Box 1

Scope and Contents:

Continuing his flights throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean, Piech received a cable to return to England, where he experiences the Blitz that had been ravaging the country. He was offered a position as a bombardier instructor back in the United States by Major General Fred Anderson, which he decides to accept.

Scope and Contents:

Piech traveled to Scotland to set sail for the United States. The rough seas and dangerous sail still did not deter him from reading and playing cards with his shipmates. The ship ported in New York Harbor on April 13th, and Piech began his liberty at home in Sayerville, New Jersey. "Oh God what a year's journey!!" While at home, he applied for pilot training with the U.S.A.A.F.

Scope and Contents: Passing his preliminary exam for training, Piech left for the 2nd Air Force ("Hell"). On his 24th birthday, he was cleared for pilot training, and started to become busy enough to forget to enter his activities for a few days. On June 6th, Piech notes the D-Day invasion, and prays for those who were involved. While he traveled throughout the U.S. (Nebraska, Texas, Colorado) with the Air Force, he notes his boredom and anticipation for the pilot training...

Scope and Contents:

Continuing through his daily activities, Piech finally lands in McCook, Nebraska, where he began his position as Bombardier Instructor. He took his first flight in a B-29. Piech continued to take classes while he taught in order to be "ahead" of his students. On the first anniversary of his first mission, Piech gave a rally speech to civilians on McCook Air Force Base.

Scope and Contents:

Piech began his "masterpiece" of Bombardier Instructor's notes. He attended several social functions, including USO shows, one in which he met Jean Steel. By the end of September, he had written home about Ms. Steel, and described his relationship with her that had developed. The diary began to take on a new theme away from the war and his teaching duties, to one focused on Jean.

Scope and Contents:

Continuing his flights with his bombardier students and attendance to USO shows, Piech proposed to Jean on her birthday, and began looking for an apartment with her. They settled to marry on November 26th. He also notes that election returns were in (for the Presidential vote), but does not elaborate [FDR won his fourth term]. Also, a B29 crashed on McCook base in November.

Scope and Contents: This folder is full of blank pages, indicating Piech was much too busy getting ready for his wedding, and settling into a home with Jean. They married on November 26th, and honeymooned in Denver, Colorado. As happy as a newly wed couple could be, Piech notes his elation with his life with Jean when he remembered to write in his diary. He was promoted to Captain in December, and unknowingly earned the nickname "Chalky No. 1" by his students, for which he...