The Oozlefinch Camp Callan Pictorial Review US Army Anti-Aircraft Training WWII

Description

The Oozlefinch Camp Callan Pictorial Review US Army Anti-Aircraft Training WWII
Text on inside cover:
The nightmarish bird on the cover is a legendary species known as the "Oozlefinch" and it is generally recognized as the mascot of the Coast Artillery Corps.  This "guardian angel of the men who fire the big guns" is the subject of voluminous legends.  It flies backwards, the basic legend relates, in order to keep the dust out of its eyes.  The cover illustration is believed to be the first picture ever published of the Oozlefinch in action.
The origin of the bird is steeped in mystery.  The first mention of this C.A.C. mascot is credited to a Captain H.M. Merriam who, in the fastness of the officer's club at Ft. Monroe, VA, made dark references to the bird and its oddly logical habit of flying backwards to keep the dust out of its eyes.  The first model of the bird, and that generally accepted as biologically correct, was the one purchased in a gift shop by the wife of Colonel E.M. Tilton.  The original model is now enshrined at the Ft. Monroe officer's club.
The above information is from 1942.
The Oozlefinch was published by the public relation officer of the Anti-Aircraft Replacement Training Center at Camp Callan in San Diego, California. It features dozens of photos, including composite pictures of servicemen in finance, military police, DEML and Signal Corps,Headquarters Officers, Headquarters Detachment 11th Training Group,  Quartermaster and Service Groups, Medical Detachment, Hospital Staff, 102nd CA Battalion and the 51st, 52nd, 53rd, 54th, 56th, 57th and 58th Training Battalions.
My father, William (Bill) R. Meyer was part of this training camp and served in WWII throughout Europe.  He was part of Patton's 3rd Army and fought in many significant battles, including the Battle of the Bulge, as part of an anti-aircraft battalion.
Both the front and back covers of this oversized book have significant tearing.  The tear on the bird, on the front cover, goes through several pages inside the book.  Pages have yellowed.  Other than these issues, the rest of the book is in very good condition with no tears or writing in the book.  No loose pages.
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