Going Overseas

The 330th shipped out from Los Angeles Harbor on 4 July 1944 aboard the SS Fairland.  The ship arrived in Hawaii on 11 July.  On 15 July the ship departed Hawaii and continued to Eniwetok where it arrived on 24 July.  It was only as the ship left Eniwetok that the men were informed that their destination was Saipan.  A betting pool formed with the men guessing on the hour that the ship would drop anchor at Saipan; no one won. 

Boxing match aboard the SS Fairland in transit from US to Saipan.
Religious service aboard the SS Fairland in transit from US to Saipan.
Col Phillips (Hands behind back, partially blocked by pole) stands before "Lord Neptune" during the initiation ceremony while crossing the International Dateline. Col Shelmire, commander of the 303rd ASG (right edge of photo) waits for his turn before Neptune.
Unidentified US Army Air Forces officer about to get dunked in a vat of seawater, paint, oil, and grease as part of his initiation for crossing the International Dateline.
Col Phillips (left, commander of the 330th ASG), Col Shelmire (middle, commander of the 303rd ASG), and Lt. Col McLemore (right, 2nd in command, 330th ASG). The three men have just gone through their initiation after crossing the International Dateline. Source: Phillips family collection.