The Squadron officers had set aside $5.00 per month for the past six months to have a final blast before leaving China.  The party into a combination wake and party as 30 of our pilots and crew were killed on the trip from Luilang to Shanghai in September 1945.  Anyway, we had around $3,500.00 in the party fund.  That equates to $145.00 for each man. And that was one heck of a lot of money, as Chinese money was about 200,000 yen to the dollar.  And we set out to spend every nickel.

     Before one gets the Impression that this party was going to be an orgy -- forget it.  All of us had been fed liberal doses of Salt Peter during our China episode.  If you do not know what it does, well even on 22-28 year old so called Air Force studs, it leaves the thought process in tact regarding sex, but the machinery doesn't work.  That coupled with the Attibrine suppressive treatment we were taking for malaria really did the job on extra curricular activities in China.

     Of course, the male ego did not bring out this fact until we started planning the party.  I was elected the entertainment chairman (naturally).  In our first planning meeting, I suggested we rent a local night club, hire a band, buy a bunch of cheap Japanese souvenirs in town and trade the Navy, Japanese flags, etc, for steaks, vegetables, ice cream, Scotch, and Bourbon for the party.  I also recommended we hire the night-club band, entertainers, the whole enchilada for one day, one night and one day, the 15th, 16th and 17th of December.  Then I mentioned that we, in addition to the night club entertainers, should have at least 25 white Russian ladies to join us for dancing, whatever.  There were a large number of these girls in the hotel where we were I'm sure they were the Japanese officers' girlfriends during the war, but they were white and pretty.  When I brought this subject up Doc Griffin, our Flight Surgeon, who had been an Obstetrician in Chicago, asked me the $64,888 question, "Captain, just out of curiosity, what are you going to do with these gals?  You and the whole bunch have had enough Salt Peter and Attribine to make all the males In Chicago impotent."  Of course he was correct and we had a show of hands to verify that it was true - 100% raised their hands.  However, after a prolonged discussion we voted on my plan including the Russian gals.

     All of the party committee was set about the task of making it happen I had the easiest job.  The night club was more than willing to rent the whole club, band, waiters, cooks, entertainers for $500.00 plus a carton of cigarettes and a $20.00 bonus at the end of the party for each of the employees in the club, and $50.00 for the owner.  As I recall, there was about $1,500.00 left after the party ended.

     The party was scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m. December 16th.  A fantastic breakfast buffet, Champaign, steak and eggs, serenaded by our Chinese Band, who could play anything as well as Tommy Dorsey, Glen Miller, you name it.

     We all left the Broadway mansion in rickshaws for the nightclub, one pilot and while Russian girl each.  We must have been a sight to see, 25 rickshaws in trail going through Shanghai at 9:30 a.m.!

     We arrived at the club at 10:00 a.m. and the party began.  Oh yea, I forgot!  After all the expenses had been paid and reserve fund was established for the Russian girls, $1,200/$50.00 each, we had $300.00 left over.  We decide to buy 50 cartons of cigarettes from the Navy at ninety cents (.90) a carton for the hotel help, chamber maids, etc, and the remainder for the Bell Captain and Manager, about $300.00 to pack our bags, hire rickshaws and positive everyone of us was at the dock to board the Kadishan Bay at 0800 a.m. on the 19th of December, 1945.  Thank gosh we thought of this or we would still be in Shanghai, China.

     The party stated at 10:00 a.m. December 16th and proceeded non-stop all day, all night until 2:00 p.m. December 18th.

     I shall not try to detail what transpired for this period of time.  The first reason is I don't exactly remember all the details and some things should be left to the imagination.

     The Russian gals could really dance, eat, drink and have a good time. I'm sure they thought the Air Force made eunuchs of all pilots when they got their wings.  However, they more than made their hiring worthwhile, I can assure you.

     I forgot to mention that the night club ballroom was surrounded by cubicles that had a couch, incense burner, etc., so all we had to do was stagger to an empty one and hit the sack.

     The party and all the participants went to bed at some time and were awakened at 10:00 a.m. December 18th by the band's playing Chattanooga Choo Choo, another breakfast buffet complete with all the entertainers, Russians, etc. that had been there the 16th and 17th.  We were shaved by a Chinese barber someone hired, all of our clothes were pressed and we started all over again -- only four hours till it would end. After the fine buffet and many toasts, by name, for the crews that didn't make the party, we handed out two bonuses to all the employees and at 2:88 p.m. the party ended with a Chinese rendition of the Air Force Anthem.

     When we left the club all of the rickshaws were lined up to take us back to the Broadway Mansions Hotel.  Thank gosh they knew the way back for none of us knew if we were on the moon or on Earth.

     We arrived at the Hotel, went to our rooms and crapped out, I can assure you.  That evening we passed out the cigarettes and bonuses to the staff and management and completed the arrangements for departure for home at 0700 the 19th of December

     The next morning we were awakened, our cloths were cleaned and pressed, breakfast was ready promptly at 0400, the rickshaws each with our B-4 bags lined up for the trip to the Kadishan Bay.  You should have seen the sailors and other crews going home when we arrived.  Our Chinese band was at the dock play the Air Force Anthem when they saw us coming, their Chattanooga Choo Choo, as we each went up the gang plank with a rickshaw boy carrying our B-4 bag to the end of the gang plank.  I’m sure the people on board are still talking about the arrival of the 11th Combat Cargo Squadron on board the Kadishan Bay.

     We lifted anchor a 2:00 p.m. December 19th for the 19-day trip to San Francisco.

     It had been an experience that cannot be forgotten.  I guess now our most fervent hope was that the Salt Peter and Attribine would wear off before we hit the state side

     None of us could figure out how to explain our current condition to a wife or girlfriend who we had not seen in 11 and half months, but at least we were on our way home.

From a Manscript written by Chareles W. Cresswell, which was written from memory August 29, 1991.   Copyright © 2001

   I am looking for former members of the 3rd Combat Cargo Group,  1st, Combat Cargo Group, 2nd Combat Cargo Group and the 4th Combat Cargo Group.  In fact I would like to hear from anyone who flew over the Hump during WW II, or flew any Combat Cargo Missions at any time (Berlin Air-Lift, Korea, etc.) 

Please e-mail comment, suggestions, corrections,etc to: bill.b@erols.com

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