One Long Trip
Personal account by: Lewis D. Whipple
I was stationed at Tachikawa AFB in Japan with the 317th
Troop
Carrier Wing when we received orders that we would
procede to
RAF Station Celle in Germany to participate in
the Berlin Airlift.
Our flying personnel left with their planes and
the ground support troops boarded the USAT Sgt. Sylvester J. Antolak
for our 40 day voyage to Germany. There were over 1,000 troops aboard
the ship and we were only off wice during the voyage. We had 8 hours
in Honolulu and a Christmas part in the Panama
Canal. Being an 18 year old it was quite an experience
and I
was fortunate not have ever been seasick. As far
as I know our
unit travelled the farthest distance.
Lewis Dale Whipple
ldalewhip@aol.com