Another Year With the 951st Or “Like Ah Done Tol’Yu Befo'”

“RESTRICTED – Until a new distributor cap is found…” – Text, bottom

This lighthearted commemoration of one unit’s WWII campaign in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy was drawn by W. Potter of the 951st Aviation Engineer Topographic Company. This small and specialized group (likely no more than 500 men) would have been responsible for using a variety of sources (mostly aerial photography) to create navigational and target charts for the Air Corps. This important work is overlooked in favor of a humorous image that tells more of the amusements of war than of its dangers.

“Amigo Caramel!”, a persistent cry from local Italian children, is peppered throughout – no doubt reflecting the thousands of times it was heard while on the march. Pictures of life in camp, including drinking amid ruined buildings, are offered in the upper right. Vehicular mishaps, fun pastimes (including gambling aboard ship), and the allure of local women are also depicted in comic detail.

This is the second WWII map designed by Potter, following his c. 1942 “A Year with the 951, or Oh My Back!”. Likely printed in late 1943 or early 1944, some time after the successful landings of Operation Avalanche. The map is scarce (this is the first example I have handled) and listed only once in WorldCat as of August 2024, at Texas A&M University.

Sources: OCLC# 1366499998; Alternate Example at Geographicus;