Tiger Rag - March 25, 1944 - Bengal Air Depot

Vol. I. No. 17 BASE CENSORED FOR OVER-SEAS MAILING MARCH 25th, 1944

SHUTTER BUGS
INVITED TO
JOIN CONTEST

Joining the rank and file of contests that are now going on at the Air Depot, Miss Grace Christensen, program director at A.R.C. Club, The Rajah's Rest, announced this week that entries for the photography contest which is now in session, will not be accepted after April 8th, 1944.
The rules, which are also posted on the bulletin board at the local Service Club are listed as follows: 1. Entries will be accepted of any size snapshot. 2. Types of pictures will include, Characters, Landscape, street scenes or what have you. 3. All technical details such as type of camera, timing, exposure and lens employed in photogrpahing subject will be attached on separate sheet of paper.
The judges, a representative of the Kodak Company and an impartial member of the Depot personnel, will select the winners, the decision of whom will be final. Prizes will consist of fresh film recently smuggled in from across the seas. All photographs will be returned to the owners at the close of the contest.

On his recent visit to APO 492, Brigadier General Robert C. Oliver, (left) Commanding General at the Air Service Command, was caught by the Staff Photographer as he departed from Headquarters building accompanied by the Depot Commanding Officer, Colonel Frank D. Hackett.

Col. Hackett Receives Commendation
From Brig. General Robert C. Oliver

Since the arrival of our commanding officer, Colonel Frank D. Hackett, last November, the Air Depot has been observed in a steady climb upward. Not only from the standpoint of material output or efficiency, but from the general perfection of organizational equilibrium and the high morale standing of both officers and enlisted men here.
Commendations bestowed upon our Commanding Officer in behalf of his splendid work, became evident today when official letters from Major General W.E.R. Covell, Brigadier General G.X. Cheeves and the Commanding General of the Air Service Command, Brigadier General Robert C. Oliver arrived at Headquarters.
To quote from General Oliver's letter: "I wish to add my sincere appreciation for the method in which you are co-operating with other agencies in this Theater. It is desired that you inform your Command that their accomplishments do not pass unnoticed."
In retrospection, Colonel Hackett addressed the personnel of this Command in an open letter which is published herein:
TO: All members of this Command
1. The aid that this Depot has extended to the S.O.S. in the movement of Air Corps cargo has resulted in the area being kept completely clear of all our supplies and equipment. Although the job of transporting this cargo was essentially an S.O.S. obligation, its vital importance to the entire Allied effort was extremely evident, and with the existing facilities taxed to the utmost it became necessary for this station to assist in the task.
2. The spirit of co-operation and service which the officers and men of this Depot displayed in doing this work is to be highly commended. The specific example of mutual assistance between the S.O.S. and the A.A.F. has already had extremely beneficial results, and it is my personal wish that every advantage be taken of such co-opporunities for this same co-operation in the future. - FRANK D. HACKETT, Colonel, Air Corps., Commanding

‘THE TIGER’
GOES HOME
By
Sgt. Bob O'Grady
After setting the five Jackal traps which surround my bed I was all set for a bit of evening respose.
It seemed as though I had just got a toe-hold on the bed roping when a gentle hand was knocking on my mosquito bar bidding me an Indian good morning and telling me to pack my clothes inpreparation for my voyage home. Refusing to believe such silly propoganda, I rolled over, put my dream train in second gear and raced through the fleecy white roadway to the land of Nod.
My friend, the Commanding Officer, continued his gentle knocking and soon I was up and packing my salvaged clothing for the mystic land of romance and adventure - America.
Going through my belongings which consisted of many gifts the merchants of the New Market had forced upon me for a mere Rajah's ransom, I discovered that I had among my precious treasure the left wing and part of the dome of the Taj Mahal.
Checking over my Special Orders, I found that I had too much baggage for air transportation, not enough priority for ___ going my way were all out of upper bunks and scrambled eggs.
Contacting my friend, 'Saybull the Sailor,' was quite a job but I found him in his darkened lighthouse teaching lightening bugs to swarm over his evening paper so he could see the latest "Cheesecake Models" published in the TIGER RAG.
After a big deal which cost me two of the three rickshaws I was taking home, I purchased the pride of Saybull's fleet, the good ship monsoon, sister ship of the "Rigor Mortis," so named because of her stiff sails in a dying breeze.
None of the boys at the Depot would accompany me on my trip home; they were all sweatin' out W.O. So I hired a crew of dhobi wallas knowing that life on the pounding sea would be a thrill to them.
After suffering the hardships of the Ancient Mariner and Captain Bligh for twenty fortnights, we sighted a strange land. A huge statue of a woman with a torch in her hand and in the background, towers of silence a hundred stories high.
Our girl friend, with the stiff sails, finally bumped her nose on the docks and just as I was ready to ride down the gangplank in my rickshaw, someone blew a whistle
Despite all my sweating and suffering on the salt water I discovered, as I peeked at the rising sun, that disappointing morning I had traveled naught, for my latitude and longitude remained the same and I was still at the Depot.
I'm going to bed earlier tonight as this will give me more traveling time and maybe I'll be able to get off the boat and ride around New York in my rickshaw.

FIGHT-FANS TO WITNESS
MATCH APRIL 1st
According to the Special Service Officer, Lt. Col. Loran L. Anderson, the Base Section 2 Headquarters notified this command recently that an all-star boxing show is scheduled for April 1st at a downtown arena.
Already matched for the initial leather-punching contest are James Coleman of Detroit and Kenny Blackmar of Brooklyn, two top-notch professionals who are well known by fight fans throughout the eastern states.
Coleman, who enters the ring with his 173 lbs. has been fighting since he was 14-years-old, while G.I. Blackmar was slated for a match with Henry Armstrong when he was called by the man with the beard.
The remainder of the card, to include amateur as well as professional bouts, will be announced this week. However, if there are any enlisted men here who feel like a few rounds with some of the boys downtown, drop by the Special Service Office and gather the details.

PROMOTIONS
Seventeen more enlisted men jumped a grade this week according to Special Orders from this Headquarters.
M/Sgt.: - Elmer H. Hans. T/Sgt.: - Charles Z. Mitchell, Ralph R. Houck. S/Sgt.: - Frank H. Roblin. T/3: - Henry (NMI) Harnischfeger. T/4: - Omer (NMI) Woolery, Harvey L. Barrett, Paul L. Bayer, Jr., Haldon C. Myers. T/5: - George W. Greene, Doyal R. Tripp, Lasco R. Watkins, Alfred (NMI) Pinto, Frederick M. Smith. Pfc.: - Robert (NMI) Myrick, Joe C. Canida, Richard N. Garner.

This Is Not The Quizz-Kid Program

The "Experts," heard weekly in a quizz program at the Rajah's Rest every Monday evening at 8:00.
L. to R.: - Sgt. Bob O'Grady, Cpl. Abe H. Pinsker, Cpl. Ed. Zahnle, Sgt. Al Caffrey, Cpl. Clay Ulen and Sgt. George Cooper.
Don't miss "Officers Vs E/M," this Monday!

The Wolf by Sansone

"Careful! . . . This is Leap Year!"

What they are singing: - "Mairzy Doats," a nonsensical ditty with a jumbled lyric that sounds like double talk and recalls "Rose O'Day."
What they are seeing: - Bing Crosby as a priest (of all things) in "Going My Way" and Mae West in "The Heat's On."
What they are reading: - Gene Fowler's new biography of John Barrymore, "Sleep Gently, Sweet Prince."
What they are eating: - Grass ... Everything else is going to the soldiers (oh reah!)

Salaams . . .
To: SGT. O'GRADY for the weekly and whimsical adventures of the "Tiger," a worthy rival of the Sad Sack.
ISABEL FOSTER for her untiring efforts in promoting Red Cross activities and for being beautiful while being efficient.
Salami . . .
To; Whoever's responsible for the roar of those motors that drown out the movies, a necessary evil no doubt but timed perfectly to coincide with the performance.
"INDIA INK" for borrowing its makeup from this sheet and its material from "Esquire."

Among the many things we wish we had written:
See the happy moron ... He doesn't give a damn. ... I wish I were a moron, ... by God, perhaps I am ! - ZAHNLE

The TIGER RAG uses news and editorial material furnished through Camp Newspaper Service and other sources. Republication of credited matter prohibited without permission of CNS, 205 E. 42nd St., N.Y.C. All other matter must receive permission from the Tiger Rag, APO 492, CBI. All material for publication must arrive at the Tiger Rag, Public Relations Office, APO 492 not later than Monday preceeding the date of issue. Printed by M. C. Biswas at the ART PRESS and published by Pfc. William A. Frank.