Diary of Gus Esto February - November 1944

Gus served on LST 492 in 1944 and 1945.

During February 1944-November 1944 he kept a very sparsely worded diary.

During this period he participated in DDay, but says very little about it.

Below is a scan of his brief diary with a transcription provided by Nick Demilio, his grandson.

Nick is looking for anyone who can "flesh out" the details of this diary.

On an interesting note, LST 492 was also one of the ships of Luthor Scott who is featured on the Okinawa Page.  LST 492 took Scotty to Normandy during her service in the ETO before going to the Pacific Theatre..

1944
Feb.

18 Left Boston. Storms
20 Arrived Halifax. "
28 Left Hal. for England. Storms


Mar. 

10 Sub sunk
13 Sighted Ireland & Scotland
15 Arrived Milford Haven
16 Plymouth
20 Launched LCT

 

Ap. 

3 Dartmouth
4 Maneuvers Torbay
6 Lost 2 small boats
24 Maneuvers at Brixham

25 Fully loaded troops & amm. Expect D-day
27 Feint to France 
28 Arrived Slaping [Slapton] Sands L.S.T. 298 T.P.D. 
29 Back in Ply.
30 L.S.T. 289-507-531 Torpedoed & E Boats

 

 May 

1 48 hr liberty London?
8 Moved to Salcombe
15 3 Air raids in 12 hrs.
20 Personal records left ship
31 Ship sealed. D.Day news


June 

1 Salcombe to Brisham. sub scare
2 Loaded fully
3 Impregnated clothing issued

5 Under way 8.45

7 Minesweeper sunk 17 survivors aboard us
8 L.S.T. 499 sunk 
Loaded tank deck with casualtys 
80 civilians prisoners Southampton
10 Unloaded same at Southampton
12 Back to France. Subs driven off
13 20 prisoners
14 back to England. L.C.T.Liberty sunk
16 To France. 496 L.S.T. missing 
17 at Utah Beach. L.S.T. 281 [actually 287] sunk.
18 to England

July Routine
4 Liberty in Rye & Portsmouth
8 Falmouth
10 Penarth Wales
18 Falmouth
26 Rock of Gibraltar
28 Bizerte
30 Liberty "


Aug. 

1 Left Bizerte
2 Sicily 
3 Naples. Isle of Capri
5 Torres del Greco no liberty boat
10 Nisida 

11 French stowaway
14 Corsica
15 Under fire - Bombing Smoke screen etc. 282 Burned 
16 Left with casualties
17 Took Ackeley to brig
18 Ile Rousee 
20 Beached again in France. Explored 282 Wow.

21 Ile Rouse 
28 Passed between Sardinia & Corsica
29 Beached at St. Tropez? 400 Prisoners
31 Left & returned. Sub warning

Sept. 

6 arrived at Ile Rouse 
8 First liberty in Corsica
8 Calvia 
12 To France. FREJUS Oney blown up
13 Oney body recovered
14 Prambrana wine scarce
15 Corsica
16 Prambrana 
17 Bastia
21 Leghorn
22 Bastia Liberties

 

Oct. 

1 Leghorn
8 Toulon
10 Bastia
11 Leghorn

13 Bastia
19 Nisida 


Nov. 

1 To Bizerte
4 Arrived "
8 Bizerte to Madelina. Corsica
10 Madelena
20 Big inspection
24 Homeward bound

LST 492 on NavSource

LST 492 Webite

LST Homeport

LST Association