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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.
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