Bauer, Harold, LtCol

September 11
They called for the remainder of VF-5 at Cactus. The first 8 hadn't left Buttons yet so that meant a flight of 24 F4F's. They will surely be a welcome sight to the hard pressed Marines. No rain today and a good thing. There were 3 cases of malaria, I say as a result of the wet weather. Chick really has it bad.
September 12
I sent 8 of my pilots to Buttons in the SNJ (which I flew) and 7 SBD's. 5 of them (Beanie in charge) flew aboard the Wasp in TBF's to fly F4F-4's off to Cactus. Haring was lost at Cactus due to oxygen failure. I brought the SNJ and SBD's back. 6 more of my pilots went to Buttons to help stand alert. All their pilots had gone aboard the Wasp, too.
September 13
Rogers and I took off before dawn and flew to Buttons on ComAirSouPac's orders. That was all the able bodied pilots left in the squadron. They expected a dawn attack. They flew the fighters in off the Wasp and hadn't been on the ground an hour when they were ordered to take off. Some of our people made contact. Haring and Chamberlain were lost.
September 14
All 251's pilots returned from Cactus so our pilots returned to Roses to get our planes and take them to Buttons. They are still expecting a raid since the Japs are concentrating quite a force up North. We flew eleven planes up. Two gave us trouble.
September 15
Took the dawn patrol--getting off before daylight. We weren't raided, of course. Sent my two troublesome planes back to Roses. 15 Hornet SBD's were supposed to land at Button about dark. 5 were lost. These boys gave us the sad news that the Wasp had been sunk, the North Carolina damaged, & a D.D. sunk by subs. That certainly changes the aspect of this South Pacific battle. Am wondering now what will become of the boys at Cactus.
September 16
251 took the dawn patrol today. Still we weren't raided. They are bringing in 3-4 loads of wounded in the DC-3's each day. Understand the 7th Div. landed at Cactus today. That will help a lot. I returned to Roses alone this p.m. to get a stove, some towels for Gen. Geiger, and 15 of my men on a plane for Cactus. Heard that Carl returned to Cactus airport after being in the hills living with Natives for several days. Hooray!
September 17
Admiral Fitch (relieving Adm. McCain), Col. Maas, and some more high rank came by to see me today but missed me as I was down at Army Hdqtrs. Said they'd be back in a couple of days. Two of my pilots came back from Buttons, due to feeling ill. Visited the new fighter strip at Havannah and located the area for plane hides and camp.
September 18
3 of my planes and pilots started out for Buttons. One returned due to prop trouble. Our planes are approaching a rapid state of deterioration due to lack of spare parts. Doc Martin shoved off for a trip to Cactus. They need doctors or corpmen to ride the evacuation planes to take care of injured in transit. A B-26 was lost tonite. Later heard they all bailed out at Buttons.
September 19
Some more distinguished visitors today. Some staff people from Australia on their way through picking up dope on the general situation at each base. We gave them the usual battle cry.
September 20
Col. Mel Maas came thru today on his way to Noumea and thence back to the good old U.S.A., where he hopes to be able to do us some good out here.
September 21
Four full colonels from Cactus came through today on their way to a rest. Too bad all the aviators and troops couldn't be going thru, too. Certainly hearing a lot of rumors about replacement these days. Sent up a lot of supplies to Cactus today. They'll sure be glad to see the stuff. Cots, juices, rain coats, screen, candy, etc.
September 22
Went up to Buttons to check up on my SNJ which left here Sat. for Buttons and hasn't returned. Found out it never got to Buttons. Reported incident to the Curtis and arranged for search. Called on Gen. Rose and then went out to see Adm. Fitch. He agreed that our outfit should be relieved but that it wouldn't be done just yet. Might be able to send our sick pilots back now. Returned to Roses about 1600. They finished laying 500' of mat on the runway. Was called late at nite and informed that the SNJ was found and the pilot and passenger. Notified the Curtis. Faulkner had a forced landing on the beach at Buttons.
September 23
Got an early start to go pick up the pilot and rearseat man of SNJ up on an island named Tongon. Took 2 fighters and the Duck. We flew all around the place but couldn't locate them. Arranged by dispatch a more definate rendezvous tomorrow. Gen. Harmon came through today and asked me a few questions about what I needed for the field. I told him, "more personnel."
September 24
I laid in bed today so that a case of athletes foot would have a chance to heal. Sent some coils to Gp. 23 which belonged to VF-5. Have all sorts of supplies for the boys at Cactus awaiting transportation. The Army Q.M. is doing all right by the Marines. Several LB-30's and B-17's arrived today. Picked up Jensen and Latimer this a.m.
September 25
With Xmas only 3 months away it doesn't look too encouraging that we'll be home for it. A few more B-17's came & left today. I guess there are 12 new ones in the area.
September 26
Flew to Buttons today with a lot of official mail and medicine. I wanted to see Parmalee but he was down in Noumea. Had a good visit with John H. and Fog and returned. Kid Dennett called me tonite so I got up out of an early bed and went down to the dock to see him. I brought him out and showed him our camp at nite just in case he might leave the next day. Had a pleasant evening talking over old times. He is skipper of the McDonough, a two stacker D.D.
September 27
Kid didn't shove off today so I had him and two of his officers out to dinner. After dinner we took them all up for a ride in the SNJs. Soupy Campbell had flown down in one from Santo. Soupy went back after becoming very envious of our camp and set up. Kid stayed with me all day. Played several games of A-O (score 5-3).