Maxwell's Letters Home

Jun. 14, 1944 – 2190 – WF

EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is Winfred’s first letter home since the D-Day Invasion. No mention of the invasion; it would have been censored if he had. Jun. 14, 1944          2190          WF          Station #114 – Hethel Air Base, UK via New York City, N.Y. Winfred scribbles a few lines to the Folks; asks if anything is interesting or new at home – any of the boys been home lately?; everything is as usual; enjoying the summer weather; mail has been scarce; is ready for another package of cigarettes and candy; wants posted on his bank account; asks if Cliff writes much – knows he is busy; guesses they haven’t seen any of the folks for a while; and closes.

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Jun. 6, 1944(2) – 2180 – D-Day 2

D – Day 2 : The Normandy Invasion EDITOR’S NOTE: D-Day was the only time Winfred’s crew flew two missions in one day. JUNE 6, 1944 (2)     2180     BOMBER JOURNAL  MISSION 27 (395/123) – D-DAY (2) “COUTANCES”/CAEN 8th AAF   389th BG   PFF   564th BS EDITOR’S NOTE: Ctrl + CLICK to hear FDR’s June 6, 1944 D-Day Speech to the nation. EDITOR’S NOTE: The Hoo Jive’s Navigator Lt. Paul H. Pflug was interviewed by Phillip Morgan, Staff Writer at the Tampa Tribune about his mission(s) on D-Day. The following article was published on June 6, 1994. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PREVIOUS BOMBING MISSION CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEXT BOMBING MISSION

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Jun. 5, 1944 *Aprox. – 2160 – CF

EDITOR’S NOTE: Clifford’s letter home was written after Rome fell on June 4, 1944 but before FDR gave a speech about D-Day. Though the Yank magazine cover is dated June 6, 1944, it was likely sent out to GI’s the previous week Jun. 5, 1944  *Aprox                      2160      CF           Camp Barkeley, Texas Clifford writes the Folks that he is behind in his writing; that he is glad Rome fell; hasn’t heard from Winfred for a while – hard to get a letter out of England; is broke again and asks his Folks to cash one of his bonds; is listening to FDR; and found an article in a Yank magazine about his old fort in Washington state. EDITOR’S NOTE: Today. June 5, 1944, was to be the day for the D-Day Normandy Invasion but it was delayed a day due to bad weather.

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Jun. 3, 1944(2) – 2140 – WF

EDITOR’S NOTE: This letter home was written after the bombing mission they completed earlier in the day. Jun. 3, 1944          2140          WF          Station #114 – Hethel Air Base, UK via New York City, N.Y. Winfred lets the Folks know it’s 8:00 P.M., he is still there and is O.K.; no show tonight so nothing to do but write; glad they got the money he sent – others say it’s not quick; will be making more next month but may go to London and spend it – the relaxation is worth it; Cliff hasn’t written lately but probably too busy; has a black eye from free-for-all last night with a couple of the boys – had fun; received two letters with clippings from Maragaret today; closes to answer her letters.

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Jun. 3, 1944(1) – 2130 – Bomb Mission 24 – “Burk”/Stella-Plage, Fr.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This mission may have been part of Operation Bodyguard/Operation Fortitude – South/Quicksilver which were designed to deceive the Germans as to the exact timing and location of the “true” invasion of the European continent. The goal was to prevent the Germans from reinforcing their defense of Normandy. Lt. Gen. George Patton and the First United States Army Group were used as decoys. JUNE 3, 1944     2130     BOMBER JOURNAL  MISSION 24 (388/115) – “BURK” STELLA PLAGE 8th AAF   389th BG   PFF   564th BS CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PREVIOUS BOMBING MISSION CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEXT BOMBING MISSION

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Jun. 2, 1944 – 2120 – WM

Jun. 2, 1944          2120          WM          Station #114 – Hethel Air Base, UK via New York City, N.Y. Winfred asks Margaret about her work; says he is still there, a little tired of the place but OK; enjoyed a stage show ‘Taras’ last night – radio stars and gals; heard there’s another flood in St. Louis; still hasn’t looked up Bob or any of the boys; got a haircut by a ‘limie hairdresser’ who scalped him; all out of gab so closes. PS saw Cousin Jr. last night. EDITOR’S NOTE: Jun 2, 1944 – Happy 49th Birthday Dad – Guy D Maxwell

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Jun. 1*, 1944 *Approx. – 2110 – CF

EDITOR’S NOTE: The 768th Field Artillery Battalion (Motorized 155 Howitzer Tractor Drawn) was activated on May 9, 1944 at Camp Barkley, Texas per General Order No. 2, Hq 418th FA Group Camp Barkley, Texas dated 8 May 1944. The enlisted men cadre was made up from the 248th Coastal Artillery Regiment, 1st Battalion which had previously been stationed at Fort Worden, WA. This is the first letter Clifford sent home since March 28th, over two months ago. June 1, 1944* Approximate          2110          CF          Camp Barkeley, Texas Clifford tells the Folks he is really sunburned; it hasn’t rained and is really dry; the climate is hard on the fellows that were at Fort Worden before the war; hears they are to be reserve field artillery in case anything goes wrong with the invasion; went through the filtration course at 10:30 last night – tracer bullets looked pretty but he really hugged the ground; has 155mm Howitzer now; will probably never get a rating -doesn’t really matter; is with soldiers of the old school and will follow the old-timers any place.

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May 30, 1944 – 2100 – WM

May 30, 1944          2100          WM          Station #114 – Hethel Air Base, UK via New York City, N.Y. Winfred writes to thank Margaret for the candy + cigarettes; he got 2 letters from her yesterday – from before and after her trip to Irondale; glad she can get home once in a while because the Folks must get lonely; hasn’t located Bob Dickey yet; asks about St. Louis and if any new boy friends have visited the Dickey household; Joyce got a job before a boyfriend; and closes.

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