In 1942 I was working in Davisville, RI at the Seabee Training Center with a deferment (occupational). The center was located near Quonset Naval Air Station and I fell for those F4U’s and decided to enlist in the Naval Air Program. Went to Boston, passed the written exam, and then had a problem – nasoplerrangitis – was told to come back in 30 days.

I made the mistake of telling my draft board – and a couple of weeks later got the notice. I appealed and so did my Mother but was turned down. Called the recruiting officer in Boston and was told to explain the situation to the examining officer for the Army and was rejected. A call to the Naval Recruiting Station and was profusely sympathetic with and was advised to apply for a transfer when I received a more or less permanent base.

I went with the draftees to Ft Devins and took the tests and wound up at Herbert Smart Airport in Macon, Georgia. Discovered there that we had been assigned to the Chemical Warfare Service attached to the airforce.

Arrived at Barksdale Airbase near Shreveport, Louisiana – a couple hundred of us. Think it was about a day and a half after check in I was called to HQ for an interview with the CO. There I was told I could be in Officer Training in less than a month and have my commission in 90 days. I stunned them when I said no. It seemed that I had scored extraordinarily high on the Ft. Devens test and I couldn’t miss. I told them thI wanted to fly for the Navy. They agreed to begin the transfer process. I was then asked in view of my military academy experience (SMA 1938-1940) I could help them [ca carne] of 5 and 200 draftees. I said I could do all kinds of stuff – closed and extended order drill, disassemble/reassemble a Springfield rifle, etc. So I had a good time the rest of my time a Barnsdale (a beautiful field)

I put some time in at Keeslen Field, MI, Waycross, GA and Camp Sibert, Gadsen, Alabama and it was there I learned that an FDR executive order had prohibited any further inter-service transfers.

I applied for the Army Air Corps and after a series of tests was accepted. Began my Air Force Service at the University of Nebraska. Arrived there with a [mixture] of students, transfers from other Army branches and cadets entrants from civilian life. Another contingent from the ASTP was there and we hurled insults at one another. The ASTP referred to us as junior birdmen and we countered with “Take down your service flag mother, your son is in the ASTP.”

From Nebraska went to pre-flight at Santa Ana, California. Kind of enjoyed that. Knew I would wind up as pilot or navigator. Oh yes, those starlets. From Santa Ana went to Hondo, Texas – navigator school. Graduated around Memorial Day – flight officer because I came in as enlisted rather than straight from civilian life.

After a leave, went through Tampa, Florida. Operation at training, crew preparation with 3rd Air Force – Drew Field. Had an expert crew, pilot was a bit shorter than me, and heavier. Great touch with those planes (B17’s).

While at Drew had one of those freakish incidents while on a training mission. Near Avon, Andover County, NC a simulated attack by a fighter and firing our machine guns (harmless) from the nose – fire broke out from the fighter’s engine. The pilot had to bail out and the plane crashed. I think the pilot saluted us.

Left Drew and went to Grenier field to pick up a plane for Gander Field Nfld and then England. But we had engine trouble and returned to Grenier. Picked up another plane and proceeded to Goose Bay, Labrador. From there our destination was Meeks Field, Iceland. [1944?] We took off early one very cold, very dark, very rainy and windy morning. Not long after we had attained the desired altitude we developed radio problems but I set an ETA for Meeks. Weather improved somewhat but visibility was not good. Some hours later we were closing in on our ETA and water below. Told the pilot I was pretty sure of my course lines but not sure of my speed line. A little later in [F-E?], above water, and [L-T?] a time near the ball turret gunner and tail gunner were both nervous. Deep breath – and minutes later: Land! And not too many minutes on – Meeks Field. Reykjavik was great – spent two days there. Are there blondes there? Yes indeed. Two days later took off for Valley, Wales where we landed and motored to our base in the midlands home of the pre-war 305th [Etl Air Force] [Bump?] Group (Can) once headed by Curtis Lemay, later of 20th [???] and SAC fame.

When we checked in to our quarter we immediately took notice of three columns near the center. Each column headed in red, respectively, KIA, MIA and Happy Warriors. The last column had the shortest list. Little time was wasted in familiarizing us with a [luticipxlxew?] routine and preparation for our first mission which came two days later – to a respected target – Schweinfurt – had our first casualties. The guy whose bunk was two from mine was in a plane which took a direct hit. His name was Baker, I believe. Broke up, hit another plane and both went down, saw no chutes.

There were other memorable missions, of course, including Hamburg and the first one to Berlin (Big B). On November 30 [1944?] we went on a mission to knock out Germany’s largest synthetic oil plant – Leuna near Merseberg. It was due to have been an off day but turned out to be a clear day. The lead group made an error on its run from the IP A delightful headwind. Could see the flashes from down below as they fired up. We lost some sixty bombers to flak alone, as not a single German fighter came to challenge and we were without fighter escort – probably would have lost more than a hundred more.

[The following is a link to a reference regarding the Meresberg plant as number 1 target]
http://books.google.com/books?id=AC1GlWYTe3EC&pg=RA2-PA237&lpg=RA2-PA237&dq=merseburg+%22synthetic+oil%22&source=web&ots=JaeVlSdAB&sig=CpE0ldmITh6lptjulMJQ6AJsUI#PRA1-PA107,M1

After our 35 missions were completed – Happy Warriors – we began the process of returning to the states. Spent some time at a replacement depot and while there ran into Dick Steele from the Class of ’38 FHS.

He had been a bombardier also on B17’s. We finally embarked on the USS Uruguay, I think , and had a leisurely trip back to the USA/ One of my cabin mates (4 to a cabin) was Huntley Groenig, son of the Governor and senator from Alaska. Stateside we spent some time [going thru the ???] for leave.

I got with a group as far as Providence, went to Rumford and had Uncle Otto and Aunt Nora give me a ride to New Bedford. They did not charge me anything and dropped me off at home. It was Monday evening May 7, 1945.

The next day about 10 or so in the morning my father dropped me off in downtown New Bedford at a newly opened lounge and restaurant – the place to go – Smith’s. I was the only customer and introduced myself to Stan the bartender and settled to the chore of drinking some good scotch.

Don’t know how long I had been there or how many refills I had when suddenly we heard a fire alarm and then another go off. “Where’s the fire?” Stan yelled. And then I heard someone utter those words never to be forgotten “No fire – the War is over – Germany just surrendered!” It was May 8, 1945. It was VE Day. Everything had to be closed. Stan told me to take my time as he had some cleaning to do.

When I emerged, the streets were filling with people exiting the stores. I headed for a bust stop to head home. Then I was spotted – in full uniform, my combat jacket – 50 mission [crash hat?] – and I was overwhelmed. Men were trying to shake my hand. Women were kissing me. Someone asked me if I was married – unbelievable kaleidoscope of coin[?]s on a couple of other service men showed up across the street and they helped. Finally got to the bus stop – and someone – don’t know who – gave me a ride home. What a relief.

In the days that followed excitement continued a little lower level. I had thirty days leave and then was scheduled for a trip to Atlantic City and reassignment – either to the new 20th Air Force (B29) under Lemay or as an instructor.

Imagine my shock when I learned that because of a point system I could opt for assignment to the ready reserve and civvies. My mother and father were surprised on my return but not disappointed. What to do next – worked briefly with my father selling roofing and sidewalk supplies. After learning about the GI Bill I decided I would head for Harvard. Because most of us had been away from academia for some time and college boards were a fading memory we were given a special evaluation exam. Went up to Harvard to take it and sitting in the exam and glanced across the room and spotted Bill Klee, a pilot friend from Drew Field and 8th Air Force days. He already had 2 years at NYU and so was entering as a junior. For the next 2 years we got together weekly and hoisted a few. Bill went on to the B school and after I was married was our first house apartment guest.

Clayton W Enos