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