 years coming up.

 

 

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1947

1 MAY 1947
Got orders to Atlanta, Ga. In the Active Reserve. 27 day leave, and a new Buick convertible. Spring has sprung and life is good.

29 MAY 1947
Arrived at NAS Atlanta, Ga. Bought a new 28 ½ foot trailer for $2800. Duty looks fair.

MAY THE ROAD RISE UP TO MEET YOU.
MAY THE WIND BE ALWAYS AT YOUR BACK
MAY THE SUN SHINE WARM UPON YOUR FACE,
THE RAINS FALL SOFT UPON YOUR FIELDS,
AND UNTIL WE MET AGAIN, MAY GOD HOLD YOU IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND.

Glen ( Wally) Wallace

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