Winfred to Folks

EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is the first message Winfred sent home to his Folks in 1944. Jan. 8, 1944          1050          WF          Station #144 – Old Buckenham, UK via New York City, N.Y. Winfred writes the Folks ‘after quite a while’ (10days). He is somewhere in England and is fine; he received a letter and some Xmas cards; would like some home town news; asks about ‘the old gang’ – he has lost their addresses; and says there isn’t much to write about.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two messages were written and sent home by Winfred on Dec. 28, 1943; one is a letter to the Folks and one is a cablegram to his sister Margaret. EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is the last letter Winfred sent home to the Folks in 1943. Dec. 28, 1943          1030          WF          Station #144 – Old Buckenham, UK via New York City, N.Y. Winfred writes he is doing fine but hated being away from home for Xmas. He still has not received any mail; doesn’t have much of a chance to write; asks about the Post Office Christmas rush with all the overseas letters; and closes because there is not much he can say.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dated Dec. 23, 1943, the two letters below were the first letters written and sent home by Winfred from England; one to the Folks and one to his sister Margaret. Based on the date, Winfred’s crew would have been one of the first crews in the 453rd Bomb Group to have made it to England, Station #144 – Old Buckenham. (The last crew made it there Feb. 5, 1944.) Dec. 23, 1943 (1)          1000          WF          ENGLAND            Winfred writes a few lines to the Folks. He has sure been around; [the place he is at has been literally cut out by the censor – his Navigator, Paul Plug]; says it is nice and warm but damp compared to the States; is feeling fit; hasn’t heard from home in several weeks; thinks they have his A.P.O.; and is having a time with the foreign money (English types are mentioned).

EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is the last letter Winfred sent home to the Folks before ‘going across’. Dec. 9, 1943          0980          WF          % POSTMASTER NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. Winfred writes the Folks, he is still O.K., but busy and has a cold. He thanks the Folks for a satchel they sent; has not heard from anyone for a while; is at a ‘nice place’ but is not allowed off base; has never been so busy. They have their own plane now; wants to keep it in top shape. He will write every chance he gets.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two letters were written and sent home by Winfred on Dec. 1, 1943; one to the Folks and one to his sister Margaret. Dec. 1, 1943 (2)          0950          WM          March Field, CA Winfred writes to Margaret that he is still here, but everything is a mess. He went to LA last night; they rented a car and got back at 6:00 am; had a swell time – went to the Palladium and Radio City, passed by Arthur Murray’s, saw Mickey Rooney; Hollywood is not so wonderful; met a girl from St. Louis; wants his blankets back; and dreams of a visit home.  He confesses he is a little scared of going over; he is the rookie on the crew. He heard from Cliff; Mary Lou is in the lead; and he is on the lookout for a girl himself.

Nov. 27, 1943                    0920      WF         March Field, CA Winfred lets the Folks know he is still here; has had 2 inspections by 3 colonels and a couple of majors; still doesn’t know his P.O.E; says mail is slow but got his younger sister’s letter; asks about Clifford; and is going to town on a 48-hour pass.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two letters were written and sent home by Winfred on Nov. 25, 1943; one to the Folks and one to his sister Margaret. Nov. 25, 1943 (1)             0900      WF         March Field, CA Today is Thanksgiving. It is the first one he has ever spent away from home. He flew last night until 3:00 AM by San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. He just got up and will go on a high-altitude gunnery mission at 12:45PM. They have a big turkey dinner prepared for them, but he will not be able to eat any of it because of the high-altitude mission. (B-24’s did not have pressurized cabins – eating a heavy meal before going up would result in severe stomach discomfort from the expanding gas created as the food digests.)  He hopes to be home for Thanksgiving next year.

Nov. 24, 1943                    0890      WF         March Field, CA Winfred tells the Folks he has found out what busy is the last few days getting ready to go over soon. He guesses things in Irondale have settled down since Clifford returned from his furlough – Cliff is the great ‘lover’ in the family.  He comments on the bombers blasting Berlin and that the Air Corp will be the deciding factor in the war. He heard from Margaret who is getting a 2 ½ cent raise; Winfred is now making as much as he did before going into the service – $117 per (month)!

Nov. 21, 1943                    0880      WF         March Field, CA Winfred tells the Folks he has been so busy he is almost looking forward to the peacefulness of combat; just finished a high-altitude gunnery mission; will take in a show tonight; will fly across but don’t know when; wants the picture he sent them enlarged; and tells them best to leave him out for Xmas.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two letters were written and sent home by Winfred on Nov. 19, 1943; one to the Folks and one to Margaret. Nov. 19, 1943 (1)             0860      WF         March Field, CA Winfred writes a short letter home.  He has time off due to fog and has written 3 letters; asks about Clifford’s mood at the end of his furlough & Pat; still don’t know where he is going; and must go sign the payroll.