Maxwell's Letters Home

January 12, 1945 – 2580 – CF

Jan. 12, 1945          2580          CF          Swanage, England Clifford asks the Folks to excuse his delay in writing this V-Mail; is not a lot to tell,  was in London again; got a letter from Winfred today; thought they had been hearing from him but not according to their last letter; sorry that Kenneth Frago, an Irondale boy, was killed (last October); doesn’t worry about getting hurt as long as in England; is glad Winfred is assigned to a transport plane – much safer; received two swell Xmas packages; answer soon.

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January 11, 1945 (2) – 2570 – CF

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two letters were sent home on January 11, 1945; Winfred wrote Margaret, Clifford wrote the Folks. Jan. 11, 1945          2570          CF          Swanage, England Clifford writes the Folks since he doesn’t have anything else to do; is still okay; doesn’t like the weather; has grown tired of this ETO business; glad Winfred finished with such a high average – guesses he will be stationed on the West Coast; didn’t realize Pat (Merrill) was having so many heartbreaks but guesses someone has to keep the Irondale gossip rolling; tells mom not to worry; and tells dad he got and enjoyed the letter he had sent.

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January 11, 1945 (1) – 2560 – WM

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two letters were sent home on January 11, 1945; Winfred wrote Margaret, Clifford wrote the Folks. Jan. 11, 1945          2560          WM          R.A.A.B. Reno, NV Winfred writes Margaret he is at the close of another rainy day; arose at 4 A.M. for third day in a row to fly for five hours; should check out from there in a couple of weeks; use to build the C-46 cargo planes he now flies; not doing much lately outside of his regular duties – goes to shows 3 or 4 times each week and visits the N.C.O. club nightly; asks about the man situation in St. Louis and comments on the WACs and civilian girls there; has graduated from school there with a 96 or 97 average – maybe should have studied more in high school; asks about the Dickey girls; and hopes she can run into some of the boys he had fought with in Europe that are now stationed at Scott Field.

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January 9. 1945 – 2550 – WF

Jan. 9, 1945          2550          WF          R.A.A.B. Reno, NV Winfred writes he was glad to hear from the Folks and received the county newspaper; all is as usual; been doing some flying which tires him out; hasn’t heard from Cliff; may leave this base in a month; hasn’t heard from his friend Bob Dickey in a long time – Bob is off fighting the Germans; Winfred hopes to get a furlough when he leaves there – his first one in the U.S.

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January 7, 1945 – 2540 – WM

Jan. 7, 1945          2540          WM          R.A.A.B. Reno, NV Winfred informs Margaret he has finished ground school, will check out in the air, be assigned, and maybe get a furlough; is cold there; has only been studying and going to school – no time to write; guesses her grind is the same; asks about boyfriends, etc.; guesses Cliff is having a time England; has a chance to become an instructor or go to O.C.S. but would end up in the ground forces overseas – can make more money as a R.O. in the A.T.C.; and closes.

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January 6, 1945 – 2530 – WF

Jan. 6, 1945          2530          WF          R.A.A.B. Reno, NV Winfred has finished ground school and will start flying again; doesn’t like the idea of flying but it will be better than being an instructor – he can be his own boss; hasn’t heard from Cliff but guesses he is enjoying the peculiar English customs; sent another money order to keep up the old reserve; weighs 184; and must close to get some sleep.

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January 4, 1945 – 2520 – WM

EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is the first letter Winfred sent home to his sister Margaret in 1945. Jan. 4, 1945          2520          WM          R.A.A.B. Reno, NV Winfred writes Margaret while awaiting inspection; two more days of ground school before being checked out in the air; has a 95.5% average plus a 25 W.P.M. code speed – as high as you can get; hopes to get stationed at Memphis and fly the Southern Route to Africa; his war buddies are at Scott Field; hopes for a break and closes to get the wrinkles out of his bed.

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January 3, 1945 (2) – 2510 – CF

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two letters were sent home to the Folks on January 3, 1945; one by each of the boys. Jan. 3*, 1945          2510          CF          Swanage, England Clifford scribbles a V-mail to the Folks; hauled ashes all day; has really enjoyed the rest since leaving Texas; thought it would be good if Winfred was still in Florida; hopes they got the letters he had sent before Christmas – didn’t want them to worry; may change before he is twenty-one; and asks for the latest gossip from Irondale.

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January 3, 1945 (1) – 2500 – WF

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two letters were sent home to the Folks on January 3, 1945; one by each of the boys. Below is the first letter Winfred sent home to the Folks in 1945. Jan. 3, 1945          2500          WF          R.A.A.B. Reno, NV Winfred writes a few lines to the Folks because they had ‘got on him’ about doing so poorly in writing them; has only 3 more days of ground school with a 95+ average & 25 W.P.M. code speed; encloses a money order from has surplus cash and asks about his account; is glad they heard from Cliff and that he is still in England, heard from Lt. Pflug who asks for some 120mm film – Winfred can’t get it at his base so asks his parents if they can get it and send it to Pflug who is now a Captain.

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January 1, 1945 – 2490 – CF

1945 The year begins with Clifford and his 768th Field Artillery Battalion attached to the 30th FA Group stationed in Swanage, England awaiting deployment to the fight going on in France and Western Europe. France has been liberated, and the Allies have advanced near the German border. The Germans have mounted a major offensive to counter the Allies advance. This Battle of the Bulge will be the costliest battle of the war for the Americans. U.S. forces will suffer 100,000 casualties including 23,000 missing and over 19,000 killed. The battle lasted from December 16, 1944 until January 25, 1945. Winfred, having returned from his time serving in Europe, is still finishing up advanced radio training/navigation at R.A.A.B. (Reno Army Air Base) near Reno, Nevada. He awaits his assignment to the Air Transport Command where it appears he will be headed to the Pacific. EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is the first letter/V-mail sent home by Clifford in 1945. Jan. 1, 1945          2490          CF          Swanage, England Clifford tells the Folks in a V-mail he is behind in his correspondence again; had turkey for Christmas and New Years; heard that his cousin James will be getting married soon; and needs them to send him a watch – right away.

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