Kryloff, George, Jr. (fl. 1944) [817th Bomb Squadron journal]

Entries begin on 9 March 1944 and detail his experiences traveling to Europe from Florida and the missions of his unit. The last entry is dated 26 July 1944. Post-it note with journal indicated Kryloff was "killed in action on 41st mission".

Address section in the back where Kryloff recorded 19 addresses. The majority are men from his unit that he mentions in entries. In the final section at the end of the diary, Kryloff writes, "This is my record of my trip overseas, & my combat missions. -George Kryloff"

The entries from 9 March to 30 March pertain to his trip from Florida to Europe. He marks his entries by "legs" of the trip. He travels to Borenquin, Puerto Rico, Atkinsonfield, British Guyana, Belem, Brazil, Natal, Brazil, Dakar, French West Africa, Marrakech, French Morocco, Djedeida, Tunisia, and Foggia, Italy. He remarks mostly on the weather and the food in each location. He also writes of activities he and his friends partake in to occupy themselves during the trip. This includes cards, listening to the radio, visiting towns, and seeing shows.

From April 12 until July 26, Kryloff makes an entry for every mission. He puts the number mission and draws that amount of cartoon bombs along the top of the page. At the bottom of the entries he writes "mission accomplished". He gives location, objective, bomb load, results and miscellaneous comments for each. Locations of missions include: Yugoslavia, Romania, Austria, Italy, France, Germany, and Hungary. He gives details of where the bombs fell and if they hit their intended targets and any enemy fire they experienced.

On 1 May 1944, he writes a brief note that he made Buck Sergeant, and comments "about time".
3 June 1944, he records that some of his unit was sent to a base in Russia to carry out missions in that area. He writes, "Lucky stiffs. I sure would have liked to have been along. What a sweet deal that would have been, a swell deal".
6 June 1944- "Day the word has been waiting for. D-Day. The invasion of France has begun."
22 June 1944- His plane was hit during a mission and he writes, "I can thank God again that I am still here". (In several other entries he talks of those on his plane praying during missions and thanking God after they come through safely)
16 July 1944- He receives a three day pass to Rome. Records that the towns he passes through are reduced to remains and trash, and there is "damaged and destroyed allied and Kraut equipment along road". He is disappointed by Rome and says the city and buildings are dirty, unlike American cities. Upon arrival back at the base, he learns that a mission went badly and 150 men were lost. He mentions several names of his friends and mourns the loss. Owes his life to fate giving him a three day pass.

Includes three pictures in front, one in military uniform with possible relative, a baseball team photo, and an image of flowers.