March 16, 1944 - Mission Back to Augsburg

 

March 16, 1944 (V-mail Date – March 17)

Dear Mom + Dad,

I received 3 V-mails from you today and I think I should answer them. I have been on my fifth one today and as usual am rather tired. I've been up since 3AM and it is 9 PM. In that time I flew about 9 hours altogether. The run today was quite easy except it was a very long haul.  I went to the same place as my first mission. So as you can guess it was a long distance. We didn't run into much of anything today, the flak wasn't even very accurate. More or less a snap, except it was long period. I will receive a decoration now called the Air Medal for completing five missions. I can now wear 3 ribbons 1. European Theater of Operations 2. Good Conduct Medal and the Air Medal. It sounds good, but it really isn't so much. The one I want is this Distinguished Flying Cross which I will get when I finish my 30 missions.  Only 25 more to go. I think i will get a little rest as tomorrow we may go again.  I’ll see you soon.

 

All my love

Bobby

March 15, 1944 - Training for First Pilot

 

March 15, 1944 (V-mail Date – March 16)

Dear Mom + Dad,

Just a few lines to let you know that everything is still fine with me. I haven't been on a mission in a week simply because there hasn't been any at all. Most of our time has been taken up with local training schedules. I had my first preliminary steps in being checked out as first pilot when I took a short ride with the operations officer. I may and then again I may not be checked out. Things have not as yet come to a head so I have no way of determining just what will happen. I'm sure though, that things will all work out for the best in the long run. -  I received a very nice letter from Mr Campbell, my old coach at Normal. He gave me a lot of news of the old gang which sure was good to hear. Quite a few of the boys I know are here in the country and perhaps I'll run into some of them. He tells me that N.P. is to be quite a large institution, if post war plans go through. I may yet get my degree from there yet. It sure would be fun to go back to the old school again. That's about it. I'll write again soon. See you soon.

 

All my love

Bobby

March 12, 1944 - Kay "Still Number One on My List and a Grand Gal"

 

March 12, 1944 (V-Mail date: March 14)

Dear Mom + Dad,

Received mother's letter of March 1st if as yet Jack's predicament has been straightened out it will when you receive my most recent airmail letter. Aas yet I have not received my first package of food but that has to be expected with the mail situation as it is.  Undoubtedly one of these days it will find its way into my hands and then everything will be fine. I am up for promotion to Lt.  This time it is official and all it is a question of time until it goes through the proper channels.  In other words I will have it as soon as I'm officially notified of it. It may be a few weeks yet but I will get it eventually and that is all that counts. We have a new pilot as of today and are all ready to go again.  We were supposed to go today but the mission was cancelled so we never did get off.  I think after five more missions I will be checked out as first pilot. The only reason I want it is that promotion came in better as first pilot and that means more money for me in the long run. Kay said she might drop in on you at my last report, as she is expecting to go to New York for a weekend. I hope she does. Still number one on my list and a grand gal. That's about it for now.  I'll see you soon

All my love

Bobby

March 10, 1944 - Combat Duties Raised to 30 Missions

 

March 10, 1944

(V-Mail Date: March 11)

Dear Mom + Dad,

Intended to write you an airmail letter today but I have been so busy trying to catch up on back mail that I haven't the time now. This will have to suffice. After that letter I wrote you last night after two days of riding perhaps I should apologize. I was just tired as 9 hours in the air there's no sense especially when you're actual day’s work is from 4:00 AM until 7:00 PM. I got a good night's sleep last night and am back to normal again today. The tour of combat duty has just been raised to 30 missions instead of 25. All of which leaves me with only 26 more to go I guess things are getting tough in the in this war.  It doesn't worry me as I expected it and knew it was coming sooner or later.  We are again without a pilot as we finished our new one up yesterday for his 25th. Maybe one of these days I'll make first pilot yet. Just keep your fingers crossed as I've had a few good words passed my way. That's all for now. See you soon.

 

All my love

Bobby

March 6, 1944 - Back from Leave in London

 

March 6, 1944 (Vmail date March 7)

Dear Mom + Dad,

I have just arrived back from London and I had a wonderful time. I wrote you before I left and there has been a three day lapse in between so I'll give you a few quick lines to let you know I'm O.K. I picked a good weekend to go away not only from the weather standpoint but our boys were out several times after Berlin. As a result I missed a few rough raids so I can't complain at all. I managed to do quite a bit of sightseeing as I had plenty of time. Westminster Abbey, House of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, etc. It was a worthwhile experience. Went out with Joe's sister-in-law a few times. She is quite a character and a newspaper reporter with a refreshing outlook on life. Went to a few nightclubs did the usual aimless running around and all in all enjoyed myself. Even went to church at Saint Martins in the Field Sunday morning. Just a lot of fun with a lot of worthwhile things tossed in. I'll give you more details in a day or so in an airmail letter. I'll see you soon.

 

All my love

Bobby

March 3, 1944 - Mission 2 - Frankfort, Germany

 

March 3, 1944

Dear Mom + Dad,

Received two letters from you yesterday. This time Sunday’s airmail beat Thursday’s V mail as both came at the same time. Glad to hear my package is on the way and I should receive it soon now. Yesterday I was on my second mission this time to Frankfurt.  I assume it was there as we bombed through a complete cloud coverage. All it really was, was just another long ride. I didn't see any fighters and only a little flack over the target. Things aren't so bad as long as they keep missing us. They will too as long as I have anything to say about it.

Received a letter from Jim Dever today, the first one in a long time. He seems to be doing fine down in Brazil. It sure will be a great day when we get all the gang back together again. It won't be long now, I hope. The boys went out again today but we didn't go. I think we have a weekend pass coming up this afternoon and that's why. Expect to go down to London to have a little change for myself. I'll get a good look at it this time as I'll be there for a few days. I'm going to check on it now. I'll write again soon. See you soon.  

All my love

Bobby

February 29, 1944 - Will Go Tomorrow for 2nd

February 29, 1944  (Vmail Date 3/2/1944)

Dear Mom + Dad,

I just happened to get a newspaper report today on the income tax that I wrote you to inquire about. I do not have to pay it as the exemption for being in the service I am well under the quota. Also forces overseas do not have to pay the tax until after the war. I was glad to hear that as I was worried about it. Speaking of money I will ship you a money order tomorrow for 160 dollars I'd like to know if my allotment has come through as yet too. So as soon as you get a chance please notify me if you have not done so already. Another thought - Readers digest has not come my way since November. I understand you continued my subscription, if so please check and see that they have my correct address. I rather have a hunch we will go tomorrow and get the second one in the series out of the way, I sure hope it is An easy one if the weather we've been having should happen to. I've been pretty busy lately with squadron doings and so forth. That's all for tonight. I'll write again tomorrow. See you soon -

                        All my love

                    
                       Bob

February 29, 1944 - Moved to Another Squardron

 

Febraury 29, 1944

Dear Mom + Dad,

Things have been in such a turmoil with me lately that my correspondence has slipped. I have moved to another squadron and moved my belongings 3 places before I finally got settled. I have a new pilot, who has 21 missions in and he'll finish up his four and then I'll be back where we started. It is alright though as now I can get started and get some of these missions behind me. We were supposed to ride today but the mission was scrubbed and we didn't go. Tomorrow who knows? As soon as I can find some spare time I will write you at length and give you the details of what has happened, as well as the story of my first raid over Augsburg. I think that will interest you. I got paid today and I will make out a money order for 100 bucks to put away in my bank account. Have you ever checked to see if my allotment has come through okay? I imagine it will and now another one should be coming in for February. Your V-mail letters have been coming through fine and I do appreciate them to no end. I will continue to write as often as I can and give you details of my life. I will see you soon.

 

All my love

Bobby