[continued from previous page] M51 fire. We have seen many planes shot down but seldom get an opportunity to observe the tracer fire in its best medium, darkness. It was a sight worth remembering. Our aircraft have been out in great numbers, all day. Our trip yesterday was about 60 miles. We are now only a few miles from the Rhine and an open road to the heart of Germany. Every house in every village, in territory which we control flies a white flag. We can tell at a glance just how the wind blows. The Rhine River is really a life line for Germany. It is a large, navigable, river running through the industrial hearts of Germany. The Moselle river branches off from it right above Coblentz. It too is a navigable river. The Moselle eventually joins up with the Rohr river. They provide avenues for traffic in peace times, offer wonderful defensive positions during War time. No mail today. We have 1 platoon defending a bridge across the Moselle. The second platoon is still with the 912th F.A. The weather today excelled, even that, of yesterday. Warm and clear. I hit the sack at 2200.
Friday, 16 March [1945] Ochtendung, Germany
Up at 0600. Shaved and had breakfast by 0800. Just before hitting the sack last night, I watched our AA bring down a jet propelled plane. At 1st a single M.G. sent a burst of tracers reaching out for the plane. This small burst was added to by many other M.G.’s and M 51’s. They seemed to fill the entire sky with converging and crossing fire, which could not quite reach the target. Then the 40’s [continued on next page]
