American Airpower Comes of Age

ENGLAND, NORMANDY BEACHES, ITALY
we went to his house for breakfast. Weather from Azores OK
except for about 1 ⁄ 2 hour when we went through a small cold
front, not very rough. Found newspapers of yesterday at
Maxwell’s house, also Jim Bevans en route to England. 138 He
had to wait for 2 hours to get engine fixed.
Maxwell fixed us all up for a fishing trip, took aboard Mr.
Sullivan, local fishing expert, and Mr. Wolfe, sports editor for
a magazine in US, and an employee of Newfoundland. 139 Rode
in Diesel engine car to Fischell River, 35 miles from airport. It
was a grand river but was much too high for fishing. 140 Marshall
caught the 1st fish, a grilse about 3 pounds. Thereafter
a total of 4 fish were caught; 1 salmon, 4 grilse, total for day.
It rained hard and we all got soaked and I don’t mean maybe.
Had a wonderful change, even if fishing was rotten. Returned
on rr [railroad] diesel car.
Took off for Washington at 2:45 P.M. in slight rain storm,
arrived Washington 8:30. An area of bad, not too bad weather
extended from Newfoundland to New York, one cold front after
another, I guess. Left Naples yesterday morning at 5:30 NT,
arrived Stephenville 5:00 NFT, arrived Washington, 8:30 P.M.,
EWT, 1 1 ⁄ 2 days [elapsed time].
Postscript
The Allied successes in France and Italy, which were viewed
by Arnold and the JCS during their two-week travels, resulted
in considerable optimism among the American military leaders.
This would be tempered, however, by the 10 months of
intense fighting that ensued before Germany surrendered. On
the day they departed England, Arnold and Marshall were no
doubt pleased that the Allies could count more than 550,000
Allied troops ashore, this only 10 days after the invasion
began. From the AAF viewpoint, this had been made possible
in large part by the lack of Luftwaffe opposition. As Arnold’s
diary reflected, he found little in England or Italy that
appeared to be serious AAF problems; yet, as was his custom,
he followed up on some issues highlighted by the trip.
Although not noted in his journal, Arnold ensured that
pieces of the German V-1 that landed near his quarters and
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