Winfred to Margaret

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two letters were written home by Winfred on March 21, 1944; one to the Folks and the other to his sister Margaret. Mar. 21, 1944 (2)          1730          WM          Station #144 – Old Buckenham, UK via New York City, N.Y. Winfred answers Margaret’s V-mail received today; is as usual – good health and frame of mind as can be expected; tells her not to get down because of her job – tough all over; mom has enlargements of his crew picture and is sending him one; anxious to be back in the States; is a nice sunny day there; asks about Erma and the opera stuff will continue his series of lectures to her when he gets some spare time; and must go to the mess hall now.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two letters were written home by Winfred on March 19, 1944; one to the Folks and the other to his sister Margaret. Mar. 19, 1944 (2)          1700          WM          Station #144 – Old Buckenham, UK via New York City, N.Y. Winfred scribbles a few lines to Margaret; he’s about as usual – don’t like this place any more than before; loves to see the sunshiny day; asks if she has visited tune town lately; enjoys getting the newspaper clippings she sends; been ambitious – shaved and washed; Roxie and Bea promised him a steak; must stop dreaming and close.

EDITOR’S NOTE: On March 12, 1944, Winfred writes two messages home; a V-mail to his Folks and a letter to his sister Margaret. Mar. 12, 1944 (2)          1640          WM          Station #144 – Old Buckenham, UK via New York City, N.Y. Winfred writes to Margaret; says he is still breezing along in the E.T.O.; griping some; received two letters from Clifford who is sadder than usual, complains about not getting promoted, so is going to be a “goof off’ from now on; asks if she has been home recently – the Folks must get lonesome; and closes.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two letters were written by Winfred on Mar. 1, 1944; one to the Folks, and one to his sister Margaret. Mar. 1, 1944 (2)               1550      WM       Station #144 – Old Buckenham, UK via New York City, N.Y. Winfred tells Margaret it’s cold there and plenty busy; he went to Cambridge on a two-day pass and took in all the “pubs”, a couple of shows, and a church service; it’s 2 in the afternoon and he is trying to catch up on his writing; paper is scarce; and had to pause for 3 hours because his C. O. (Commanding Officer) needed something done. He just received a V-mail from Cousin Irma and will give her another lesson on the happy life of a sad sack soon.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Three letters were written on Feb. 21, 1944. Winfred wrote one letter to his Folks and one letter to his sister Margaret; Clifford also wrote a letter home to the Folks. Feb. 21, 1944 (2)                            1460      WM       Station #144 – Old Buckenham, UK via New York City, N.Y. Winfred writes to his sister Margaret the day after his third mission. He asks about her job and activities; hasn’t heard from her for several days; is fine but busy; has time, a fire, pen & paper but nothing he can write about; from now on will say nothing in fewer words like Cliff; heard from Cliff who wants to get out of there and was on K.P. yesterday writing him from the latrine; is pretty tired and has to get up early.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Feb. 20 – 25, 1944 became known as “Big Week”. An article – “BIG WEEK”: The Turning Point of the Air War in Europe in WWII – with a video link is being provided to explain the event; followed by Winfred’s Bomber Journal: Mission 3 entry.  FEB. 20, 1944                   1440                     BOMBER JOURNAL   MISSION 3 – BRUNSWICK 1 CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PREVIOUS BOMBING MISSION CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEXT BOMBING MISSION

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two letters were written on Feb. 19, 1944. One letter was written by Mabel Byrd (Winfred’s aunt) to Norman Maxwell (Winfred’s uncle). The other letter was written by Winfred to his Folks. Feb. 19, 1944 (2)              1420      WF         Station #144 – Old Buckenham, UK via New York City, N.Y. Winfred writes the Folks he has just finished reading the V-mail they sent.  He wonders if Clifford got transferred, or a rating; hasn’t received his back pay yet; says cigarettes and candy are in short supply there; is glad to hear the enlargements are being taken care of; comments on being fine without his ex-girlfriend; and has been at far worse places.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Three letters were written on Feb. 17, 1944. Winfred sent one letter to his sister Margaret, and one to his Folks. The third letter was written by one of Winfred’s aunts and sent to another of his aunts which was then forwarded to G.D. Maxwell (Winfred’s dad) by his brother Norman. Feb. 17, 1944 (2)              1390      WM       Station #144 – Old Buckenham, UK via New York City, N.Y. Winfred writes to Margaret; doesn’t mind the place; has a pen that skips; is munching on his weekly rations that he stood in line for hours to get; heard from Cliff that he is expecting a transfer; Cliff heard from their cousin Lynn; worked up the energy to shave; asks about the Dickey’s and Erma; and says it is cold but they have a cheery fire in their stove.

Feb. 11, 1944                    1330      WM       Station #144 – Old Buckenham, UK via New York City, N.Y. Winfred writes Margaret about nothing much; is swell and happy as can be expected; is writing on a table with 3 others; hopes his cousin Joyce is coming there; only receiving V-mails; Cousin Jr. is at a nearby base; Uncle Norman wrote but it’s hard to read; and asks about Clifford.