November 15, 1944
Philippines
(Author's note: On Nov. 10, the 460th F.S. moved from Noemfoor Island to Tacloban, Leyte Island - Philippines)
Dearest Mother and Dad;
Please excuse me for not writing the last several days but I am sure you realize what the score is in this neck of the woods. Talk about being busy! Believe me, I haven’t had time to do anything since I have been here. I have done nothing but fly and I mean all day, too. Everything is going fine over here and the Filipinos are certainly our friends. They are really nice people and have had such terrible hardships. They are practically naked because they haven’t had clothes of any kind in over three years. I have given them everything I could possibly spare and I wish I had more. They speak very good English and try to do everything to help us.
We have plenty of excitement all thru the day and most of the night but here lately the nights haven’t been so bad. Frost got a victory day before yesterday and everyone around here saw it. They say it was beautiful. Sure wish I could get one but as yet I haven’t seen one close to catch. They run every time we go after them. Very few are willing to crash dive, but of course some do try it.
All the clothes I have at present are the ones I carried in the cockpit and that isn’t much. I have a Filipino doing some laundry for me, however.
Nov. 17, 1944
I will try to finish this so I can get it in the mail. We have been very busy but the time has been going pretty fast. We aren’t in our regular camp yet but in a few days we should be moved in. Today I am going on a fighter sweep to look the country over. I hope we see something. I hope to have a little time to write more often but conditions are such that writing is nearly impossible. Please don’t worry too much and I will write as often as I can find time. There is a lot of confusion around here now and it will take a while for things to settle down. Jack Mullins is here and lives a very short distance from me. I have visited him several times and ate with him once. I have just found out that Sammy Ginsberg is here but as yet I haven’t seen him. His C.O. told me he would let Sammy come in and visit me. He is called “Gruesome” Ginsberg by his C.O. He says everyone likes him very much.
Well, maybe this will do until I have a little time. It shouldn’t be too long before I get to think about going home so keep you fingers crossed. I think my Captaincy is kicking around New Guinea and can’t find me!
‘Bye, Bye. Love, Son