As American military newspapers of the First and Second World Wars were epitomized by the Stars and Stripes<\/em> – which continues in publication today – so, naturally, have other nations provided news for their own servicemen.\u00a0 One such example from the Second World War was England’s Parade<\/em> magazine, which served the British military in North Africa, Middle East, and the Mediterranean area as a whole.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

First released in mid-August of 1940, Parade <\/em>(edited by A.W. Parsons and Captain D.H. Flockhart) was published by the \u201cInter-Service Publications Directorate for the Joint Publications Board\u201d.\u00a0 The magazine was printed in Cairo by the firm of Al Hilal, which was \u2013 according to the masthead \u2013 the magazine’s \u201cSole Distributor for Egypt, Sudan, Syria, Palestine and Cyprus\u201d.\u00a0 As indicated by its intended distribution, Parade\u2019s<\/em> news coverage focused upon British military activity in the Mediterranean Theater, but in time, the magazine expanded its scope to cover news from other theaters of British military action.\u00a0 A central aspect of the magazine was the abundance of its photographic essays about the many national, ethnic, and religious groups of the Middle East, as well as military, cultural, and social news from the British Isles.\u00a0 And (!), the back page of many issues featured a full-page pin-up of a prominent (or not so prominent?!) British film actress.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though Parade’s<\/em> military news coverage naturally centered upon the activities of Britain’s military, given the vast scope of the multi-national Allied war effort in North Africa and the Middle East, it was natural that the magazine would also cover military activities and servicemen of other Allied nations.<\/span><\/p>\n

One such example – the curiously titled photo essay “Pancakes for Breakfast”, about an American P-40 fighter squadron in North Africa – appeared in the magazine’s issue of July 3, 1943.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

The anonymous author initially focused upon rations provided to American troops in the context of the American fighter squadron, and then discussed the pilots’ general living conditions, specifically mentioning the reticence of the squadron’s (anonymous) leading (7 victory) ace about discussing his aerial experiences.\u00a0 Based on a review of 65th Fighter Squadron aerial victories, this un-named captain was probably Roy E. Whittaker (0-431582), who attained two victories on Oct. 26, 1942, one victory on Oct.. 27, and four victories on April 18, 1943.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Though the pictures in the article (unfortunately!) have no captions, one photograph provides “the” central clue about the squadron’s identity: An image of the squadron bar shows a placard decorated with swastikas (designating aerial victories), pilots’ surnames, and primarily, a very distinctive painting of cartoon gamecock: The insignia of the 65th Fighter Squadron (Flying Cocks) of the 57th Fighter Group.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though the roving reporter didn’t specify the date when he visited the Gamecocks, two clues in the photographs reveal the time frame of his visit.<\/span><\/p>\n

One picture shows a discarded newspaper from Buffalo, New York (amidst a bunch of what are probably British 50 Pound Mark I aircraft bombs) with the fragmentary headline “Nazis in Tunis…” Given that Axis resistance ceased in Tunis occurred by May 13, 1943, this argues for a time-frame of late April to Early May of that year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another picture includes a view of the April 23, 1943 issue of Stars and Stripes<\/em><\/a>, with the headline “Nazi Air Convoy Smashed”.\u00a0 This refers to what is commonly known as the “Palm Sunday Massacre<\/a>” of April 18, 1943, in which the three squadrons of the 57th Fighter Group are credited with 49 aerial victories.<\/span><\/p>\n

Much more information about that aerial battle is available at the 57th Fighter Group, while the first page of that very issue of the Stars and Stripes <\/em>(from the 57th Fighter Group website) is shown below:<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>At the time, based on the Movement map of the 57th, the fighter group was based at Hani – or, “Sidi El Hani” – Tunisia, which is location number 15 on the map below (also from the 57th FG<\/a>):
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>And so, here are the article and photos…<\/span><\/p>\n

PANCAKES FOR BREAKFAST<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

How do the U.S. forces differ from the British in the way they spend spare time, the things they eat?\u00a0 A “Parade” reporter visited a U.S. Air Force unit, describes differences he noticed<\/span><\/p>\n

It was our first visit to the American Air Force, to any Yanks in the field anywhere.\u00a0 There were similarities and there were differences comparing them with the R.A.F.\u00a0 The similarity seemed to spring from complete identity of job; they had the same modesty and sort of involuntary exclusiveness that the airman acquires, his operational element being other.\u00a0 The many differences were superficial.\u00a0 The food, for instance.\u00a0 For breakfast tomato juice, oatmeal (not the same as porridge), or pancakes with syrup, dehydrated eggs, peanut butter and coffee.\u00a0 Lunch menu was \u2018Spam\u2019 (meatcake) mealies, a sort of potato, the inevitable peanut butter and cocoa.\u00a0 For dinner hamburgers, vegetables and biscuits (our scones).\u00a0 There is the officers\u2019 mess, where you eat, and the club where you sit and read Life, the American Parade<\/em>, Stars and Stripes<\/em>, innumerable shiny covered issues of Pocket Editions Incorporated; where you write letters and play poker, but very rarely drink anything, except, perhaps, iced water (many of these messes have refrigerators).\u00a0 Yanks are addicts to candy (candies are issued in their rations).<\/span><\/p>\n

The Mess Sergeant<\/span><\/p>\n

There is and there is not ceremonial.\u00a0 Not much saluting is done, and the officers often wear their metal bars, oak-leaves and other insignia of rank hidden under the collars of their jackets.\u00a0 The mess sergeant is a man of more formidable prestige than with us.\u00a0 You arrive a minute late for a meal and he lets you have it.\u2019 \u00a0He speaks merrily with officers, a cigar sticking out of the corner of his mouth, a slice of cake in his hand.\u00a0 He looks like a man behind a talkie ice-cream soda bar.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mess conversation is much the same the world over.\u00a0 A difference among the Americans, though, is the ardour that comes into their voices when they talk about motorcars – automobiles to them.\u00a0 The convertible Cadillac is a name they conjure with indeed.\u00a0 The post-war ambition of one and all.<\/span><\/p>\n

American airmen do not tell the world about their exploits.\u00a0 The captain I spoke to who was \u2018ace\u2019 of his squadron, with seven swastikas on the side of his P.40 fighter, made me feel like an inquisitor.\u00a0 He was waiting to take off on his second patrol that day.\u00a0 He must have been one of the youngest officers in the Wing.\u00a0 Not at all like a pilot in an American film.\u00a0 No more so than American newspapermen run true to their film types.\u00a0 He was quiet, almost self-effacing.\u00a0 These Parade pictures show an average day on a forward landing ground.\u00a0 It\u2019s a dull day, punctuated by 1 \u00bd hour spells of excitement, perhaps one, perhaps two, perhaps three.\u00a0 Off duty there\u2019s not much to do except read and play cards.\u00a0 Chief humorous item is listening to daily word dose under the auspices of Doctor Gobbels, a sort of fireside talk to Americans in North Africa, a wheedling address.\u00a0\u00a0 The American airmen had their best opportunity to answer when they helped make hay of those Messerschmitts over Pantelleria.<\/span><\/p>\n

______________________________<\/span><\/p>\n

The photos accompanying the article appear below.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

These three photographs show pilots of the 65th.\u00a0 Unfortunately (and unsurprisingly!) no names are given.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Four pilots live in one tent.\u00a0 These three were friends back in their home town before the war so a letter from home – well, most of it anyway – is read out for the other two to hear all the news as they while while off duty.”<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>______________________________<\/span><\/p>\n

These images are two different views of the interior of the squadron’s recreation tent, which also includes the squadron bar.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

This “first” image shows as pilot appearing to perform some sort of mission-planning work.\u00a0 Next to him, the above-mentioned (April 23) issue of Stars and Stripes<\/em><\/a>, with the headline clearly visible.\u00a0 Note the tail-fin assembly of a German bomb, to the left of the table, which now serves as a trashcan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“Between sorties they write letters home, read large variety of magazines and newspapers – “Life,” “New Yorker,” “Reader’s Digest,” are favourites from home – with innumerable shiny issues of Pocket Editions Incorporated.”<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>______________________________<\/span><\/p>\n

For this next mage, the reporter has stepped further into the tent.\u00a0 The tail assembly of a even larger German aircraft bomb serves as the support for a radio (probably of British or (captured) German manufacture) which is attracting the attention of one of the pilots.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Repairing the radio is everybody’s hobby.\u00a0 It is an eight-valve super-heterodyne, but is usually out of order.\u00a0 When it does work they tune in to see what laughs Goebells can provide.\u00a0 Bar serves genuine cold water, a favourite drink.”<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>______________________________<\/span><\/p>\n

“They rest, read newspaper.\u00a0 Crepe boots are preferred to the issue ones.”<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>______________________________<\/span><\/p>\n

Now we come to the squadron bar, which is faintly visible is the upper center of the preceding photo.\u00a0 The 65th Fighter Squadron Fighting Cocks insignia is clearly visible, albeit one of the pilots has carefully positioned himself to hide the squadron logo!\u00a0 Pilot’s names appear at the top of the board, though they’re not actually legible in this image.\u00a0 Unfortunately (deliberately? – accidentally?) the pilots’ names are not legible.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

“Swastikas mean German aircraft down; plate was present from R.A.F.”
\n<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>______________________________<\/span><\/p>\n

A discarded Buffalo newspaper, amidst some British 50-pound Mark I aircraft bombs.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

“This was the home town paper of one of the American airmen, eagerly read when it arrived, now forgotten, torn and abandoned amid the coarse scrub.”
\n<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>______________________________<\/span><\/p>\n

But wait, there’s more!…<\/span><\/p>\n

On December 11, 1942, American newspapers carried the following photograph, which shows an earlier version of the Fighting Gamecocks’ bar.\u00a0 The unattributed image (it’s not<\/em> an Army Air Force photograph – I checked Fold3 and wrote to NARA!) is captioned:<\/span><\/p>\n

“OASIS – American officers based in western Egypt pictured as they relax between raids on Axis bases.\u00a0 Left to right seated are: Lieutenant C.F. Costanzo, of Manchester, N.H.; Lieutenant J.L. Morris, of Silver City, N.C.; and Lieutenant A.D. Jaqua, of South Bend, In.\u00a0 Behind bar, left to right are: Lieutenant H.M. Cohn, of Springfield, Ma.; Lieutenant D.F. Smith, of New York; Lieutenant Walter Reed, of Reading, Pa.; Lieutenant Clair D. Knopp, Meadville, Pa.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s the image, scanned from 35mm microfilm at 300 dpi.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>A little more information about the men in the picture.\u00a0 They are:
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Seated<\/span><\/p>\n

Costanzo<\/strong>, Charles F., 2 Lt., 0-791285; 1 Victory Jan. 11, 1943<\/span>
\nJaqua<\/strong>, Arnold D., 1 Lt., 0-440839; 2 Victories Dec. 8, 1942; KIA March 29, 1943 – No MACR<\/span><\/p>\n

Behind Bar<\/span><\/p>\n

Cohn<\/strong>, Herbert M., 2Lt., 0-791283; KIA Dec. 13, 1942, P-40 #93 \u2013 No MACR<\/span>
\n Reed<\/strong>, Walter H, 1 Lt., 0-441017; 1 Victory April 18, 1943<\/span><\/p>\n

And…”Knopp<\/strong>” is actually “Knapp<\/strong>“, Clair D., Lt<\/span><\/p>\n

The resolution of the original print image is very good, such that many of the pilots’ surnames on the bar are legible.\u00a0 The names indicate:
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

First Row (Top)<\/span><\/p>\n

__?__<\/span>
\n Thomas<\/strong> (Gordon F. or Herbert M.) (If \u201cGordon F.\u201d, then he was a Major, 0-397559; 1 Victory April 18, 1943)<\/span>
\n Clark<\/strong> (Thomas W., Capt., 0-406233; 4 Victories)<\/span>
\n Sneed<\/strong> (Marshall M., Capt., 0-427779; 1 Victory Jan. 20, 1943; KIA Feb. 27, 1943 \u2013 No MACR)<\/span>
\n Margolian<\/strong> (Leon B., Capt., 0-420749; POW Dec. 10, 1942; P-40 #54 \u201cTiger Lil<\/em>\u201d \u2013 No MACR)<\/span>
\n Whittaker<\/strong> (Roy E., Capt., 0-431582; 7 Victories – see above)<\/span>
\n Wymond<\/strong> (Gilbert O., Jr., 1 Lt., 0-431591; 3 Victories)<\/span>
\n O\u2019Neill<\/strong> (William W., Jr.)<\/span>
\n Mitchell<\/strong> (Delbert V., 1 Lt., 0421007; 1 Victory Nov. 7, 1942)<\/span><\/p>\n

Second Row<\/span><\/p>\n

Jaqua<\/strong> (Arnold D., 1 Lt., 0-440839; 2 Victories Dec. 8, 1942 \u2013 KIA March 29, 1943 \u2013 No MACR)<\/span>
\n Stanford<\/strong> (Harry H. Jr., 1 Lt., 0-442298; 3 Victories April 18, 1943)<\/span>
\n Weaver<\/strong> (Edwin R., 1 Lt., 0-441053; 2 Victories April 18, 1943)<\/span>
\n Reed <\/strong>(Walter H., 1 Lt., 0-441017; 1 Victory April 18, 1943<\/span>
\n Rideout<\/strong> (Harold C., Jr. \u2013 KIA?)<\/span>
\n Metcalf<\/strong> (Robert L., 1 Lt., 0-442290; 1 Victory Oct. 26, 1942)<\/span>
\n Kimball<\/strong> (Richard W., 2 Lt., 0-442139; 1 Victory Oct. 31, 1942)<\/span>
\n Paulsen<\/strong> (Richard B.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Third Row<\/span><\/p>\n

Duncan<\/strong> (Harold)<\/span>
\n Goldcamp<\/strong> (Robert J.)<\/span>
\n Knapp <\/strong>(Clair D., Lt. – see above)<\/span>
\n \u201cMigell<\/strong>\u201d \u2013 (McGill<\/strong>, William F.?)<\/span>
\n __?__<\/span>
\n Randall<\/strong> (William J., 1 Lt., 0-727543 \u2013 KIA April 18, 1943)<\/span>
\n \u201cRichie<\/strong>\u201d (Ritchie<\/strong>, Dudley W.)<\/span>
\n Loughran<\/strong> (Fred J.)<\/span>
\n Grogan<\/strong> (Charles E., Lt. Col., 0-22355; 1 Victory in 79th FG June 10, 1943)<\/span><\/p>\n

Fourth Row (Bottom)<\/span><\/p>\n

Flickenor<\/strong> (George J., Jr.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Given the presence of Cohn and Jaqua in the image, and, the date of the picture’s publication, the picture was probably taken in Libya during early to mid-December of 1942, at the very latest.\u00a0 If so, the squadron’s then location would have been in Libya, either at Martuba (from November 16 through December 6) or Belandah (from December 2, 1942, through January 9, 1943).<\/span><\/p>\n

References<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II – USAF Historical Study No. 85<\/em>, Albert F. Simpson Historical Research Center, Air University, 1978<\/span><\/p>\n

Maurer, Maurer, Combat Squadrons of the Air Force – World War II<\/em>,
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

57th Fighter Group<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

British 50 Pound Mark I aircraft bombs, at MichealHiske.de<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As American military newspapers of the First and Second World Wars were epitomized by the Stars and Stripes – which continues in publication today – so, naturally, have other nations provided news for their own servicemen.\u00a0 One such example from the Second World War was England’s Parade magazine, which served the British military in North … Continue reading Pilots’ Pause: “Pancakes for Breakfast” – Fighter Pilots of the 65th Fighter Squadron, in North Africa, 1942 and 1943, in Parade – Middle East Weekly<\/em> Magazine<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,60,128],"tags":[579,591,600,590],"class_list":["post-3701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aviation","category-military-history","category-photography","tag-57th-fighter-group","tag-65th-fighter-squadron","tag-captain-roy-e-whittaker","tag-parade-middle-east-weekly"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3701","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3701"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3701\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3815,"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3701\/revisions\/3815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3701"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3701"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thepastpresented.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3701"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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