Journal Entry February 20-New assignment

Feb 20 Got things straightened out. Assigned to B Battery sound survey.

Blades and Cooper to flash survey.

Have a bad case of G.I.s

Lu, in Ray Hight's book: My work was now quite a bit different, as the 285th was a "letter" battery. We were dedicated to direct observations and operating the outposts, rather than a headquarters battery, where the focus was more in helping to set up observation outposts and put in the sound bases. I also now had an opportunity to see how the plotting boards worked and how the information looked when it came back from the observation posts. For the technology we had in those days, it was pretty doggone good!

We did our best work at night when we could see the flash of the guns before we heard any sound. When we saw a flash from a gun firing, we would turn on our equipment to make sure we caught the sound before it hit the microphones. We held it on until after the sound had gone past us, then we would turn it back off again. This way, the gun battalions had all the action on film and knew right where to direct their fire. Once they received all the information, they reported back to us, letting us know if they'd gotten a good mark on it or not.

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Journal Entry March 27, 28th And Battalion history

March 27 Crashed B-24 March 28 Put in mike base-taped-Jeep broke tape at road intersection. Put in flash OPs. Picked up Helmet, leather. Battalion History: On 28 March, headquarters of the Barnstorming 16th crossed the Rhine, followed the next day by the Letter Batteries. With advancing armor taking the fight out of the Germans, the 16th found itself scouring the woods around Henmethal --- for prisoners, souvenirs and eggs. Souvenirs and eggs were more plentiful than prisoners. From Ray Hight's book: By the time the 285th crossed the Rhine toward the end of March, much of the area was in American hands and things were moving so quickly we hardly had time to set up. The German forces were pulling back, and there was very little opposition as we crossed the southern part of Germany almost up to the boundary of Czechoslovakia.

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Nov 26th 1945 To Leona from Wes Hill

Nov 26, 1945 Luzon Dear Leona: Well here I am still but not for long. No kidding a dream. A long worn out Dream is coming nearer to reality. I will be home some time in January. Unless orders change. But up to now we sail or get on a boat on the 10th of December. I'm about going Nuts for that is only 15 Days away. All the 70 bomber have gone to Manila last week & we are the first to go as a Unit. with 60 to 69 pointers exclusive. So you know what that means from now on there is no use in writing for the Post Office readdresses to my home address. so here I am. and not a darn thing to write about. Our old Outfit Broke up and so I'm in the 736th AAA Gun Bn. which is second on the list. for shipment. 43,000 men are going to shipped from the AAA this December on 147 Troop Transports. So I'll see you after I walk out of the Gates of Fort Douglas or should I call you up for Instruction on how to get around Salt Lake. Well that's too far ahead to think clear...

Winsor War Notes-Luther Snow Winsor's WW II experiences

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