Jan 3-5, 1945

Jan 3 1944 [he means 1945]

Dear Ma

I'll drop you a short line to night but as usual I don't know what I'll beat my brains out about.

I didn't write last night because I was rather tired, tonight I just don't have any thing to write about. 

I checked out a armor today – because I had to to get Staff. It will raise my spec. no. one point. It doesn't mean any thing though just another one of those things. 

Oh yes I got ate out by a 1st Lt. to day for riding a bike on a run way. I don't know what the out come will be I may get busted for it. It seems they have a habit of busting people for such things. I'll just take so much and from then on I'll tell them to jam the whole works up and give me permant K.P. I sure am not going to lose any sleep over it. 

It started to rain to day and did a pretty good job of it for a change. It is the first time it has rained in some time. I sure hope it doesn't keep it up. I would rather have it a little cold than have it wet. 

I guess I'll wait till after my next pay day to send you the money. You see one of the fellows got a 7 day and needed some cash.

I didn't get any letters again today but there was some mail come for a change. Say why don't you drop me a Vmail once in a while they seem to come in a little better than the other. I don't mean by that to send nothing but Vmail though.

Well I am run down for tonight so will close

Jack. 

Jan 3 1945

Dear Margaret

Well here it is a new year and me in the same old grind. I still haven't been able to figure out what happened to last year, it slipped in and out on me rather fast. 

I didn't do any thing to celebrate the New Year but sleep. Some of the boys made up for all I didn't do though. I was so tired the 31st I could hardly make the bed & then at 12 they came and wake me up. buddy. Maybe next year I'll be able to throw a good one. 

I got sort of ate out today from a 1st Lt for ridding on a runway today. He didn't seem to like the idea of me getting out and risking my neck on a runway. Of course nothing has been said about me risking it flying combat. I guess he hasn't been informed of the fact that they shoot flak at us. Oh well they can't (or won't) do any more than bust me and if they do I am liable to make a good K.P. 

Things have been running, more or less, as usual. Theres not a whole lot happened of late. 

Oh did I tell you I have passed the 1/2 way mark now. Infact I am a little over so I have done all right so far. I just hope I can keep it up. 

I haven't recived any mail from you or any one else of late. How bout it your arm isn't broke is it? If it is I'll let it go but if not try any way. 

Well I'll close for now and get some sleep because I'll probably be needing it.

Love Bill

P.S. I just addressed the envelope & there was a big explosion - you should have heard it and seen the guys jump. 

Jan 4 1945

Dear Margaret.

Here I go again trying to write. You see I recived a letter from you today so I won't let it be said I didn't answer a letter. Some times it takes some time but that doesn't count. 

So you got Beat out of your trip to El Paso. You should have gone any way if not just for a vacation, I know if I had my bags packed and planed on going some place I would go. (except over the hill).

Things went pretty good today all I had to do was attend a movie. I slept until darn near time to eat dinner and then decided to get up. I know it's hard on me to sleep so late but o how I like it. 

II

It turned off rather nice this afternoon but it turned off miseable tonight. I started to snow and thats no good. I don't suppose it will snow much but just enough to mess up things

You ask about the dog we had, some one must have made off with it. I haven't seen it for some time. It didn't make me mad though. We do have another cute one around the mess hall. It goes around in the mess hall begging until it's so full it can hardly walk. 

I am getting rather fed up with this place, nothing has come out about me getting Staff. I thought I would get it befor this but it hasn't come through. I guess they have forgotten about me. 

I still haven't heard anything about the incident that happend yesterday on the run way so maybe nothing will be said (I hope.)

III

I blew my top again today – I was eating some hard candy and cracked a tooth. It broke down to the filling so now I guess I'll have to go up and have the old filling drilled out and a new one put in. I sure love to think about it, it takes the top of my head off evey time. 

I got a bunch of letter to day from almost evey one. The ones from Ma had some color neg I took while in Ardmore and have. I haven't got a projector to see them but they look pretty good. 

Well I better close now so write soon

Love Bill 

He's undoubedly using the lunch meaning of the word "dinner" here. Even then, I still can't believe this is the same Jack who had a habit of getting up at 4am (or earlier!) as long as I knew him. 

Jan 5 1945

Dear Ma

Well seeing how I recived a big bunch of mail I'll try to answer it. Of course I recived a few letters from you in the bunch, a couple from Bo, one from Nene and one from Glady and one from Maggie. 

I guess I have recived all the neg by now that is all you have sent. I though they are as a whole pretty good. I think they are darn good figuring who took them and all that stuff. 

So you will give Jim the message for me. I don't know why you can't find it because its big enough. Try looking over in the eastern part of the room. It should be on the center shelf. 

The weather turned off rather nice today – the sun was even out. I didn't spend a whole lot of time out side though too cold for me. Maybe next summer it will warm up some, but I hope I am not here to enjoy it. 

Say I think I'll send a box of stuff home one of these days. It probably won't be for a couple of weeks though. It will be cloths and such that I don't want now but will when I get home. I'll let you know if and when I do. 

II 

That Bo she must have quite the time teaching. I really think she make a game of it. As long as she likes it thats all that counts. I wish I could find something that I liked that well. 

So Neva sort of lost interest in her Navy flier. Oh well maybe she will listen to what I have always said about the Navy. Now you take "Little Jim," he's not in the navy and see how evey one likes him. 

Well it seems like they are doing o.k. on the western front now. They haven't got them licked but they do have them stopped. I hope they start forward again soon. 

You can tell that Neva that No her bro hasn't gotten any more medals and can't get any more. (Not any I want any way) And you can write and tell Uncle Wayne if he wants the medals I'll gladly trade him places and he can have mine. At least they don't shoot at him and such as that. 

I was eating some hard candy this AM and chipped a tooth. It was one I had filled in Ardmore. It chipped it down to the filling so now I suppose I'll have to go up and have it ground out and refilled. I sure hate to think of it because they are liable to ground me and the would make me behind the rest of the crew. 

I haven't heard any thing of the incident that happened yesterday so maybe I won't. I hope. 

Well I am about run down so maybe I should close for now. 

Jack.

Sorry, folks. No apparent answer from Margaret. Remember that the mail seems to be taking about two weeks each way. He mailed his proposal on December 10, less than a month ago. We just have to wait a little longer!

The War:

The Battle of the Bulge continues, the battle is about halfway done. 

Since the new year, Jack has flown three missions. 

Mission 253 on January 2, 1945 targeted the railroad junction south of Cologne, Germany. Secondary targets were marshaling yards in the same area. They encountered "meager to moderate, scattered, and inaccurate" flak.  No aircraft were lost, though one aircraft landed safely in Belgium after engine failure. It was an early run, with call to breakfast for the enlisted men at 0330; take off at 0745.

The men had breakfast at 0400 on January 3 for Mission 254, which targeted the Koblenz area again. No loss of aircraft; again meager and inaccurate flak. Notes on the mission included this: "A/C J-978: F/O [Flight Officer] Eaton flew practice mission last night - landed at 10:30 P.M. and then had to fly mission today.  -F/O Eaton." As you recall, F/O Eaton is Jack's crew's navigator. 

This was also in the notes:

A/C# 43-38070   DS-G  Pilot: Lt. Murray  A/C's 42nd Mission   Pilot's 1st Mission

Circumstances:

Aircraft 43-38070 was reported missing after the mission of 5 Jan. 1945. The aircraft was last seen shortly after bombs away with one engine feathered and slowly losing altitude. The Operations Narrative reports that "its crew has since been reported as safe on the continent; further details are lacking." The crew returned to Polebrook and flew another mission on 14 Jan. 1945. The plane, after engine repairs, was returned to Polebrook and flew on mission 288, March 8, 1945.

Goodness! The pilot's first mission, and he experienced this!  He went on to fly 31 more missions. 

Mission 255 on January 5, 1945: The bombers bombed the secondary target, a road bridge at Bonn, Germany. Targets continue to be here in this corridor, between Cologne and Koblenz along the Rhine River. They encountered no enemy opposition, though they did possibly see two V2 contrails. Everybody returned to the airfield safe. 

Happy New Year 1945!

 

Jan 1 1945

Dear Ma

Here it is another year gone by and me I still haven't got much to show for. In fact I haven't even earned enough to file income tax. Well may be next year at this time I'll be in a little better place.

Say if you can take that air medal and have my Name – England – 1944-45 engraved on the back of it. I don't know if you can have it done there or not but am hoping. 

I really started the New year off right, was asleep when it came in and got up at 9 to wash cloths. I washed a pair of OD pants and my flying jacket. I also washed some long johns so I did pretty good. 

I got paid yesterday, after I got back, so will try to send you some money in the next 2 weeks. I can't decide weather I should send you some now & some the 10 or just wait until the 10 & send it all at once. 

I guess thats what you would say having more mony than you know what to do with. I won't let it get me down worring about it. 

Well I should be getting another cluster on my air medal that will make 2. At least when they look at it now they won't say rookie. 

It is still rather chilly around here but not quite as cold as it was. To tell the truth I don't think it has rained in the last week or so. 

I haven't recived any mial for a couple of days but no one has so its just not comming in.

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

Jack. 

Gram did get the Air Medal engraved; here is the back.

According to Wikipedia, the medal was awarded after five missions, and oak leaf clusters signified an additional award:

Air Medal [Army] (1944–1968)

The United States Army used the same criteria as the Air Force. Oak leaf clusters were awarded on the Air Medal's ribbon for additional awards – Bronze OLCs for every additional award and Silver OLCs for every five additional awards. Extra ribbons were worn to hold extra OLCs if the recipient had earned more than four OLCs.

One award was credited per every 25 hours of combat assault flights (any flight in which the aircraft was directly involved in combat), 50 hours of combat support flights (Visual Reconnaissance or Resupply), or 100 hours of non-combat service flights (Administrative or VIP flights). Flight hours were calculated in six-minute blocks.

In 1968 numerals replaced the oak leaf clusters to simplify their display.

Here are Jack's ribbons with the oak leaf clusters. 

Let's see.... six clusters plus the original medal equals seven awards. 35 missions? Yup; he actually completed 38. I bet he wasn't too mad he didn't complete enough for another cluster. 

Jan 1 1945

Dear Bo,

Here I go writing you a letter but not because I want too. Its just to get this off my chest while I am thinking about tit. 

About your income tax, you will have to file this year. If you claim 50%, I think, you can get 100% deduction on Ma & Nene. That way I can claim 50% and still get the allment for them. I am not quite sure I am right about this but think so. If you have to claim over 50% just go a head and will hope they don't catch up with us. If you do as I say it shouldn't cost you any thing.

Say did you ever get that 50 I sent to you. I haven't heard yet but it's still too early for a letter back from you.

I haven't done any thing new of late just the same old routine. 

I should be getting a 7 day furlough in an other month or so. I haven't figured out just what I'll do but will probably go to a flak home, in other words a rest home. I would like to go to Scotland but it will probably be too cold up there. 

Well I am now 1/2 way through with my tour. At the rate I am going I should be finished up in 2 more months. 

Well I'll close for now so write as usual.

Jack. 

A flak house is indeed a resting house, for service members to let loose, relax, and get a little respite from the war. Here's a story about a flak house written by member of the Mighty Eighth.

No missions to report on today.  

Sorry; his correspondence with Margaret is less frequent than that to his Ma. More coming soon....

Closing out 1944

Two letters and three missions bring 1944 to an end. 

Here is something interesting. Again, due to the postmark it's a little out of synch. Written on December 27, 1944, it was postmarked January 4, 1945.

It is a non-photographed Vmail! It's an 8½ x 11 sheet. Usually after it gets photographed and mailed, it arrives as a small 4 x 6 sheet. This one came intact.

I've scanned the front and back. 

Dec 27, 1944

Dear Ma

Well lets see if this will beat the rest of the letters I have written you in the last few days. I got all your letters out last night and started reading them according to the dates and they seem to make a little more sense. You see they don't get here in the order you write them, I don't suppose mine get there any better. I never got any mail yesterday or today but maybe the Xmas rush is over and it will start comming in. Did I tell you I got the first 3 neg. you sent but haven't recived the rest as of yet. Well I have run out of space so will sign off so write soon  Jack. 

Dec 29 1944

Dear Ma

Here I go trying to ruin your eyes again. I'll bet you think some thing wrong with me writing so often of late. Its just that I am trying to catch up on the letters I have recived from you. I got a letter from Neva to day but no more.

You know I think I'll try to see If I can't look up Bob C on my next 48. I don't know if it can be done but I think I'll try. From the clippings you sent Leland Perry is stationed at the same base so I'll be able to kill 2 birds with 2 stones. Note the 2 stones. 

I don't belive I need anymore stationary with that you sent in the first box and then that in the Xmas package. I also got some from Maggie so I'll have to write like mad to use it all up but I'll try my best. 

I had to wash those socks you sent me to day, one pair was so bad I had to tie it down. I had to wear them for a week and did they stink. It was pretty hard to get them as white as I did but at least they don't stink. 

I also have to start shining shoes tonight, because tomorrow is inspection day. It makes me so mad to have to get up and make my bed and shine shoes. I guess you have to do such things in the army though. 

You say most of the fellows will be shiped from there. I'll bet they wish they could stay there too. As bad as I would hate to be stationed at a place like that I'd take it now. At least you can do down and get a steak or malt once in a while. You also can get a drink of hard whiskey. You don't have to wash your own cloths and such as that. I guess none of us know how well off we are until we have it rough. 

Say thanks for all the stuff you sent including the cigarettes. I was running a little low but that helped out. I suppose we will be getting more soon. How much talking did it take to get them I'll bet you found some batchler. 

Well Kale, for sure, turned me in for the rocker today. I thought he had done so sooner but he hadn't seen the major. I don't know how long it takes but I should have it with in a few days. (I hope) When I get it that will all Ill be able to get. The radio & eng. get Tech but thats all. Ohwell I will probably be able to live with just the one down [?]. I'll close for Now so write soon. 

Jack. 

Here are the rank insignia he is describing:

Jack flew three missions here at the end of December. 

Mission 248 on December 28 hit railroad marshaling yards, again near Koblenz, in the area near the Belgium and Luxembourg borders, so I presume this was part of the Battle of the Bulge. No aircraft were lost. They had no encounters with enemy aircraft or flak. 

Here are a few notes from the crews:

Combat Crew Comments:

    508th Squadron:

A/C Q-799: Flew too low above the water on the way back. - Lt. Galloway.

A/C O-277: Do not want British rations; would rather have chocolate bars. - Lt. Zimmerman.

    510th Squadron:

A/C S-512: Somebody shot a .50 caliber into our No. 4 engine that could have hit one of the crew. - Lt. Miller

    511th Squadron:

A/C H-592: Announce control points and mickey winds over VHF. - Lt. Edelman.

A/C G-070: Suggest handles be put on the boxes holding the flak suits. - F/O Lesch

  [Signed:] Robert P. Ramsey, Major, Air Corps, Group S-2 [Intelligence].

Mission 249 on December 30 bombed a railroad overpass at Kaiserslautern, about 85 miles south of Koblenz.  Another successful mission, with no enemy aircraft or flak encountered. I'm counting "success" as without loss of life. Not sure if the bombs hit their intended targets. Bridges were tiny targets and hard to hit. 

Mission 250, on New Year's Eve, targeted railroad marshaling yards near Krefeld-Uerdingen, Germany, on the Rhine and near the border with the Netherlands. No aircraft were lost, but they did encounter some flak. 

Dec 26-28 and Dec 16, 1944

As you recall, originally all I had was the cache of Jack's letters to his mother. They were all still in their envelopes, with the exception of some of the Vmail. When I organized them, I ordered them in order of their postmark and posted them in that order. Margaret's letters were without the envelopes, so when I brought those in, I started putting them all in order by the date written. But today, we have a delayed Vmail due to the postmark being wildly off. C'est la mail. 

Dec 26 1944

Dear Ma

Here I go trying again to write you so you will get some mail. I guess it's more just getting the envelope than the letter because I never write much. What I do write no one can read so it doesn't make a whole lot of difference.

It has gotten colder to day infact it's quite chilly out. I belive it is as cold as it has ever been since we got here. I sure hope it decides to warm up soon if not sooner. The water on the ground has been frozen all day so you can see it hasn't been too warm. 

You ask me about my first mission, no I wasn't scared. I was trying to see what was going on and didn't want to miss a thing. I seems though things have changed some of late, in fact it is just the opposite now. I almost have to wash my underwear after each one. Maybe I ought to get off that subject. 

Well I jumped Kale (the pilot) about Staff today so if he turned me in I should have it with in the next few days. I sure hope I get it soon because it means about a dollar a day or more and I belive I can use it. I guess I shouldn't kick too much though I haven't one too bad as far as ratings go. 

You ask about the cigaretts, no I don't need them. We have been cut to 5 packs a week but I can get a couple of extra packs from one of the boys if I run out. Maybe I can cut out smoking or cut down would probably be more like it. Did I tell you I had to smoke English cigarettes for a week not because I didn't have any but just couldn't get too what I had. Those English cigarettes darn near killed me but I lived through it.

I haven't been riding my bike much of late, infact I think I'll sell it. I am not sure I still have it though tonight it disappeared but one of the guys probably took it to the show or some place I hope. 

I did get up and wash some cloths this AM but I didn't get them very white. I guess I'll have to send them to the laundry to get them white again. 

Oh yess you ask about ODs – yes we wear them and we have no cleaning facatillicty for them. We use to wash them in avation gas but they made us stop so I guess we will have to wash them out in soap an water. Oh well we can get new issue when we get back to the states. 

Well I'll close for now

Jack. 

Jack told me that the tobacco companies got service members addicted by providing free cigarettes to each. Jack told stories of smoking during missions and that he had to use his oxygen mask to light them while at altitude! 

I suppose he was already addicted when he went over, but Jack came back quite the smoker. He smoked heavily until the mid-1960s and then quit cold turkey when the surgeon general made it clear how truly hazardous smoking was. Not sure if his earlier habit contributed to his death, but it is likely. He suffered a stroke in his 50s and a severe stroke that killed him just before he turned 80. If you smoke, quit today. Keep trying.

Dec 26 1944

Dear Margaret.

Here I go again trying to ruin your eyes and nerves trying to read my writing. 

I had a big day to day. slept until 9 and then decided to get up. The only reason I got up was because the sack was so cold I couldn't sleep any more. I have gotten so I can't sleep when cold but never put me where its warm or Ill drop off evey time. 

I have a hard time trying to keep a wake while flying. I usually turn my heated suit up a little too much and then get sleepy. I have almost gone to sleep a couple of times while on the bomb run, but when the flak starts up I usually come to but quick. 

I use to think that flak was pretty but I soon changed that idea of it. Evey time I see it now I just set there and pray. It is rather pretty when its way off and you see the black puffs against the white clouds but then it starts getting nearer. The difference between us and the ground forces is they can dig in but all we can do is just set there and hope and pray. After a while it seems to get even the best of them. Oh well it (the war) can't last forever although it seems the ground forces are having it pretty tough of late. 

It has been nice and cold again to day, it never did get above freezing I dont think. I know the ground never did thaw out. 

Say how is your Bro in Italy doing now. You haven't said any thing about him so I was wondering. 

Well I'll close for now so please write soon

Love 

Bill

Ooooh! I wonder where Uncle Pat's letters to Mom ended up? It would be very cool to read his experience. 

Here is a training video about flak. Perhaps Jack viewed this very film during his training.

And here is a CGI version, which gives you an idea of how vulnerable the ball turret was. 

Dec 28 [27?] 1944

Dear Ma

I suppose I should drop you a line to let you know I recived some letters from you and also the package. I also got a card letter combination from the Folks, Krohns, and our Indiana cousins. Your letters were the ones with the neg in it. Some of them looked pretty good but we haven't run down a projector so wouldn't say too much about them. 

Well it seems as though the mail has at last started to come through some. I know the rest of the fellows have been getting some as well as my self. I hope it gets so you can write a letter and get a answer befor you forgot just what you wrote in the first place. 

So you really think the air medal is some thing I still hate to disapoint you but It still doesn't mean any thing. 

Say I think I am going to have some needle work for you one of these days if I can get around to doing what I want, or should I say have it done. 

You folks talk about it being cold all right I'll tell one now. I'll bet you never have seen it -57º C and I have. I guess thats enough said. Webster said to say also I had on a heated suit but I'll bet Nene would look cute in heated pants. 

I am so tired I can't seem to be able to think to write. I was going to put it off till tomorrow but probably would put it off again. 

You can tell Wayne maybe – if things go like I think they will and hope they will I'll beat him home. I hope to be home befor my next birthday. 

Did I tell you Kale made 1st this last week.

Well I'll close for now & try again tomorrow. 

Love 

Jack. 

Jack's next birthday would be May 23, 1945, just five months hence. 

Now the wayward Vmail to Bo. Postmarked Dec 31, 1944, it was written on Dec 16.

Dec 16 1944.

Dear Bo

I guess I ought to write you a letter even though I haven't recived any from you for a while. I won't blame you until later may be you have written me and I just haven't gotten them. I did get one from you today but it was only dated Oct 15 so that doesn't count. 

I hope you got the money order befor Xmas but if you aren't getting the mail any better than I it will be in time for Next Xmas. I suppose you will get this some time after Xmas vacation.

I haven't done much of late. I did go to London the other day but didn't do a whole lot. We (the Navigator Eaton) just took in a couple movies and thats about all. I got the pictures I took in London the other time but they aren't too good. I am sending them home so you can see them there. 

Will close now Jack. 

No missions to report today.

Christmas Day, 1944

We don't have any letters since December 18 until today, Christmas Day, 1944. Jack had not been idle, however, as we shall see!

Dec 25 1944

Dear Ma

Well here it is Xmas and I am so tired I don't know what to do. It is a very poor Day – fog and etc, for a holiday. It is also cold out infact it is about 5º below freezing. I had to ride a truck a bout 60 miles this AM and when I finally got here I was about froze.

I got a bunch of letters today from almost evey one – including you. I got one, set down for this one, from Geog. E. Goodwin, Bo, Nene, and a couple of Xmas cards from you and the kids. You see I haven't been here for a few days to get any mail so it had a chanch to pile up. I also got a package from Maggie, I feel like kicking my self for not sending her some thing. It (Xmas) just slipped up on me befor I had a chanch to think about it.

You know I can't tell you where or what part of England I am in so I won't even try. You remarked about seeing some of the churches over here. I have seen some and they really are some thing, maybe I can get some pictures of them later on, that is if the sun is out when I get a pass. 

The houses have straw roofs and look like they are very old. I have seen some castles from the air and they are some thing to look at. The pictures you have seen pretty well cover most of it. 

I did visit a old town last week, it is Bath, it was very interesting. Evey thing is so old and such. They had a lot of whiskey too. I guess the Romans were there or some thing – it looks that old. They have a hot springs bath there. I also saw some old bomb damage while there. 

I haven't see that stork yet but will keep looking for him. Maybe next time he will bring me a bro next time. 

Well it looks to me as if Elder E is a little over rated at that. Its just too too bad he didn't get a chanch to go O.C.S. I really feel for him but can't quite reach him. I belive I have seen evey thing he has and then some. Of course don't get me wrong I would just as soon trade him places. 

I still haven't seen any of Dads relation but some of the fellows have seen some of theres. I don't think Ill look them up because they wouldn't know me from Adam. There wouldn't be any thing in common any more any way.

I sure wish I were there to get some of that steak it sounds good to me. Just wait until I get back to the states and see the steak I eat then. 

I am glad the kids are doing o.k. in school, just make them keep it up. 

Well I'll close for now so hope you are getting these letters befor they are too old. 

Jack

You ask who the crew is Kale – pilot Rohr – co-p. Eaton nav. Perez. radio; McGarry – Eng. Jim – Waist, Webster Tail. 

Jack did love his steak through his life! I don't eat it any more, but when I was a kid he was thrilled that I loved steak, rare, and that I would eat a bunch. 

OCS is Officer Candidate School.

I remember Jack talking about his RnR weekends in Bath. I think he had a more lively time than he lets on in this letter to Gram.

Next a Christmas letter to Bo:

Dec 25 1944

Dear Bo

I hope you are back teaching by the time you get this. I suppose you will almost have forgotten about Xmas by this time. I have had a very poor xmas but I didn't expect a whole lot either. It has been a miserable day as should be expected. I also had to ride a GI truck about 60 miles and nearly froze. When I did get here I cleaned up and shaved the first time in a week.

I guess you did ok on the Xmas gifts but you never told me the cost of it rather than I hope I sent enough money to help cover it any way. I am glad you did what you did, I know there were or use to be a lot of things I wanted but never got but such is life and I can't kick too much. 

I supposed you had a big party for the kids I remember how I use to think those partys were the real thing. 

I wouldn't worry too much about not teaching the kids too much – remember you didn't take them to raize. Any way next year, the next teacher will have to worry about them and you will have a new bunch. 

We had a nice dinner this evening so it helped things out. Its the best meal I have had for some time. 

I don't know what's wrong with me tonight but I am so mean I can even get along with myself. 

Well I have enough missions in now to be turned in for Staff so will have to jump my pilot the first time I see him. You see it means about $30 a month more and that ain't hay. The more money the better is what I always say. 

I don't think I'll have to worry to much about your Bombadier friend looking me up but if he does I'll put in a good word for you. I suppose he is darn near finished by now at least he should be. 

Oh yes I recived a letter from our Dear uncle George today. I didn't belive it either but it was in writing. 

Well I'll close for now so becareful and don't catch anything unless it has hock value.

Jack.

Jack has flown 16 missions, which according to him, qualifies him for the rank of Staff Sergeant. The $30 extra pay per month that comes with a promotion would be equal to about $473 today. That certainly ain't hay. 

And finally, a Christmas card and letter to Margaret. The way the letter is folded tells me it was tucked inside the card.

Dec 25 1944

Dear Margaret.

It seems as though I owe you a letter, having recived one from you a week ago. Now don't look that way, it was very impractical for me to try to answer it. You see I have been on the jump so much the last week that I haven't been able to write anyone. 

So our "Dear Mal" stopped over to see you. It sure surprised me, because no one seemed to know where she was any more. I have written Wayne about her but he never has written me since comming over. May be some day she will catch on about how Wayne feels about her.

I really went on a good drunk the other night. We were visiting a town by the name of Bath. There weren't any GIs in town so we really had the run. The whole crew, except 2, went in together and the last I knew I was in a Pub. We started drinking about 6pm and by 9 I could almost stand up. I haven't been so drunk in well over a year and I guess it will keep me for another year. 

The fellows had to tell me the next day what we did I just couldn't seem to remember it all. It was the first time since we have been in England that we could even attempt to buy whiskey so we really made the best of it. I remember once I was out side a Pub and some English soldier would push me against the wall evey time I started to fall. I just couldn't seem to stand up for some unknow reason. We even had the Pilot drunk which is really something. 

We were quite a sight, we were in our flying cloths and thats all. Evey time we would go in a place the peope would sure give us the once over. 

It has been cold here of late and me I almost froze to death. It seemed I just couldn't get enough cloths on. It really has been a miserable day for Christmas. 

So you don't think too much of the picture, well I disagree with you. Infact I think they are pretty good, Ma thinks so too so you might as well stop we have you outnumbered. 

You ask about the Pictures I took in London I'll tell you the truth they weren't very good. I am going to try to go back down and get some better ones. I only got 13 out of the 36 but it was cloudy and it was trying to rain. 

Say I want to thank you for the box you sent me. I was very glad to get it so thanks again.

Boy heres where some one ought to really kick me or some thing. I am very sorry that I didn't send you something but Christmas came up on me so fast I forgot it was so near until too late. If you will give me a idea I'll try to get you some thing. 

Did I tell you the last time I was in London I heard a V-2 buss bomb explode. It was quite a ways off but even then shook the windows.

Well I'll close for Now so write soon

Love Bill

Aha! Here's the truth about Bath! I knew it! When I was there a few years ago, I raised a pint to him. Here is my visit to Bath in 2012. I wonder if he got to partake of the waters? Of course, these days they don't allow people to touch the water. 

Bath is about 140 miles from Polebrook. 

The crew flew two missions during the week.

You may recall that the Battle of the Bulge was being fought during this period (December 16, 1944 through January 25, 1945). I remember Jack talking about flying missions as part of the greater Battle. I am not sure which of his missions were part of it, but if I can discern from the information I have, I will share it. 

Mission 245 was flown on December 19, 1944. Enemy positions along the rail line near Kall and Koblenz, Germany were targeted. The mission was successful, and no B-17s were lost or damaged. There were no enemy aircraft encountered and no flak. The targeted area is not far from the modern Belgian border, so it may be that this was part of the Battle of the Bulge. Indeed  Roger A. Freeman in The Mighty Eighth War Diary notes: "tactical targets in the Luxembourg, Ehrang and Koblenz area with the purpose of impeding the German counter offence launched in the Ardennes on 16 December." Some B-24s that were part of the mission in the other group were lost (11 killed).

Here's their flight map. Image from 351st.com.

Mission 246 was flown on Christmas Eve, 1944. This was a huge mission, with over 2000 bombers and 853 fighters dispatched. The 351st (Jack's group) was the spoofing force. Spoofing is using a small-ish number of aircraft while jamming the enemy's radar, causing a large echo, which creates an illusion that there are numerous aircraft. This can draw attention away from the "real" attackers. The spoofing force, of which Jack's aircraft was one, flew as usual but then diverted and landed at Ridgewell, UK shortly after 1700 hours. Ridgewell is, indeed, about 60 miles away from Polebrook. Thus the freezing cold truck ride back to base on Christmas morning. It was probably the most unremarkable mission of Jack's career. I wonder if he even knew the true nature of the mission at the time. 

You can read about spoofing done during D-Day here. Different kinds of deception created "ghost armies" on the ground, too. 

Thanks for reading!

December 16-18 1944

 A special guest appearance! A VMail to his little sisters, Herbie and Nene (aka Neva and Anita)! 

Dec 16 1944

Dear Neva & Anita,

I ought to get busy and write you kids a letter so I can get some more from you.

I got a couple of letters from little Jim so will have to answer them soon. He didn't write much of course he doesn't love me, just wants to keep in good with the family.

I guess, from what you and Ma write, you kids are doing ok in your school work. May be I should say that about the men folk too. I want you to be good and not forget little Jim also the navy [?].

Ma wrote saying I got some pretty good pictures on the color film, I sure hope they get here soon. Maybe they will about the time we get ready to leave here to come home.

Well answer soon

Jack. 

Dec 17 1944

Dear Ma

Seeing how I recived some old Vmail from you and the Kids I'll try to answer it. When I say old I mean old it was dated from Oct 15-18. Its meant letters so I was happy to get them even then. 

It warmed up some last night infact quit a bit. I hope it stays this way a while longer.

Say not reciving any mail from you I don't know if you are reciving mine. Thats the big reason for writing Vmail this time. I thought maybe the air mail wasn't getting through so am hoping this will. I wrote you a short letter yesterday and put a cuple of pictures in it so we will see which gets there first. 

There was another big bunch of pacages came in to day but none for me. 

Well will close now

Jack. 

This next one was so delicate. It's on thin typing paper and his pen was quite short of ink. His letters are difficult to decipher on the best of days! 

Dec 17 1944

Dear Ma

I will proceed to write and tell you I recived a package from you today. It was one that was addressed to my old A.P.O. it was the one that had the candy & cookies in. Thanks a lot for sending it. 

I recived 2 letters from Little Jim, one yesterday and one today. He propably wrote you evey thing he wrote me and then some. I'll have to get busy and answer them tonight. 

I went back to London yesterday, you see I had a 48 hour pass. I didn't do much of any thing while there just killed time. We took in a couple of movies but they weren't any thing to brag about. We did here a buzz bomb go off, but it sounded quite a ways off. 

I got the pictures we took while in London the last time but they aren't too good. It wasn't very good weater to take pictures in and then we were taking them out of the back of a taxi. I'll put them in a envelope and mail them to you.

I guess the mail will start comming in one of these days, no one seems to be getting much of any thing. I hope you are getting my mail a little better than I am getting yours. 

Well I cant think of any more to write so will close. 

Hope you got the money order Jack

The same day he writes to Margaret. As a reminder, in his last letter to her, written a week before, he popped the question! 

Dec 17 1944

Dear Margaret

I will try to write you a letter, but don't know how it will come out. It's so darn hard to write when I don't get any mail, also when I don't do any thing to write about. 

I went to London again the other day but didn't do any thing but take in a couple of movies. I can't even rember the names of them. We did hear a V-2 buzz bomb go off, but it must have been a couple of miles off, at least it didn't hit me. I started to jump but stoped to think I had heard it not felt it so went a head eating. I have gotten so when any thing make a sudden noise it scares me. 

It has been rather cold the last few days but did warm up some to day. I just wish it would warm up some more and then stay that way, but this is England. 

The boys have been having some pretty good black jack games of late. They have been playing all night keeping every one awake and then griping about us being in the barracks the next day. Oh well payday just comes twice a month. 

It seems they have stoped giving the D.F.C. the last few fellows that have finished haven't gotten it. I was hoping I could get it but I guess I can figure I wont get it. 

Well I guess I'll close for now so write soon

Love 

Bill

We get the first glimpse of his PTSD. I so wish it was recognized and treated back then. 

D.F.C, as you recall, is the Distinguished Flying Cross. 

Our final letter for now was written the next day: 

Dec 18, 1944

Dear Ma

Seeing how I recived 2 letters and a vmail from you to day I'll try to write you. I am pretty tired to night so if I don't make sense in places just over look it. 

I got the letter with the 3 neg. in it. I showed them to the fellows & they think they are all right. I haven't tried to get a projector to see them with but will in the next few days. I sure hope the rest of them get here soon but suppose it will be some time. 

I read in the paper a while back where some German prisoner escaped & was recaptured his last name was Kruse. I don't know how common the name is but I am not going to look him up either. 

I am sorry you got the wrong impression of the air medal – it just comes as a matter of course. When I finish my tour I should have 5 clusters on it, of course that means 1 silver.

About that other clipping you sent about the 17 flying wild. We had sort of the same experience but didn't bail out, it was funny after we got to thinking about it. Evey thing has been going swell though so don't you worry. 

About sending that clipping to the Blade – I suppose you just spun your wheels there. I made it out to be sent to the blade also.

Well I'll close for tonight will try to write again tomorrow

Jack.

The Blade is newspaper Toledo (Ohio) Blade, published since 1835. We'll never know what news they were sending (maybe about the air medal?), but Ohio is where a lot the Eutslers had settled and where they were still living. 

Kruse is a name most common in Germany, but is not one of the top 100 surnames there. 

Jack had not flown any missions in the week since the last letter I had shared. He did fly Mission 244 on December 18, the date of this letter, but bombs were not dropped due to cloud cover. No enemy air craft were encountered; no flak. "Evey" one returned to base safely. Swell.