American Airpower Comes of Age

PARIS, CANNES, ITALY, NORTH AFRICA, SOUTH AMERICA
Cannon’s office. Received very pessimistic letter from Lovett;
since my departure AAF has been ignored in all high-level conferences;
he wants me to come back home at once.
Upon leaving Palace at Caserta, quite a crowd of American
and British soldiers, WACs, WAVES, etc., congregated around
my auto to get a look, all voluntary and quite thrilling. Lunch
with Field Marshal Alexander, General Cannon, General
Roberts, General Morgan, Air Marshal Garrod, Major General
Lemnitzer, USA. 144
Alexander thinks the war in Italy is about over. Gives Clark
all credit for handling troops for breakthrough; believes he will
be in Austria in 2 weeks. Doesn’t believe that Germans will
continue fighting much longer and that they will surrender. 145
Thinks Himmler will be the one to make overtures. Thinks
Hitler has brain trouble (hemorrhage) and is on an island in
the Baltic. Report will go out that Hitler was killed in defense
of Berlin. In 5 years if conditions are right he will suddenly
reappear from the dead and become a new threat. I cannot
agree as I do not believe there will be anything in Germany to
provide a threat. Alexander thinks that Russians are very jealous
of United States and British and that they are savages at
heart. They have good high-level staff planning but poor leadership
and staffs in lower levels; I agree.
Left after excellent lunch; came to Cannon’s cabin where I
rested from 2:20 to 3:50. Saw McNarney at 4:00 and discussed
conditions in Washington. Took off Caserta 4:35,
arrived Bari 5:20, met by Twining and his staff. Cross wind of
25 miles an hour in opposite direction from normal.
Rode into town and was billeted in old Italian Air Force
building, excellent accommodations. Told Beebe and Proctor
they were to leave tomorrow on special mission to Mr.
Lovett. 146
Had dinner with all of Twining’s Wing COs and his staff. 147
Bari is still the poor, destitute town that it was on my last visit,
this in spite of the many square miles of farm-lands all around
it. The people just look as if they will always be poor, even
though they were given wealth and everything they desire.
They are thin, poorly dressed, and have no idea of cleanliness,
either personal or sanitary. To bed at 9:15.
255