Box 1

Scope and Contents:

"Diary of Army Career" begins when Edward Piech takes the mental and physical examinations in Trenton, New Jersey for the Army. Entries of Piech's enlistment, schooling; rosters of Squadron class persons, instructors, classes; military and leisure activities; weather conditions; people he met; personal ailments and social functions can be found.

Scope and Contents:

Graduating from flight school, Piech earns his wings. Brief entries of his flights to various Airfields throughout the United States, additional classes attended, day-to-day routines, and Army Air Force training problems (i.e. crash in Fran Field).

Scope and Contents:

Continued logs of daily activities. Other entries of Air Force training crashes and personal ailments (here, an ear infection) grounds Piech from flight until his gunnery mission on March 26th.

Scope and Contents:

Other A.F. crashes mentioned. Logs of Piech's daily activities, recreational functions, and people with whom he socialized mentioned. Piech took his first cross-country flight on May 2nd.

Scope and Contents:

Accidents, daily activities, flights around the countries to various air fields logged. Piech, after going on leave from May 21-26th, remained in the United States until June 3rd, when he flew to Newfoundland on his way to England. From England, Piech began his bombardier air missions and additional combat classes.

Scope and Contents:

Piech finishes school and is assigned to the 351 group, 509th Squadron. He mentions his meeting Clark Gable, and attendance to USO rallies with Bob Hope. Several missions were scrubbed before his first one began (July 26). The entry for July 30th details his fourth mission, during which he was hit with anti-air flak, causing problems to his plane.

Scope and Contents: In addition to daily activities/routines, Piech logs many airfields to which he traveled in his missions. Among them are Schweinfurt (Nazi ball bearing factory), which he describes as "some alloy metal factory that produces 85% of German needs." Many of the missions (5th - 18th) are several hours long; one which earns him the Air Medal, and another for which he receives his first Oak Leaf Cluster. Piech also makes notes of those killed in battle, the pay...

Scope and Contents:

Earning his Navigator's Certificate, and being commissioned as 1st Lieutenant, Piech continues his missions (19th - 20th) into Germany. He also notes an U.S.A.A.F. movie shown to the men, "Victory Through Air Power."

Scope and Contents:

Daily activities/routines, personal ailments and snow ("What a pleasant surprise") are experienced. Additional bombing missions into Germany and France are noted. Piech notes receiving the October Rutgers University Alumni Monthly, and details his flight time for 1943.

Scope and Contents:

Piech was offered a position on Lt. General Eaker's crew in Africa, and leaves England. He completes his required 25 missions, and has an option to go home or re-enlist for another tour. Flying around Arabic countries to Italy and back, Piech chauffeured Lt. Gen. Eaker's crew, and was away from the "horrid experiences and battles in the air."