Bud’s diary begins on Monday, June 28 when he left for active duty overseas from Hamilton Field in San Francisco. Bud was clearly proud of being an airman. On June 29 he wrote: 

Landed here at Hickam Field on the island of Oahu at 7:30 am island time. Cox’s Army came through the flight in fine style. 

I flew celestial all the way and came in on the money thus far my first celestial flight. 

Throughout the diary Bud mentions several names as a part of “Cox’s Army”.  We’ve learned a bit more about these friends:

• Cox: William B. Cox, 2nd Lt – also recovered
• Evans: Fred L. Evans, Flight Officer
• Verhein: Fred H. Verhein, 2nd Lt – also recovered

It’s my hope that I can make contact with some of these families in the future

The crew spent about 10 days in Hawaii and got to enjoy some swimming in Waikiki and even rented surfboards! He says they took pictures on the beach. Boy, would I love to see those!  Guess what?  The next day he was terribly sunburned!  Now I know I’m related!   Also in Hawaii Bud did some shopping for his family. He sent home a table set for Mama, pocketbooks for Anna, Betty and Rita, a pipe for Papa and a Hawaiian shirt for my dad, Billy. He also mentions sending home a play suit for little Jimmy Clarke – not sure who that is!

On July 13 they left for Canton Island, which he describes as “nothing more than a coral reef.  It has one tree, a palm tree it being the only vegetation on the whole island. ” A few days later they flew to Brisbane, and finally on July 27 they flew to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, and were assigned to the 43rd Group and 403rd squadron. 

Bud’s first combat mission was on Friday, July 30th, 1943. 

On August 2, Bud met someone named Wills from Stamford. According to Bud he is “Margaret Sweeney’s husband.”  They had a good chat about the fellows they both knew from home. 

August 3 – 2nd bombing mission (4 hours 30 minutes)

August 13 – 3rd bombing mission (3 hours 30 minutes)

August 15 – 4th bombing mission (10 hours 42 minutes)

August 17 – 5th bombing mission (7 hours, 42 minutes). The top turret of their plane was shot out. 

August 21 – 6th bombing mission (terrible conditions. 

August 25 – 7th mission 

On August 29, some of the squadron went out, but not Bud’s plane. 

And then the next day…

And that would be the last entry.