John P. Burns

(September 22, 1917 — April 13, 1942). Lieutenant, serving in the 21st Pursuit Squadron, USAFFE.

March 2, 1942

Busy day. Radio control at Cabcabin, then about dark flew with Capt. Dyess. Straffed Grande Isl. Straffed tanker, Dyess blew it up. Wrecked plane landing

March 3, 1942

Had a party in evening for nurses from hospitals. Good time, food and liquor. As a morale booster, General George had arranged the party, to

March 4, 1942

USAFFE reports that we sank 32,000 tons of shipping on the 2nd, good toll for one plane we lost, even if USAFFE doesn’t admit it.

March 5, 1942

Not much doing. Running again. Sent wire to Jean. Pretty quick after the last but better take every chance I get. This afternoon, mechanics of

March 6, 1942

Nothing doing today. The Japanese press release to Tokyo says we used 54 planes in the raid the other day, many of them 4 engine

March 7, 1942

Nothing doing today. Going to take over construction of officers mess and Asst. Adj. Will be something to do.

March 8, 1942

Worked some today. Sunday. Went to C.C. to spend a week. Will take up where I left off at B. when get back. Three months

March 9, 1942

Didn’t do much. Lay around letting a sore on my foot heal and getting rid of diarr. Rumored we got Silver Stars for Subic Bay

March 10, 1942

Had tent put up to stay in here at C.C. Up most of the night, watch on field. Radio Tokio reports that they destroyed 32

March 11, 1942

Fixed tent up and moved in. Alert at field all afternoon. Evening “Voice of Freedom” announced citations for organizations, looks like almost everybody has two,

March 12, 1942

Nothing doing today. News of war doesn’t sound too good. I wonder at times how we keep going here, also wonder at the individuals desire

March 13, 1942

Fri. the 13th, this is three in a row. No bad luck though. Rations cut again, food situation bad. Diet is chiefly rice, bread and

March 14, 1942

Cor. Doing a lot of shelling about noon. Alert in aft. Rowe flew Recon, no trouble. Golden replaced Rowe here, I go back tomorrow. This

March 15, 1942

Sunday. Returned to B. by way of the hospital in aft. Fellows doing pretty well.

March 16, 1942

Not much doing today.

March 17, 1942

Wrote letters to parents and Jean, also made out will. Have a fair estate and it will get larger daily.

March 18, 1942

Spent day working on officers mess. MacArthur and George now in Australia. MacA. in high command of all United Nations forces. Maybe he and Gen.

March 19, 1942

Not much doing, O.D. so spent most of my time at Gen. Geo.’s shack listening to the radio. KGEI really putting out some good programs

March 20, 1942

Quiet day. The food ration is pity-ful (sic) now. Enough to keep you from starving but not enough to do much work on. One day’s

March 21, 1942

Alert for couple hours in aft. Had party in evening. It was awful drunk out, self included. Have no interest in girls any more. Guess

March 22, 1942

Sun. Stayed in bed most of the day. Whit. got in from Cebu, brought me two wires, Jean and parents. Sure makes me feel good,

March 23, 1942

Lay around most of day, headache, I believe, too much sun Sat. eyes hurt. Had a couple candy bars today, a real treat. Food very

March 24, 1942

Sick today, fever, chills, etc. Terrific headache, ache all over. Japs have started pushing us again, using their big bombers again, dropping some big stuff

March 25, 1942

Mother’s birthday. Wish she was here to nurse me, ’cause I sure am sick. She sure used to do a good job of taking care

March 26, 1942

Feel a little better, but very weak, can’t eat, would like some fruit. Heavy bombing raids continuing, don’t know what damage they are doing, uncomfortable

March 27, 1942

Got up for awhile this afternoon but so weak I had to lie down pretty quick. Started in evening feeding the pilots special food. Must

March 28, 1942

Food fine today, didn’t do much, gaining back strength. Dyess told me I was going south with Brad. before dawn. Engine trouble so didn’t get

March 29, 1942

Sun. Got things in better shape for leaving today. About suppertime learned that the rock has a bunch of men to go so I’m screwed.

March 30, 1942

Spent day at C. on alert. Saw a large Jap bomber hit by AA. Spun from about 25,000. Was an awe-inspiring sight. Sure feel sorry

March 31, 1942

Still bombing, but little damage. Pilots food pretty good, poor for others, everyone hunting. Will have this place really cleaned out of game when we