12-22-43
New Guinea (?) (Author's note - the 348th F.G. moved from Port Moresby to Finschafen, New Guinea)
Dearest Mother and Dad,
Again I am late in writing to you but all I can say is that it couldn’t be helped. I am now in my new location and have my tent all fixed up. Lytle, Chase, and Hnatio live with me still and we are having lots of fun. By the way, we have electric lights in our tent, tongue & grooved floor, a pretty good shower & latrine. We are now right under their noses and have really been knocking “hell” out of them. So far, my chance hasn’t come but I know I will get some very shortly. I’ll be careful, too. Some of my squadron duties have kept me from flying as much as some of the others but I should be catching up soon.
How do you like my new stationery? I got it yesterday and I was very lucky to get it. We have our Xmas packages to come by floating power and one got wet. It so happened that my package didn’t get wet, some of the other fellows stuff was ruined so you see how lucky I was.
Our mail has been coming thru pretty good but I think some of mine has been lost en route. Maybe it well be here soon ‘cause I am sure you have been writing.
Things have really been popping and I think it will continue for a while and that’s the way we want it. We can get home quicker that way.
Well, it looks like Xmas is just about here. We have been teasing each other about so many shopping days ‘til Xmas. I hope I will be home by next Xmas.
Mom, please write me very often and how about a bunch of air mail stamps. I need some for the envelopes with this set. I received the records yesterday and also the packages with the canned fruit. I also got a very nice package from I.H.C. Chicago. So you see we have everything. The records were perfect.
‘Bye for now, Mom, don’t worry about me and keep faith. Write often. I am well and having lots of fun.
Your loving Son,
Otto Jr.
