Mid-December 1944 and a detour

December 12 1944

Dear Ma

Here I go again with out any mail from you, but I did get a letter from Neva. She wrote saying I had my name in the paper for getting the air Medal. I guess you knew of befor I did then at least from the date on the letter. 

That Neva seems to be doing just plenty swell in her school work, I hope she keeps it up. Its too bad I didn't get one or the other. I don't have the brains on the looks but I guess I am happy.

The weather has warmed up to day some but it's still pretty cold for me. I hope I can be some place to get some sunshine by at least next summer. 

Evey thing is going about the same as usual nothing new. I did run in to a kid I knew in basic & gunner with. I sure was glad to see him but I guess he is going home. Well will close now

So write soon

Jack. 

Dec. 13 1944

Dear Ma

I guess I'll drop you a short note tonight so as to send the money order. I didn't get around to getting it yesterday but as you see I did today.

The weather hasn't been too nice today, it was foggy all day. It was so bad they stopped all traffic around here. We were going to town tonight but no busses so like a good little boy I stayed home. I should be getting a 48 in the next few days so will go then. 

They got some of the boys out and marched them around for missing a class. I didn't go so suppose they will call me up for it but I don't think I missed it. If it was yesterday I know I am in the right, but if it was today I suppose it's like the English say I've had it.

I don't care though they can't rather won't do much if any thing about it.

I never got any mail again today but as usual I hope maybe I'll get some tomorrow. About all that has been comming in is the mail and thats next to no letter at all. 

I don't know if I told you or not but these socks are the real thing. The only trouble is I have to wash them after I wear them a couple of days. That white shows the color pretty good.

Say maybe you ought to tell that Nene she owes me a letter about now. Tell her I can't help it if mine to her always gets lost in the mail or some place. 

Oh yes I picked up some of the invasion money so will enclose it with this letter. I think its cute, it's a whole lot nicer than this Britih pound we use. 

The trouble with this English money is it's worth more than we think. We always figure a pound as about 1 dollar where it really is worth $4.

The Copilot made 2nd Lt the other day and the Pilot is going to make 1st in a week or so. Our bombardier was too good for us so they made him lead and we lost him. I told Eaton (the navigator) to go up and tell them he wanted 2nd Lt also. I don't know if he did or not but he probably did. I guess I'll have to get the Pilot on the ball and get that other strip. It will be the last one I get but it means about a $30 increase over what I now get. To my notion that ain't to be laughed at. 

Well I's run down so will stop.

Jack.

$30 is about $470 today. 

I was thinking that by "invasion currency" he means allied military currency, but the article doesn't indicate that they used it in Britain. 

Next, Margaret received a letter from Jack's mother. 

 Dec 14

Dear Margaret. Thanks so much for the prints Yes, I think they are very good, also.

I do not think Jack cares for England, people or weather from the letters I have had and the way I have figure things out he has gone on "plenty" missions. The last of Oct he wrote "We have gone to work for a change,' then when he wrote Florence about going to London, he said, "I am up for the Air Medal but do not tell Mom" and at that time he had a 48 hr. pass also had made six missions, then Nov 19 he wrote "he had another 48 hr pass but he did not think he would use it since he had no money, loaned it all out'. Then the last letter I had, written Nov 27, he said, 'they had another 48 hr pass and he and Jim had gone to one of the near bye towns on their bicycles and he was plenty sore and stiff from the 30 mile ride.'

He also told about one of the crew being A.W.O.L on two days that they flew. So I am thinking he has been on all the big raids over Germany. 

We were sure happy and proud when we read about him receiving the Air Medal, but not one word from the little 'skunk' said about it. I suppose one of these days I will get a letter saying "O! it wasn't much".

It has been quite cold here but the snow we had Sunday is all gone. 

Florence was home for a little while Sat and Sun. She came over with some of the teachers from Roy, who were here to shop.

Wayne is going to Vt. with one of his Aberdeen pals for a short Xmas vacation. I do not think he went deer hunting this year with the friend from Penn.

Write me when you have time as I alwys enjoy hearing from you –

Best wishes for the Xmas season –

Love

Neva M. Eutsler. 

Around the time these letters were written, Jack's crew flew a mission on December 11, targeting railroad marshaling yards near Frankfort, Germany. Mission 241 experienced bad weather, but was otherwise unremarkable. Whew!

He won't fly again for a week. 

And now, the detour. The following letter was tucked in Margaret's cache of Jack's letters. I'm sure it is meant to be with some other box of letters, but it is here, so I add it. It's from her mother, and it's from a year-plus earlier.

Return address on the envelope: Clapham, New Mexico. Postmark is hard to read but I believe it's Bueyeros, which is a location near Clapham according to this old map. 

Mon P.M.

Sept. 13 – 1943

Dear Margaret.

I should have written long ago but gee I've been busy.

I sorter left the writing to Cecilia while she was here but now that she's gone its up to me I guess.

We've had so many nice letters from you since I've written.

I'm so lost without Cecilia and those dear kids I can hardly stand it. 

I guess they were glad to get away and have done forgot us as we haven't had a word since they left a week ago tomorrow. I'll go nuts if I don't hear from them soon. Ann Marie said theyed write bless her heart. 

I sorter thought I might get a few lines from you Sat. too but not a word from any-body.

I'm writing a mile a minute as I have a way to send my letters to the box and am hurrying to get this ready. 

I'm canning tomatoes today or was until I took a notion to write then I dropped everything. 

Guess I'd better answer some of your questions. I've canned several qts of green beans a few peas some corn and now tomatoes. 

We didn't have any fruit. Our trees didn't even bloom this time, and fruit is so high its out of the question. Peaches are selling at $5.29 per bu. Won't have many wonderberries even.

About the canning sugar the stamps will be good through Oct. I could use your sugar and might even get a few watermelon sweet pickles made but don't bother to send it for I'm sure you are far too busy to do such things. 

Fritz is just fine but sure is grieving for the kids. Sits out by their door and looks so pitiful. I'm wondering if they have reached Albu. yet. If they have Cecilia told you she got a letter from Pat dated Aug. 18th I think it was. 

I'm getting anxious to know where the 7th army is now. They're evidently on their way to another front. I hope the darn Germans haven't sunk their ships. 

Hows the kittens? I sorter wish I had one. 

Yes Rose & Chester still have CoCo only Chester calls him Bull.

He is a mean dog but sure loves us.

Nice you hear from your friend Oren. I bet he is getting a kick out of rambling around. 

I won't have time to write more now. Must hurry and get all my canning done so I can send this message. Ready for journey to Albu. Rush fare. Ha! By gosh I may fool you and take you up on that yet. 

We are shipping our cows this week. Wont have much left after paying off loan but will be out of debt. Will keep two or three milk cows I think. 

Mike & Bob are back in Calif. Roseville Gen. Del. Agnes is in Provedence R.I. 230 Lockwood St, Our windmill went bad and daddy want down and got Junior to climb it and find out what was wrong and is ready to take him home now. Something broke at top of tower. 

No Wendla has no prospects for increase as I know of. Her baby is only 9 months old. A big old ugly boy.

If Cecilia is there tell Ann Marie Oscar ate dinner with us today. She thinks he is just it and he says he sure misses her. 

Please excuse this awful hurry of letter.

Marie's new address is 2321 Opal St. Los Angeles 23 Calif. Please take care of that letter of Pats.

Write when you have time and I'll try to take a day off and write next time.

Love

Mother.

P.S. Thanks a million for the stamps. 

Speaking of stamps, postage was 3¢ (48¢ today). The price of postage has outpaced inflation. It costs 58¢ these days to mail a letter. 

$5.29 is equal to about $85 today. A bushel of peaches is about 50 pounds, so Grandma would've had to pay about about $1.70 a pound. Pricey for a poor farm folk. 

December 10, 1944: A red letter day.

This post has just two letters, both written on December 10, 1944.

 

December 10 1944

Dear Ma

Here I go again trying to write you a letter with, nothing to say.

I recived a envelope, with some clippings in it, yeterday but thats all. I did get a letter from Marg K the other day but she didn't write much, just about Pete & James. She never does, when she writes, say a whole lot but I guess she is like me nothing to write about. 

The weather has turned off pretty cold of late, infact it froze last night and the night befor. Its trying to snow now so that doesn't help matters very much. They said it snowed some the other morning but me being a sleep I wouldn't know.

I slept rather late this AM but then had to get up to go get paid. Thats one nice thing about flying is you get that old flying pay. I some times wonder if it is worth it at that. 

Say I am going to send you a $50 money order in one of my next 3 letters. You see you have to wait until they make it out & it takes a few days. I want you to put it away for me. I might want it a letter later on so must keep track of it. I would keep it my self but thats a little too much to be flying with. 

I sure hope those slides hurry up and get here, we are getting overly anxious to see them. They should be getting here pretty soon, at least I think they should. 

Well seeing I am all wrote out – I shuld mention I am sending my air medal home to day so you can look for that too.

I'll close now

Jack.

[with a flourish]

Again, $50 is about $783 today.

The same day he gets out the fancy writin' paper and writes to Margaret:

December 10 1944

Dear Margaret

Here I go again to see if I can get you to write a little better. How bout it can't you drope me a line just a litte oftener than you have been.

I recived the air medal the other day, that is I recived it officially. I knew I had it comming for some time but I have it for sure now. Its a pretty nice looking medal but doesn't mean much, more or less given to keep our spirits up. I'll get a cluster on it too, that is as soon as they get around to giving it to me. What I really want is the D.F.C but from what they tell me the chanches are very slim. They say you have to bring the ship back all shot up or the like to get it and if it's that way I would just as soon not get it. The D.F.C. use to be given when you finished up but they say things aren't as rough now so we don't get it. I personally think we earn it now if any one ever did. You see our Missions are a lot longer than they use to be. They are getting on the avg. of about 7 to 8 hours long. When you stop to think you get up about 4 hours before take off & then eat again a hour or so after you land its quite a little time between meals. Usually when we get down I am so nervious I don't feel like eating much, just tired and want to go to bed. They do give us a shot of whiskey to help out and it does on a empty stomach. 

I got paid again today so I have some money, but that's about all. I guess I'll just send it home & then when I get home we will go out and have a good time. I can't seem to have much fun going out here, just a waist of time & money.

Perez (the radio man) went out the other night and came back drunk. We were called to go on a mission and I tried to get him up and he didn't like it so he jumped down my neck. That was all right but after we got the guns and such in he came over & started it again so we went round & round again. To top it off we were ask to make up by the pilot he said he didn't want us fighting up there while the other boys were fighting on the ground. I had all ready appologize gone over to Perez & made up so we laughed at the pilot. I guess it wasn't a very good thing to fight that way but I still don't like to get steped on. 

It has been cold around here of late, has frozen 3 nights straight. It also tired to snow today but melted as fast as it came down. 

Well here goes may be I am spinning my wheels but will you marry me. I have been thinking a whole lot of late so now we will see what you have to say.

I'll close with that I hope to get a answer soon.

Love Bill

Well that was unexpected!  Can't wait to see what she says (errr...what he says she says)!

We finally got a little taste of what it is like flying missions. Just enough lack of detail to satisfy the censors. 

The D.F.C. is the Distinguished Flying Cross. Yeah, that's the trouble with medals. You have to go through hell to get them. I think I'd rather go home without them. 

Perez is a bit of a trouble maker! You'll remember he went AWOL and missed a flight recently.

The flight Perez had difficulty getting up for, Mission 240, appears to have been a picture-perfect mission.  

Missions and Medals: December 1944

A Vmail dated December 5, 1944. For some reason, Gram did not save most of the Vmail envelopes.

Dec. 5 1944

Dear Ma

I'll drop you a little line tonight having recived a letter from you. I also got one from Glady and Bo and all 3 were dated Nov 5 & 6. That's pretty fast time I know.

I have been pretty busy the last couple of days. Infact I am pretty tired tonight and I'm going to bed eary.

I haven't been doing a whole lot other than work, just lay around.

The weather has cleared up some of late but it's still pretty cold out. It's just a little too cold out for me and I don't go out except when I have to.

Did I tell you I got a letter from Goodwins recently. They didn't say much as usual

I'll close now

Your son Jack.

To Bo he writes:

December 6 1944

Dear Bo

Well I have to write some one to try to get it out of my system so seeing I owe you a letter I'll write you.

I got a letter from you the other day, it was only a month old but it was still a letter I also got one from Glady, she seemed to be feeling pretty good gave me all the gossip.

I washed some cloths to day, believe it or not, I don't exactly wash them just boil them until they are 1/2 way clean and rinse them out. Its pretty hard on me but its about the only way to get them in a hurry. We have laundry service 9 pieces a week & it takes about 10 days.

It got pretty cold last night, there was frost all over evey thing this morning. The pools of water we frozen too.

Say did you see the pictures I took of the crew in Ardmore. You probably wouldn't know what they were all about but we sure thought they were good. They look so real we couldn't help but laugh about them. I got a couple of pretty good pictures of you and one good one of Neva too. All they guys look at them and ask where I was when the looks were passed out thats what I have often wondered my self, ohwell I guess my Ma still loves my puss.

I want you to stop picking on the poor little Mex cause he can't help it. His feet may stink but so do mine. 

I wish Xmas would hurry up and get over with so the mail would start comming in 1/2 way decent. It takes so darn long for any thing to get through. By the time I get an answer I have forgotten what it is all about. 

Say what are we going to do about that Neva She seems to be too popular in school, I guess from what Ma says, she really knocks them out well look who she is. Don't tell know one but wait until next year when that Nene gets there they will probably close up all together 

I guess this enough for tonight so will close

Jack.

December 7 1944

Dear Ma

Well here I go again trying to write as usual.

As you see by the date the war started 3 years ago today. I sure wish it were all over but I know I am not alone in that thought. A lot of things have happened in those 3 years haven't they

I never got any mail as usual but am still hoping maybe tomorrow. They brought in a big bunch of packages today but none for little me, I really wasn't expecting any so I wasn't dissappointed about it. 

I got the Air Medal today, it was just about a month old. The date was Nov 10 but better late than never. I'll send it to you as soon as I get the time. Its not a bad looking medal but it doesn't mean a whole lot, you get it for a certain number of missions. From what I hear you probably read about it in the news paper some time ago. 

I am so tired tonight I can hardly keep my eyes open. A couple of the crew came in rather late last night and kept me awake. This morning they slept & I got up but I'll get even yet. 

I got a couple more shots yesterday so that doesn't help me fell any better, they made me rather sick yesterday. 

Eaton the Nav. gave me a sun tan shirt today so I had some washing to do. Its a pretty nice shirt but he didn't wear it so I claimed it. I also got a hold of another flying suit so washed it also. 

Well maybe I should close –

Oh yes Glady keeps asking if I have ever met any one from Vegas. Yes when I met Chas Mayfield there was a Mex cook there that was from Vegas. He wasn't very smart so I didn't even try to talk to him. He didn't know Wayne & hadn't heard of him, enough said. 

Well thats it for tonight

Jack

Here is information about the Air Medal. 

And here is Jack's actual medal:

Tucked away in the medal's box was this gun license, which has probably never been moved since Jack received it at about the same time he received his medal. He probably biked to Oundle to buy it. 

10 shillings is about £22.68 today, or about $30.84. 

Latest missions. Text and image from 351st.org. 

Jack flew December 4 and 5, the first missions since November 26.

December 4, 1944: Mission 238, Target: Railroad marshaling yards. 

It appears to have been a smooth mission overall. Here are a couple notes and remarks on the mission:

"This is too early in the morning!" [They took off at about 7am]

"If shot down, kindly crash at A-70 or A-83 (Vincennes [near Paris], Laon Couvron [75 miles NE of Paris])"

 "No enemy aircraft were encountered. A moderate, scattered and inaccurate flak barrage was encountered at the target."

Notes from the 508th squadron (Jack's squadron):

A/C 753-C: I can't see any necessity for tail men in Low box to have to pull 200 miles per hour. - Lt. Wiese.

A/C 711-F: Poor lead formation - 22 minutes late over target.

      Why did we let down to 500 feet over the Channel in very rough air when the weather forecast was 1/10 at 3000 feet?

      - Lt. Galloway.

A/C 567-G: Squadron climbed too fast and had to draw terrific power to maintain formation.

      Excellent formation for about an hour shortly after target. - Lt. Kale [Jack's pilot]

December 5, 1944: Mission 239. Target: Berlin, Tegal armament works

One aircraft went down, with all the crew surviving to become POWs, later liberated.

Here is a map of the mission flight path:

Beginning of December, 1944

Dec 1 1944

Dear Bo

Here I go writing just like I said I would.

I recived a Vmail from Goodwins today but they didn't say much of any thing. Of course, theres very few people who can say much on Vmail.

I made out a money order for $50 but I haven't gotten it yet. I am suppose to get it tomorrow so will enclose it as you probably all ready noticed. I want you to spend evey cent of it on Ma and the kids. If you spend more than that write me and let me know & Ill make it up. I don't want you to hoard any of it now. 

II

The weather is about the same as usual nothing new. 

I havent done a whole lot of any thing since I last wrote you. I did go to town yesterday afternoon but all the stores were closed so couldn't do any thing

We had to clean up the barracks today -- tomorrow is Sat and inspect day. I still have some shoes to shine and etc.

Well I can't think of any more to write so will close

Jack.

This next one is crazy mail! Jack wrote it on December 2, 1944 and it was postmarked by the US Army on December 5. However there is an extra postmark dated Dec 28 1944 from Las Vegas, N. Mex. on the envelope and on the letter itself (on page 3!). Were the postal workers also working as censors? 

Speaking of censors, so far it looks like the censors are from the officers of the crew itself, not some anonymous bespecled mole in a government basement. The letter to Bo was signed off by F/O Rohr (the co-pilot of the crew), and this one by F/O Eaton (the navigator).

December 2 1944

Dear Ma

Seeing that you sent me some paper to write on I'll start off by writing you a letter.

I got the package this morning and was happy to get it. Those pictures sure are good, infact a whole lot better than I expected. I showed them to the part of the crew that was here and they all want prints of them. I'll have to take them up to the officers and and see what they want. I supposed each and evey one will want one of each but I'll let you know. I'll find out when I get Eaton to sign this letter.

Thanks a lot for sending the socks, paper & etc. The box was in good shape infact I had to tear it open to get it open. As you probably know I have taken over Jim's pen all ready I see it writes pretty good but not quite like the pen Nene uses. Some day I'll get a pen that will spell & write like it should.

Those pictures of Nano and Dad Kruse were sure good. I think that one of Nano in the house couldn't be any more like her with out it being her. 

I don't know if you sent Wayne any prints but I suppose he would like some if you haven't all ready sent them. Those pictures of Maggie were good too -- infact the whole bunch was darn good. Those Pictures we took in Ardmore couldn't be any truer to life than they are. It seems thats all we ever did was sleep and now I have the proof. 

The mail hasn't come in yet. I have been expecting a letter from you so maybe I'll get it today. I guess I wrote that just a little too quick I just finished it when they said I didn't get any so I'll just sing "NO letter today" I got a Vmail from Goodwins yesterday but they didn't write any thing. They Said Carol was still with the 1st army and evey one is well.

Don't fall over but the sun has been shining all day. The wind has been blowing so it isn't too nice out even at that. I do wish we would have hit another season here besides winter. May be we will be able to see the spring but I hope to see that in the States.

Say I wrote Bo a letter, which should get there about the same time as this, so please give it to her when she gets home if she isn't there all ready.

Well I'll close and go out and see about shooting some skeet. Maybe Ill see the officers then.

Didn't shoot the skeet evey one was flying so I had to go up and get the boys. They were all pleased with the pictures infact they all like them. They all want one print of each of them. Thats understood that they don't want the other ones. 

Please go and have 9 prints made of each and I'll collect the cash -- maybe I'll be able to use [?] it. You can put them in a package with some old beat up fudge or something to that effect. if that request isn't enough write a letter to your self & see if that will work. If that doesn't go up and See Harv Bloun [?]

I'll close now & get to bed

Love Jack. 

I wonder if this picture of my great grandmother, Jack's grandmother Nano, is the one he mentioned. It really captures her. 

And here is a photo of Jack's grandfather, Charles Frederick Kruse, aka "Dad Kruse."

Here is their gravesite.

Now we're caught up and back in a semblance of order. My last post had a letter to Margaret also dated December 2, 1944, along with a couple of the pictures from the batch Gram sent to Jack.

There haven't been any missions since November 26.

OPL (Other person's letter), the men, and mixed-up dates: Nov-Dec 1944

We have a guest writer! This was spotted in the Washington Post this week. An infantryman fighting the war in Germany wrote a letter to his mother at the end of the war. Its delivery was delayed 76 years, but was delivered this week to his widow. Images from The Washington Post.

The letter:

It reads:

2nd Armd. Division

December 6, 1945

Bad Orb

Dear Mom,
 

Received another letter from you today and was happy to hear that everything is okay. As for myself, I’m fine and getting along okay. But as far as the food, its pretty lousy most of the time, I guess it's because of the strike they had back in the States, whatever it was, I can sure feel it now.

I also received a letter from Agnes, she done alright for herself, hasn't she?

By the way, mom, if you are thinking of sending any packages, don't, as I think I won't be here to receive them. It looks like it won't be very long before I return to the States, I'm almost positive to be home sometime in the last two weeks of January or the first week of February.

II

What louzy weather we have had here now, the sun hasn't been out but a half-day in about a month. It was raining and snowing again this morning but it stopped inside of an hour. 

As yet I haven't heard any more from Jim or Bill. I suppose Jim has gone home. Have you heard anything of him?

Well Mom, that's about all I can think of so I'll have to close here. Give my love to the family and regards to all.

Take care. 

Love & XXXXX

Your son

Johnny

I'll be seeing you 

–– soon.–– 

–– I hope ––

At the end of my last post, I noted that one aircraft in Jack's last mission of November (Mission 235, his eighth) was lost. Two men were killed and seven others were taken as prisoners. 

Who were they? A snapshot: The mission that was his last was Pilot Frank Boettcher's seventh mission. Co-Pilot Edward Walota also perished. It was his sixth mission. 

Navigator Leonard Mitchell was flying his 34th mission that day he was taken prisoner. It's unusual to have people from other crews sub in, but perhaps their usual navigator, Gottfried Gorr, was sick (or went AWOL! – see below) and Lt. Mitchell subbed in. Undoubtedly he was getting close to shipping home with so many missions under his belt (Jack flew 38 missions total).

It was the rest of the crew's sixth mission: Bombardier Robert Francis; Top Turret gunner Buford Wilhoit;  Radio Operator Robert Wombold, who was injured in the incident, Right Waist Gunner Robert Jerois; Ball Turret Robert Westcott; and Tail Gunner Richard Cook. 

Eventually they all were liberated and sent home. 

Onward! 

Things are getting a little mixed up here, with the mail being so delayed. But I suppose letters were "recived" in similar chaos, so we forge ahead. 

I thought I had closed out November in my last post, as we had letters to Gram dated November 20 and one to Margaret on November 27. Here we pick up with letters to Gram and Bo dated November 21, 27, and 28 and postmarked December 1 and 2. His letter to Margaret is dated December 2 (no postmark).

November 21 1944

Here I go again trying to write you with nothing to write. 

I recived a letter from Nana, Nene & Florence yesterday but 2 of them were rather old. Maybe some day the mail will start to come through. There has been a lot of packages of late but not a whole lot of mail.

I went into town last night and took a stage show in. It was pretty good all in all. I couldn't understand a lot of it, this English gets me. I went to a movie here on the base tonight, it was pretty good considering it was a English picture. 

I haven't heard from any one of late, I have been expecting some mail from you but as usual I'll hope I get some tomorrow. 

Bo seems to like her job all right evey time she writes she say she likes it. She is always telling some incident the kids pull on her. She was rather happy about her raise in pay. Don't write and tell her I make more than she does because she may not like it. Figure it up for your self-- including what you get I do make a little more than she but I also spend a little more

Well I'll close for now. 

Jack. 

November 27 1944

Dear Ma

I finally recived a letter from you and nearly fell over dead. I thought you had either forgotten how to write or may be found a new beau.

That clipping you sent me about Fred Turner, I think it's the same kid I use to know it sure looks like him. 

I got a letter from Bo the other day but haven't gotten around to answering it yet. I'll have to do that about tomorrow or she will began to wonder. She didn't write much, I guess theres not much for her to write about. I suppose she does about the same as I do – nothing. 

So Little Jim thinks he is stuck for 5 or 6 more months. I'll bet Nene hates that. I know I would if I were her. Oh well he's safe enough where he is so tell her not to worry about him.

It seems Neva is doing all right in school this year. I just hope she continues to do so. Say what did her aviator pal ever do. Is he going to come there to see her or just what. 

II

Jimmy & I had a 48 hour pass so we rode in to town to day. It was a pretty good ride about 30 miles round trip. I don't mean on the bus but by bike, I am sorta sore tonight. I guess I am just getting old or some thing. 

It has turned off a little colder of late. It has been freezing at night. The sun was out to day but it didn't warm up a whole lot if any at least I didn't notice it. 

Perez seems to be in a little trouble, he has been messing around of late and they caught up with him the other day. He was A.W.O.L for a couple of days and it happened we flew both days so it will be pretty rough on him. I don't know what they will do with him but will probably throw the book at him. The adj (the Jew) likes to make it rough on such people and evey one else for that matter. 

I hope Jims pen hurry up and gets here I hate to try to write with this pen it's hard enough with a good one.

I'll close for now so write soon

Jack. 

Looks like Fred Turner got married the previous October! Congratulations, Fred and Jean! From the Albuquerque Journal, November 7, 1944.

Perez did indeed miss missions on November 25 and 26. I wonder if he went AWOL with Navigator Garr from the 511th. I hope we'll hear what consequences Perez got from the adjutant! 

Next Jack writes to his sister Bo (Florence):

November 28 1944

Dear Bo

I guess I'll drop you a line - it may not get there befor you go home but I'll take a chanch. 

I haven't been doing much just the same old run nothing new. I am suppose to be on a 48 hour pass but being broke I didn't go any place. It meant I wouldn't have to fly for a couple of days.

It has been a little colder the last few days. The sun came out yesterday but it didn't warm up very much if any. I guess winter is here to stay. It has been raining quite a bit of late too.

I got a letter from my old friend Louie today, it's the first I have heard from him in quiet some time. He didn't write much as usual just dropped me a few lines to say he was ok.

Say about that cash I'm going to send you. I'll send it home so you will be able to get it there. If I send it to Roy you probably wouldn't get it until you got back. I'll send it later this week – shortly after pay day. I haven't figured out how much it will be but probably around $50.

That Neva seems to be doing ok. in school this year doesn't she. I just wish I could have said the same about my older sisters. They were just too dumb to learn thats the only way I could figure it out. Lets not have any cracks about that now. 

Jimmy told me to tell you not to be so hard on the little mexicans, they may ship you over seas into combat. 

I just can't think of any thing to write theres a lot I could tell you but it probably would get by the censors anyway. Say have any my letters ever been cut out or do they get there complete. 

Well I'll close for now so write soon

Jack. 

$50 then would be about $790 today. 

Roy is the name of the town Bo was living and teaching in, not a person. 

He writes to Margaret a few days later. Looks like he finally got Jim's pen, or at least new ink. 

Dec. 2, 1944

Dear Margaret

Here I go again writing and not having a letter to answer. 

I got the pictures, we took in Alb., today and I think they are darn good. I didn't think I could take that good of pictures, I guess it was just an accident. Evey one wants to know what that picture of the tree is in there for so I have to tell them you are gun shy. No kidding though I think they are swell.

Ma sent a bunch of pictures we took at Ardmore and they came out darn good too. I got pictures of the whole crew in there natural positions – asleep. Theres one where the Bombadier, Navigator, Copilot and Jimmy are asleep in the waist. I also have one of the Pilot laying down, he didn't believe it but I have the proof. I have several darn good ones of the little River Rat called Jimmy.

We have been doing the same old usual nothing but I love it. We did have to get up for breakfast this morning because of inspection. Its hard of me to get up that early (7:30) but I guess I can stand it once a week. The bad part of it was no one came through the barracks to inspect.

II

I guess I'll have to unwind the old camera and start taking some pictures befor long. I did miss a good day today but it wasn't my fault. The sun was out but so were the boys. I couldn't round them all up so I gave up as bad debt.

Well Ill close for now so write soon

Love 

Bill

It's hard to reconcile the Jack who thinks 7:30 is too early to get up with the Jack I knew. Later in life, his day was half over by 7:30am!

I sure wish we had those photos.... 

....BUT WAIT! I do!

And it looks like this one of Jack was from the same roll. It is the same size and the same paper as the one above, as well as similar penciled number notation on the back. It was probably taken in Albuquerque too. 

I know that I've run across photos of Jack and his comrades during wartime through the years. I can't put my mind on where they might be right now. If my siblings have them or know where they are, let me know!