September 20 1944

20 September 1944
USS Sitkoh Bay (CVE 86) In Port at Manus

Back again at Manus and I wish I were somewhere else. Don’t particularly care much for this island. Somehow it sets me on edge. I don’t feel set. I want to move. It gets quite hot in the day, unbearable, and of course, we can’t remain ashore after 1700 due to Annie. The little girl that totes Malaria.

We’ve planned a beer party on the beach and even thinking of trying to get in some flight time on the airstrip. They say it can be arranged.

Guess we’ll sit here until they fix that catapult. At least that’s something to watch. They have a thing on rollers. It looks like a monstrous safe and weighs about ten tons. They shoot it off and it sails out about 75 to100 feet and really makes a splash. Then they haul it back aboard and fire it off again.

Heard they have some “Spitfires” around. Sure would like to check out in one of them. Maybe we can meet some Aussie boys at the “O” club.