Item #26366 Pointie Talkie. China, W. W. 2, Army Airforce.
Pointie Talkie.
Pointie Talkie.
Pointie Talkie.
Pointie Talkie.

Pointie Talkie.

Ca. 1942. A phrasebook to be used by downed American airmen with phrases in Chinese. This copy belonged to an airman of the "323rd Service Squadron" activated in mid 1942. It includes 12 manuscript additions such as "Bring me a large pan of boiled drinking water. Let it set here and cool. I don't like hot water."

"AGAS and the Office of War Information collaborated in publishing a "Pointie Talkie" booklet printed in China. The basic format was to show in the first column a question or a request in English, in the second column the same item in Chinese, in the third column one or more answers in Chinese, and in the fourth column the same answers in English. Thus an American could point to an item in the first column and his Chinese collaborator could point to the appropriate answer in the fourth column." Winborn, Byron. Wen Bon: A Naval Air Intelligence Office Behind Japanese Lines in China, Univ. of North Texas Press 1994, p. 132).

This early edition includes only Chinese translations. Later editions included Burmese, French, Thai, Ammanese, Shan, Lao, etc. The topics covered include Finding an Interpreter; Courtesy Phrases; Food & Drink; Comfort and Lodging; Servicing the Plane; Cargo; Communications; Ching Pao (Air Raid Alarm); Injury; Enemy Territory; Place Names -General; and 26 Chinese provinces; Geographical Terms. On page 41, the Chinese characters are rubber stamped in, not printed.

At the head of the title page, the airman has written "323rd Service Squadron, (booklet) #1". The 323rd was constituted on 24 June 1942, activated on 25 August 1942 and disbanded 10 April 1944. (Wikipedia).

32mo, (5 1/4 x 4 1/4") 61pp, (5pp "Your additions") Attractive pasted down title page with the US & Chinese flag illustrated and Chinese characters below, "Pointie Talkie" above. Dark maroon textured card covers, maroon eps. "No. 1" written on the front cover. Sml. crease in lower front cover corner o/w very good condition. Item #26366

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