Mid-January 1945

 

Jan 19 1945

Dear Ma

I'll try to write you a short note tonight. As usual theres nothing new to write so I'll just struggle along.

The weather has turend off a little better of late but it's still nothing to brag about. It has warmed up the last few days but it has taken a notion to rain some. 

I didn't get any mail today but I guess none came in. It usually comes in in bunches as you probably know by now. I imagine mine comes about the same to you. Oh well I just hope I won't be here too much longer. 

I still haven't heard from Wayne but I guess I won't either. I suppose his gal friend takes up too much of his time I'll get even with him some day though. If I get my furlogh  from N.Y.C I'll take and run down and see him and really jump him. 

Well I am run down so will close

Jack.

He writes again two days later, but both were postmarked 1/22/1945. He's running out of ink and these next couple were hard to decipher. It about ruined my eyes and I don't mean maybe. 

Jan 18 1945

Dea Ma

I'll try to drop you a line tonight. I got some mail today but none from you, how bout that. I did get a letter from Wayne, it seems he started about 2 or 3 months ago. Oh well better late than never. He didn't write much that you haven't all ready written me. He still doesn't like his job but who does. I got the letter from Johnson, he just wrote a bout what he was doing and etc. He is with a P.38 out fit in New Guinea. I guess he doesn't like it down there – no white women.

To day really has been miserable – it has been raining and the wind has been blowing like the devil. The wind has been blowing so hard I have stayed in the barracks all day. 

We had a big fight in the barracks last night. The boys had a beer party and came in late around midnight. They kept it up until around 2 and then quieted down so we got to sleep. It made me mad but it was also funny. They could hardly stand up let alone fight. I guess no one got hurt althoug a couple though they were. 

I got a letter from Bo but she blew on the same as usual . (Don't let her read that or she will blow up.) I really think she makes a game out of teaching school. 

I was going to write you last night but was so tired and sleepy I couldn't. I slept from about 5 PM until 8 PM and then got up for a couple hours and back to bed. The guys came in and really woke me up. 

Well I'll close for now

Jack

And a letter to Margaret.

Jan 19, 1945

Dear Margaret

It looks as if your arm isn't broken because I recived a letter from you. Don't stop now just keep it up.

I almost fell over today, I recived a letter from Wayne. It is the first I have gotten from him since I arrived in the E.T.O. He didn't say a whole lot though.  He did mention he hadn't written Mal nor did he intend to. I take he is slightly fed up with her. He still raves about his latest flame, I think it's the real thing this time. 

So you did't get home for Xmas, I was sorry to hear it. I'll bet if you would have tried you could have gotten there at that. 

Did I tell you I was afraid that I wouldn't get back here to the base for Xmas. We were a week running around England, first one field & then the next. Our field was weathered in while we were on a mission and we got back a week later. I came in Xmas day by truck. We were a sorry bunch, we didn't have a thing with us and couldn't get any thing. We smoked English cigaretts for that week. I didn't ge a chanch to shave or change cloths. By the way the English get 50¢ a pack for cigarettes and they darn near kill you to smoke them. 

So you can't figuar out if I am flying. Well I take by now you know I am flying – and how. Yes I have seen flak – too much to suit me. It about scares me to death when her I see it. 

I can't say where I have been as you so well know. I have been pretty well all over Germany.

You want to know what flak is like well it's little black puffs in the sky. Thats what it looks like but the damage looks different, you probably have seen some shows there they have flak.

Its about like the Pilot says the plane is just a 4 engin chapel while in flak.

No I havn't been riding my bike of late. I sold it, because the weather is so bad you can't ride much.

When the weather is nice we fly and when its bad we stand down. I was sorry I bought it because after the first few weeks I stopped. They fellows started to steal it too. They would pick the lock – that's until they broke it then they threw the whole works away. 

Say if you will write to Ma she can answer a lot of your questions. 

Well will close now so write soon.

Love 

Bill

P.S. Lets be for Sending that Pictures befor I leave here. 

Fifty cents for cigarettes is about $8 of today's dollars. 

And now a mystery Vmail. This one is dated Dec 5 1945 but the envelope was postmarked JAN 25 1945. Now, Jack was long stateside by December, 1945. Could he have meant 1944? The return address is for "Sgt B.C. Eutsler." We know that he was promoted to Staff Sargeant early January, 1945. 

Anyway, I'm sticking it here. 

Dec 6 1945

Dear Ma

I'll write you a short note tonight and try to write more next time. As usual nothing new has happened so theres not a whole lot to write about. 

Did I tell you it snow the other day infact it snow enough to about cover the ground. I did make it rather cold though.

The sun came out so we went out and shot skeet this PM. I didn't do so good though I only hit 15 out of 25.

I did take a few pictures but didn't finish the roll. I'll try to finish it soon and see if I can get it developed. 

We had inspection this AM so thats over with for anothe week.

Will close for now out of room.

Love 

Jack.

Missions:

On January 14 they flew Mission 258 which hit railroad bridges near Cologne. They encountered intense flak and in fact one ship was badly damaged and its crew injured. It was the lead aircraft, and other ships in the lead squadron formation were also damaged (not Jack's formation), making it a difficult course flying back. They all made it back, though. The mission was deemed successful. It appeared that the target was hit.

Mission 259 was on January 17. Rail yards near Pederborn, Germany were targeted. Notes indicate that Aircraft #42-31384 came up missing, for reasons unknown. There hadn't been much flak, and no enemy aircraft were encountered. Later this description was written (quoted after the mission notes at 351st.org).

Description of the Mission printed in the book "The 351st Bomb Group in WWII" written by Ken Harbour & Peter Harris. Used with permission. 

 Lt. Della-Cioppa was piloting 42-31384, Buckeye Babe, on her 108th mission [on page 111, A/C 42-31384 is shown to have flown 103 missions]. However this was not to be an easy mission for the crew, as told by Lt. Clark, the navigator. “This was not a long or hazardous mission in our opinion and we were overjoyed that we would get another milk run under our belts. We were assigned as an element leader in the lower left squadron of the Group, and had joined up with the Group with no problems at all. As we passed over the English coast one of the engines began throwing oil, but continued to run. Still feeling that this was an easy mission, we foolishly continued on our merry way. By the time we had crossed the French coast, the engine gave out and the propeller could not be feathered. Almost simultaneously another engine began to throw oil. Still thinking that we could make the mission without difficulty, and not wishing to be chewed out for aborting, we continued. Soon however this second engine threw out all its oil and could not be feathered. We were now forced to relinquish our leadership of the element. Just before we arrived over the target, the third engine started to throw oil, and by the time we had dropped our bombs had ceased to function. 

 At this point we had to drop out of formation and request fighter support. “We still had one engine running, but it simply was not enough to keep us flying on a level course. Particularly with the other three windmilling all the time. In spite of jettisoning everything we could she gradually lost height. We had P-51 fighter coverage until we lost them in a cloudbank at about 11,000 feet. We stayed in this cloud cover until we were down to about 5,000 feet. My calculations at this point were that we could make the Allied lines before we had to bail out or crash land, so we chose to ride her down. The crew concurred with this decision, and none bailed out despite being given the opportunity. Eventually it became obvious that we could not make it beyond the lines. The pilots did a beautiful job, setting her down with wheels up in a large field in Holland. Just before landing we were fired upon by flak batteries stationed in all four corners of the field. Fortunately none of them hit us. The plane bounced a few times but there was no fire and not one member of the crew received a scratch. Immediately after disembarking from the aircraft we were surrounded by the German soldiers from the flak batteries. This rendered any thought of escape useless.”

January 13, 1945

 

Jan 13 1945

Dear Ma

As usual I haven't any thing to write but will try to do so any way. The big reason of writing is to send the money order. I guess they sort of changed the name on it. I hope you don't have too much trouble cashing it. If they give you a song and a dance see Harvey and he will probably fix it up for you.

Well we had the inspections as per usual this AM. It must have been all right because no one said any thing about it. I woke up early this morning and was cold. I guess it's a good thing we have inspection at least it give me a chanch to make my bed. You see this morning it was sort of torn up all the coveres were on one side of the bed or the floor.

Did I tell you one of the fellows who does pressing here sure fixed up a pair of my O.D.'s It seems he was trying to press the soap or something out. In the end he scorched them in a bout a dozen places. It sure makes them look nice the iron marks give it that different look. 

It sure is a miserable day today – all rainy and such. I saw one plane go over at about 150 feet and you could just make the outline. It sure is soupy and I don't mean maybe. 

Well will close now and wait for the mail to come in. Maybe I'll have a letter

after supper.

It seems a few on the letters caught up with me. I only got 9 letter this afternoon so I'll try to answer them. 

As I told you befor I don't belive you had to send the clipping to the Blade because I ask to have it sent. It didn't hurt any thing though, I had the same thing in mind that you did. 

I didn't expect to write this much so from now on it's a puzzle. 

I haven't heard from any of the people you wrote saying were going to write. I do think I'll write Marg. E. and will drop Penny a line. I can't see writing them through after all they don't write or want to until I land over seas. 

You ask if I do any high altitude flying – well a little. It seems that about a month a goe I froze a ear but its all right now. It was rather cold on the last one about -43ºC. When we go over the target it seems like we can't get high enough. 

I didn't get the letter from Johnson but will write his home address as soon as I have time. I would like to here just what he is doing. 

I guess Gene gave you the right dope. From what you wrote he hit it on the head. I suppose he wishes he were back but thats neither here nor there. 

I got the picture of Jim and also the other slide. Nene wrote the pictures didn't come out too good. I was sorry to hear it. Maybe next time they will come out better. 

I hope the pictures get here pretty soon. I suppose they will be showing up eventually though. I wanted pictures that we took in the plane, just the ones of the fellows thats all.

Well it seems as if I have answered all the questions in your letters so will close and write soon more letters.

Jack.

P.S. Don't put it in the paper evey time you recive a letter from me. 

Gee, I wonder.... Could the name on the money order have been misspelled Eustler? 

The puzzle comment refers to how he wrote on the paper. He folded it book style and wrote on half of each side like below. It sure was a puzzle for me to scan and crop!

Regarding altitude: The mission records indicate that they generally meet and make formation at about 15,000-19,000 ft and once they get to targets they are at about 22,000=28,000 ft. 

"Marg E." is yet a third Margaret, this time the wife of his Uncle Floyd. Penny is his aunt, Floyd's sister. Penny and Floyd are his father's siblings. 

He also wrote to our Margaret on January 13. This is the only time that she has saved his return address. It is the first use of S/Sgt for Margaret; I'm sure this is why Mom saved the return address. 

Jan 13 1945

Dear Margaret

Seeing I haven't recived any mail, or written to you, in a few day I'll try to write you now. 

We had a nice snow a couple of days ago, it must have snowed 6 inches. It snowed enough they got me out and had me shovel snow off the run ways. It almost got me down but I lived as usual. We cleared them one after noon and it rained that night so that would have cleaned them off. All that work wasted, of course I don't say any thing about the planes that were waiting to land I don't suppose they could have lasted until morning. To top that off I got in cold, wet and hungry, and they said I was to go on guard duty. I had to go back out and guard the planes all night. All in all I was rather mad when got through. 

I haven't done any thing else the last few days though. Just eat, sleep and lay around and bitch. I don't like this laying around all the time a guy gets nervious after a while, of course I don't like to work either. 

From what they tell me we are suppose to get a 7 day furlogh between now and the 1st. I still haven't decided where I'll go but it is very possible I'll go to Scotland. I think the rest of the gang is going that way so I'll tag along. They say it's very nice up there, and you can get food (steak). They say in places theres not many GI's so that will help some. 

I got a couple of clusters for my air metal so that means more points on getting out of the army. I wish I had enough points to get out now if that's possible. 

Well I'll close for now so write soon

Love 

Bill 

I wonder why he didn't tell her he got a promotion. The return address is the only indication. 

No missions since the 10th. 

Postmark 14 JAN 1945

All of these letters were postmarked January 14, 1945 by the U.S. Army Postal Service. It's possible they were all "recived" on the same day, so you get them all today! 

Today is the first time we see S/Sgt on his return address!

Jan 9 1944 [more than a week in to the new year, and he is still writing 1944!]

Dear Ma

While the barracks is quiet I'll try to ruin your eyes. 

You see theres a sq. party tonight and some of the boys decided to go to town. All in all theres only a very few here – it's almost to quiet to suit me. 

I didn't do a darn thing today just laid around killing time. I would almost rather do something. Don't get me wrong – I only said almost. 

We had a nice snow last night and also today. I don't know if it's still snowing or not but it wouldn't saprise me if it was. 

I heard a good rumor that we were to get a 7 day furlogh about the 1st of next Month. I sure hope it comes after pay day because if it doesn't I'll probably have to borrow money to go on. I still haven't decided where to go but I suppose the rest will do that

My orders came out today saying I made Staff so thats that. Its too bad I can't get more but I'll have to be sastified. I also got my orders stating I was check out as a armor.

Well I'll close with that so write soon

Jack. 

Next, a guest appearance of Jack's younger sisters, Herbie and Nene (aka Neva and Anita)! Herbie was approaching her 19th birthday this month, and Nene's 17th birthday was the day before Jack wrote this letter.  

Dear Neva & Anita

I'll see if I can answer some of those letters you two runts have been writing me. 

I got a letter from Neva today – it was dated Dec 27 so it came through in good time. It was a Vmail but a Vmail is better than no mail I just hope my letters come through a little better than yours have been. 

Well we had a nice snow yesterday and then it started in again today. The ground was covered all white. It sure reminded me of Kan or N.M. This noon it was really comming down hard, and the flakes were nice and big. 

I was glad to hear Santa was so good to you kids. I guess Bo did o.K. I sent her some money to do my shoping for me but I guess she had already planned it that way. As long as you kids are happy about it thats all that counts. 

I haven't done any thing the last couple of days but rest. I sure like that part of it sleep and eat. When it comes to doing any thing else I just ain't so eager to do it. 

Well tomorrow is pay day again so I'll be in the cash again. I also like that part of army life – payday. The only trouble is it only comes twice a month. I should draw about 12 or 13 pounds tomorrow. I'll let you figure out how much it is I can't. 

Oh did I ever mention (thats a dumb question) I got Staff today. It will mean about a dollar a day more and when it comes to money I am happy. I was mad I didn't get it sooner but as long as I got it I shouldn't kick too much. After all it only took me a little over 13 mo. to get it. That's all the higher I'll ever go though, unless I can go to another school back in the states. I don't think theres much chanch of that so Ill just start sewing strips on like mad now. 

Well I guess I have run down so will close for now

Jack. 

Shall I try to figure out how much 12 or 13 pounds is? £12 in 1945 is about £551 today, or about $723 at today's exchange rate. £13 of yore would be £597 today, working out to $783. This checks out; he had said he gets about $50 per paycheck, which is about $780 in today's dollars. 

Jan 11 1945

Dear Ma

Here I go on a good bitching session so if you don't care to read it just stop here. 

I was setting in the barracks this AM minding my own business and bothering no one. In comes the 1st Sgt and says I want some volenteer. That was alright but I seemed to be one of them which wasn't so good. He then informed us we were to go out and move snow off the run ways. Not with snow plows but with shovels. I worked all afternoon that way – got good and cold wet feet and very disgusted I came back to the barracks to warm up and eat and they (the fellows) informed me I was wanted at operations. I went over there to find out what I had done – good or bad mostly bad. I was then told I would be doing guard duty tonight, out in the cold cold snow. Now can you see why I am mad enough to bite 10 penny nails into. The bad part of it is I don't have a dry pair of shoes to wear. Oh well it can't be this bad all over or all my life. 

I guess, from the rest I wrote, you took we had quite a snow. We must have 6 inches on the ground. It is is also nice and cold outside. 

I got 2 clusters on the air medal today. They finally brought them down. I sure wasn't going up after them. I don't know if I'll even put them on or not. I don't think I will until I get back to the states anyway. As I said befor they don't mean any thing and don't pay any more money.

I was going to write you last night but was too tired so put it off. 

Well I'll close this bitch session now and try to write again tomorrow. 

I made out a $100 money order so will send it in a day or so. 

Jack. 

I wonder if the extra duty was a consequence of his riding his bike on the runway the other day.

Jan 12 1945

Dear Ma

Well I'll write you today (or tonight) like I said. I really shouldn't try becaus I haven't done any thing to write about. 

I went on Guard last night like a good little boy. It wasn't bad but made me pretty tired walking around. It snowed some more and then ended up by raining. The rain cleared up the snow pretty well. Infact I don't belive the snow shoveling was nessarry. Oh well we have to please the big shots and do such things. 

I slept until darn near noon today and then had to get up to eat. Its hard on me to get up so early but it didn't kill me. 

I was a bad boy today and got in a black jack game. It made me 2 pounds so I guess the time wasn't wasted. If I could do that evey time It would almost be a paying proposition. 

I got a letter from Bo yesterday and about all she wrote about was the air metal. I hate to let her down as to what it is. It gets me the way they write it up in papers. Coolness & etc. don't let them kid you we are all scared to death an wish we were else where. One minent you cuss them (on the ground) and the next minet you pray. While you are up there you swear you will never fly again and then on the ground you don't think it was so bad. I guess it's not so bad all in all though, compared to the ground forces. I think we have a good deal. 

Tomorrow is Sat so we have to get the barracks ready for the big inspection. That means we will have to get up early and such. I think I'll have to shine my shoes tonight or put them in a barracks bag. 

Ill close for now and hope to get some mail from you tomorrow

Jack. 

He made about 92 bucks in the blackjack game! 

One more letter, to Bo, written on January 12 but also postmarked January 14.

Jan 12 1945

Dear Bo

Here goes on a nother lession on how not to write letters or how not to write period.

I got (or recived) a letter from you yesterday dated Nov 27. It was slightly late but it got here. All you wrote about was the air medal. I wish you would run into someone who had been in combat and find out what it is. The stuff they put in the papers sounds good but thats about all the father it goes. That stuff about being cool & such is a laugh. I am usually so scared and mad I don't quite know what to do. I use to watch the flak when it came up at us but now I am too scared. It is sort of pretty when it's a long way off against the white clouds. It isn't so pretty though when you look up a head and see a big black cloud and know you are going to have to fly through it. 

The snow is almost gone now because it rained. I had to go out and shovle snow all after noon yesterday and to top that I had to do guard duty last night. 

Well I'll close now so write

Jack. 

Jack's had a couple days off since his last mission on January 7, and here on January 10 he flew his 24th. Mission 257 hit an airfield at Euskirchen, Germany. This is in the same area of western Germany, near The Netherlands, where the Battle of the Bulge was being waged, and where the last several missions have targeted. 

This mission was difficult. Due to weather and delays in take-off due to icy runways, it was difficult to meet and make the formation. At least three aircraft had to abort because of that. Another three or so aircraft aborted due to mechanical problems. Due to cloud cover, the bomb run was difficult and may not have hit the target but may have hit the village of Odendorf instead. No aircraft were lost. 

 

 

January 7, 1945

 

Jan 7 1944 [he means 1945]

Dear Ma

I recived a letter from you to day so will try to answer now. I don't know how I'll do becaus Iam so tired to night I can hardly keep my eyes open. 

You ask if I had recived any letters from any of the aunts or unckls. As I think I wrote you befor I recived a short letter from Geo. but thats the only one I have recived any mail from. Maybe the rest of them will get around to writing me some day if not sooner (I doubt it).

So dear Carl has been sent over all ready. They didn't loose much time in doing it did they. I suppose it hurts him but he dodged it long enough so now he can have the works. 

You said it had been snowing there, well you don't have any thing on us. It snowed here again today, almost enough to cover the ground. 

I should shave tonight but I am just too darn tired so will let it go. I'll just hope I don't have to fly tomorrow because it will bother me

Well I'll close for now

Love Jack

P.S. Your letter was dated Dec 14

Jan 7 1945

Dear Bo

Ill drop you a short line tonight in answer to a letter I recived from you today. It was dated Dec 11 so it didn't take too long to get here. I guess thats about as fast as they will ever get here though. I am glad that you are reciving my mail befor it's too old. 

I supposed you have recived the letter with the cash in it by now – I hope. It may have helped out some on the Xmas presents. You say I should keep my money – how bout you. I'll bet you I can save as much if not more than you can – Of course thats only while I am on this side of the pond. I am hoping to send Ma a $100 this next pay day if I can collect from the boys. You see I have about $80 loaned out and maybe able to collect about $50 this time. 

Things are going about the same as usual nothing new has happened. It tried to snow some again to day and almost made the ground white. It makes it awful cold but I guess its better to be a little cold than muddy.

I still want you to take it easy on the Mex's because you were young once your self. Maybe you didn't want to take a bath who knows. 

Well I'll close for now because I am so tired I have to hold my eyes open to see.

Jack. 

$100 back then would be worth about $1579 today. Nice chunk of change he's sending home!

Here is his January 7 letter to Margaret. Remember, he sent his proposal on December 10. It's taking three to four weeks for mail to reach him from NM, and who knows how long to get to the U.S. 

Jan 7 1945

Dear Margaret.

I almost dropped over to night when I came in and saw I had a letter from you. I belive that makes about 2 in less than a week. Don't get me wrong just keep it up and see if maybe you can get 3 a week in.

As usual I haven't done any thing of late I can write about so I'll just try.

It tried to snow today so thats some thing new. It snowed almost enough to make the ground white. The wind also started to blow so it made it nice and cold. I'll be glad when it starts to warm up even if I have to be in the states when it does come summer. 

II

I got the pictures in your letter and I thought the one of you was very good. Now me I can't say much about my self. 

So you are thinking of changing jobs? If you ask me (but who is) I would stay at the one I had. When this thing ends jobs will be sort of far and few between. At least thats what I think

So Mal has finally given up Wayne after so long of a time. I guess he hasn't even written her since she was back to see him. I really think he has it good with the girl he has now. He even has Florence writing to her. From what Florence writes, she writes nice letters. He even plans on taking her back to N.M. on his next furlogh.

You ask about the shooting in the barracks – no they haven't had any since the last time. Did I tell you the fellow who did the shooting got the Purple Heart. It wasn't for the shooting, it was because he stopped a piece of flak. It seem he was setting on a flak suit and a piece of flak hit the suit and barreled up in to his – well thats enough said. He still won't show us where the flak hit him. 

Well I'll close for now so write soon. 

Love

Bill. 

Jack flew a mission this morning. Mission 256 took the crew over Bitburg, Germany, where they targeted a communications center. No wonder he was tired. Take-off was at 0800, so they must've gotten to breakfast about 0330-0400 as on other similar missions. They returned to base at 1430. Long day! No aircraft were lost and only meager flak was encountered. They all got their asses home safely.