Winfred to Margaret

Mar. 29, 1945          2990          WM          Suisun A.A.B – Fairfield, CA Winfred tells Margaret he was glad to hear from her again – he may leave at any time; things are looking good in Germany – ‘little man’ will be on the windup – ETO interests him more than the PTO ( Frankfurt was one of the roughest targets is now ours; this A.T.C. is a rut and he hates it – getting old – would like to stay in one place – will only come when the war is over! ; thinks about the clothes he will buy in a year; guesses he will be really busy once Germany is whipped flying personnel and equipment from Europe to the Pacific; guesses the more land we gain in the Pacific the farther he will have to fly each time; asks what she doesn’t for excitement; must close now and thanks her for the “Sad Sack’ cartoons.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Three letters were sent home on Mar. 25, 1945 – One each by Clifford and Winfred to the Folks, and one by Winfred to the Margaret. Mar. 25, 1945 (3)         2970          WM          Suisun A.A.B – Fairfield, CA Winfred tells Margaret he will be there a couple more days; it’s a nice rainy morning – rainy season in California; figured out the money he’s made is not bad – but you earn it – takes a week to recover from each trip – such a life in the Army of Trembling Civilians; feels ashamed when he thinks of Clifford and the poor guys in the walking army -doesn’t have anything to gripe about; will be sent overseas in a few months; doesn’t like the idea of being in the pacific for long – life is miserable there; closes now to take in a movie; “Sad Sack” is a typical G.I.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two letters were sent home by Winfred on Mar. 20, 1945 – one to the Folks and one to Margaret. Mar. 20, 1945 (2)         2910          WM          Suisun A.A.B – Fairfield, CA Winfred composes a letter to Margaret; will leave again in a day or two and not too eager; asks about St. Louis and their cousin Irma; will have a chance to see Stack in Hawaii; pauses to go to a show – ‘Bathing Beauty”; [continues after the show]  the show was good – has Red Skelton; must close and write the Folks – tell the Dickeys ‘Hello”.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Three letters were sent home on Mar. 18, 1945 – One each by Clifford and Winfred to the Folks and one by Winfred to the Margaret. Mar. 18, 1945 (3)          2890          WM          Suisun A.A.B – Fairfield, CA Winfred asks Margaret how the world is treating her; just returned from a 17 day trip to Hickman, a search for Gen Harmon, Tarawa, Johnson Island, Los Negros, and Biak – 100 hours; flew back wounded, sick and insane; was glad to hear from Cliff who is in the thick of things; saw “Puss’ Brennecke playing basketball on Johnson Island; received a lot of mail when he got back; going out again in a couple days, dreads these long trips (13-16 hours at a time); feels like an old man; will try for something else but likes the bucks; don’t like the idea of flying to death – can hardly take it; must close.

EDITOR’S NOTE: February 24, 1945, Winfred sent two letters home; one to the Folks and one to Margaret. Feb. 24, 1945 (2)         2820          WM          Suisun A.A.B – Fairfield, CA Winfred asks Margaret what’s new in St. Louis (sew any buttons on her bosses shirt?); all is well though recovering from a pass; will go on ‘alert’ again tomorrow to go all the way down to the Islands; saw a good show – ‘The Suspect’ set in England; is anxious to hear from Cliff – does he ever write her?; has been assigned a crew – hasn’t met them yet, pilot is a captain (hopes he has some combat experience); war news looks good – hopes for peace in ’45; brings the letter to a close.

EDITOR’S NOTE: February 20, 1945, Winfred sent two letters home; one to the Folks and one to Margaret. Feb. 20, 1945 (2)         2780          WM          Suisun A.A.B – Fairfield, CA Winfred writes Margaret  with his new Parker 51 pen; just returned from Hawaii; answers some of the letters that piled up; sorry to hear that Cliff is in France but better than the Pacific; will go on pass tomorrow then be assigned a crew; not a bad deal there but tiresome – up at all hours, the boys they bring back are pitiful; thanks Irma for her letter and promises to write soon; and brings this composition to a close.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Winfred sent two letters home on February 13, 1945; one to the Folks and one to Margaret. Feb. 13, 1945 (2)         2740          WM          Suisun A.A.B – Fairfield, CA Winfred tells Margaret he will be on ‘alert’ tomorrow for his first trip to the Islands – 10 to 18 days; all is well – likes the climate, thinks he will like the job and base (only there a small part of the time); heard from Cliff who seems fairly happy – glad he’s not in Texas; no chance for a furlough for 2-3 months; asks about the Dickeys and if she gets home anymore; wishes they could all get together for a family dinner – fine war!, and closes be good.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is the first letter Winfred sent to his sister Margaret from his new base – Suisun A.A.B. Fairfield, CA. Feb. 8, 1945 (2)         2700          WM          Suisun A.A.B – Fairfield, CA Winfred tells Margaret he is not happy being stationed so far from home as he was promised; says they were in serious need of R.O.s to fly C-54s down to Saipan and fly wounded back; is at the second field (Suisun AAFB – far from any city) since leaving Reno – was at Mather Field 3-4 days; guesses letters will be infrequent as he will be on ‘hops’; will get a three day pass after each trip and will continue to go to school; closes as it is late; asks about any news; tells her to be good and write.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Winfred sent two letters home on January 31, 1945; one to the Folks and one to Margaret. Jan. 31, 1945 (2)         2680          WM          R.A.A.B. Reno, NV Winfred replies to Margaret to letter – everything is about the same but he just got paid; will be shipping out soon but doesn’t know where – still hopes for Memphis; bets Aunt Maud had a big wedding reception for Cousin Lynn; asks about how the Folks looked – bets their sister Pat will be a foot taller; hasn’t heard from Cliff who had a good time in London – almost wishes he could be there for a day or two; hopes Cliff isn’t in it( the war); should be based in the States for several months doing ‘hops’ – then overseas – at least its not bombers!; cans the gab & tells the Dickeys ‘Hello”.