World War II Chronicle: December 27, 1942
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George Fielding Eliot column on page seven… Col. Merian C. Cooper, director and producer of the 1933 movie King Kong, tells how Gen. Claire Chennault’s China Air Task Force is faring on page 13. Cooper flew bombers during World War I and was shot down and captured by the Germans. After the Armistice he formed the Kościuszko Squadron, a unit of American volunteer pilots flying for the Polish Air Force during the Polish-Soviet War. Reportedly some of the men in this outfit also served Royal Air Force’s No. 303 “Kościuszko” Polish Fighter Squadron during the Battle of Britain.
Cooper was a logistics liaison for the Doolittle Raid and now serves as chief of staff for the China Air Task Force. Chennault’s force compiles an impressive combat record by the time they become the Fourteenth Air Force in March: 149 confirmed aerial victories and 85 probable kills compared to losing only 16 P-40 Warhawks. They lose one B-25 Mitchell over 65 bombing missions. He mentions that it is possible to gain the upper hand in China by moving supplies solely by air. Cooper is working with Col. Robert L. Scott Jr. and Col. Caleb V. Haynes to form the outfit responsible for flying “Over the Hump…”
Haynes and Scott both have interesting histories. You can click here for previous posts featuring Col. Haynes, and here’s the scoop on Col. Scott: He became an Eagle Scout before entering the U.S. Military Academy. After graduating in 1932 he became a pilot, first flying air mail routes, then transitioned into pursuit planes. Although he had no experience in the B-17, he wanted to be in combat so he passed himself off as an experienced bomber driver and lied his way into a transfer to the China-Burma-India Theater. He learned to fly the “Fort” on the way to Africa. He will switch to fighters, bagging 13 enemy planes over 388 combat missions…
One of the last surviving Confederate officers was on hand during graduation ceremonies at Fort Benning to pin lieutenant’s bars on his son (page 19). Otto R. Gellette reportedly served with generals J.E.B. Stuart, Robert E. Lee, and says he helped carry Stonewall Jackson after he was mortally wounded…
The war’s 172nd week is summarized on page 25… Sports section begins on page 31… “District Fighting Men” on page 57… The Coast Guard’s “Corsair Fleet” is pictured on page 89. These vessels were crewed by civilian volunteers who rescued shipwrecked sailors and patrolled for submarines off the East Coast.
Evening star. (Washington, D.C.), 27 December 1942. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1942-12-27/ed-1/