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AN AIR SERVICE COMMAND REPLACEMENT CONTROL DEPOT. May 19—Capt. Bryan Rust, of Detroit, is a man with a headache. No other CO in the Air Forces faces the problems which confront him as “commanding general” of the “Blue Eagle Air Force,’? that strange organi zation of American airmen who fly with the British. When higher headquarters first realized that hundreds of the men who were flock ing to the American air force from the RAF, the RCAF and the Czechoslova kian Air Force were of more value flying night missions with the men they were “crewed up” with, they planned a liaison office with three officers and scores of enlisted men. Like most good things in the Army, the T/O never materialized. The Blue Eagle Detachment of the Air Service Command Started business with only one officer—Capt. Rust. Without even a desk to call his own, he was soon swamped with work—from higher headquarters, which demanded voluminous reports; from the British, who had some sticklers caused by having Americans living and fighting with their men; from the men themselves, who wanted their mail, pay, promised pro motions, PX rations, awards, and a lot of other things. First addition to the headquarters staff was Sgt. Noble D. Sappenfield, of Memphis, Tenn. He was asked to type a letter one day and has been chief assistant to Capt. Rust ever since. Soon after, T/Sgt. George Ferrell, of Newark, N.J., the first American to be decorated by the King of England in this war, wandered into the “office’’—which had acquired an overgrown closet on fitted with two desks and as many fir cabinets. He has been on duty that ever since. He describes himself as“ “permanent casual.”” Cpl. Anthony H. Scerbo, of New York rounds out the headquarters staff. This tiny group combines all the fun tions of an American embassy, an Amit headquarters and John J. Anthonys “Goodwill Hour.” Since they are Blue Eagles’ only link with the Ameco Air Force, they take care of all the mil Army records as well as hundreds of ltch personal things the men are too busy do themselves. A few weeks ago Capt. Rust had got out of bed at 2 AM to bail one of pilots out of the guard-house. The ue had stopped the flight officer for a p2 and since the RAF doesn’t issue past he didn’t have one. When he topped off with the statement he was a Lancat ® pilot, they booked him for being drath even though they couldn’t smell. sf liquor on his breath. British stations are puzzled constant over how to handle the Americans as long ago a squadron leader whose: 0% included an American just promoted.t flight officer from technical pen wired the Blue Eagles’ office: “what? hell is a Flight Officer?” In another instance, a Royal de Air Force station answered that quer as best they could—and found thems in an embarrassing spot. In the WA# a flight officer is the equivalent of copie 30 when the station was inform .American flight officer was comi reserved a room in the WAAF ol quarters for him. After they found their mistake, they had a hard joo seading the grinning officer to move
Newspaper Details
London Stars and Stripes
London, Middlesex, GB
Sat, May 20, 1944
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 26 Jun 2026
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