December 2, 2005

Oroville Mercury July 24, 1944

RATION DATES FOR WAR-TIME CALENDARS
TIRE INSPECTION - Inspection on passenger tires will no longer be necessary, but tire inspection records must be saved.

GASOLINE - No. 12 Coupons in A Book valid for three gallons through Sept.21. Shoes-Airplanes Stamps No. 1 and No.2 in Ration Book3, attached, valid indefinitely.

CANNED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES - Blue Stamps A8 through Z8, and A5 valid indefinitely. SUGAR- Stamp No. 30, 31 and 32 in Ration book 4 good for 5 pounds indefinitely; Stamp 40 (home canning, 5 pounds) valid through Feb. 28, 1945; spare stamp 37 in book 4 may be mailed to the local board for 10 pounds per person.

MEAT, CHEESE, FATS, OILS, BUTTER, CANNED MILK- Red Stamps, Ration book 4, A8 through Z8 valid, indefinitely. Two pounds of waste fats turned in to butcher provide enough glycerin to fire five 37-mm anti-tank shells.

HOME GARDEN CONTEST HERE IS SPONSORED
A fall home garden contest to select the best vegetable plots in the Oroville district will be sponsored by the Oroville Kiwanis club in co-operation with the Oroville Garden Committee, it was announced today. With between 800 and 1000 home gardens in the area, many entries are anticipated, the club’s garden committee said. Details of the contest, planned to stimulate home productions of vegetables as a war weapon, will be revealed later. The resident adjudged to have the best garden will receive a $25 war bond. Other prizes will be given to those who receive recognition for their victory efforts. The competition will be open to residents of Oroville and those living within a six-mile radius of the city, including those from Palermo, Thermalito and the Foothill district. Rules and regulations are to be announced later, but citizens were advised today to prepare to enter the competition. The Kiwanis club committee in charge consists of Jack Rippey, chairman; James Patton and L. E. “Mike” Weaver.

CRASH IN AIR NEAR RICHVALE
Crew Members Safe; 1 Plane Falls, Burns
Two bombers from Mather Field Sacramento, crashed at 7000 feet two miles south and two miles west of Richvale at 7:20 a. m . today. The two crew members of one plane parachuted safely into a rice field when their ship fell out of control and burned. The other bombing craft, although presumably damaged, continued its flight. One flier was cut slightly on the forehead when he landed by parachute. Names of the men were not revealed by army investigators. A crash truck from Oroville Army Air Field was first to reach the area. Witnesses said the wings of the ship that fell out of control dropped off after the impact and that wreckage was scattered over a three-quarter mile area. The fuselage of the plane caught fire after it had struck the ground. The crash occurred over the Maxwell ranch, and the damaged plane fell a mile south, on the Axtell Ranch, operated by Grell Bros. Winfred Armour of Nelson, a rice worker; Howard Savage of the Maxwell ranch and Orein Benton, a shepherded on the same ranch, said they saw the two bombers, described as B 25’s collide. Mr. and Mrs. Dave Lindberg of Richvale were in Richvale preparing to come to Oroville when they heard an explosion and saw smoke from the burning plane. Other planes circled above the wrecked bomber, they reported, to mark the accident scene for ground parties.

Stu’s Notes: Thank you, thank you everybody that calls me about the history of our Oroville men and women who served our country so well. I write every thing down that I’m told, but sooner or later it moves around our house in various piles, stacks, etc. Someday I hope to get it in order; I will. So if I don’t get back to you or use your article, I will some day, God and Carmen willing.
My hero Daughter just gave me about 10, 4 drawer file cabinets, she was given when her former company moved to Texas. I said she couldn’t go, so as you know she is full time California National Guard in Oroville, about time as she is Oroville born and raised. She is a Soldiers’ Soldier. There were many Military plane crashes in the Oroville area over the years. Six or more died within a few miles of city hall. Others a short distance from our little town. If you have any information please let me know. These men should be honored. WWII had a lot of support on the home front. This doesn’t seem to be the case as much anymore. Could our troops now be better equipped if we as civilians gave up something? I don’t know. I do hope we in Oroville will go all out to show all those who went “over there” when it’s over, “over there” how much we appreciate their sacrifices.