2nd Lieutenant Alfeo Brusetti
"...we made sure to fly over the Statue of Liberty."
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Alfeo was born in Barre, Vermont, USA in 1922 and graduated from High School in 1940. His childhood interests included hunting birds, rabbits and deer, a skill which stood him in good stead when he later attended Gunnery School. As his father was part-owner of a monument plant, Alfeo began a three year apprenticeship in sandblast and carving techniques but it was interrupted by his successful application to the Air Force in September 1942. As a Bombardier student he completed his gunnery training at Tyndall Field, Florida and graduated in October 1943. An 18-week bombardier and navigation course followed, including instruction with various types of bombsight and simulated combat training. By February 1944, Alfeo received his Wings, his 2nd Lt bars and was ready to be assigned to his first crew.
After a further 3 months of intensive training with his crew in a B-17, Alfeo received his posting to Britain, arriving at Sudbury in August as part of the 486th bomb group. His favourite mission occurred in December 1944 when his sister Iside (Dee), an army nurse stationed at a hospital near Bristol, joined him and his crew on a bombing and navigation training flight. During the flight they deviated to the hospital and flew low over it, waving to people on the ground. After 10 missions Alfeo and his crew were transferred to lead crew training and flew the remainder of their missions in this position. The aircraft were frequently in the air for 8 or 9 hours and the crew suffered intense discomfort; most lead bombardiers sat either on the floor or on an ammunition box for the trip. After their final mission in February 1945 the crew was disbanded.
After the war, Alfeo returned to the USA to complete his apprenticeship and became a granite carver of flowers on monuments. He married, had three children and was fortunate to track down his crew after forty years for a reunion in Arizona. He has also returned to Sudbury to an enthusiastic welcome from local residents.
High Seas
Dear Brother,
I'm writing this letter during an air raid drill - we have the lounge of one of the [censored] heading [censored] Honestly Feo I am experiencing the most thrilling moments of my life. I wouldn't pass this up for anything. I hope that when you come over you will have a bar on your shoulder. We are all treated wonderfully well although many of the men are very closely quartered. We are in ratio of about 100 men to every one woman so you can imagine what a time we are having. We have many RAF flyers with us and they are the peppiest bunch you ever saw. I could listen to them sing forever - just finished our boat drill - we have to have our Mae Wests with us all the time. We are wearing slacks, as it is more comfortable. But we have to dress for dinner. We have only two meals a day but what service and what courses! The sea has been quite calm- we can hardly feel any of the rolls from here.
...1943
That's as far as I got yesterday. It's much cooler today. I was told that I go on duty from 3 to 5 this p.m. - doing what I don't know. The Col. Is sitting here chatting with us - rank doesn't mean a thing. The only thing is that the boys don't like it if you leave them for a higher rank. They are all a grand bunch. When we all gather round the piano here you wouldn't think you'd need any steam to push the boat. I'm getting accustomed to the RAF language and am learning some about the money exchange. There was a navy plane circling the boat yesterday giving light signals - Dick- just out of code training - took down the message for me. I guess its safe enough to tell you now some of the things we did in N.Y. City. We ate at Toffanettis, the cross roads, Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe (did you get the picture taken there?) Saw on the stage - 'Life with father' and 'Early to bed', Paulette Goddarg and Betty Gerth in 'Person at a broadcast'.
Met a secret service man in the ? Who lived at the Astor and knew his way around so I got to the roof garden in the Astor hotel and had a midnight snack and danced to Harry Jarnes orchestra. Also saw the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. Time out to sew on the Col. Button - now I'm back in my stateroom to remain until after the air raid drill.
...Monday -
Blast this blooming weather and all that sort of thing- you know! It's really terribly cold and raining on deck and the lounge had to be cleaned so here I am rocking in my little nest for a while. Missed you this morning - I kept getting? In? - Clenches to you? Yesterday (Sunday of all days) I learned to play poker (British style) and had my usual luck. But who said the British have no sense of humour? I've been splitting my sides ever since I met up with the RAF. Of course we have our daily disputes on the merits of the USA Vs RAF flyers etc. But they are a jolly lot. We are steadily getting closer and closer to the more dangerous zones but we don't think about that (except when you wake up in the middle of the night) but honestly I hate to think that we are soon to leave the ship - ive had such a marvellous time and there is no telling where we are going to land.
Our Last night on board ship. What a thrill today to watch the land approach. It is so much like home - no kidding its beautiful. Blackout tonight at 11:30 - talk about the land of the midnight sun. Would you believe it we didn't want to? I cant sleep tonight breakfast is at 5:30 and here it is 1:30.
Well must put the lights out. I honestly hope your trip over will be as pleasant as mine and may we meet soon somewhere.
Love and loads of it, Sis
A letter from Iside Brusetti to her brother Alfeo back home in the USA, written in June 1943. Iside was on her way to England aboard The Queen Mary.
A letter from Iside
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The front page of the first issue of 'The Ocean Daily News' - a 'newspaper' published on The
Queen Mary. |
Souvenir brochure from Tyndall Field Florida - the Army Air Forces Flexible Gunnery School |
San Angelo Bombardier School magazine |
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This page: general experience. |
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Includes inventory. |
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