Bauer, Harold, LtCol

April 1, 1942
Our Mechs. are busy getting the boatload of airplanes unloaded, unpickled, and prepared for flight. Still putting in a full day's work on Fitness reports and signing my name to countless monthly and quarterly reports.
April 2
Now--this has been some day! We heard today that we must be prepared to leave by Carrier about the middle of April for Efate'. That is the island where our advanced echelon (212) sailed for about 15 March. Sammy's squadron is to go to Palmyra on the same trip. He shouldn't expect much action at all, but we are expecting plenty, and are looking forward to it with eagerness. I worked on personnel & pilots rosters for the two squadrons & continued with fitness reports. I worked hard enough to kill a person with a little less vitality.
April 3
We are busy today getting material sorted and packed. We must divide the airplane spares between two squadrons now where it was originally packed to all go to one spot.
April 4
Held personnel inspection this morning. This is our last day on interceptor command. We were allowed to go off due to preparations necessary for our departure. New shipment of pilots arrived from the coast. I am due to get about 14 of them in my squadron.
April 5
Easter Sunday! Who'd believe it? Anyway I met all my new pilots today and we are now organized as well as officers are concerned.
April 6
Started training of new pilots today. One boy, named Rogers, had a forced landing in the surf but escaped without injury. Another new, but older pilot named Kuritich had a ground loop at Ford Island. I hope that will be the end of mishaps for this batch of babes in arms.
April 7
Somehow this day was a misnomer. It should have been Friday the 13th judging from the turn of events and dreadful happenings. Bob Moses-a fine pilot and grand character was seriously injured making a cross wind landing-he lost control and ran into a 7 1/2 ton concrete pill box. Another boy-Capt. Kuritich-was injured when he attempted to retrieve his hat which had blown off and lay near his turning propeller. It cut off 3 fingers of his left hand. On more plane grand looped, Capt. Hennessy, being the pilot.
April 8
A full day's operation and no accidents. Looks as though we've had all that's coming to us. I have flown with most of our new boys now and it looks like we'll have a good squadron.
April 9
This has been a sad day what with Bataan's fall. I thought they might hold out forever in spite of the tremendous odds. Then, too, I fail to see why we didn't get some sort of aid to them. Perhaps it was more important strategically to save Australia. The latter seems a safe bet now with our air superiority. Heard today that there might be some chances of my squadron not going to "Roses." They are really having a tough time making up their minds. They just can't afford to make any mistakes, I guess.
April 10
Word came today that the "Roses" trip was off indefinately. I breaks the heart of everyone of us because we had a swell bunch of boys and all wanted to go our and do something.
April 11
Col. Mulcahy arrived this a.m. Everyone here was quite surprised by his visit--even Col. Larkin. We are frantically getting things ready now for Sam Moore's squadron to go to Palmyra. Our material people have lived some hectic moments these last two weeks. First the deal is on--then two more are on--then it's off--then something else might take place--then it's off, etc. etc. In the mean time they put something from one box into another and vice versa. I became Group Commander today when Ira Kimec left for Midway. I dare say I won't keep the job long. There will surely be some senior people back or imported soon.
April 12
Started moving Sammy's gear to the dock today. Certainly hate to see them go and be left behind. Well, maybe our time will come soon.
April 13
Finished moving all of 211's gear. Heard today we would definately get 18 or more F4F-3A's within 10 days.
April 14
Got all of Sammy's planes aboard the Lex today. They will probably get rolling tonite. His men will follow in a few days. The Japs seem to be busy enough around Burma and the Bay of Bengal and I therefore can't contemplate any action for Sammy as far East of all this as Palmyra is.
April 15
Things seemed very quiet today with all the boys from 211 gone. Understand we are due to receive about 25 more pilots from the mainland tomorrow. Well--we can sure use them. The sooner we can get our hands on the and get them training--the better.
April 16
2nd. Lt. J. F. Rogers had his second accident today. He overshot up at Schofield Bks. and wrecked another Brewster. Let's hope his string will stop at two. Heard today that there is a good possibility of forming all new Marine Corps squadrons on the Mainland. They should have been doing this all along. This is certainly no place to form, train, and operate.
April 17
The Enterprise did her stuff over in Japan today. We should start to hear of bombing raids there daily--& very soon now.
April 18
I rec'd 14 new pilots today. Let's hope we can get them trained a little without accidents. These youngsters are coming out of training with scarcely any fast plane experience. They certainly weed out our fighters when a flock of them report in here.