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Posts: 1019
Joined: 8/10/2003 From: The Greater Chicagoland Area Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake In the Aleutians, Amchitka is being refinforced. Previously the island was garrisoned by half a dozen Aleuts, who, if the truth be told, were illegally poaching narwhals when they only had baby seal tags and a single courageous SPCA observer, who, curiously, has gone missing. In terrible weather, a transport group escorted by USS Richmond, Mahan, Dewey and Cummings, were disembarking supplies, Seabees, aviation support personnel and 4th RCT. A big Jap force from Kiska consisting over over 100 Jacks, Tonys, Sallys, Kates and Bettys found a break in the weather and pounded the transport group, overwhelming the RCAF Kittyhawk Sdrn flying LRCAP from Adak. Mahan and Dewey were sunk by two torps each. Richmond took 3 torps and 4 bomb hits but will likely survive if she can avoid Jap subs. One AK was heavily damaged. All the troops are saely ashore. Dutch Harbor NorPac HQ; 5 APR 1943 Rear Adm R. (Rusty) Theobald:Ok, that does it for the updates on the air groups in my command; so, what's the story behind this fiasco at Amchitka? I presume that something critical was being unloaded for them to have hung around for an extra day there? Generic Staff Member:<shuffles papers> Um, yes sir; I have it here sir. <finally finds the flimsy from the radio room> The commander of Richmond reports that one of the freighters had a broken crane; had to repair it to unload the last EV 110-ASS for the Seebee unit. That delayed their departure and were then struck by the air raid. He thinks that he can get Richmond to Adak overnight; AK A. Luckenbach is severely hurt and might founder on the way though. Rear Adm R. (Rusty) Theobald:I don't recall that designation on the CB TOE; what is it? It must have been important to the construction troops. Generic Staff Member:<pages thru the NORPAC copy of "Official Navy Designations, Pacific Theater, updated 12/42; a tome the size of the whole NYC phone book> Um, yes; here it is. That designation stands for.....um...."Mule, Pack; used in lieu of 1/4 ton Dodge Truck in severe environment; 12 per Naval Construction Battalion". <closes book slowly> Rear Adm R. (Rusty) Theobald:A MULE!!! A MOTHER FU*&%$&*% MULE!! THAT AS)(&)(&E GOT A CRUISER CRIPPLED AND 2 DD SUNK FOR A MULE!!.....<throws his coffee mug at the staffer, who agilely ducks; you can see the dents in the Quonset Hut (uninsulated) where this has happened before> ...and IF he brings Richmond in to port, his next duty is Weather Station Nome....if he DOESN'T....well, an IJN commander would know what to do..... Generic Staff Member:<stammers> Yeeesss siiirr....got it; <jots in notebook in shorthand>quote:
Get Richmond home and go to Nome; don't, better learn to float. <Opens door to leave> Rear Adm R. (Rusty) Theobald:<screams to staffer> AND FIND OUT WHERE MY INSULATED QUONSET IS!! IT'S F$%%$ING FREEZING IN HERE!!
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Sing to the tune of "Man on the Flying Trapeze" ..Oh! We fly o'er the treetops with inches to spare, There's smoke in the cockpit and gray in my hair. The tracers look fine as a strafin' we go. But, brother, we're TOO God damn low...
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