Smitty and the 11th Airborne Division
The origin of the nickname, “Angels” for the 11th Airborne has always been up for debate. At Dobodura, New Guinea, while unloading the supplies off the ships that were constantly pulling into port, it became well-known that the troopers of the 11th A/B were a bit more light-fingered than the other units. The distribution of the food and war materiel was severely unbalanced, with the bulk of it going to the troopers. It was definitely at this time that they acquired the title of “Swing and his 8,000 Thieves.” My father and many other troopers believe that the title remained with them up until the release of the internees at Los Baños prison on Luzon, when a nun looked up and said that the parachutists looked like “angels sent to save us.”
One other theory I found, while still on New Guinea, a senior officers questioned General Swing about the uneven delivery of supplies. Swing , with a rather tongue-in-cheek attitude, replied that it could not possibly be due to his “angels.”
And yet, there is another idea on the subject. The troopers, with their antics, were often in trouble. After a rather rough weekend, a senior officer asked just how many of the 11th airborne’s “little angels” were in the stockade. The reply, of course, was, “none of my angels are.”
No matter what the reason or nickname, this undermanned and under-equipped division trudged on.
You may notice in Smitty’s letters that he will not mention his rigorous training or even combat in his later ones. I am unaware as to whether it was concern for his mother’s feelings or censorship restrictions. As a child I asked if I would ever catch him in one of the old news reels and he said that he surely doubted it. He made a point to avoid any photographers in the event his mother caught sight of the pictures of him in combat. No matter how hard things had become, he found something else to talk about, but he did have a tongue-in-cheek humor that could both amuse someone even while he was complaining.
At this point in time, the jungle war training had live firing and everything was becoming a bit clearer, a bit more realistic.
Major Burgess left the units temporarily to set up a jump school. This would give the glidermen and Burgess himself an opportunity to qualify as paratroopers. The parachutists began their glider training at Soputa airstrip that was no longer in regular use.
Click on images to enlarge.
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Military Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Max Bolton – Taranaki, NZ; RNZ Navy # N455266, WWII
Carl E. Clark – Columbus, OH; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 11th A/B Div. & Korea, Sgt., 187th RCT
Elizabeth Dow Crawford (101) – Tomahawk, CAN; RC Air Force, WWII
James Elwood – Wichita, KS; US Army Air Corps, WWII
Richard Gamlen – San Francisco, CA; US Army, WWII, ETO, MSgt.
Peter Kizer – Princeton, IL; US Air Force
Albert Movitz – Brooklyn, NY; US Navy, WWII
Peter Raymond – Norristown, PA; USMC, WWII, PTO
Herbert Stone – Pine Bluff, AR; US Army Air Corps, WWII, CBI
Lee Travelstead – Holland, TX; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, 101st & 82nd A/B, Silver Star
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Posted on October 17, 2016, in SMITTY, Uncategorized, WWII and tagged 11th airborne, Airborne, Army, family history, History, Military, Military History, New Guinea, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 75 Comments.
Swing and his 8000 thieves…I love it…and probably most accurate!
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Dad insisted that was the correct nickname! I often wondered what he wasn’t telling me!! haha
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LOL…I’m sure he didn’t want you to know those stories@ 😀
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Great post! Keep it up!
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Thank you, I appreciate you taking the time to come by and read it.
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Very good;
I am curious about Elizabeth Crawford in the Farewell Salutes. Generally females have been nurses etc. This indicates Air Force, and not the Auxiliary one?
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We did have females in service transporting aircraft and taxi -ing officials. Though never to be put in combat, some have been known to fly close.
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Indeed: I gather quite a few incidents of ladies transporting ready-for-combat aircraft who then responded most effectively to attacks by enemy planes have been kept under wraps!
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As a rule, yes. Gen. Marshall had women train for it in the WAAC’s, but he was advised not to send them. Occasionally things do slip through the cracks and the inevitable happened.
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Great text GP, love the video! 🙂
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Thanks, Hollie.
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Great video and what an amazing site. So many excellent historic videos. Thanks for sharing. It’s on my list to share with students now.
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Well, that is certainly wonderful to hear! Thank you, Jacqui!!
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Interesting reading gp, my unit in Vietnam seemed to have the knack of locating equipment in certain situations,I had to laugh a little when you mentioned Los Baños prison, it reminded me of my time in Chile, in English, Los Baños actually refers to the bathroom and more pointedly, the toilet. Wonder how that prison ended up with that name.
Cheers.
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Los Banos was actually an agricultural school the Japanese made into a prison. The 11th Airborne rescued over 2,000 internees there (26 miles behind enemy lines) and today the 11th’s A/B Association is still involved with a foundation to assist high school students. I’ll have a post on Los Banos when the site gets to the P.I., plus the foundation. My original post is here
https://pacificparatrooper.wordpress.com/?s=los+banos
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Thanks for that update gp.
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Sure thing.
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Sounds like your Dad was a sensible man, apart from getting involved with gliders. I’ve always thought it must be the worst way of being delivered into combat – sitting in a big, slow target with no control over it. He was definitely a better man than I am. 😉
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Thank you, but I’m sure you do your best – just as he did. I can not picture you any other way after reading your posts.
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Sempre speciali i tuoi articoli retrospettivi, d’eventi del passato
Un saluto,silvia
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Thank you very much.
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Good clip and thanks for all the good information in your blog
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I greatly appreciate your visits, Mary Lou.
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Reblogged this on quirkywritingcorner.
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I thank you very much for including this post on your site.
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Love the clip and the angel stories.
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I thank you for reading, Hilary.
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Poignant stories and anecdotes, GP, and much appreciated. I liked the “Plan B” photo.
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I do try to put things in so the post will appeal to most everyone. Thanks for telling me.
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Reblogged this on KCJones.
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Thank you very much, Penny.
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Dear GP Cox
we like the writing in the poster “never have a dull moment” like Beetley Pete.That’s GREAT. And we like the nickname “angels” for those brave men as well. But of course it’s ambiguous as angels are the dead ones as well. But anyway the Bookfayries Siri and Selma love the angels they are their friends they play with.
Thanks for your post like always full of knowledge and interesting facts
The Fab Four of Cley
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Klausbernd,
Thank you for your comment. I am always anxious to hear what my Four Fab Friends of Cley think about the posts. But – no pressure, eh?
All the best,
GP Cox
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Dear GP Cox
Dina and I we have a kind of division of labour meaning that Dina is visiting our followers like you and I answer the commentaries. But I visit rarely very very special friends like you as well.
I like your blog very much because it’s so full of interesting information one doesn’t get that easily. And I am always astonished about the quality of information, better than in any history book I know. Besides this I like your style of presentation, never without a pinch of humour.
For me you run one of the best blogs I know providing highly qualified information.
Thank you very much
Klausbernd
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Klaubernd,
After reading your comment – I am speechless. Overwhelmed by having such wonderful friends such as you, Dina and the lovely Bookfaryies. I hope you know how much I enjoy yours as well! The fact that you enjoy this site to that degree leaves me without the proper vocabulary to express my feelings.
All I can say is, Thank you very much!!
I am a wealthy person to know people like you and your family.
GP Cox
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We feel very rich as well ❤
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When I had to abseil out of a Huey the instructor put us at ease by explaining how safe it was. When we assembled for a de-brief he mentioned that in the course before us two guys ended up with broken legs. He didn’t mention it ’til later.
PS. How in blue blazes do you turn a tank on its head like that?
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The instructor wanted you to think about what you were doing and not what could possibly happen.
The tank? No idea!!! 🙂
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For one horrible moment there I thought the guy in white chucking ’em out had got a wee bit too enthusiastic and chucked himself out as well. As in the old song, “…the last to jump but first to reach the ground…” brrrrr.
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That’s a horrible thought, but it does look that way – doesn’t it?!!
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That was an interesting clip. The guy in the white shirt had no tether, he was just holding on with one hand?
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That’s right. Amazing what these men pull off, isn’t it?!! And those parachutes compared with today’s is like comparing a Model T to a Covette Supersport.
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Anyone who survived the life they lived had to have an angel watching over them. Maybe they weren’t the angels being mentioned.
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The men all had their theories. Hearing some of the antics they pulled in that unit, I tend to agree they were the “Ten-thousand Thieves” up until the nun spotted them at Los Banos.
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Enjoyed the story behind the name!
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Terrific, thank you!
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Laughing about the tipped over tank and plan b, GP. “Maybe if we all jump up and down on one side…” 🙂 –Curt
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ALL of us?!! haha
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🙂 Maybe if half shoved…
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I like the recruiting poster for the glider unit. ‘Never a dull moment’ indeed!
No doubt your Dad wanted to ease the worries of his parents, with his chatty letters.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Being the only male in the household, he often kept the stiff-upper-lip and diverted attention away from the ‘elephant in the room’.
All the best to you as well!
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Talking of photographers, my Dad’s friend Colin, back in 1944, was sitting in the cinema watching the newsreels of Anzio, when he suddenly saw his elder brother on the screen, come running down the ramp of a landing craft, jump into the surf and then tear off across the beach. Once in a lifetime!!
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That would certainly bring the war into perspective, eh?!! I can’t imagine how that would feel.
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I have sent your blog to friends.
Read: http://www.sheilaclapkin.com
>
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I thank you for doing that, Sheila, it is very kind of you.
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Very interesting article about the paratroopers. I bet that you are right that he wanted to spare your moms feelings. Smiling at the humor and plan B 🙂
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They were rather close. Thanks for visiting, Kathy, you’ve been quite loyal all these years and I appreciate that!!
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No problem, Everett. Enjoy your posts. Thanks!
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A lot of your posts remind me of listening to my father’s WWII (The Big One) stories. Thanx GP it is nostalgic. ~~dru~~
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If you recall any of your dad’s stories, please feel free to include them in the comments. The readers here all share, talk to each other and contribute – I’m honored to have such a great bunch of readers!!
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A fine post, GP. I like your dad–his concern not to worry his mother says volumes about him.
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His father was out of the picture before he was born, so he was rather close to her and his grandmother. He grew up as the man of the house. Thank you for dropping by, Cindy.
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Great post. These guys weren’t angels. Some of the hints my father gave about his time overseas would indicate that he didn’t want to worry his mom about the danger he was in, or the antics they pulled while not in action.
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Actually, he does tell her a few things; Grandma wasn’t innocent of pulling a couple of her own antics! Thanks for stopping in, Dan!!
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I do wonder where the angels name came from – I like each scenario – but the nun looking up one made me smile – reminding of the hope that was felt by so many.
The video was a nice touch too – I watched it first (and kept turning up the volume – lol) but seeing them jump and glide was a nice way to start the post!
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I’m so glad you enjoyed the video. I try to include something for everyone here. I appreciate your visit.
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the video also reminded me of a dress my mother had when she was very little – it was made from parachute material (in a cream white) and it was gorgeous.
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OMG, I bet it was beautiful!! I don’t suppose there are any pictures of it?
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Yes – she actually won a contest in it – I will see if I can find it – but it might be a while -but Ishall be back – 😉
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Take your time, just remember me when you do come across it, thanks.
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Well thanks for caring! And it kind of feels special because your blog is this big archive scrapbook site! And so I am honored to share – xxoo
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Wonderful video.
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Thank you for watching, Lee.
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Once again, I thank you very much.
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