Winfred to Margaret

Aug. 12, 1943                    0420      WM       Gowen Field, ID               Pressure Chamber Winfred shares with Margaret he has been in the pressure chamber all morning; oxygen is essential!  See link to WWII training film on ‘Human Physiology and Altitude’.

Aug. 7, 1943                      0410      WM       Gowen Field, ID Winfred tells Margaret he has learned Lynn Bartlow’s (Winfred’s cousin) wife has died; he has a pink picture of Clifford; and is going to school & flying daily but not shooting yet. He was part of a big review. 

Aug. 2, 1943                      0390      WM       Gowen Field, ID                    Winfred tells Margaret about his week in gunnery school; got a letter from their brother; talks about Benito Mussolini; asks about work; and saw the movie ‘Dixie’. 

EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is Winfred’s first letter home from his new base, Gowen Field (near Boise, ID), where he will begin Phase 1- Bomber Training. Jul. 23, 1943                      0380      WM       Gowen Field, ID Winfred lets Margaret know he is at a new base in Boise, ID – Gowen Field for Phase 1 training (where the B-24 crews are assembled and trained). There will be more processing/classification; he’s out ranked by everyone; there are young pilots and crashes; it’s a good camp, but no furlough. EDITOR’S NOTE: In four days, July 27, 1943, Winfred Maxwell will turn twenty-two. Happy Birthday, Winfred!

Jul. 9, 1943                        0320      WM       Salt Lake City, UT Winfred tells Margaret he is in Salt Lake City waiting to be shipped out. It’s hot, dry and dusty and he is no longer lily-white.

Jun. 17, 1943                     0280      WM       AAFTS/Sioux Falls, SD Winfred reminds Margaret that he has been in the army for almost 6 months, has graduated from radio school, and is waiting to be shipped somewhere.  He has yet to see anyone he knew from before enlisting.

May 28, 1943                    0260      WM       Sioux Falls, SD Winfred tells Margaret it is so HOT they had to move all the beds outside. He has passed all exams but has 2 more weeks to go in the towers. He was off yesterday and going to town tonight. He sent her a cheap little picture; misses St. Louis; and thinks Clifford has been shanghaied.

May 19, 1943                    0250      WM       Sioux Falls, SD Winfred answers Margaret; things are looking brighter – good weather and new colonel; had graduation pictures taken; only 3 more weeks then hopes to be shipped; does calisthenics 2 hours daily now; looks dark from the sun; and heard from Clifford.

May 5, 1943                      0240      WM       AAFTS/ Sioux Falls, SD Winfred writes about the Folks being lonely; asks about Margaret’s boyfriend (Warren) and comments on Daisy Merrill’s marriage.  He has only 5 more weeks and talks about the Captain Joe Foss parade.  

Apr. 20, 1943                    0230      WM       AAFTS/ Sioux Falls, SD Winfred is still sick – no voice; has only 7 more weeks there; hopes for gunnery school and a raise; is skipping ‘cali jumpies’ to write; and has to get up earlier for complaining.