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Questionaire - Ground Personnel Name Edgar S. Welborn, Jr C. Address Route 2, Box 718, HIgh Pount N.C. 27260 C. Date January 10, 1987
1. Pearl Harbor Day Engaged in Civilian Pilot Training Program at Lindley Field, Greensboro - High Point, N.C. Air Port. 2. Enlistment Did not enlist. Color perception (red-green_ Test in Cadet Physical prevented qualifying for Air Corps Pilot Program 3. Drafted May 14, 1942. Inducted at Ft. Bragg, N.C. 4. Preliminary Medical Medical and aptitude test passed Ft. Bragg, N.C. 5. Induction May 14, 1942 Ft. Bragg, N.C. - assigned to Air Force 6. Basic Training Kessler Field, Miss. for twenty (20) days transferred to Roosevelt Field, Mineita, Long Island, N.Y. NY, 7. Individual Training Roosevelt Aviation School (excellent school) trained approximately three (3) months -- Day and NIght classes Instructors well qualified. Students scored high in their training. I completed training Oct 1, 1942. Transferred to Curtiss-Wright, Buffalo, N.Y to P-40 School. Nov. 15, 1942 transferred to Baltimore, Md. 8. Initial Duty Assignment Baltimore, Mayland assigned 353nd Fighter Group Transferred immediately to Langley Field, Virginia and assigned to 352nd squadron 9. Othe Duty Before Assignemnt NONE 10. to 352nd FS Langley Field, Va -- 352nd squadron. My group brought The Enlisted Manpower up to quota. Initially we worked with the P-40 - Training flight gunnery, bombing and all facets of operation. Soon after assignment to Langley
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the group received over thirty (30) New P-40s that were painted for Desert Warefare to be servced and inspected. The fellows knew we were headed for Africa. No sooner had we received the P-40s -- They were taken to Mitchell Field, Long Island, New York The old P-40s remained with us. Immediately after this, we received A P-47 named "Greasy Goatie" This took place the latter part of January 1943. 11 Unit Training VA + M'land The 352nd trained at Langley until sometie in FEb 1943, at which time we were assigned all P-47s. Soon there after we moved to Millville, N.J. for gunner training - Living quarters - tents Cold weather - snow - some tents collapsed from weight of snow. 12 Special Training Some of the mem took special training in everything one could think of such as chemical, camouflage, sharp shooting -- special schools. Due to intensive training, at times we did not have enough men to carry on regular duties - unless some worked night and day - So that is what happened. On the line we did not have enough tools. I purchased tools from the local hardware for my use as did several of the men. The people of Millville were very nice to us.
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As they were at Mineola and Buffalo! Langley was not a good area for service men. After intensive training at Millville, we were transferred to the Air Base at Richmond, VA. 13 Trip to POE Trip to Richmond was uneventful. At this point we lost our Line Chief, Cutrie, by reassignment. He was replaced by Dan Keller. Upon arrival in Richmond, the word was "we were the hotest group ever to come through the base! 14 POE Activity Activity at Richmond - busy with getting physcal exams, clothing and at long last issued full complement of tools to work on aircraft. All these activities, plus drill kept us on the go all the time. During this time a majority of the pilots were given short leaves -- Most went home. The englisted were not allowed furloughs at all while at Richmond. After two weeks of this, came the day to move. We loaded on train! This was in early June 1943 15 Boarding Ship. Richmond Train went straight to New York Docks The ship "Queen Mary" was awaiting us Time was late afternoon. The boarding was uneventful. Our Group last Outfit to board after which the gang plank went up. During the night when the tide came in The Queen
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went out to sea. We were assigned to a cabin -- 12 hours in and 12 hours on deck. I have never seen so many people in such a small area. 16. At Sea The ship changed course every few miles, not going in a straight line very long - constantly changing course. We were fed two times per day. Lots of sick people. I did not get sea sick. On deck - people were everywhere - no room to walk - not much room to put the blanket down to rest during your turn on deck. The decks appeared to be acres and acres of feet turned up! Very often one would see card games involving many men for long periods of time. I witnessed one outstanding game of chance which included many American Dollars, in face, it was reported the winning money filled a barracks bag. The money takers were from our outfit and it was reported they made sixty thousand dollars. This money was eventually deposited in a Bank in England since regulations prevented sending large amounts home at a time. I feel confident these two men left no funds in England. Out American Men on the Queen Mary made up the largest number of military personnel ever transported by a single unit.
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The total number of men on board given 23,000. There was a story written by a Reading author ^Ernie Pyle of the time about this particular group of military on the Queen Mary. Readers Digest published the article. About the third day at sea, the Queen's Crew "Cleaned the Guns" without prior notification to our men, who were scared very badly by the booming of the guns. On the fourth day we saw "Spitfires," so we felt some better about conditions. After approximately three nights and four days, we dropped anchor at Greenock, Scotland. 17. Arrival in England Date June 1, 1943 our group was the first one to leave the Queen. Large Barges came out to the ship to take us to the shore. At this point the train came to the port. The trains were quite different in that the doors opened to the outside of each compartment. I do not remember how long the trip was but do remember seeing beautiful Scotch countryside. During this trip the men wanted fruit pies (individual) to eat - we stopped at several stations during the journey. With each stop, we would buy the pies and each time isntead of gruit they would be meat. We ate them but found individual fruit pies were not made in that area! After several