Winfred to Folks

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 3, 1943 (1)               0740      WF         March Field, CA Winfred writes to the folks. He has not received any mail for the past 4 or 5 days. He no longer gets a daily letter from his girl. They ‘ve been flying every day for a week; went on a search mission for a lost plane that went down; the radio operator did not tell them the location.  Went on a cross country hop; flew over Boulder Dam; next going on a practice gunnery mission over the Pacific; says he is pretty well set on going across soon.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two letters were written and sent home to the Folks on October 31, 1943; one by Winfred and one by Clifford. Oct. 31, 1943 (1)              0720      WF         March Field, CA               No Env Winfred is over his cold now but is still busy. He thinks Clifford is on his way home now, but thinks he, himself, will not be getting off any time soon. Winfred begins Phase 3 training tomorrow. The pilot says he will get him a Sergeant rating. Winfred sez to say ‘hi’ to his brother, is going to get some chow, and has sent two letters home for his friends.

Oct. 29, 1943                    0710      WF         March Field, CA               No Env Winfred apologizes to the folks for not writing much lately, he has been busy flying and going to school. He is getting better at his marksmanship. He thanks them for their financial aid, guesses that Cliff is at home now and wishes he could be there.