Winfred to Folks

Jan. 20, 1945          2630          WF          R.A.A.B. Reno, NV Winfred scribbles a few lines to the Folks – (says it is Sunday but uses Saturday’s date); can sleep in on Sundays; doesn’t know how much longer he will be there; wishes he knew where he was going – could be many places; complains about the cold; hopes to hear from Cliff and get his views on the English; hopes the Russians get to Berlin soon to ease pressure on the West; closes to get breakfast at the P.X.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Winfred sent two letters home on January 19, 1945; one to the Folks, and one to Margaret. Jan. 19, 1945 (1)         2610          WF          R.A.A.B. Reno, NV Winfred asks the Folks how everything is in Irondale; says all is well with him – finished flight training yesterday; guesses he will ship out one of these days; asked for Memphis but may not be lucky; hasn’t heard from Cliff (though he has written him several times); says the weather is cold like in Missouri – wishes he were there; and closes to write more letters.

Jan. 15, 1945          2590          WF          R.A.A.B. Reno, NV Winfred composes his weekly Sunday afternoon letter to the Folks (letter date is for Monday); got back late last night because the plane he was on was forced down over Hammer Field due to mechanical failure; has been staying on the base but occasionally dates a WAC from Texas; wishes to hear from Cliff who has been getting around some lately; still has some checking out to do in flight before getting out of there; has enclosed a clipping about the ARTU school there; heard that Pat (Merrill) has landed a guy – never knew one quite like her; tells his sister Patsy he read her letter and asks about her bicycling; then closes asking about Jim’ s (unknown) new hat.

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.

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.

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.

EDITOR”S NOTE: Below is the first letter Winfred has written to his Folks since last August; almost 3 months ago. Nov. 22, 1944          2410           WF          Miami Beach, FL Winfred tells the Folks he will be shipping to Reno, NV in a day or two; he’s been to the dentist to have a cavity filled – England’s’ climate is bad for teeth; sent $100 home yesterday by telegram – keep him posted; has been spending quite a bit in Miami but can really make some money in the A.T.C.; asks about Irondale and closes to write his friend ‘Stack’.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is the first letter Winfred has sent home to the Folks in almost a month. Aug. 20, 1944(1)          2360          WF          Station #114 – Hethel Air Base, UK via New York City, N.Y. Winfred writes the Folks; acknowledges he has been doing extra poor in writing to them but has so little to write about now; knows he should be back in the States sometime in September; wishes dad could have been there to see Billy Conn exhibition fight; hasn’t heard from Cliff in a long time; enclosing a few photos of around here + the boys – one of Eng. Vogan and himself; and closes.  

Jul. 24, 1944(1)          2290          WF          Station #114 – Hethel Air Base, UK via New York City, N.Y. Winfred writes the Folks he has done poor in writing because there is nothing he can write about just the same old routine; would love to be home for a while; heard from his friends Bob Dickey – who is down and in France; and from Monk – who is a gunnery instructor in Idaho; and guesses they enjoyed Cliff and Margaret’s visit.

Jul. 16, 1944          2280          WF          Station #114 – Hethel Air Base, UK via New York City, N.Y. Winfred writes to the Folks a short letter because there is nothing to write about. He’s getting along well and doing no more than he has too. Still don’t know when he’ll leave England; Mail is scarce – none then past 3 days; must close to write his women – Lois Brennecke.