Somewhere

June 25, 1944

 Dearest Mother, Dad, & Velma;

             I can’t imagine why you haven’t been receiving any mail form me unless they held it up after we moved.  I have written more often the last two months than I ever have.  I am terribly sorry you didn’t hear from me for nearly a month.  I can imagine your suspense but remember the old saying  - “no news is good news”.  You see, everything is flown in here by transports and they probably have had to hold mail up for lack of shipping space.  I hope you are hearing more regular now that everything is up to snuff.  I write just about every other day.  Sometimes I miss but not very often.

             I was very surprised to learn what you said about Lillian.  I wish you had told me more in detail about what she said.  As for it being you fault – Mom, you know I don’t blame you.  Don’t think about that!

             Mom, I see you don’t understand about fighter pilots in this theater of war.  Remember, we aren’t bomber pilots – thank God!  All they have to do is put in 50 missions which totals about 300 hours and they are sent home – regardless!  In fighter command they have no definite plan or rotation system.  Why I don’t know.  It has always been figured that a fighter pilot should have a minimum of 300 combat hours before he goes home but nothing has been set up as definite.  All our old pilots have that.  Some have 500 hours.  I have 350.  They don’t go by missions either. I have about 130 missions but that doesn’t mean a thing.  So, as we see it, we are getting the short end of the stick.  However, I may be home by Labor Day or Thanksgiving.  Don’t count on it.  I am trying to get 400 hrs, and then take it easy.

             Keep writing often.  Mom, you letters are swell.  I couldn’t do without them.  By the way – I still like Barbara very much!

                                                                                                 All my love,

                                                                                                 Son

 

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