Maxwell's Letters Home

Nov. 18, 1943 (1 & 2) – 0850 – WF

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two letters were written by Winfred to the Folks and sent home in the same envelope on Nov. 18, 1943.  Both are shown below. Nov. 18, 1943 (1)             0850      WF         March Field, CA LETTER 1 – Winfred tells the Folks he has been on a 24 hour pass to L.A.; they’ve been doing formation flying at 20,000 ft; he is a sergeant now! will be going to Europe; tell the paper; correspondence will stop at their Port of Embarkation. LETTER 2 – Winfred sends the (crew) picture home and will get to sleep tonight.

Nov. 18, 1943 (1 & 2) – 0850 – WF Read More »

Nov. 14, 1943 – 0840 – WF

Nov. 14, 1943                    0840      WF         March Field, CA Winfred just finished a lecture and has time to write the Folks; is glad Clifford is home; heard from (Uncle) Roxie; was questioned by officers from Bomb Command Headquarters – thinks he passed.

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Nov. 12, 1943 (2) – 0830 – WM

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two letters were written and sent home by Winfred on November 12, 1943; one to the Folks and one to his sister Margaret. Nov. 12, 1943 (2)             0830      WM       March Field, CA Winfred writes Margaret they are near the end of training; hopes to get a new B-24-H soon – it is bigger with more guns; might get home for a short visit; just got crew photo taken in front of a plane; and bets Clifford is home now on his furlough.

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Nov. 12, 1943 (1) – 0820 – WF

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two letters were written and sent home by Winfred on November 12, 1943; one to the Folks and one to his sister Margaret. Nov. 12, 1943 (1)             0820      WF         March Field, CA Winfred lets the folks know he is near the end of training; has not received a plane yet; and is writing from the parade ground.

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Nov. 10, 1943 – 0810 – WM – The BIG SCARE

EDITOR’s NOTE: Yesterday’s letter (Nov. 9, 1943) from Winfred to the Folks was written in the afternoon after Winfred’s BIG SCARE! that morning.  There is no mention of the near-death experience. Nov. 10, 1943                    0810      WM       March Field, CA                THE BIG SCARE! Winfred writes to Margaret about his BIG SCARE! He begins by complaining on not getting his ratings yet but will hold off on applying for Cadets. He then goes into great detail about how he nearly fell out of the plane at 12,000 ft yesterday and tells her not to tell anyone!

Nov. 10, 1943 – 0810 – WM – The BIG SCARE Read More »

Nov. 9, 1943 – 0800 – WF

Nov. 9, 1943                      0800      WF         March Field, CA Winfred tells the Folks they are really getting a start on third phase. He guesses Cliff is on his way home; they are having nice weather; he has a cold because the temperature in the plane at 20,000 ft is well below zero; and his lips are still sore from the oxygen.

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Nov. 8, 1943 – 0790 – WF

Nov. 8, 1943                     0790      WF         March Field, CA               The Crew Winfred writes the Folks about the effects of oxygen when flying at high altitude. He introduces the crew and tells a story about each. He has a good crew; they have a lot of fun but each man knows his job.

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Nov. 7, 1943 (2) – 0780 – WP

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two letters were written and sent home by Winfred on November 7, 1943; one to the Folks and one to his little sister Patsy Ann. Nov. 7, 1943 (2)                0780     WP        March Field, CA               No Env Winfred writes to his little sister Pat.  He hasn’t forgotten her, just been busy.  He asks about her school, if she ever plays “hooky”, and about her boyfriends. Even though it’s cold in Missouri, he would rather be there. Says to tell Clifford ” Hi” and encourages her to be smart not like he is.

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Nov. 7, 1943 (1) – 0770 – WF

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two letters were written and sent home by Winfred on November 7, 1943; one to the Folks and one to his little sister Patsy Ann. Nov. 7, 1943 (1)               0770      WF         March Field, CA                No Env Winfred writes the Folks he is doing okay – caught up on sleep; will not make it home to see Cliff; and hopes for a better rating soon.

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Nov. 5, 1943 – 0760 – WF

Nov. 5, 1943                     0760      WF         March Field, CA Winfred writes the folks he has been doing a lot of flying; 6-to-7-hour missions; flying in formation; gunnery and bombing practice at 20,00 ft over the ocean.  There were pursuit planes, like the real thing.

Nov. 5, 1943 – 0760 – WF Read More »