Personnel

ARRIVED IN NOVEMBER 1944



Hi Elton.

 

Thanks for the speedy reply. I'll add your comments to your other material you sent for my files.

 

I thought you would like to read Warnick's comments on what he remembered,viewed. Must have been pretty grim to work in a ship with blood and guts from an airman's death around. As you have told me in the past there were a number of specialists working on the many ships at T/A in that late war period.He mentioned 90 which is interesting.

 

Best Regards,

Jack 



--- On Fri, 3/26/10, Elton E. Paus  wrote:





From: Elton E. Paus 

Subject: Re: 100thBG Radar Mechanic---Alvin Warnick [JOL}

To: "Jack O'Leary" 

Date: Friday, March 26, 2010, 11:09 AM





? 

Hi Jack, 

 

I do not remember anyone by that name, and you must realise I did not get to the 100th Bomb Group until, I think it was November of 1944..

 

The only clear memory of Thorpe Abbey, was of an oriental fellow named Kim and his experience with the "ghost of Thorpe Abbey"..

 

My travels from induction in Milwaukee, April 13, 1943 are as follows:  

Fort Sheridan, Illinois to Atlantic City, New Jersey, where I took "basic training on the boardwalk and the sand dunes..After basic there were the required "classification exams" to find out where to assign you..I was among 24 guys held back for more "tests", figuring I was among the dumbest..Turned out we were among the "smartest" and were then assigned to Army Hall in New York City..Right across the street from City College of New York..After two weeks there, we were shipped to Niagra Falls University in Niagra Falls, New York..This was called "Army Specialised Training Program, from which we were to graduate as 2nd Lieutenants in the Signal Corps..After a few months of math, (basic, algebra, trigonometry, calculus) we got wind they were going to fold the program, so as I was a Lt in the cadet system, I asked the base commander, (a Major) if I could get back into the Air Force, to which he consented and gave me a 10 day leave, while he cut my orders to Greensboro, North Carolina..There was then some more classification exams to which the Major there stated I had three choices: Radio, Radio, and Radio..From Greensboro, North Carolina, I was shipped to Madison, WI and Truax Field in the Air Force once again..22 weeks at Truax Field studying "radio maintenance, followed by a trip to Chanute Field, Illinois to be trained in "Electronic Theory, for 7 weeks, followed by being shipped to Boca Raton, Florida..At that point I was studying the IFF radar, which sent out a cone signal to the rear of the fighter, for a distance of approximately 800 yards..A red light was supposed to flash in the cockpit and a buzzer alarm would go off if there was anything, such as another fighter in the cone of RF signal..

Graduating from there, they sent me home for ten days "on leave" and to report back to Camp Kilmore New Jersey for shippment to the European Theater..I traveled on the Queen Elizabeth with assigned quarters on the main deck.."Radar personell privileges"..Had a "sub scare" three days out of "port" and went into a "zig-zag" pattern, as they kicked in the other two screws on the ship..

Arrived in Scotland and shipped to Worrington, England  Replacement Depot, for assignment..Later was assigned to the 351st Bomb Squadron, 100th Bomb Group, which was in Novemeber of 1944..Worked as a radar mechanic on "Radar counter measure" rigs of which I had no schooling in the United States, but learned quickly as I had the "basic electronic schooling" at Boca Raton..After VE day, I was assigned to the 447th to be shipped home and transferred to B-29s..Left Rattelesden, England aboard one of the 447th's B-17s and flew to Prestwick, Scotland, where we were weathered in for three days and got to see Jerry Colona and the Bob Hope girls..From there to Meeks Field Iceland at Rekyavick and then on to Goose Bay Labrador, and on to Bradley Field Connecticut..We encountered a snowstorm and lightening while crossing over the St, Lawrence River on the 4th of July 1945 at 10,000 foot altitude..I was then sent to Camp Miles Standish, (Iwant to say it was in Massachusetts) and from there to Fort Snelling, Minnesota for a 10 day leave..Upon returning to a camp in Sparta, WI, I was shipped to Drew Field, Florida to be assigned to B-29s..Received my discharge there, and re-upped to be assigned to Chanute Field, Illinois as permanent cadre...Discharged from there January 8, 1947

 

And there you have my travels as an 18 year old starting out in life..

 

Take care, keep in touch........

 



 

Elton E. Paus

1714 Homberg Lane

Madison, WI  53716-1930

k9pe@charter.net



To all:

 

It is with a sad and heavy heart that we have to tell you that Elton (Dad, Grandpa) passed away tonight 4/17/2013 due to a massive unrecoverable brain bleed. For any one that will want information regarding arrangements, please respond to the following email address:

 egpaus@charter.net

 He will be missed by us and I am betting all of you as well.

 

Pray for him and his entry to heaven.

 

His family