Late July, 1944. "104 in the shade and we have no shade."

Fancy new stationery today. The top of the page is embossed with the Army Air Forces wings and shield in gold. Below reads, "ARMY AIR FORCES"

 

July 27 1944

Dear Ma

I recived your letter inquiring about the watch well by now you probable have it by now. I forgot to get another band for it so I guess you will have to get one.

I am so mad today – we were getting all ready to leave – & they threw a formation at us this afternoon. Oh it makes me mad because we won't be able to get out again for another week or so. I guess that's the army for you though.

Say If you haven't sent that camera yet take & take the rest of the pictures on the film. I have to have it registered on the field & it has to be opened to get the serial no. out of it so take the rest of the pictures. Also send me the light meter with it.

It sure was hot yesterday & I do mean not. It got up to 104 in the shade & we have no shade. I guess it's the hottest day so far. We didn't fly but 2 hours the last 3 days so we havent had much chanch to get out of the heat. Even when we are flying at low altitude it feels like a blower blowing air out of a oven. 

I still can't get over being mad. It gets a fellow after a while. We only are going to be here so much longer & then they have to mess up our little bit of time that way.

Well maybe I better close now & go shave

Jack.

July 30 1944

Dear Ma

Ill try to drop you a little note while I have a mineut off this morning.

It seems they want to keep us busy the last few weeks. We haven't had our little time off latley. We put in  3 days & got one 1/2 day off & then we put in 3 more but the day we get off we have to get paid & stand inspection. The farther we get a long the less time we get off I guess buy the time we get through we will be going day & night.

The other day we flew for a short time at altitude & I like to have froze. It was so cold up there you would have thought it was winter instead of July, but when we got down it like to smother us. We were up to about 20000 yesterday but I had a electric heated suit yesterday & kept nice & warm.

Well belive it or not but it rained last night & cooled things off nice this morning. If that sun comes out we will roast again today. Its been so hot that I have developed a nice case of prickly heat & it sure bothers me, feels like hundred needles in my back at once. 

I broke my watch again – but I don't think I'll have the crazy thing fixed again. I'll have it priced & if its more than I think its worth Ill wait & buy a good one. 

Well I have to shave & wash my oxygen mask so I better close

Jack. 

Here is a picture of the oxygen mask that Jack and his comrades used and here is a little bit about them, and about one of the heroes that wore one. 

Aug 2 1944

Dear Ma

Well I received your letter Nene's & also the candy & cookies. The fellows think its darn good also me. Those cookies are the the real thing. I thought it was the camera until I found out I didn't have to sign for it. Tell Nene thanks it was really good.

Its still hot here & it has me almost dead. The heat is really something, Its so bad if the grave was 6 inches wider I would slip in it. I sure hope it lets up but from what they say it will get even hotter. 

We had to fly last night and didn't get to bed untill 12 & then had to get up at 6 to go to ground school today. I had quite a time staying a wake in classes. I guess I forgot to mentioned that I was up all the night befor. We went back up to Ada & couldn't catch a ride back till around 8 oclock. I got a bout a hour sleep & then had to fly. I was a bout dead when I got to bed. I couldn't sleep while flying because we were on oxygen, Wearing that mask sure takes the sap out of a fellow. 

Well my mind? is blank so I'll close now & try to do better next time

Jack.

Note: I am not sure about the saying, "if the grave was 6 inches wider I would slip in it." Is my transcription correct? Does he mean "sleep"? Is the word "grave" or another word? Any help?

I searched, but I couldn't find an idiom like that. I searched for sleeping in a grave, slipping in a grave, heat and graves....

The closest I came was a song from Shakespeare's Cymbaline. Which isn't a bad find, after all.

Fear no more the heat o’ the sun, 

Nor the furious winter’s rages; 

Thou thy worldly task hast done, 

Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages: 

Golden lads and girls all must, 

As chimney-sweepers, come to dust. 

Fear no more the frown o’ the great; 

Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke; 

Care no more to clothe and eat; 

To thee the reed is as the oak: 

The scepter, learning, physic, must 

All follow this, and come to dust. 

Fear no more the lightning flash, 

Nor the all-dreaded thunder stone; 

Fear not slander, censure rash; 

Thou hast finished joy and moan: 

All lovers young, all lovers must 

Consign to thee, and come to dust. 

No exorciser harm thee! 

Nor no witchcraft charm thee! 

Ghost unlaid forbear thee! 

Nothing ill come near thee! 

Quiet consummation have; 

And renownèd be thy grave!

Separate note: Every so often I look at what was going on in the war at the time, particularly in the European theater, which was where Jack was headed. 

In late July 1944, as Jack was writing these letters, the Allies were undertaking Operation Cobra. Led by Lieutenant General Omar N. Bradley, the allies advanced from Normandy deeper into France and beat back the German army. Read about it on Wikipedia.