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MB concert

Gaol concert.

Black-out cloths given to each room.

Alarm at 4 p.m. after high-flying plane. Conflicting tale of alleged dog fight over Central.

Lovely day.

Air activity.

Spent eveng with Steve with a drop of wine.

Concert at St Stephens.

Lonely evening.

((G.))

Golly Anslow says it's a good story ((my book)), that characters were well-drawn, that conversation was rather more as we would speak than girls of the given age; that there seemed to be too much fainting. ((now I think, trust FJA to find something to criticize!!)) I saw him going into the gaol this evening and couldn't resist going up and asking what he had to say about it. 

(MacKenzie, Dow)

Richards

Now the question of the I.R.C. food distribution again.

I must have been cut short in any intended dissertation about the food. Perhaps that was as well as the matter has not yet been finally settled.

Greater air activity over the Colony. Japs fear air-raids.

Fine day, full moon.

((G.))

I am really all better now - I had horrid gastritis and am sure it was just because I was trying to "feed up". It was rotten while it lasted - for a while I had to go off rice altogether - I got such awful fermentation and belched rotten eggs at one end and could have filled a Zeppelin at the other! Early on Smalley gave me Streptocide - that stopped it at once but it started again the next day.

OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance flight over Canton, San Chau, and Hong Kong

TIME OVER TARGET: ~Noon

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One P-43 Lancer on loan to the 75^th Fighter Squadron (23^rd Fighter Group, China Air Task Force, 10^th Air Force) from the Chinese Air Force.

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: 1^st Lt. Roger C. Pryor

ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None

Had tooth ('upper left 8') taken out.

We had a letter from Father Moore ((still in Hong Kong)):

''Received  your card yesterday – probably held up a month. Since in it you mention the beginning of October devotions.  Heard our contact was still around, so thought I'd run off this note.

Glad to hear about parcels from England.  Should be some help. Hope to send you something before Christmas. May it be a happy day for you all, if not quite so merry.  Maybe the usual 'Merry Christmas' is not too far off.

Lecture on cigarette making by J.A.Stericker.

((More about the meeting to discuss the bulk IRC rations)) I think it would not be incorrect to say that the majority of people who wanted to be issued with their full quota of rations had made a point of attending the meeting, while those who had nothing in particular to shout about (and those constituted the majority of people in our blocks) had not bothered to turn up.

Japs air patrolling all day.

Hair coolers. [?]

Rumour re men of military age being sent to Sham Shui Po, also of air battle over ShaTin yesterday.

((G.))

http://www.usaaf.net/chron/42/nov42.htm says:

(Tenth Air Force):

CHINA AIR TASK FORCE (CATF): 9 B-25s and 7 P-40s feint at Hong Kong, then fly to the Gulf of Tonkin and sink a freighter and damage 2 others near Haiphong, French Indochina.

OBJECTIVE: Bomb Tien Ho airfield in Canton

TIME OVER TARGET: ~2:30 p.m.

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Seventeen P-40E and P-40K from 16^th, 75^th, and 76^th Fighter Squadrons (23^rd Fighter Group) and six B-25s from 11^th Bomb Squadron (341^st Medium Bomb Group).  All aircraft are from the China Air Task Force (10th Air Force).

OBJECTIVE: Bomb airfield at San Chau Island

TIME OVER TARGET: ~8:15 a.m.

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Ten P-40E and P-40K from 75^th Fighter Squadron (23^rd Fighter Group) and six B-25s from 11^th Bomb Squadron (341^st Medium Bomb Group).  All aircraft are from the China Air Task Force (10^th Air Force).

Bulk stuff was allowed out of Godowns today and is stored in Block 5, but we aren't allowed to have it until BCC have either won the Japs over to their (BCC's) way of distribution ie. 2 lbs sugar per month instead of 3, and 6 tins per month instead of 8 each.

Olive received a pair of thick black shoes from the Welfare today - they haven't got my size.

Issued with welfare egg & 1pr. of shoes.

((Charter continues describing the meeting about the bulk IRC rations, and the point that food should be all be distributed immediately rather than held centrally.)) This was carried in spite of the warning given by the Chairman that the food (especially the sugar) stored in our already crowded rooms would only encourage ants, cockroaches etc.  The deplorable part about the meeting – or rather about the majority of those that attended it – was the complete lack of faith that these people had, or have, in their fellow men.

Fine day.

Air patrols.

News good. Remainder of parcels out etc.

Heard that Ps of W are not faring so well in Sham Shui Po.

((G.))