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Berlin, Richard E., 1894- / Diary of a flight to occupied Germany, July 20 to August 27, 1945.
(1945?)
Talks with generals in Paris, pp. 109-110
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The flight home, pp. 110-111 ff.
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Page 110
Went to the American Finance office and had all our European money changed back to American currency. This had to be done, as occupied currency would not be honored in the U. S. Visited the Paris Post Exchange in the Seine sector, conducted for the American G.I.s. Here was a large store almost resembling one of our huge department stores-thousands of our soldiers were buying American goods. We were each given permission to buy one Swiss watch, sold by the Swiss manufacturer to the Amer- ican Army at manufacturing cost. At 11 Saturday evening the bells of Paris tolled for one-half hour commemorating the freedom of the city. Sunday, August 26 Breakfasted with Major General R. Smith, a high-school class- mate, and chatted about old times and mutual friends. Went to Mass and then visited Notre Dame. Went to the Cathe- dral Madeleine where Mass was being said at 4 for American soldiers. The Flight Home Our plane took off from Orley Field for America at 8 p.m. Had an uneventful flight to Santa Maria in the Azores, though we encountered severe headwinds which made us late. Hopping from the Azores to Stevensville, Newfoundland, we flew another 81/2 hours against severe headwinds, arriving at 2 p.m. When we took off for Stevensville we were told our plane was going to Washington instead of New York, much to the disgust of the New York passengers. The reason was, we were informed, that there was a staff officer aboard who had effected a change to the Washington destination. 110
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